Kyren Wilson v Jak Jones live stream | Northern Ireland Open 2026 Final preview
Wilson and Jones look to get their hands on the Alex Higgins trophy (Credit: PA Images)
Kyren Wilson locks horns with Jak Jones in another big final, with both setting their sights on Northern Ireland Open glory in Belfast on Sunday.
It is just under two-and-a-half years since the pair contested the Crucible showpiece, with Wilson prevailing an 18-14 winner.
The Warrior has won eight of his nine previous meetings with Jones, and another victory here would end his 19-month wait for ranking silverware.
Wilson, who had been in danger of dropping out of the top 16 on the provisional WST ranking list, has enjoyed a resurgence this week at the Waterfront Hall, where he also lifted the Alex Higgins trophy two years ago.
The reigning Masters champion whitewashed Ben Mertens 4-0 and beat Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 4-2, before edging out Pang Junxu 4-3 in the round of 16.
Wilson eased past Anthony McGill 6-1, but had to dig deep against Sam Craigie, recovering from 5-3 down before clearing from yellow to pink to scrape through in a deciding frame and advance to his 19th ranking final.
The Warrior now looks to become the third multiple Northern Ireland Open champion after Judd Trump and Mark Allen, as well as just the seventh player to win two or more Home Nations titles.
Meanwhile, Jones would be the 24th different winner in the Series, and the seventh to lift the Alex Higgins trophy.
It has been a breakthrough season for the Welshman, who won his maiden career ranking title at the Championship League, and followed it up by triumphing at the British Open.
Jones is fresh from an inspired turnaround against Mark Williams, who led 4-1 in their semi-final and looked set to go 5-1 in front, until he missed a routine yellow.
The Silent Assassin fought back to prevail in a second successive deciding frame, having also edged out Scott Donaldson 6-5 in the last eight.
Jones had opened the week with a 4-1 win over Tom Ford, before back-to-back 4-2 victories over four-time World champion John Higgins and compatriot Daniel Wells.
He now stands on the brink of a third ranking title in the space of just over three months, but must avenge his 2024 Crucible heartbreak over the best of 17 frames in order to do so.
The final breaks off at 1pm GMT at the Waterfront Hall on Sunday, before resuming and playing to a finish from 7pm.
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