Jak Jones secures World Championship final spot with victory over Stuart Bingham

Jak Jones sealed his status as one of the unlikeliest of World Snooker Championship finalists after completing an attritional 17-12 triumph over former champion Stuart Bingham at the Crucible.

The world number 44, who has never previously reached a ranking final, will face Kyren Wilson in the two-day final starting on Sunday after Wilson overcame David Gilbert 17-11.

Jones fought through two qualifying rounds just to reach the first round proper and becomes only the ninth qualifier in 47 years at the Crucible to clinch his place in the final.

“It’s crazy, it was totally unexpected coming into the tournament,” said Jones. “I don’t think I’ve played particularly well. I’ve watched the world final every year on TV at home and to be in it doesn’t feel real yet, it hasn’t sunk in.”

Bingham had pulled back to 13-11 in the first frame of the evening session, but the match pivoted in the next when Bingham made an inexplicable error attempting to play safe on the green and let the Welshman in to clear up and re-establish a three-frame lead.

Jones maintained his advantage through more tough frames in a match that drifted towards 12-and-a-half hours, then capitalised on a missed black by Bingham to move one frame from victory with a coolly-taken 70 break.

More errors from Bingham served up the first chance for Jones in the next and he won it in two visits to complete his fairy tale run to the final.

“I don’t feel that excited to be honest,” shrugged Jones. “I suppose I should, but I’ve had so much disappointment so far in my career that I don’t get particularly excited. I don’t get too down, and when I do win, no matter how big it is, I just feel like it’s job done.”

Earlier, 12th seed Wilson took three of the four frames required