World Championship LIVE – Can Jones fight back against Wilson?

Jones slotting a brilliant long red straight off the bat after coming down the stairs at the Crucible to a huge ovation amid the sounds of Dakota by The Stereophonics, but he misses a blue to the green pocket seconds later to give Wilson chance to score with hand on table. Nice to get moving early on.

This duo have faced each other six times outwith this final with Wilson 5-1 up on the career head-to-heads. Wilson was a 6-0 winner in the UK Championship last 64 three years ago with Jones a 5-4 winner at the same stage of the 2021 German Masters.

The final day of the final, snooker’s biggest showpiece match, and the 48th World Championship with a new champion set to be crowned. Kyren Wilson holds an 11-6 lead heading for home and will rise to number three in the world if he can win another seven frames. But it is far from a done deal with Jak Jones aiming to continue his comeback today after losing the first session 7-1, but reducing his arrears to 11-6 last night. He’ll be looking to win this third session at least 5-3 which would enable him to return this evening trailing only 14-11. Easier said than done. If Wilson repeats yesterday opening blitz, we wouldn’t need another session tonight. Boys on baize at back of 1pm.

But Eurosport’s Alan McManus reckons Jones’ steely handshake to end Sunday said a lot.

“Some of the best statements that you see from players out there are the ones that aren’t actually said at all,” ‘Angles’ said.

“It’s the look in the eye, I loved the handshake. Jak kind of looked at him, it was like ‘see you tomorrow’. That’s what his eyes were saying, he wanted to look Kyren in the eye.

“Tomorrow’s all business and I’ve got you in my sights – it was one of those.”