Kyren Wilson regains his rhythm at the English Open; Neil Robertson stunned by Luo Zetao

Kyren Wilson entered the English Open in Brentwood with a quiet question hanging over him: during this difficult season, could he still produce the wins he needed? A week after his disappointing loss to Liam Highfield at the British Open, the 34-year-old Englishman answered by beating Poland's Mateusz Baranowski. The win was not spectacular, but it came at the right time. Wilson had been struggling for consistency, and every mistake was being magnified. In Brentwood, he did not try to prove anything to the crowd. He simply did what was necessary: controlled the table, waited for opportunities, and closed the match with two consecutive half-century breaks. From a technical perspective, the victory over Baranowski is not enough to erase the doubts. Baranowski is a young, open-minded player but lacks deep experience at the biggest events. Wilson did not need his best version to advance. More importantly, he found the feel that had disappeared during his heavy defeat to Highfield in Cheltenham. The real test comes in round two against Chang Bingyu, the recent Wuhan Open champion. Chang is no longer an unknown young talent. He has shown he can handle pressure, produce decisive breaks, and stay consistent through a full tournament. If Wilson still hesitates over shot selection, Chang will punish him immediately. While Wilson found a positive sign, Neil Robertson became the centre of a major shock. The two-time English Open winner lost 3-4 to Luo Zetao, a player ranked 117th in the world. It was one of the most surprising results of the opening day. Robertson's defeat shows the ruthless nature of short-format matches. Over a best of seven, class differences are not always reflected accurately. One poor safety or one inaccurate attack in the deciding frame can send a champion home early. The opening day also featured Chris Wakelin, who again showed his fighting qualities by beating Louis Heathcote in a deciding frame. Zhang Anda and Ding Junhui also advanced, making it a strong day for Chinese players. Alongside Chang Bingyu and Luo Zetao, they proved that Chinese snooker now has real depth beyond just a few famous names. For Wilson, the second-round match against Chang Bingyu will be significant. He must prove his win over Baranowski was not a coincidence but the foundation for rebuilding his rhythm. Wilson has the edge in experience, but his biggest weakness this season has been instability in key moments. What stood out was how patiently Wilson handled Baranowski. He accepted safety exchanges, let the opponent attack at times, and waited for mistakes. That showed Wilson still has composure. But against Chang Bingyu, a player capable of producing heavy scoring, waiting too long could be risky. Chang Bingyu is not the kind of player who gets dragged into an opponent's tempo. He can build long breaks from small chances, forcing his opponent to sit and lose feel. That is Wilson's challenge: control the pace while remaining sharp enough in attack to avoid turning the match into a scoring race. The opening day also raises questions about preparation among the top players. Robertson is out early, Wilson only just survived, while less celebrated players looked confident. That suggests the gap between top names and the rest is narrowing, at least in short-format tournaments. For Vietnamese snooker fans, the most interesting story is not just how far Wilson can go, but how he handles pressure when pushed into difficult situations. The match against Chang Bingyu will reveal where Wilson truly stands this season. One round does not define a whole season, but it can redirect the story. Wilson has just written a different opening from what many feared. Now he must prove the next chapter will not return to disappointment.