Kyren Wilson shows signs of revival at English Open, Neil Robertson shocked by Luo Zetao

Kyren Wilson earned his first meaningful victory at the 2026 English Open by beating Mateusz Baranowski to reach round two in Brentwood. The 34-year-old Englishman has been going through a difficult spell, and last week's disappointing loss to Liam Highfield at the British Open raised doubts about his form. But in this opening match, Wilson showed the mentality of a player who has reached the World Championship final. There were no flashy shots, but Wilson controlled the tempo against the unthreatening Baranowski. Two consecutive half-centuries near the end helped him close out a safe win. The key point is that Wilson no longer made major mistakes in the decisive moments, which had cost him in Cheltenham. This positive signal arrives at the right time, because round two will be the real test as he faces Chang Bingyu, the recent Wuhan Open champion who is in red-hot form. The most notable story of the opening day, however, was the shock named Neil Robertson. The two-time English Open winner was knocked out in the first round after losing 3-4 to Luo Zetao, a player ranked 117th in the world. It was an unexpected result, showing that world snooker is no longer a game reserved for the biggest names. Luo Zetao, despite being underrated, played with composure and took advantage of every small mistake to create an upset at Brentwood. For Robertson, this is a hard fall, and pressure will continue to mount in future tournaments. Another highlight was the collective presence of Chinese players. Chris Wakelin won a deciding-frame battle against Louis Heathcote, while Zhang Anda and Ding Junhui both advanced. Along with Luo Zetao and Chang Bingyu, the Chinese snooker wave is becoming denser, no longer centred only around Ding Junhui. Kyren Wilson still has plenty of work to do. The win over Baranowski does not say much, but it helps him rediscover his breathing rhythm. Facing Chang Bingyu in round two will be the true test of Wilson's patience and nerve. Can he get past a young, confident opponent who is riding high? That is the most awaited question in this section of the draw. For Neil Robertson, the loss to Luo Zetao was not just a stroke of bad luck. It serves as a warning that this season, anyone can be eliminated if they fail to maintain focus. Modern snooker is witnessing the strong rise of young players, and the established stars must adapt quickly if they do not want to be left behind.