Jak Jones vs Kyren Wilson LIVE: World Snooker Championship final score and result as Wilson wins first title
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.”
World Snooker Championship updates - Jak Jones v Kyren Wilson
World Snooker Championship final ends tonight at Crucible Theatre
Wilson took control with dominant display in afternoon session to lead 7-1
Jones fought back before dramatic final black gave Wilson 11-6 overnight lead
Spoils shared on Monday afternoon with Wilson leading before evening session
Kyren Wilson wins World Championship after closing out 18-14 victory
Kyren Wilson 18-14 Jak Jones
22:47 , Lawrence Ostlere
Kyren Wilson finally beats Jak Jones in dramatic final to win his first World Snooker Championship:
Kyren Wilson finally beats Jak Jones in dramatic final to win first world title
Post-match quotes in full
22:33 , Lawrence Ostlere
Pointing to his young son Bailey, dressed in waistcoat and bow tie, a relieved Wilson said at the presentation ceremony: “Can you imagine how embarrassing it would be if I’d have lost and Bailey’s dressed like that?
“Firstly I’d like to say sorry to Jak for that outburst (his celebration after a pot), but it does mean so much to all of us.
“Mum and dad, I think they’re on their way down. They remortgaged, sacrificed their whole lives to get me here, my brother, Barry, Carla, Chris, Peter, the list goes on. It’s a massive team effort.
“On YouTube, one of the worst things is me crying at the Masters, this is going to be so much worse. I said I’d never do it again but I just couldn’t help it.
“(Jones) was so tough. I don’t think there are any people left in Wales, the amount they were cheering him on. It made it a fantastic atmosphere, every credit to those guys.
“Me and Jak have come through the junior ranks. This is Jak’s first final, let alone a world final, so he’s conducted himself in an amazing fashion and I’m sure he’ll be back.”
Jones added on BBC Two: “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.”
Wilson wins the World Snooker Championship! Kyren Wilson 18-14 Jak Jones
22:11 , Lawrence Ostlere
The new world champion, Kyren Wilson, speaks: “This is Jak’s first final, he’s conducted himself in an amazing fashion and I’m sure he’ll be back.
“My parents remortgaged, they sacrificed everything to get me here. So did my brother, my wife. It means everything to me.”
Wilson wins the World Snooker Championship! Kyren Wilson 18-14 Jak Jones
22:09 , Lawrence Ostlere
Jak Jones speaks: “I just want to congratulate Kyren Wilson and his whole family, they deserve it.
“I didn’t think I had much hope but I just tried my best. Hopefully this changes my career for the good.”
Wilson wins the World Snooker Championship! Kyren Wilson 18-14 Jak Jones
22:06 , Lawrence Ostlere
Wilson finally gets over the line.
Jak Jones congratulates his opponent as Kyren Wilson lets the tears flow.
Kyren Wilson 17-14 Jak Jones
22:03 , Lawrence Ostlere
Wilson pots the winning red, turns to his family looking on and screams “Come on!” What a night, and he’s finally done it.
Kyren Wilson 17-14 Jak Jones
22:01 , Lawrence Ostlere
Surely this is it, now! Wilson just needs two or three more reds with colours to end this final...
Kyren Wilson 17-14 Jak Jones
22:00 , Lawrence Ostlere
Wilson can’t quite make it happen, but he gets another look a few moments later when Jones attempts a bold double and it bounces back off the jaw! Was that his last shot at this championship?
Jones screws up his face in disgust as the missed red rolls perfectly for Wilson to pot.
Kyren Wilson 17-14 Jak Jones
21:52 , Lawrence Ostlere
Wilson immediately loses control of the cue ball and the break ends far too quickly, but Jones misses a long red and Wilson is soon back in amongst the balls with another chance to win the world title.
Kyren Wilson 17-14 Jak Jones
21:49 , Lawrence Ostlere
The 32nd frame starts with a couple of misses by each player, before Wilson puts Jones in a tricky situation with the cue ball near the baulk cushion and no obvious escape route. Jones makes a couple of fouls before finally finding a red, but the cue ball isn’t safe and Wilson pots a red, followed by a thin blue.
