Jak Jones enjoyed the best moment of his career as he stunned Mark Selby 10-6 in the final of the British Open.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Former Crucible finalist Jones knocked out Judd Trump in the semi-finals on Saturday and again proved that he relishes the big occasion as he outplayed four-time World Champion Selby in an enthralling contest in Cheltenham. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
From 5-5, Cwmbran’s 33-year-old Jones pulled away to win five of the last six frames to land the Clive Everton Trophy and a top prize of \u00a3100,000. Selby has a formidable record in ranking finals having won 26 of his previous 39, but this time it was his opponent who showed class and composure in the concluding phase. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The result continues a fabulous start to the season for Jones as he won his first title in July at the Championship League, and now becomes the 46th player in snooker history with multiple ranking crowns to his name. He jumps from 31st to 22nd in the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings and flies up to third on the one year list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Highly promising in his junior days, notably winning the European under-19 Championship in 2010, Jones has moved gradually along snooker’s long learning curve, but now has the experience and self belief to beat the toughest opponents. His run to the World Championship final in 2024 was a huge leap forward, despite defeat to Kyren Wilson, and the Welshman is now breaking new ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This week’s superb run has come despite distractions at home as his wife Inna is due to give birth to their second son within the coming days. Seemingly unflappable under pressure, Jones has maintained his focus on the table all week and can now enjoy the celebrations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Selby had looked to build on his best ever start to the season having won the China Open three weeks ago, but misses out on a 27th ranking title. After a trio of events in the Far East and then 4-3 scorelines in each of his first three matches this week, perhaps fatigue caught up with the 43-year-old and he uncharacteristically faded in the last session. Banking \u00a345,000, he moves up from fourth to second in the rankings, behind only Zhao Xintong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tied 4-4 after the first session, Jones took the opening frame tonight with breaks of 44 and 30, then Selby hit back with a run of 100 for 5-5. For the sixth time, Jones went ahead, compiling a break of 65 in frame 11, and Selby looked set to level again until he overcut a routine red to a top corner on 66 in the 12th. It came down to a safety exchange on the green and Jones laid a tough snooker, creating the chance for him to clear and gain daylight for the first time at 7-5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trailing 56-45 in frame 13, Jones potted the penultimate red from long range but was unlucky to see the cue ball drop into a centre pocket, and Selby capitalised to halve his deficit. In the next Selby was 18-13 down when he under-hit an awkward black to a top corner, playing with the extended spider rest, and Jones punished him with 53 for 8-6. Soon Jones was three up with four to play thanks to a run of 62.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Early in frame 16, Jones potted six reds with blacks before a tricky red to centre on 48 hit the far jaw. Selby clawed his way back, taking it to the colours, but a tough final green stayed out, and that proved his last shot as Jones slotted in green, brown, blue and pink. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The Championship League felt good, but obviously this is a completely different level, it\u2019s a major tournament,” said Jones. “I\u2019m over the moon. I felt I dragged Mark down a little bit throughout the day. I just kind of battled away and made a few 50 and 60 breaks. But to beat someone like Mark, who\u2019s an all-time great and has won everything in the game, is incredible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It’s definitely the best day of my career. Winning a ranking event is better than coming runner-up in a World Championship. To finally win a big tournament like this \u2013 I thought it might not happen. It’s an unbelievable start to the season for me, so I’m buzzing. It has been tough for 15 years, I have been battling away but haven’t really achieved that much, so to start winning titles feels amazing.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Selby said: “Jak played great from start to finish, he scored well and his safety was good. He was the best player on on the day. I felt it was only a matter of time before he started winning titles.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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