The 19-year-old Moody played some top-class snooker at times to earn him a lead against world number two Wilson, which could have been even higher.
With his very first shot, Moody proved that he had no fear of the historic Crucible Theatre. He pocketed a long red without hesitation and then made a perfect black, which enabled him to make a frame-breaking 84.
Moody also took the second frame in ice-cold fashion. Wilson missed an easy red on the middle pocket after 42 points, which Moody first used to close the gap before winning a safety duel on the final red and showing with a 33 clear that he can also win a battle frame in the Crucible.
The teenager, who has been dubbed a prodigy for years, was also flawless in the third frame. A long "shot-to-nothing" took him into the break, which he completed after 91 points to make it 3-0.
Wilson well served with a deficit
Wilson, who hadn't been able to blame himself in two out of three frames so far, reduced the deficit to 3-1 before the break with smaller breaks, before he was even able to close the gap to one frame after the mid-session interval.
However, he then had to make way for Moody, who was in great form, scoring his first century break with a 110 and then making it 5-2 with 55 points.
Wilson got off to a better start in the eighth frame, but lost his position after 30 points and muffed the subsequent exit, which Moody immediately capitalised on with his first chance to score a 101-century break.
Wilson at least reduced the deficit to 6-3 with the last frame of the session, but Moody could have won this frame too. However, the teenager made an unusual mistake after 12 points when he caught a red too thinly.
Wilson was only able to get eight points out of it at first, but was lucky that a missed red on the centre pocket did not give Moody an easy opportunity.
He tried his luck with a difficult long ball, but clearly missed and opened the picture for Wilson.
Wilson capitalised on his second chance to score 77 points in a row to win the frame by a clear margin. The decision between the two will be made in the evening session.
Ding progresses easily
On the other table, Ding Junhui took a 7-2 lead from the first session against David Gilbert and went on to win 10-5.
Gilbert took three of the first four frames of the day, including a 59 clear with a 58-point deficit to snatch the 13th frame from under Ding's nose, but the Chinese player was not deterred and responded with a 106 before winning the match thanks to a 61 break.
Ding will meet the reigning world champion Zhao Xintong in the round of 16 - a very special duel, as Ding paved the way for snooker in China with his early successes.