This could be a good chance...
Kyren Wilson 17-14 Jak Jones
21:39 , Lawrence Ostlere
Jones cuts in a thin red, then the pink, then pots another delicate red along the rail after a clever positional shot, and he adds the black.
After swatting a fly, he flukes the yellow, pots the green, brown and blue, and that’s the frame!
Goodness me, what are watching? Kyren Wilson was winning 17-11 – it’s now 17-14.
Wilson still needs only one frame to win a first world title, but you sense he is thinking about that fact and it’s weighing on his mind. Jones looks free and relaxed, and now needs four frames in a row to win an astonishing final himself.
Kyren Wilson 17-13 Jak Jones
21:32 , Lawrence Ostlere
Jones rolls on to one of the remaining three reds near the black, and the cue ball looks to be safe. But somehow Wilson pulls off an amazing pot down the rail, at speed. Brilliant. “One of the shots of the championship,” says Stephen Hendry.
Wilson can’t turn it into a big break though, and Jones comes back to the table needing to play safe, with two reds remaining, leading 53-22.
Kyren Wilson 17-13 Jak Jones
21:29 , Lawrence Ostlere
Wilson escapes from that snooker and avoids leaving anything on, and a few shots later Jones leaves a long red. Wilson pots it, then plays a clever snooker behind the green.
Jones takes a moment to pop out of the auditorium for a break.
Kyren Wilson 17-13 Jak Jones
21:25 , Lawrence Ostlere
Jones puts on 47 points before running out of position, and then plays a perfectly judged safety which leaves the cue ball snug behind the green ball near the baulk cushion. Jones’s safety has been the best part of his game throughout the tournament and it continues to be a weapon.
Kyren Wilson 17-13 Jak Jones
21:20 , Lawrence Ostlere
Jones escapes, nudging the reds after sending the cue ball around the angles off three cushions, but in doing so he leaves Wilson a red to pot into the left middle. Wilson fires it in and sends the cue spinning around the table and neatly for the blue – a wonderful shot – but a moment later he misses a red to the right middle.
Jones returns to the table trailing 15-6, and immediately pots a brilliant long red. He looks to be relaxed and freed by this dead-man-walking situation.
Kyren Wilson 17-13 Jak Jones
21:17 , Lawrence Ostlere
Wilson pots a fantastic long red to match Jones’s similar pot in the last frame. He follows it with the black, but this is not a straightforward situation because the black spot is swarmed by reds and the pink is up by the green pocket.
He opts to play a snooker tight behind the pink, and this is horribly difficult puzzle for Jones to solve.
Kyren Wilson 17-13 Jak Jones
21:14 , Lawrence Ostlere
Jones pots the first red of the 31st frame and then plays safe after losing position trying to cannon into the bunch.
Kyren Wilson 17-13 Jak Jones
21:11 , Lawrence Ostlere
The break collapses with three reds to go as he misses a tricky one down the right-hand cushion, but what an effort! Jak Jones takes another frame – can he keep this up?
Wilson leads 17-13 and still just needs one frame for the title
Kyren Wilson 17-12 Jak Jones
21:07 , Lawrence Ostlere
Whisper it quietly, but the 147 is on here for Jak Jones. Nine reds and nine blacks so far...
Kyren Wilson 17-12 Jak Jones
21:04 , Lawrence Ostlere
Jones is now piecing together a good score, with the reds nicely spread and the black on its spot and in the open.
Kyren Wilson 17-12 Jak Jones
21:03 , Lawrence Ostlere
Jones misses a red and scatters them, and it looks ominious. But Wilson can’t take advantage, missing a tricky cut red to the left corner.
Jones then responds with a brilliant long red, rolled dead-weight into the corner before cannoning off another to leave the cue ball perfectly on the black. That was one of the shots of the final!
Kyren Wilson 17-12 Jak Jones
20:58 , Lawrence Ostlere
The players are back out in the arena.
