Kyren Wilson sees signs of life at English Open after win over Mateusz Baranowski

Brentwood is not usually the stage for the biggest matches of the season, but for Kyren Wilson this year's English Open feels like a milestone to test himself again. After a long period of struggling with his touch, the Englishman has just earned a necessary first-round win over Mateusz Baranowski. The scoreline was not the most important thing. What mattered was that he handled the closing moments with the focus he has lacked for weeks. Only a week ago, Wilson lost to Liam Highfield in the last 32 of the British Open in Cheltenham. That defeat extended a disappointing sequence in a difficult season. His problem has not been a lack of skill. It has been consistency and composure under pressure. He still has explosive moments, but he often loses rhythm at key times. Against Baranowski, Wilson played with rare caution. Instead of forcing difficult pots, he accepted longer safety battles and waited for cleaner chances. The two consecutive half-centuries in the latter stages were the highlight not because of their size but because of their timing. They showed that his scoring instinct remains intact. The real test comes in round two against Chang Bingyu, the recent Wuhan Open winner. Chang is no longer a promising young player but a proven winner with modern break-building skills and strong match temperament. Wilson will need to stay calm again to have a realistic chance. Meanwhile, two-time English Open winner Neil Robertson suffered a shock 4-3 defeat to world number 117 Luo Zetao. Robertson controlled large parts of the match but lost focus at decisive moments. Luo stayed patient, waited for his opportunities, and produced the biggest surprise of the opening day. Chris Wakelin also impressed by beating Louis Heathcote in another final-frame decider. Zhang Anda and Ding Junhui both advanced as well. The opening round delivered a clear message: no one can afford to be complacent. Kyren Wilson has taken his first small step back, but facing Chang Bingyu will show whether he is truly ready to rebuild his season.