Kyren Wilson dominated the 2024 Northern Ireland Open final as he romped to a 9-3 triumph over Judd Trump in Belfast on Sunday.
In a battle between the world numbers one and two, Wilson controlled the contest from start to finish at the Waterfront Hall.
Success for the Englishman marks his first in a Home Nations event, having previously lost heavily in finals of the English and Welsh Opens.
It also prolongs the fine season he is enjoying as the reigning world champion, becoming the first player this term to claim a brace of ranking titles.
In addition to pocketing the £100,000 champion’s cheque, Wilson etches his name onto the Alex Higgins Trophy.
Given his form throughout 2024, most people probably had Trump as the marginal favourite heading into the showdown for glory.
A close encounter was expected, but an unexpectedly slow start by the world number one meant that he was chasing from the off.
Wilson scored a break of 58 in the first frame and snatched the second on the black, thereafter never looking back as he proceeded to win the first seven frames without reply.
Trump won the last frame of the first session and two out of the opening three frames when play resumed for the evening, including a terrific 143 total clearance.
But the record four-time Northern Ireland Open champion had left himself far too much to do in terms of mounting any sort of realistic recovery.
Wilson duly completed his eighth career ranking triumph in style with a 119 century break in the 12th and what proved to be final frame.
It’s the second time the Kettering cueist has got one over on Trump in a title-deciding affair this season.
Wilson also beat his countryman to win the inaugural Xi’an Grand Prix silverware in August, and in fact it’s his fourth victory in five finals contested with Trump.
There has been a healthy rivalry between the pair for many years, and it will be interesting to see if that develops further in the coming campaigns.
While snooker remains relatively competitive at the top, with several players able to get in on the winning act including those outside the top 16, Trump and Wilson are the clear front-runners at present.
This can be supported not only by their respective ranking positions at one and two, but also the tally of trophies they have been collecting of late.
Trump, a persistent presence at the business end of events all year, will be disappointed to have missed out on a record-extending fifth Northern Ireland Open title.
But his consistency remains remarkable, and he’ll likely be there or thereabouts in the other events during this calendar year as well.
Wilson, though, is again the man of the moment and will head to upcoming events like the International Championship and the Champion of Champions with confidence high.
Featured photo credit: WST
