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Kyren Wilson reached a second World Snooker Championship final by downing David Gilbert 17-11 at the semi-final stage at the Crucible Theatre and will face Welsh qualifier Jak Jones after he saw off Stuart Bingham.
Wilson won five frames on the bounce on Friday to surge into a 14-10 overnight lead - just three frames away from victory - and although Gilbert won the first of the day on Saturday afternoon to close the gap, Wilson knuckled down and won three on the trot to seal victory. Having lost in the 2020 World Championship final to Ronnie O'Sullivan in front of a Covid-reduced crowd, the world No 12 will now walk out on Sunday in front of a packed Crucible crowd as the favourite to lift a first world title.
The other last-four encounter was a much grittier affair than the relatively free-flowing contest between Wilson and Gilbert. It was slow going between Bingham and Jones, who were unable to be separated after the first two sessions before Welshman Jones pulled into a 13-10 lead with five frames on the spin on Saturday morning.
The duo were pulled off early due to slow play and although 2015 world champion Bingham did win the first frame of the evening, Jones managed to pull away to reach his first world final and set up a clash against Wilson.
Relive all the action from the World Snooker Championship below, and get the latest predictions and odds here:
1714860064Here's Jak Jones reflecting on his remarkable semi-final win over Stuart Bingham
Luke Baker4 May 2024 23:01
1714859279Five frames in succession in their second session on Friday evening had done the damage as Wilson turned a neck-and-neck clash, that was finely poised at 9-9, into a four-frame advantage he never looked likely to squander. Gilbert did reduce the deficit to 14-11 with a break of 70 in the opening frame of the day, but after coming off worse in a lengthy safety battle in the next, his fate was effectively sealed.
Wilson punched the air and blew a kiss to his family in the stand after potting the decisive blue and will start a heavy favourite in his second final against Jak Jones, who beat Stuart Bingham 17-12 in the second semi-final, which was much stodgier and slower going than the free-flowing Wilson v Gilbert contest.
Jones and Bingham had been locked at 8-8 heading into the first of two sessions on Saturday but Jones made the running in the morning to grind out a 13-10 advantage, although the pair were pulled off a frame early due to slow play. Bingham, the 2015 world champion, won the first frame of the evening session but could never pull closer than that as the Welshman kept winning lengthy, 40-minute frames and eventually got over the line by holding his nerve in frame 29.
Luke Baker4 May 2024 22:47
1714859199Great stuff from Jak Jones. A solid all-round game from the Welshman and he had more than enough to see off Stuart Bingham, who didn't perform to his best.
Jones will be an underdog against Kyren Wilson in the final tomorrow and Monday but he'll fancy the job.
Luke Baker4 May 2024 22:46
1714858844And Jak Jones wins the match - he's into the World Championship final!
Stuart Bingham not at his best in this match but Jones has held himself together so well and the Welsh qualifier will play his first world final against Kyren Wilson. Huge effort from the Cwmbran man.
Luke Baker4 May 2024 22:40
1714858678The first red wipes its feet before dropping for Jak Jones! Tell you what, the nerves are jangling now. The score reaches 60-2. Just a couple more pots now and he's in the final.
Luke Baker4 May 2024 22:37
1714858596Hmmm. Bingham swings his cue arm at a long pot tot he right corner from almost tight on the baulk cushion. Nowhere near... Feels like this match may be entering the end game.
But then Jones misses a pretty straightforward red to the green pocket! He cues across it and it rattles out. First sign of Crucible nerves as he nears the winning line?
Bingham in here with a long red but then he misses a straight brown. This is a golden chance for Jones to get it won.
Luke Baker4 May 2024 22:36
1714858371Jones reaches 52 and is left with a trick red to the right corner with the rest. And he misses it! It was tough to be fair.
Bingham trails 52-1 as he returns to the table but misses a tough pot up to the yellow pocket. No damage done for Jones. In fact, he pay have a pot to the left centre... Nope, just a safety. The Welshman in control here though. The world final is agonisingly close.
Luke Baker4 May 2024 22:32
1714858172Jones is holding it together so far in this break. A gorgeous, smooth pot on a mid-range black to the right corner keeps him perfectly on track and gets the highest-value colour back on its spot.
He moves to 30 points and this is turning into a glorious, match-winning chance now...
Luke Baker4 May 2024 22:29
1714858005Jones pots a red and pink to move on to eight points but another bout of protracted safety follows until Bingham rashly goes for a long pot and can only watch the red cannon up the table.
Another chance for Jones and he pots a red to the yellow pocket to get the break started.
Luke Baker4 May 2024 22:26
1714857265Into the next frame and this will be Jak Jones's first chance to book his place in a maiden World Championship final. It's hard to see Stuart Bingham winning five frames on the spin, given the way he's playing, but you never know.
A fluke for Jones as a red ends up in the middle pocket from a safety shot but no colour to follow. Bingham also potted a red without landing on a colour.
Luke Baker4 May 2024 22:14
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