Jak Jones needs to win six frames in a row to win the most incredible world title. Kyren Wilson needs only one frame to become a world champion.
Kyren Wilson 17-12 Jak Jones
20:50 , Lawrence Ostlere
A brief break, then. How long can Jak Jones keep this final alive?
Kyren Wilson 17-12 Jak Jones
20:39 , Lawrence Ostlere
Magnificent by Jones, who clinches the final frame of the mid-session of the interval with a fluent break to keep this final alive.
Kyren Wilson leads 17-12 and still needs only one more to win the title.
Kyren Wilson 17-11 Jak Jones
20:35 , Lawrence Ostlere
Wilson runs out of position and plays safe against the top cushion, but it’s not safe enough as Jones pots a stunning thin red into the left middle pocket. The crowd roar their approval. Jones begins building a significant break...
Kyren Wilson 17-11 Jak Jones
20:30 , Lawrence Ostlere
Wilson misses a thin red to the middle pocket early in the next frame, and Jones takes advantage, potting a wonderful long red and leaving himself perfectly on the black. That was thudded in. Can he put one last great break together before this final ends?
The answer is no, as he misses a black off its spot that he would expect to put away.
Kyren Wilson 17-11 Jak Jones
20:26 , Lawrence Ostlere
Wilson hits a wild shot and the black bounces around the table and flies into a corner pocket! What a fluke, and what a horrible way to lose a frame if you’re Jak Jones. A bonkers frame between two players who look a bit delirious at this late stage in the tournament.
Kyren Wilson is only one away now. He leads 17-11.
Kyren Wilson 16-11 Jak Jones
20:22 , Lawrence Ostlere
Wilson fluffs a safety shot, sending the black over the yellow pocket, and Jones will surely knock this in... no! It bounces between the jaws and jumps back out and across the table. The crowd groan. We go on.
Kyren Wilson 16-11 Jak Jones
20:20 , Lawrence Ostlere
Jones rattles off the colours, and we’ve got a re-spot!
It’s 73-73, and the black is back out on its spot. Wilson will play first.
Kyren Wilson 16-11 Jak Jones
20:16 , Lawrence Ostlere
After a chaotic passage of play featuring misses and fouls and balls bouncing off knuckles, Jones adds to the drama by accidentally potting the cue ball while trying to play safe. That was a little careless.
Wilson is now 27 points ahead with 27 remaining.
Kyren Wilson 16-11 Jak Jones
20:14 , Lawrence Ostlere
Well this is remarkable! Wilson manages to roll the cue ball right up against the brown while trying to leave himself on the yellow, and he’s snookered. He escapes off one cushion, but now Jones is back at the table.
Jones takes on a tricky yellow, sending it most of the distance across the table, and it bounces off the jaws of the pocket and back out.
Kyren Wilson 16-11 Jak Jones
20:11 , Lawrence Ostlere
Jones gathers 46 points before missing the most simple of reds! He was trying too hard to force position on the black. That’s just a horrendous mistake.
Wilson comes to the table with the final four reds invitingly spread, and he quickly overtakes Jones on the scoreboard as he clears them...
Kyren Wilson 16-11 Jak Jones
20:05 , Lawrence Ostlere
Oh, what a mistake! Wilson – with 37 points amassed – clips the pink while trying to sneak past to pot a red, and that’s a foul and big chance now for Jones to hit back.
Kyren Wilson 16-11 Jak Jones
20:03 , Lawrence Ostlere
Jak Jones takes on a long, tough red with the white up against the baulk cushion, and he doesn’t get very close. Wilson takes his chance – a long red to the opposite corner – and now he’s off building a potentially frame-winning break...
Kyren Wilson 16-11 Jak Jones
19:57 , Lawrence Ostlere
Jones wins it with a century! A beautiful break to get one on the board this evening, and that’s 16-11.
Kyren Wilson 16-10 Jak Jones
19:54 , Lawrence Ostlere
This is better by Jones, who looks a little more relaxed and free in his cueing arm, perhaps as a result of the situation with this final almost lost. He’s put 50 points on the board and only needs a couple more reds to seal the frame...
