Nothing is ever decided on day one of the World Snooker Championship final. Far from it, in fact. But if it is Kyren Wilson, who leads 11-6, lifting snooker’s most prestigious prize on Monday evening instead of the courageous Welshman Jak Jones there is no doubting the three hours of chaos on Sunday afternoon will have been the difference.
Jones deserves immense credit for rallying in Sunday’s evening session to make this year’s final seem in the balance going into the second and final day. Trailing 7-0 at one stage earlier in proceedings, we were genuinely entering historic territory.
Not since 1993 has a final been decided with a session to spare but when Wilson won the first seven frames without reply, it was hard not to wonder what legends of the past those in attendance on Monday evening would be seeing square off in an exhibition to fill the slot.
However, Jones has at least likely ensured the final will reach on Monday evening after battling back magnificently. He raised his fist to the crowd with apparent sarcasm in the afternoon after winning his first frame to avoid an opening session whitewash.
He would have envisaged doing the same again at the culmination of the evening session but this time with belief he could win against all the odds. However, you cannot help but wonder just how significant the final frame on Sunday evening could prove to be.
Both players had their chances to win it. If Jones had prevailed, he’d have trailed by just three. However, Wilson not only claimed the frame to move five ahead overnight, but the momentum too – and he is now hot favourite to win his first world title.
The only other two players to be 7-0 behind after the opening seven frames of a final were Jimmy White in 1991, who ultimately lost to John Parrott – and Dennis Taylor, who went 8-0 behind in 1985. And we all know what happened that year.
Perhaps it was the fact Jones had to play until late on Saturday evening against Stuart Bingham while his opponent had already got the job done earlier in the day. There is no question that Jones, who has had to play over 20 hours more snooker than Wilson to get to the final, looked jaded on Sunday afternoon.
Perhaps it was Wilson’s prior experience of a final – having admitted in the buildup he drank too much beer and ate too much pizza the night before his 2020 final defeat to Ronnie O’Sullivan – which helped him settle quicker. But whatever the reason, the first final to be contested by two players both bidding for a first world title in almost 20 years was only heading one way at 5pm on Sunday.
Now, its at least slightly more in the balance, but Wilson is heavy favourite, leading 11-6. Wilson was as magnificent as Jones was indifferent on Sunday afternoon. Two century breaks and four more over 50 pushed him 7-0 ahead but there were undisputed frames Jones could, and perhaps should, have won.
The history books were being rewritten as Wilson moved 7-0 ahead but, when Jones claimed the last frame of the session to narrow the gap to six, it at least felt as though there was something to build upon. But the pair split the opening four frames of the evening session, leaving Wilson in control at 9-3.
However, Jones responded well in the final frames of that session. He won three of the next four to make it 10-6; a commanding lead for Wilson, yes, but one that could have been far worse given how proceedings began earlier in the day. The final frame of the day was huge: arguably the most important of both players’ careers to this point.
It was the difference between a five or three-frame lead overnight, and it was stacked with tension. Jones left Wilson needing a snooker, which Wilson got before clearing the colours to the black. However, Wilson missed it, leading to an absorbing and nerve-shredding safety exchange.
The winner of this frame may not necessarily have held the lead overnight, but they would have undoubtedly had the momentum. And both players clearly knew it given how edgy their play was. And when Jones attempted a risky double, he could only leave the black over the pocket.
Wilson took full advantage and this time, it was he who fist-pumped the Crucible crowd. Come Monday evening, that frame could prove to be the most important of them all.
