SHEFFIELD, England (AP) — English player Kyren Wilson won the world snooker championship for the first time on Monday, beating Jak Jones of Wales 18-14 in a match between two surprise finalists at the Crucible Theatre.
Wilson, who lost the 2020 final to Ronnie O’Sullivan, was never seriously troubled after flying into a 7-0 lead in the two-day final in Sheffield. He was nearly in tears as he potted balls at the end of the final frame.
Neither the No. 12-ranked Wilson nor Jones, who is ranked No. 44 and came through qualifying, were showing any kind of form leading into the worlds to suggest they were ready to win snooker’s biggest prize.
In a tournament full of surprises, both O’Sullivan — the game’s greatest player who was seeking a modern day-record eighth world title — and Judd Trump both exited at the quarterfinal stage. Wilson was the only semifinalist who wasn’t a qualifier.
Wilson pocketed a first prize of 500,000 pounds ($630,000).
AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
College protests: Columbia University cancels main commencement
Randal Gaines defeats Katie Bernhardt to become new chair of Louisiana Democratic Party
Death toll rises to 13 following Taiwan's 7.3
China promotes human organ donation, transplantation
Nutrition experts add traffic light health labels to famous food paintings
China promotes human organ donation, transplantation
New rules to help improve flow of data
Marlins' Jake Burger placed on injured list with left intercostal muscle strain
The number of fish on US overfishing list reaches an all
House Speaker Mike Johnson leaves uncertain his plan to advance aid for Israel and Ukraine
I'm jealous of my husband's dead ex
Maine is the latest to join an interstate compact to elect the president by popular vote