Kyren Wilson 16-10 Jak Jones
19:48 , Lawrence Ostlere
Wilson pots red, green, red before missing a tough blue to the green pocket, and he leaves Jones a good chance to reply with the balls nicely spread.
Kyren Wilson 16-10 Jak Jones
19:43 , Lawrence Ostlere
So, Jak Jones now needs to win eight of the remaining nine frames.
He breaks off, and immediately Kyren Wilson gets lucky when a missed red ricochets into the middle pocket. Tough luck for Jones. Wilson now has an early chance to score.
Kyren Wilson 16-10 Jak Jones
19:38 , Lawrence Ostlere
Wilson wins the battle, as Jones’s swerve shot around the baulk colours bumps the red against the jaw of the left middle pocket and it bounces out. So close!
Wilson pots the red and clears the baulk colours to clinch the frame. He’s only two away from the title.
Kyren Wilson 15-10 Jak Jones
19:29 , Lawrence Ostlere
Wilson finishes off almost all of the reds but the last one is tricky, up against the side cushion. He flicks it off after potting the penultimate red, but it bounces all the way across the table to rest on the opposite cushion, and the break is over.
Wilson plays safe, leading 49-35, and Jones returns to the table.
Kyren Wilson 15-10 Jak Jones
19:26 , Lawrence Ostlere
Jones flukes a snooker tight behind the yellow, leaving Wilson scratching his head. He manages to hit a red but Jones is left with a pot, which he snaps up. However, just a few balls later he leaves himself a horribly thin pink to the right middle and it bounces off the far jaw!
Jones has wasted three good chances now to build a big break in this opening frame of the night, and has only 35 points on the board. Will Wilson take advantage?
Kyren Wilson 15-10 Jak Jones
19:18 , Lawrence Ostlere
It’s Jones who wins the safety battle, escaping from a snooker and then taking advantage of a mediocre shot by Wilson which leaves a long red on to the right corner pocket. Jones pots it with authority, then fires in the blue, but he quickly runs out of position and is forced to play safe. His break-building has just not been good enough to punish Wilson today.
Jones leads 26-4 as they begin another safety exchange.
Kyren Wilson 15-10 Jak Jones
19:11 , Lawrence Ostlere
It’s Jak Jones with the first look at the reds in this 26th frame, after potting one which had bounced up towards baulk from Wilson’s break-off. But a moment later, Jones misses the black off its spot! Oh dear. That’s been the story of Jones’s final so far, missing too many big chances.
Wilson comes to the table with nothing on and needing to play safe, 13 points behind.
Kyren Wilson 15-10 Jak Jones
19:07 , Lawrence Ostlere
Rob Walker is on the floor introducing the players. “Please welcome a player who has produced a life-defining run to the final. Can he rise and conquer today? The Silent Assasin, Jak Jones!”
“He is three frames away from fulfilling his promise. Here comes the Warrior, Kyren Wilson!”
Kyren Wilson 15-10 Jak Jones
19:03 , Lawrence Ostlere
“He certainly needs to win the first couple of frames,” Stephen Hendry says, of the task facing Jak Jones. “If he reels off some frame-winning breaks then that will put his opponent bang under it.”
Kyren Wilson 15-10 Jak Jones – World Snooker Championship 2024 final
18:55 , Lawrence Ostlere
Almost time for this final to resume.
Kyren Wilson needs three frames to clinch a first world title while Jak Jones, also gunning for his first major win, has a mountain to climb this evening.
Wilson lead 15-10 in this best of 35 frame contest (first to 18) so there is no margin of error for Jones when he heads back into the arena.
He’ll need to take every chance he gets, as well as a few half-chances, and put the pressure on Wilson early on. Anything less and the world championship will go to the Englishman.
Let’s find out how this tournament will conclude...
How much is the prize fund?
18:45 , Mike Jones
The World Championship is the richest prize in snooker with players sharing a total prize fund of £2,395,000. The winner will receive £500,000, with the runner-up pocketing £200,000 and the losing semi-finalists netting £100,000 each.
