Kyren Wilson dominated the 2024 Northern Eire Open remaining as he romped to a 9-3 overcome Judd Trump in Belfast on Sunday.
In a battle between the world numbers one and two, Wilson managed the competition from begin to end on the Waterfront Corridor.
Success for the Englishman marks his first in a Residence Nations occasion, having beforehand misplaced closely in finals of the English and Welsh Opens.
It additionally prolongs the high quality season he’s having fun with because the reigning world champion, turning into the primary participant this time period to say a brace of rating titles.
Along with pocketing the £100,000 champion’s cheque, Wilson etches his title onto the Alex Higgins Trophy.
Given his kind all through 2024, most individuals most likely had Trump because the marginal favorite heading into the showdown for glory.
A detailed encounter was anticipated, however an unexpectedly sluggish begin by the world primary meant that he was chasing from the off.
Wilson scored a break of 58 within the first body and snatched the second on the black, thereafter by no means trying again as he proceeded to win the primary seven frames with out reply.
Trump gained the final body of the primary session and two out of the opening three frames when play resumed for the night, together with a terrific 143 complete clearance.
However the document four-time Northern Eire Open champion had left himself far an excessive amount of to do by way of mounting any type of sensible restoration.
Wilson duly accomplished his eighth profession rating triumph in type with a 119 century break within the twelfth and what proved to be remaining body.
It’s the second time the Kettering cueist has received one over on Trump in a title-deciding affair this season.
Wilson additionally beat his countryman to win the inaugural Xi’an Grand Prix silverware in August, and in reality it’s his fourth victory in 5 finals contested with Trump.
There was a wholesome rivalry between the pair for a few years, and it is going to be attention-grabbing to see if that develops additional within the coming campaigns.
Whereas snooker stays comparatively aggressive on the high, with a number of gamers in a position to get in on the profitable act together with these exterior the highest 16, Trump and Wilson are the clear front-runners at current.
This may be supported not solely by their respective rating positions at one and two, but additionally the tally of trophies they’ve been accumulating of late.
Trump, a persistent presence on the enterprise finish of occasions all 12 months, will likely be upset to have missed out on a record-extending fifth Northern Eire Open title.
However his consistency stays outstanding, and he’ll doubtless be there or thereabouts within the different occasions throughout this calendar 12 months as effectively.
Wilson, although, is once more the person of the second and can head to approaching occasions just like the Worldwide Championship and the Champion of Champions with confidence excessive.
Featured picture credit score: WST
