RICKY Walden clinched victory over Crucible debutant Kyren Wilson on Tuesday night with a frame that lasted just 107 seconds shy of the record at the venue.
The 31-year-old from Chester, a semi-finalist last year, won 10-7 after a marathon frame that took 73 minutes and 13 seconds to move into the second round of the Dafabet World Championship.
Wilson described it is “the maddest frame I have ever played”, but it leaves Mark King and Stephen Maguire still top of the pile in that respect with their 75-minute effort in 2009.
And world No10 Walden was just relieved to come through and see of the challenge of the dangerous Wilson, 22, who had dumped out former champion Graeme Dott in qualifying.
World No89 Wilson started like a train and led 3-1 on Monday – but after that began to discover how a match at the Crucible truly tests a player beyond what he has experienced in the past.
Walden won five on the spin to lead 6-3 overnight – and though his young opponent got back to 8-7 adrift on Tuesday night he could not get any closer.
Walden, who could face a semi-final repeat against Barry Hawkins in the last 16, said: “I don’t want any more records, I got one getting thumped 6-0 against Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Masters with the unanswered points.
“It was a crazy frame, I was in total control but the balls were going silly, we both lost our technique a bit and every time one of us butchered things we got away with it.
“But I am just pleased the way I dealt with the match. I knew Kyren was a good player, he beat Rod Lawler in qualifying and then put away Graeme Dott, and he proved it.”
Wilson said: “It was a mad frame, the maddest that I have ever played but I was glad to make a game of it. And I actually wish that we had got the record.
“I loved every minute of my Crucible debut and I think I can do well here in the future. I got up for it and was nervous for the second session, I am just sorry I didn’t play better.
Meanwhile Mark Allen takes a 5-4 lead over Michael Holt into Wednesday’s second and final session.
The 28-year-old Allen is a former semi-finalist at the Crucible and for a man who clearly relishes playing at the venue it was surprising here that he was attempting to avoid a third successive first-round exit in Sheffield.
Another good run at the World Open ensured the world No14 from Northern Ireland made the line-up of seeds, and the first four frames against Holt were shared.
The 35-year-old from Nottingham, who enjoyed his best run in a ranking event in Shanghai this season, had a good chance to establish a 5-3 lead but missed a straightforward brown and Allen took advantage by grabbing the last two frames of the day.