World snooker champion Kyren Wilson on turning Crucible heartbreak into celebrations

The 32-year-old from Kettering became the 23rd person to triumph at Sheffield’s Crucible theatre on Monday night, beating tenacious qualifier Jak Jones 18-14.

“I have dreamed of this since I was six years old," said Wilson.

“To win it with all my family there was just how I imagined it. Jak fought and made it so hard for me, it was tough to hold it all together.

“In the last frame I just kept potting balls and suddenly I had potted match ball and I was World Champion. It means everything.”

The platform for Wilson’s first Triple Crown trophy was laid in Sunday’s opening session when he won the opening seven frames.

And while Welshman Jones, 30, showed the safety skills and calmness which had propelled him to his first ranking final, he could never claw the deficit back.

Wilson had previously reached the Crucible final back in 2020, played out in front of a limited crowd due to the Covid pandemic, but lost to Ronnie O’Sullivan. The world No 12 was able to draw on that experience to quickly stamp his authority on the game.

“I was gutted to lose the final to Ronnie in 2020 and if that had been my only final I would have been heart-broken,” he said.

“I remember being drained in the first session of that final.

“This time I felt great, and when I saw Jak I thought he might struggle, I knew that was the moment to kick on. From 7-0 I knew I just had to avoid losing a session heavily, and to keep making it hard for him.”

Jones missed out on becoming only the third qualifier – after Terry Griffiths and Shaun Murphy – to lift the Crucible trophy. But his consolation was a £200,000 prize which rockets him up the rankings to 14th in the world.

Jones said: “I left myself with too much to do from 7-0. After my semi-final on Saturday night I didn't get back to the hotel until 1am, and didn't sleep at all that night.

“I felt flat yesterday in the first session, though Kyren came out flying and would probably have beaten me anyway.

“If I could have got to 17-15 tonight I might have had a chance, he might have started twitching. But I was just too far behind.

“I am proud to have got this far without playing that well, it has been my B or C game most of the time. So to beat some of the best players and get so close to the title gives me a lot of confidence.

“I have learned a lot about how to handle this event and I believe I can come back and win it. Being in the top 16 now is a major plus and I want to build on that.”

Wilson’s victory marked the 10-year anniversary of his first appearance at the Crucible in 2014.

He has reached three quarter-finals, two semi-finals and lost in a final before this year.

Which made Monday’s success all the more sweeter for the father-of-two, who broke down in tears as he shared the winning moment with family and friends, including wife Sophie and sons Bailey and Finley.

Improvements to his diet and fitness have been key this season. But Wilson had his own special celebrations in mind.

“I am sick to death of salmon!” he joked. “I'm having a kebab and a few beers tonight!

“I have slept really well throughout the tournament and that is important.

“I believe I can be a multiple world champion – hopefully the first one is the hardest to win."