Kyren Wilson beat Jak Jones 9–2 in Belfast on October 25, local time, to win the Northern Ireland Open for the second time and lift the Alex Higgins Trophy. It was his 11th ranking title and his first in 19 months, since the 2025 Players Championship.
Three first-session centuries establish a 6–2 lead
Wilson opened with a break of 101 before Jones leveled at 1–1 with 72. Jones then scored just ten points across the next three frames as Wilson built breaks including 39, 60 and 135 to move 4–1 ahead. Those consecutive losses left Jones chasing the match early.
Jones pulled a frame back with a 130 in the sixth, but could not sustain a comeback. Wilson immediately won the next two with breaks of 67 and 105 to end the first session 6–2 up. His three centuries in the session were complemented by frames built through more than one visit.
Three evening frames complete the final
When play resumed in the evening, Wilson had reached 44 in frame nine when he accidentally potted the black along with a red. He later regained an opportunity with a long red and added the points he needed to win the frame. In the tenth, he missed a black after making 34, but returned to add 45 and extend his lead to 8–2.
In frame eleven, Jones scored six before missing the black near its spot. Wilson delivered the finishing blow with a 75 to complete a 9–2 victory. WST's post-match report recorded that the evening session lasted only about 45 minutes. Jones admitted he had struggled with his cueing all day and found it increasingly difficult after mistakes, while Wilson kept turning chances into points.
The drought concerned ranking titles, and the ranking lists differ
The 19-month wait does not mean Wilson had won no titles at all: he also won the Shanghai Masters and the Masters last season, both invitational events. This ranking title earned him £100,000. His official world ranking remained ninth, but he climbed from 17th to fifth on the one-year list, improving his position in the race to qualify for later Players Series events. Jones earned £45,000 and rose from 24th to 18th in the world rankings.
Northern Ireland Open final result
| Player | First-session frames | Evening-session frames | Total frames |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyren Wilson | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| Jak Jones | 2 | 0 | 2 |
INKA SPORTS analysis: Second chances mattered alongside the centuries
Wilson's three first-session centuries stood out, but the ninth and tenth frames in the evening better illustrate how he turned his lead into victory. His breaks ended in both, yet he returned when his opponent failed to take control. Jones was capable of high breaks, as his 130 in the sixth demonstrated; the problem was his inability to sustain those performances long enough to make a substantial recovery.
The 9–2 result should therefore not be explained solely by any single outstanding attacking break from Wilson. Winning frames consecutively in the opening session created room for error, while further visits in the evening reduced the cost of his mistakes. Jones also acknowledged afterward that his opponent had played well all week.
Conclusion
Wilson ended his wait for a ranking title through high scoring and the ability to capitalize on second chances. The victory improved his one-year ranking and strengthened his position for upcoming events, without guaranteeing every qualification place. For Jones, reaching the final and climbing the rankings were gains. Reducing runs of mistakes and sustaining a comeback beyond a single frame remain lessons from this match.
