World Snooker Championship: Kyren Wilson digs in to retain five-frame lead over Jak Jones going into final session – Eurosport

Kyren Wilson split the third session with Jak Jones to maintain his five-frame lead in the World Championship final.

Wilson raced into a big lead in the first session and nursed it for the next two, and leads 15-10 in the race to 18 – with the players returning to play to a conclusion at the Crucible on Monday evening.

Jones fought valiantly on Monday afternoon, but Wilson responded on each occasion and took the final frame to maintain his lead.

Jones did not gain position and after missing a tough blue, Wilson had a chance to counter. He potted a fine red but played a poor positional shot and compounded the error by following it with a slack safety.

Wilson’s errors were punished, as Jones crafted a break of 64 to cut the gap to four.

Jones’ playing style has been criticised, but he is not afraid to attack and he proved it with a stunning opening pot in the 19th. With reds scattered, Jones took on a pot to the left middle knowing if it had missed he would have dished up the table for Wilson.

He knocked it in and made a break of 59 to cut Wilson’s lead to three frames at 11-8.

When Wilson came under pressure in session two, he responded to keep Jones at arm’s length. A superb break of 50 in the 20th halted Jones’ momentum and he seized on a poor break from his opponent to craft a run of 83 in the 21st to share the mini-session and restore his five-frame advantage. 

Wilson had the chance to extend his lead after Jones misjudged a pink, but he played a poor positional shot and missed a tough black. 

Jones stepped in with a 90 to equal his highest break of the contest to take the 22nd.

Wilson made another error in the 23rd and Jones, “made of granite” in the words of Philip Studd in the Eurosport commentary box, made 73 to get back within three frames.

Made of granite is a phrase that could easily apply to Wilson as well. With Jones raining down blows, Wilson responded in the 24th with a break of 87 to move four clear once again.

The final frame of the afternoon session had a big feel to it. Take it, and Wilson would be three frames from the winning line. If it fell to Jones, he would be within three of his opponent.

Wilson picked Jones’ pocket in the final frame on Sunday, and Jones had a chance to respond in kind in the 25th but missed a yellow when in the balls and Wilson picked off the points he needed to extend his lead to five frames going into the evening.
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