Kyren Wilson needs seven more frames on Monday to win the World Snooker Championship for the first time after opening up an 11-6 lead over Jak Jones; Welshman Jones recovered from a 7-0 deficit in the opening session and hopes to become the first qualifier since Shaun Murphy in 2005 to secure the Crucible title
Last updated: 5/5/24 10:53 p.m
Kyren Wilson leads Jak Jones 11-6 after the first day of the World Snooker Championship final at the Crucible
Kyren Wilson built an 11-6 lead over qualifier Jak Jones on the first day of the World Snooker Championship final at the Crucible and is aiming to do better than he did four years ago.
Twelfth seed Wilson was beaten 18-8 by Ronnie O’Sullivan in the 2020 final, but proved the dominant player early in his clash with world number 44 Jones as he secured a 7-8 win in the afternoon. 0 lead and then led 10:4 on the evening.
Jones, hoping to become the first qualifier since Shaun Murphy in 2005 to win the Crucible title and only the third overall, cut Wilson’s lead to 10-6 and appeared to be on track to close the deficit to three to shorten it before collapsing in the final frame of the day and his higher-ranked opponent won it with black after a safety exchange.
Wilson remains the heavy favorite for his sixth ranking title and the £500,000 top prize, but Jones is still in the hunt for his first ranking trophy, capping a fairytale run in Sheffield after needing to win two games to get into the main draw.
Wilson led 7-1 after Sunday’s first session, with Jones only getting on the board thanks to a break of 65 in the final frame of the afternoon, avoiding becoming the first player since Dennis Taylor in 1985 to do so the first eight frames lost in the final.
Jones won the first two frames of the evening to reduce his deficit to four, only for Wilson to respond with his third century of the game and a subsequent break of 60 to restore his six-frame lead as Jones failed to capitalize on opportunities that arose use way.
The players traded the next two frames, with Wilson knocking in century No. 4, but Jones won the next two and scored his highest break of the game with a 90 in the 16th frame before Wilson grabbed the last one and into Monday’s final went where he needed seven more frames.
Wilson defeated David Gilbert 17:11 to reach the final of the World Snooker Championship
Wilson’s resurgence continues in the Sheffield showpiece
Wilson had only reached one semi-final this season before arriving in Sheffield, but was in brilliant form at the Crucible, defeating Dominic Dale 10-1 in the first round before a 10-6 win over Joe O’Conor on 13 followed by a -8 victory over four-time world champion John Higgins in the quarterfinals.
The 32-year-old then defeated David Gilbert 17-11 in the semi-final and took control after winning five frames on a 9-9 run.
Wilson was too hot for Jones on Sunday afternoon as he scored two centuries – including a 129 in the opener – and four more breaks over fifty to take a 7-0 lead.
Jak Jones says criticism of his methodical playing style is ‘pathetic’
Jones: It’s pathetic to criticize my playing style
Jones is guaranteed a place in the world top 16 next season regardless of whether he wins the final. The Welshman gets into the elite group for the first time after beating Zhang Anda, Si Jiahui, 2019 world champion Judd Trump and 2015 winner Stuart Bingham in a fairytale run.
Ahead of the final, Jones said criticism of his methodical style of play was “pathetic” after both Trump and Bingham claimed they found it difficult to maintain rhythm while competing against him.
The 30-year-old said: “It seems to be a common excuse these players use against me. They’re supposed to be the best in the world, but they complain that they’re out of rhythm.”
“They just can’t accept it. It’s really pathetic, isn’t it? It does not bother me. It’s easy to blame what I do, but it works.”
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Sky Sports’ Cam Hogwood explains how the World Snooker Championship could move on from the tournament’s legendary crucible
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