Masters 2021 – ‘Never seen it’ – Kyren Wilson uses lighter to fix dodgy cue tip against Gary Wilson

Kyren Wilson was forced to get creative to fix a dodgy cue tip during his opening match at the Masters.

The 29-year-old grabbed a lighter and set about burning the tip in just the third frame of his clash with Gary Wilson.

The bizarre moment was perhaps best summed up by Philip Studd on Eurosport commentary duties: “It’s not ideal that you’re having to make running repairs to your tip three frames into the Masters.”

Kyren Wilson’s original opponent Jack Lisowski withdrew after testing positive for Covid-19, promoting Gary Wilson – who made headlines in the recent Championship League when he blasted a red in frustration – into the main draw.

Jimmy White and Neal Foulds in the Eurosport studio tried to explain Wilson’s one-man pyrotechnics display.

“If it’s slightly fraying, the tip, you can either do it with sandpaper or you can get the lighter and it does it really quick,” said White.

“He’s out there on TV, wants it done quick. There are slight fibres fraying on the tip and it’s a way of getting rid of it. It saves getting the sandpaper out.”

Foulds added: “I’ve never seen it done. I know it’s a popular thing now. Plenty of people want to set fire to their cue, but for different reasons. Genuinely, it’s one way of getting rid of the thing!”