Kettering potter Wilson ends wait for rankings title as he beats Jones in Belfast

Taking on Jak Jones in the final, Wilson was in unstoppable form.

The 2024 world champion raced into a 6-2 lead in the afternoon session, and then took no time to win the three frames he needed in the evening to secure the Alex Higgins Trophy and the £100,000 top prize.

It was a first ranking title success for Wilson since his triumph in the Players Championship in 2025.

It has been a troublesome time on and off the table for the 34-year-old since then, as he has had to deal with many different issues, including his favourite cue being accidentally snapped, health problems for his wife Sophie and their family home being burgled.

Wilson's lack of progress in ranking titles had seen him drop to 23rd in the race to qualify for the World Championships at the Crucible in the spring.

But the win in Northern Ireland sees him return to the top 16 and on course for automatic qualification.

The victory was Wilson's 11th in ranking tournaments, and takes to 12th outright on the all-time list, moving ahead of the legendary Jimmy White.

It was also the second time he has won the Northern Irish Open, joining Judd Trump and Mark Allen as the only players to have won the tournament more than once.

Wilson, who trains out of Barratts Club in Northampton, remains ninth in the official Johnstone's Paint World Rankings, but leaps from 17th to fifth on the one-year list meaning is on course to qualify for all three events in the 2027 Players Series.

"It's a great honour to win the Alex Higgins Trophy," said Wilson, who had to battle back from 5-3 before edging past Sam Craigie 6-5 in his semi-final on Saturday.

"Obviously, he was a legend of our game and somebody I looked up to, watching back on the archives.

"To take it home for a second time is an incredible feeling. It's given me a little bit of a boost up the rankings, so I'm buzzing to win.

"So many top players went out early in the tournament, and I think that puts a bit of pressure on you to deliver.

"I'm pleased I've managed to produce good, consistent, heavy-scoring snooker. It's a good confidence booster for what's to come."

On his relief at breaking his rankings title drought, Wilson then added: "The way the tour works nowadays, winning a ranking title boosts you up into the World Grand Prix, the Players Championship and the Tour Championship.

"To not have a chance of defending my Players Championship title last season was a real blow, sitting at home watching that.

"Hopefully this has given me a good stepping stone into those tournaments this season. You've got to ride the crest of the wave while you can."

And Wilson was also delighted to go above White in the table for overall ranking title wins.

"To overtake Jimmy White's total of ranking titles is amazing because he was a hero of mine," said Wilson.

"I loved watching him play and he's like the godfather of snooker in my eyes. He's such an iconic figure in snooker."

Jones, who was also beaten by Wilson in the 2024 World final, admitted the better man had won.

"I should be pleased with getting to the final, with how I've played all week," said the Welshman.

"I haven't felt comfortable, but I've just battled through, while Kyren has played really well all week, so he thoroughly deserves it.

"I didn't feel very good at all and I was hoping something might happen to give me a bit of a spur, but I didn't have it.

"All of the misses I made, Kyren punished me every time."

Wilson will have a couple of days to enjoy his success before jetting off to China to play in the International Championship.

He is due to play fellow Englishman Liam Highfield in the second round in Nanjing at 6am UK time on Sunday (November 1).