Last 112 - £5,000
Last 80 - £10,000
Last 48 - £15,000
Last 32 - £20,000
Last 16 - £30,000
Quarter-finalists - £50,000
Semi-finalists - £100,000
Runner-up - £200,000
Winner - £500,000
An additional £15,000 is available to the player who compiles the highest break (including the qualifying stage), while two maximums made across any of the three triple crown events this season will be rewarded with a £147,000 bonus.
Jak Jones 10-15 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
18:35 , Mike Jones
Here’s where the afternoon session ended and where the two players will be picking up this evening. Kyren Wilson won the last two frames to restore his five frame lead and move within three of claiming the world title.
Wilson needs just three frames to be crowned world champion! 👑
🏴 Kyren Wilson 15-10 Jak Jones 🏴
📺 Play resumes on BBC Two and @BBCSport online from 19:00#BBCSnooker #WorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/L3789SK32C— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) May 6, 2024
Will Ronnie O’Sullivan continue playing in England?
18:25 , Mike Jones
O’Sullivan said: “I’m contracted to do certain events in China, and I’m contracted to go to Saudi, so obviously they’ve got first dibs then it’s about spending time at home with the family.
“It’s first come, first served. I’m already signed up for eight or nine tournaments, so if I do really badly in them I might have to dip my toe in and play a few tournaments over here, but probably not.
“I don’t just turn up willy-nilly to events, there’s a tax to be paid. If people are prepared to pay it, I’ll get my cue out of my case. If they’re not, I’m content to never ever play again, and move on and do other stuff.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan casts doubt over playing future tournaments in Britain: ‘There’s a tax to be paid’
18:15 , Mike Jones
Ronnie O’Sullivan has warned he could quit playing tournaments in Britain after his quest for a record-breaking eighth world snooker title was shattered by Stuart Bingham in a major quarter-final upset at the Crucible.
O’Sullivan will jet off for an exhibition tour of China, Finland and Bulgaria next week, insisting he will pick and choose his future tournaments, and increasingly prioritise big-money offers from Saudi Arabia and the Far East.
The 48-year-old recently signed a deal with the Saudis which ironically commits him to signing a new contract with World Snooker Tour, in order to fulfil his obligation to play in the inaugural Saudi Masters in Riyadh at the end of August.
Ronnie O’Sullivan casts doubt over playing future tournaments in Britain
5 of the best World Snooker Championship finals
18:05 , Mike Jones
2019: Judd Trump 18-9 John Higgins
Judd Trump produced a devastating potting display to win his first world title, firing seven centuries in total and reeling off eight straight frames to turn the final around from 5-4 down.
It was John Higgins’ third straight final loss but the Scot was magnanimous in the face of such a stunning snooker assault. Five years later, the world still awaits a repeat performance from Trump.
5 of the best World Snooker Championship finals
17:55 , Mike Jones
2018: Mark Williams 18-16 John Higgins
Mark Williams capped an extraordinary career revival by winning his third world title 15 years after his first.
The 43-year-old Welshman arrived at the Crucible without a ranking title win in six years, and seemed as surprised as anyone by his resurgence.
In a high-quality final, John Higgins hauled back a 15-10 deficit to level at 15-15, before Williams found an extra gear to seal his improbable win.
5 of the best World Snooker Championship finals
17:45 , Mike Jones
1994: Stephen Hendry 18-17 Jimmy White
Jimmy White, who had lost in five previous finals, fought back from behind and finally had the title at his mercy. But with the magnitude of the occasion starting to dawn on him, White missed a black off its spot, and had to watch in agony as Stephen Hendry responded with a break of 58 to win his fourth world crown.
A shattered White would never find his way to a Crucible final again.
5 of the best World Snooker Championship finals
17:35 , Mike Jones
1985: Dennis Taylor 18-17 Steve Davis
The final that transcended snooker, as a television audience of 18.5 million stayed up after midnight to watch a thrilling black ball decider.
