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 10-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
The little break in play doesn’t seem to have affected Jones. He moves 37 ahead with 51 remaining on the table. One of his awkward reds is sent into the middle left pocket which draws an encouraging round of applause.
The black quickly follows as does the red and pink. That’s enough for Jones to notch up a break of 73. He decides against going for a century and Wilson concedes the frame.
Jones moves within three frames again. If he can take at least one of the remaining two in this session then the final is fully alive again.
Jak Jones 9-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
There’s a furrowed brow on Jak Jones as he thinks his way around the rest of this table. A break of 36 leaves him with six reds to pot, actually make that five as Jones slips one into the bottom right pocket.
There’s a couple of potential trip ups but Jones is happy to come up the table to use the blue to aid his positional play.
A spectator in the crowd needs to leave the arena so there’s a quick break in play while that happens.
Jak Jones 9-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
Jones let Wilson in but he can only manage a break of 22 after a fairly simple red to the middle left doesn’t go in. Jones pulls out the rest to slice one into the bottom left and he’s got another chance to nick a frame here.
It’ll take some doing though.
Jak Jones 9-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
Over the three sessions of this final so far Wilson’s positional play has slipped by quite a margin. He was averaging a 94% success rate with the cueball at the start of the match which has fallen to 84% in this session so far.
Is the reason for that a touch of nerves perhaps or pressure from Jones starting to cue well?
Jak Jones 9-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
Jones breaks off for the 23rd frame and Wilson’s next shot is poor. He leaves a couple of options for Jones who decides to slot one into the bottom right pocket and score first in the frame.
He’s got a tough shot on the blue which needs to travel up to the top right. Jones strikes it with some force but the colour lips out of the jaws and Wilson has a reprieve.
Jak Jones 9-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
Excepting the black, colours all go in for a fabulous break of 90 and the first frame of this second mini-session goes his way. He’s back within four frames of Wilson and needs to win a couple more in this session to keep himself in the contest heading into the evening.
For Wilson, he just needs to keep chipping away. Every frame he wins from here brings him closer to the title and increases the pressure on Jones.
Jak Jones 8-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
Slick work from Jones. Not a hint of the slow and steady play that has characterised his tournament so far. After Wilson opens the door, Jones comes to the table and slams it shut.
A stellar break of 53 puts him so far in front that Wilson needs snookers to get back into the frame. There are two testing reds left on the table but Jones takes one out and follows with the black.
When the final red drops that’s enough to relax the Welshman who looks to tidy up the colours as well.
Jak Jones 8-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
He’s made one! Poor play off a red leaves Wilson with a thin cut needed to pot the black as a follow up. He takes it on but doesn’t get the line right.
His break ends at 22 and Jones is back with a chance to capitalise. How costly will that be for Wilson?
Jak Jones 8-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
Opportunity for Kyren Wilson now. When the pink bounces away from the pocket, he comes to the table with the reds spread favourably for him.
Jones’ lead of nine is overturned in three shots and Wilson now moves into the lead. Only a mistake will stop him from taking the frame now.
Jak Jones 8-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
Foul! Wilson’s safety leaves Jones needing a two-cushion escape. He almost plays it perfectly but clips the pink and rolls it into the middle left pocket to hand over six points.
The next safety shot from Wilson isn’t as good and there’s an easy pot to the bottom left on for Jones. He knocks it in but will need to collect the pink to keep his break going.
The pink is so close to the nearest red and may not drop. Jones takes it on but doesn’t get it close!
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