Kyren Wilson Dominates Jak Jones to Win 2026 Northern Ireland Open
Englishman Kyren Wilson secured a 9-2 victory over Welsh challenger Jak Jones to win the Northern Ireland Open snooker title at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast on October 25, 2026, capturing the Alex Higgins trophy and a £100,000 winner’s purse.
The win marks Wilson’s eleventh career ranking title, lifting the 34-year-old past Jimmy White in all-time ranking tournament victories and placing him 12th on the all-time list. For Jones, aiming for his third tournament win of the season, the defeat followed grueling late-night semi-final finishes that left him visibly fatigued in a rematch of the 2024 World Championship final.
How the Waterfront Hall Final Unfolded
Wilson set an aggressive tone early in the Sunday afternoon session by opening with a century break of 101. Jones responded to equalize with a 72, but Wilson quickly seized control by taking three straight frames, featuring runs of 60 and 135, to establish a 4-1 lead before the mid-session interval. Jones stopped the momentum in frame six with a 130 break, yet Wilson answered with breaks of 67 and 105 to close the first session ahead at 6-2.
Upon resumption in the evening, Jones needed an immediate response but managed only 21 total points across the three remaining frames. Wilson rolled through a low-scoring ninth frame, moved to the brink at 8-2, and sealed the 9-2 result with a 75 break in the eleventh frame.
Reflecting on his victory, Wilson told the World Snooker Tour that claiming the trophy named after Alex Higgins—whom he looked up to growing up—was a significant honor, particularly after several top players exited the tournament early. The triumph provides a critical ranking boost for Wilson, whose form had dipped without a semi-final appearance in a ranking event since his Players Championship victory in March 2025. That slump had left him at risk of falling outside the world’s top 16 and facing qualifying rounds for the 2027 World Championship, a threat now substantially lessened.
Wilson Leads Home Nations Series Order of Merit
With his quarter-final run at the English Open last month and this title in Belfast, Wilson moves to the top of the Home Nations Series order of merit race. The player accumulating the highest total prize money across all four Home Nations stops will claim a £150,000 bonus, with the Scottish and Welsh Opens still remaining on the calendar.
Both Wilson and Jones will return to action next week. The World Snooker Tour continues with the 2026 International Championship in Nanjing, China, running from October 31 to November 7, 2026.
Disclaimer: The insights provided in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or sports betting recommendations.
Belfast belongs to The Warrior 🏆Kyren Wilson is crowned Northern Ireland Open champion 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zOExF2ZGCC