Steve Davis had the first chance but missed a thin cut, prompting commentator Ted Lowe to gasp: “No!”.
Dennis Taylor, who had lost the first eight frames of the match, stepped up to finish the job, blowing a kiss towards the trophy and waggling his finger at those who had doubted him.
5 of the best World Snooker Championship finals
17:25 , Mike Jones
1982: Alex Higgins 18 -15 Ray Reardon
After a classic tournament that saw defending champion Steve Davis bundled out 10-1 by Tony Knowles in round one, and one of the greatest all-time clearances by Alex Higgins to keep alive his semi-final against Jimmy White, the volatile Belfast star reeled off three frames in succession to sink Ray Reardon before tearfully beckoning his wife and baby daughter Lauren onto centre stage.
Who is Kyren Wilson?
17:15 , Mike Jones
“I turned professional because I wanted to win things,” Kyren Wilson told BBC Sport in 2018. “I am not just going be happy to reach the semi-finals or the finals of big events.
“I want my two boys to grow up and be able to say ‘my dad was more than a decent snooker player’. And to be well thought of, you need to be doing better than just reaching the latter stages of tournaments.”
Will Wilson achieve his dream of winning the world title this evening?
Who is Kyren Wilson? The snooker star edging closer to ending major title drought
17:05 , Mike Jones
For Kyren Wilson, another deep run at the World Championship could finally allow a man long tipped for a major title to fulfil the potential he has shown throughout his career.
Born in Kettering, the 32-year-old first turned professional in 2010 and soon established himself as one of snooker’s brightest young stars, recovering from a loss of form and regaining his World Tour card to return to the top tier of the sport in 2013.
Wilson immediately made an impact, forging a reputation as a player who could beat anyone on his day as he built the consistency required to challenge at the highest level. By 2015, it had arrived — at the Shanghai Masters, Wilson came all the way through qualifying to stun Judd Trump in the final and secure his first ranking title.
Who is Kyren Wilson? The snooker star edging closer to ending major title drought
“It’s pathetic”; Jak Jones hits out at opponents’ complaints over his style
16:55 , Mike Jones
“It seems like a common excuse that these players use against me,” said Jak Jones when asked if his style of play is too slow. “They are supposed to be the best players in the world but they are moaning about being knocked out of their rhythm.
“I don’t think 28 seconds a shot is slow for my first semi-final. Other players regularly go down to their late 20s but they always have to say the same thing after they lose against me.
“They just can’t accept it. It’s pathetic really, isn’t it. The worst thing I’ve noticed when I’m playing them is that I feel like they want to play that game. I couldn’t believe how Judd was playing against me – he completely changed as a player.
“It doesn’t bother me. It is easy to blame what I am doing but it is working so I will take it.”
World Championship finalist Jak Jones hits out at ‘pathetic’ complaints over style of play
16:45 , Mike Jones
Jak Jones headed into his first World Snooker Championship final blasting his “pathetic” rivals for putting their own demise down to his attritional style of play.
The 30-year-old became only the ninth qualifier to reach a Crucible final after securing a 17-12 win over Stuart Bingham late on Saturday night.
According to World Snooker Tour’s seasonal average shot times, Jones is the 107th slowest of 128 players on the tour, with each shot taking over 28 seconds. Only Zhang Anda in this year’s tournament was slower.
Jak Jones hits out at ‘pathetic’ complaints over style of play
Who is Jak Jones? The Welsh qualifier making history at the World Snooker Championship
16:35 , Mike Jones
It took Jak Jones time to reach snooker’s biggest stage but the Welshman has made his presence felt since stepping into the Crucible. Nine times the 30-year-old tried and failed to make it through qualifying for the World Snooker Championship before finally breaking through last year — but Jones has swiftly established himself as a Sheffield specialist.
The Welshman’s attritional style of play has not been to everyone’s taste, however. As Jones headed into his first World Championship final, he blasted “pathetic” criticism from opponents Stuart Bingham and Judd Trump, who both implied his frustrating tactics had affected their rhythm and ultimately contributed to their defeats.
