Kyren Wilson is the world snooker champion for the first time after triumphing over Jak Jones at the Crucible on Monday.
Both men were somewhat surprising finalists, with big-hitters like Mark Selby, Judd Trump, and even Ronnie O'Sullivan knocked out before the World Snooker Championship even reached the semi-finals.
Having cruised past David Gilbert in the last four, Wilson was the favourite for the decider against 44th seed Jones.
Jones, to his credit, had knocked out Mak Williams, Si Jiahui, and highly-favoured Judd Trump en route to the final but, ultimately, this weekend's final was a relatively comfortable 18-12 defeat for the Welsh player.
Speaking after the final, Jones revealed the dreadful preparation he had inadvertently endured ahead of the decider - but said that he did not "want to make excuses."
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World Snooker Championship: Jak Jones details nightmare preparation for final v Kyren Wilson
HE'S DONE IT. ⚔️#CazooWorldChampionship @CazooHelp @KyrenWilson pic.twitter.com/Yp9eI8wsuK
— WST (@WeAreWST) May 6, 2024
Kyren Wilson's routine semi-final victory over David Gilbert allowed him a relaxed preparation for the final against Jak Jones - but things were very different for his opponent.
With Jones only winning out over Stuart Bingham late in the evening session, media duties dragged on late into the night on Saturday - a night which was to be sleepless for the Welshman.
The final was underway early on Sunday morning and Wilson demolished his opponent, taking a ruthless 7-1 victory in the first session. Speaking after he ultimately fell to an 18-14 defeat, Jones admitted that his stunted preparation may have played a role in his sluggish start to the final.
I don't really want to make excuses because I would have lost anyway. Kyren played exceptionally well in that first session especially.
It's quite difficult going from a semi-final...I didn't get back to the hotel until gone 1am. You can't get to sleep straight away after a match like that, a big semi-final.
I didn't sleep that night at all. So when I came for the first session...I just felt flat. I didn't go to sleep, I just stayed wide awake.
I never drink Red Bull, I tried to use that to get me through. But it didn't work.
That's the way it is. Kyren probably would have beaten me anwyay, he played exceptionally well in that first session anyway.
It may well be a case of "what if?" for Jones, who did not lose again in any of the following three sessions of the final, ultimately clawing back a chunk of the six-frame deficit he was left chasing after the first session.
Regardless, Kyren Wilson is a fully deserving first time champion at the World Snooker Championship - and will hope to defeat the infamous Crucible curse at next year's tournament.
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