Kyren Wilson’s hard-earned world title is a win for snooker’s lost generation

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The final balls made a loud sound as they fell into the pockets. Kyren Wilson was especially happy at this moment because the game was finished and his opponent wouldn't have another turn. He had some time to himself before the trophy presentation and the celebratory confetti. Before all the media attention and interviews, and before he had to agree to take pictures with fans for the rest of his life. He savored this peaceful moment, holding onto the feeling for just a little while longer.

With his backswing that resembles a swinging pendulum, Wilson effortlessly guided the cue stick through the bridge hand and towards the white ball. After devoting three decades to the game, potting and missing thousands upon thousands of balls, and countless hours of ruminating on his strategies, he finally accomplished his ultimate goal. Overcome with relief, he shouted with joy in front of his loved ones - Kyren Wilson, the world champion.

He was absolutely sure he would make it to the final. No one had come as close to defeating him as John Higgins in the quarter-finals, but he still lost by five frames. David Gilbert lost by six, Joe O'Connor by seven, and Dominic Dale by nine. However, the final match was intense and filled with nerves, as he managed to fend off Jak Jones's late rally and eventually win 18-14.

On the second day of the match, Jones narrowly won, but the real game-changer happened on Sunday afternoon. Wilson quickly gained a lead of 7-0, leaving Jones feeling powerless and defeated, as if he was trapped in a dense fog. Later that evening, Jones regained his clarity, but he was always lagging behind Wilson, constantly playing catch-up and unable to make any real progress.

In the game, there were many moments that could have changed the outcome, but two stood out. The first was during the last frame on Sunday evening. Wilson managed to get the snooker he required and then pot all the colors after a long and difficult battle over the black. As they shook hands afterwards, Jones looked pale and unhappy. If everything had gone according to plan, it would have been 10-7 when they ended that night. However, because of that significant moment, the score was 11-6 instead.

Towards the end of a long Monday afternoon, there was a fierce battle going on between the two players. They were both feeling very tired, like boxers who had fought their way to the final round and were now leaning on each other to keep from falling. Jones missed out on some great opportunities while Wilson barely made it to the finish line, ending the round with a 15-10 lead. If Wilson had only managed 14-11, it might have made for a more nervous dinner.

Upon their return, Wilson emerged victorious in the first frame of the night, only to be met with an impressive century from Jones. The next frame was won by Wilson in a thrilling fashion, as they stumbled upon an unexpected re-spotted black, putting them just one point away from defeating their opponent.

Next up was a remarkable attack by Jones, who felt liberated by his newly acquired status of a doomed person who has nothing to lose. He skillfully won the next three rounds and played some remarkable snooker at times, even attempting a thrilling 147 that unfortunately failed when there were only three red balls left on the table. At this point, Jones had climbed up to a score of 17-14 and it was evident that Wilson was becoming increasingly uneasy.

After hesitating for a while, he ultimately decided to take a risk. Following an embrace from Jones, he released his emotions and cried.

Wilson expressed that his parents had taken out another mortgage and worked tirelessly to give him this opportunity. He acknowledged that his brother had played a significant role in his journey as well, as he had accompanied him on tour as a coach, public relations representative, confidante, and trustworthy companion. The success that he had attained was truly a collaborative effort by his family and loved ones.

Wilson remarked that Jones was very resilient and durable. The cheering from the crowd was so intense that he believed no one in Wales was left sitting. The cheering contributed to an excellent atmosphere and Wilson gave credit to the crowd. Wilson and Jak both progressed through the junior ranks. This was Jak's premiere final and first world final. He behaved remarkably well, and Wilson is confident Jak will return.

This tournament won't become a legendary event. The tables were narrow, which caused fewer century breaks and more shots being missed. There weren't as many famous players present since many of the top 16 fell in the first round, and the favorites, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump, never made it to the semi-finals where they would have had an exciting match.

Despite everything, the ending is still satisfying and feels right, like a perfectly fitting glove. Wilson spent ten years building his career brick by brick with hard work and dedication. He made it to the Crucible in 2014, then progressed to the semi-finals in 2018, where he was defeated by John Higgins' superior matchplay skills. Then, in 2020, amidst the Covid pandemic, Wilson made it to his first final in an empty Crucible. Unfortunately, he was no match for O'Sullivan who mercilessly beat him 18-8.

Maybe it was a good thing that no one talked much about him before the tournament. Even though his season was not as good as usual, Wilson had everything he needed. He had been to the finals before and had learned from tough experiences in the past. He was able to avoid attention and distractions and easily made his way to the final without many obstacles.

Of course, O'Sullivan is an essential part of the snooker scene, but it's also important for new players to emerge. Look at how Luke Littler brought excitement to darts - imagine what a talented teenager could do for snooker. While he's not as young as some of the other players, Wilson's win marks the arrival of a new generation of talent. It's worth noting that until recently, there hadn't been a snooker world champion born in the 1990s. However, now we have two - Wilson and last year's winner, Luca Brecel.

Jones and I belong to the same age group, and there's a chance for him to make a comeback. At the age of 30, he has ample room to grow and utilize his experience. This week, he mentioned that he could perform even better if he stays calm during other tournaments. His enduring adventure began in mid-April, culminating in playing snooker for 55 hours. It's possible that he can learn from this experience and apply it to future tournaments.

However, based on Jones's CV thus far, he doesn't seem to be a potential future champion of the sport. In his decade-long career, he has never reached a final in any ranking tournament until now. As he kept missing his chances at the table, it seemed as if he was losing the opportunity of a lifetime. Each frame that he didn't win added to this feeling.

Jones expressed his congratulations to Kyren and his family with utmost sincerity. He smiled the whole time during the final and maintained the same pleasant expression while giving his speech. According to him, Kyren was truly worthy of the win and therefore, he deserved all the praise.

The tournament has been an incredible experience for me. A month ago, I played my first qualifying match, and it's been a strenuous journey since then. Nonetheless, I'm content with my performance. I didn't have high expectations; all I wanted was to do my best and observe what will happen. However, playing against someone as excellent as Kyren, with a remarkable all-rounded game, it was challenging to recover from a low score and win. Sadly, it didn't work out in my favor.