Who is Jak Jones? The Welsh qualifier making history at the World Championship
World Snooker Championship 2024 prize money: How much do players earn at Crucible?
16:25 , Mike Jones
Kyren Wilson and Jak Jones face off on the final day of the World Snooker Championship 2024 today.
The pair will be eager to write their names into the history books at the Crucible in what has been an unpredictable tournament this year with plenty of upsets. Wilson carried a five-frame lead into Monday in the race to 18 frames.
But Jones has proven to be a fierce competitor and able to grind out victories from difficult positions, leaving the final delicately poised with one session remaining.
What is the World Snooker Championship 2024 prize money?
Jak Jones 10-15 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
16:14 , Mike Jones
The World Snooker Championship final will resume later this evening with coverage commencing on BBC Two at 7pm. There will be a maximum of 10 frames played and that is providing Jak Jones wins eight and Kyren Wilson just two of them.
A more likely scenario is that Wilson secures the three frames he needs to win the title with Jones putting up a valiant but ultimately unsuccessful fightback.
Still you never know how these tense matches will play out until they do.
Jak Jones 10-15 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
16:13 , Mike Jones
Jak Jones has spent over 53 hours at the table during his run to the World Snooker Championship final. That’s two days-plus a bit extra at the table since 14 April when he started in the qualifiers, playing seven matches.
In contrast Kyren Wilson has had 31 hours in his campaign.
Jak Jones 10-15 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
16:09 , Mike Jones
1991 world champion, John Parrott, gives his reaction to the afternoon session: “The pair of them are running on fumes.
“You can’t think straight and your concentration levels are gone. Kyren has to play one frame at a time and forget the scoreboard.”
Jak Jones 10-15 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
16:05 , Mike Jones
Six-time world champion, Steve Davis, on BBC Two:
“Both of them are on the floor. You count to 10 and who can get up before the 10. They’ve been really, really nervous. You can feel for both of them but somebody has to make the last mistake.”
Jak Jones 10-15 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
16:01 , Mike Jones
Stephen Hendry, seven-time world champion, speaking on BBC Two: “The last couple of frames Jak Jones has maybe succumbed to the Crucible pressure.”
Jak Jones 10-15 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
15:58 , Mike Jones
Kyren Wilson did what he had to do in that session. Twice Jak Jones won two frames in a row and twice Wilson responded by taking the next two.
Both players won four frames in the afternoon session meaning that Wilson needs just three more to win the title. In contrast Jak Jones must claim eight this evening and limit Wilson to just two.
It’s a mammoth task for the Welshman and all the money is with Wilson now.
Jak Jones 10-15 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
15:55 , Mike Jones
Jones doesn’t take the opportunity! He tries to position himself for later in the break and set the remaining reds up for easier pots.
In doing so he misses an easy pot on the yellow to the middle right pocket and Wilson has the easiest of jobs to do to tidy up the frame from here.
A quick break sees him win it 81-9 and he’ll head into the evening session with a lead of five frames.
Jak Jones 10-14 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
15:55 , Mike Jones
Oh Kyren! He just can’t get this frame over the line. Despite notching up 54 points, a lead of 52, he misses a simple pot and leaves Jones with a wonderful opportunity to get back into the match.
There are 67 points remaining and Jones will need most of them to clinch the frame. Can he do it?
Jak Jones 10-14 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
15:48 , Mike Jones
Wilson manages to open up a lead of 31 before he needs to leave the cueball safe. Jones’ response leaves him with a potential pot but it’s a thin cut to the bottom left that’s not a guarantee.
Wilson takes it on and misses!
Jones then takes on a long pot of his own to the same pocket and gets it to drop. Chance for him now...
... chance over. He plays for the black to the bottom right but hits it all wrong and doesn’t come close to potting it. Jones only scores one from his latest trip to the table.
Advantage Wilson.
Jak Jones 10-14 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
15:43 , Mike Jones
After getting on the board first, Jak Jones misses another difficult long pot to leave Wilson with the first proper chance to build a break.
