1 week ago
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Kyren Wilson’s childhood dream became reality after he beat Jak Jones 18-14 in a gripping Crucible final to become world champion for the first time.
Wilson, 32, celebrated in tearful scenes with wife Sophie and sons Bailey and Finley after pocketing the £500,000 prize.
It took four centuries along the way and the victory came in part due to a fluke on a respotted black in the 28th frame, but Wilson was overjoyed to get across the line against a relentless rival.
While Wilson began the first of four sessions with a sprint, rattling off the first seven frames on Sunday afternoon, he showed signs of fatigue when it turned into a marathon. History was not on the side of world No 44 Jones. No one had overturned a five-frame deficit in the final session.
The Welsh qualifier, who has made a habit of not knowing when he is beaten, showed plenty of grit and determination.
Kyren Wilson claimed the World Snooker Championship title by beating Jak Jones
Wilson was forced to hold his nerve in a gripping final to see of the challenge of the qualifier
An emotional Wilson broke down into tears after fulfilling his childhood dream at the crucible
But he will look at the final two frames of yesterday afternoon’s session as the ones that got away.
With the pressure on, Jones’s inability to take a host of chances saw Wilson maintain his five-frame cushion into the evening session as two tired men shared the session 4-4 with Englishman Wilson 15-10 ahead.
Wilson earned criticism from Stephen Hendry on Sunday night for talk of four-frame target in the evening session. A perceived lack of ruthlessness is anathema to a seven-time world champion, but the measured Wilson got the job done to become the 23rd man to lift the trophy at the Crucible.
As play moved into the evening, Wilson extended his lead to 16-10 after another undulating frame, winning a safely tussle to move within two of the title. But Jones kept fighting. He produced a 103 break — only his third century of the championship — to reduce the arrears, much to the delight of a crowd.
Qualifier Jak Jones had put Wilson under pressure but could not overturn the deficit
Wilson celebrated with his wife Sophie and his two sons Finley and Bailey after sealing victory
And while Jones looked relaxed as the match wore on, frequently laughing and joking with the crowd, Kettering-based Wilson looked increasingly ashen-faced.
After Wilson went one frame away from victory after fluking a respotted black, the determined Jones rattled off three frames to make it 17-14. All Wilson needed was a chance. And he finally got it in the 32nd frame — much to his relief.
