Jak Jones vs Kyren Wilson LIVE: World Snooker Championship final score and result as Wilson wins first title
Jak Jones battled back but eventually fell short as Kyren Wilson won the final at the Crucible and claimed his first world title
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Kyren Wilson survived a stirring fightback from qualifier Jak Jones to win the world snooker title for the first time at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
Wilson struggled to contain his emotions as he wrapped up an 18-14 triumph over Jones, who fought valiantly after losing the first seven frames of the final, and reeled off three frames in a row from 17-11 to give himself some hope of an improbable revival.
Victory sealed a timely return to form for Wilson, who had arrived for his 10th tilt at the title on the back of his worst campaign in a decade, a solitary semi-final at the German Masters put into perspective by illness and injury afflicting his young family.
But he was made to work overtime by Jones, who looked down and out after losing the first seven frames, but staged a remarkable comeback and even threatened a maximum in the 30th frame before running aground after potting the first 12 reds and blacks.
Jones said at the presentation ceremony: “Congratulations to Kyren and his family, they deserve it. If anyone deserves it he does, so congratulations to them.
“It’s been an unbelievable tournament for me. About a month ago I was in my first qualifying match. It’s been a long month but I’m happy with it.
“I wouldn’t say (I came in) with a lot of hope. I just thought if I try my best, basically, see what happens. But when you’re playing someone as solid as Kyren, with such a good all-round game, it’s going to be hard to come back from a deficit like that so it wasn’t to be.”
Jak Jones 8-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
After a couple of safety shots each, the first chance of the session comes to Jak Jones who dispatches a red to the bottom left. He overscrews the cueball though and has to play off the blue to position the white in a better area to advance his break.
He rolls in the black after potting the next red but a cannon into the pack doesn’t work out for him and his break ends at 14.
Jak Jones 8-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
Kyren Wilson gets the second half of this afternoon session underway. He’s five frames away from winning the title meaning that this match will be heading into the evening.
His break is okay but Jak Jones has a tricky but gettable pot on to the bottom left pocket. He misses it but the red runs safe, no harm done.
Jak Jones 8-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
Seven-time world champion, Stephen Hendry, speaking on BBC Two:
“There’s pressure on Kyren, huge expectation.
“You’ve got a five-frame lead overnight and you’ve got to stop yourself thinking that you just have to stand up to win the World Championship.
“You still have to come out and perform.”
Jak Jones 8-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
1997 world champion Ken Doherty speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about the World Snooker Championship potentially moving to Saudi Arabia:
“This is our showcase event and I don’t care whether it only fits 980 people, if you built a place with 3,000 people it won’t have the same effect on people. You cannot sell the Augusta Masters, you cannot sell Wimbledon or Wembley, these are iconic sporting events.
“Money and corporate hospitality should not be put in front of the real fans. It does not matter if only a select few can go in a ballot and come here and watch. Fans all around the world will watch this. They won’t watch it if it is in Saudi Arabia or China.
“This city [Sheffield] has supported snooker when it was not so popular and I think we have to support it back.
“I don’t care about money. What does it say to the world of sport if we sell our prized asset because someone else has a fatter chequebook? It does not sit well with me. This is our snooker heritage - it should not be sold.”
Jak Jones 8-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
Quick start from Jak Jones but Kyren Wilson as halted his momentum to edge closer to the world title.
Jak Jones 8-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
Wonderful from Wilson!
A very solid break of 83, all from Jones’ mistake after the break off, brings him another frame and his five frame lead is restored. The match heads into an interval with Wilson now just five frames away from winning the title.
Jak Jones 8-12 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
Any nerves seem to have been banished entirely by Kyren Wilson. This frame has been an exhibition of composure and class. A screw into the pack, though not fantastic, leaves him with a couple of risk-free options and the break goes on.
In no time, with the help of a few red-black combos, Wilson moves 55 in front before he’s faces with a tricky pot to the middle right for another red.
He slices it well, watches it drop and then slots in the blue. Strong play.
Jak Jones 8-12 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
Jones breaks off for the 21st frame and kisses the blue on the way back up the table. He leaves an easy target for Wilson who comes doen the right side of the table and nestles in the opening red.
He’s then left with a simple shot on the yellow to bring the cueball back down the table but Wilson plays it well and is left with a few potting options now.
This is a good chance for him.
Jak Jones 8-12 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
Wilson takes the frame! His break ends at 50 but Jones isn’t interested in coming back to the table. He concedes the frame and heads out of the arena.
Wilson’s lead moves back up to four and he moves a step closer to the World Championship title.
Jak Jones 8-11 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
It certainly looks like it.
Despite a few positional shots that finish awkwardly, Wilson manages to get control of the cueball and start picking off the available reds.
Primarily using the blue to set up the rest of the frame, Wilson notches up a break of 43 to leave Jones needing snookers in order to get back into this one.
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