He gets off to a competent start thanks to a couple of reds and the blue which help to position the cueball down by the black. There are a few loose reds to play for so Wilson will clean these up first before taking any risks.
Jak Jones 10-14 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
15:38 , Mike Jones
Jak Jones has the break in this final frame of the session. The cuebal only manages to creep past the baulk line and there’s a pot on for Kyren Wilson.
He doesn’t fancy it though and decides to play safe instead.
Jak Jones 10-14 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
15:35 , Mike Jones
Wonderful from Wilson. He needed to win a frame to keep Jones in check and does so with a break of 87 that cleans up the table and moves him another small step closer to the title.
There’s one frame left in the afternoon session. Jones needs to win it to keep himself on the verge of challenging Wilson.
Jak Jones 10-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
15:32 , Mike Jones
Red, colour, red is all that Wilson needs to move into an unassailable lead in this frame. His break extends to 31 as one of the needed reds goes in.
The blue follows and the cueball is sent down the table to rest by the top cushion. The next needed red is slipped into the bottom right pocket and the pink to the opposite corner follows.
That should be enough for him now.
Jak Jones 10-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
15:27 , Mike Jones
Nerves. This match is tense, this frame is tense. Wilson misses a tough shot on the pink and only manages a break of one. The reds are spread over the table so Jones needs to take on a shot as safety play won’t help him.
He lips a red out of the bottom right but doesn’t leave anything obvious on for Wilson. Perhaps one to the bottom right?
Yes, that’s where Wilson goes and drops the red in to set up a shot at the blue which hovers over the bottom left pocket. Opportunity here.
Jak Jones 10-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
15:25 , Mike Jones
The follow up for Jones is a straight blue to the top left. He’s been struggling with these types of shots and misses it again! The blue comes flying back down the table and knocks a red in at the same time meaning it’s a foul from Jones.
The momentum swings back to Wilson.
Jak Jones 10-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
15:23 , Mike Jones
He decides to play safe instead of taking on a risky pot and sits down with a lead of 13. The safety shot is strong but Jak Jones gets lucky.
He goes into the pack from the baulk cushion and one of the reds sneaks into the bottom left pocket!
He didn’t intend that at all but he’ll happily take it.
Jak Jones 10-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
15:22 , Mike Jones
Yes! A long pot across the table to the bottom right sees the first red drop in and Wilson is left with a follow up shot on the pink to the middle left.
A sliced red drops in the bottom left next which leaves an angle for the blue. Wilson is hoping to screw into the pack of reds but they don’t really open up.
It’s not a terrible shot as the break can go on but Wilson is worried about where the cueball will finish.
Jak Jones 10-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
15:19 , Mike Jones
Two more frames to play this afternoon and Wilson gets this next one underway. There’s a slight chance to pot a red into the bottom left pocket but he prefers to target one for the bottom right.
He misses and Wilson has an easier pot to score first. Can he take it?
Jak Jones 10-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
15:15 , Mike Jones
Kyren Wilson was 7-0 up in this match but since then Jak Jones was been the better player winning 10 of the last 16 frames. Wilson, who has left the arena for a quick break, needs to win the next frame to settle down again.
This is an intriguing part of this final. If Jones takes the next two frames he’s right back in the match.
Jak Jones 10-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
15:13 , Mike Jones
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
15:08 , Mike Jones
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
15:04 , Mike Jones
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
15:02 , Mike Jones
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
15:00 , Mike Jones
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
14:57 , Mike Jones
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
14:54 , Mike Jones
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
14:50 , Mike Jones
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
14:48 , Mike Jones
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
14:47 , Mike Jones
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!
Jak Jones 8-13 Kyren Wilson - World Snooker Championship 2024 final
14:43 , Mike Jones
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
14:39 , Mike Jones
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
14:37 , Mike Jones
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
14:34 , Mike Jones
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
14:26 , Mike Jones
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
14:21 , Mike Jones
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
14:18 , Mike Jones
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
14:15 , Mike Jones
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
14:10 , Mike Jones
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
14:08 , Mike Jones
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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