Story Of The 2024 Cazoo World Championship

Snooker’s greatest show once again produced shocks, nail biting moments and saw a lifelong dream fulfilled. 

Here is the story of how the Warrior finally conquered the Crucible…

Round One 

The Crucible Curse struck on the very first day of the tournament, as Luca Brecel was sent packing after a 10-9 defeat against David Gilbert. 

A year ago the Belgian produced a dazzling standard of attacking snooker to beat the likes of Mark Williams, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Selby to capture his maiden world title. However, Brecel faltered at the finishing post in his first round tie this year, after leading 9-6. 

Gilbert stormed to four consecutive frames to dump defending champion Brecel out 10-9. That was a continuation of the fact that no first time champion has ever successfully defended their title. 

Tamworth’s Gilbert admitted that releasing his anger in the dressing room acted as a catalyst for turning the match around. 

Gilbert said: “I was chucking apples and bananas around the dressing room. But I wanted to be out there, so that bit of anger helped me. A couple of months ago I would have given up early in the match because a few things went against me.”

Joe O’Connor was this year’s only debutant, making his bow at the Theatre of Dreams at the age of 28. He faced his childhood hero, four-time World Champion and fellow Leicester cueman Mark Selby. 

O’Connor upset the odds and scored a stunning 10-6 win, after which Selby refused to rule out retirement. 

"Just to play Mark on my debut was unbelievable, and to win is a dream," said O'Connor. "I have watched him since I started playing and he has always inspired me. I hope he doesn't retire.”

Round Two

The highlight of the last 16 saw four-time World Champion John Higgins and now world number one Mark Allen lock horns in a classic encounter. 

With the match entering a dramatic final frame, Allen appeared to have got over the line when he led 62-0, but he missed a shot with the rest to give Higgins a chance. 

The Scot took on an all-or-nothing double to the middle, nailed it and proceeded to clear up with 71 to win 13-12 on the final black. 

Afterwards an emotional Higgins, who has suffered a number of heartbreaking losses in recent years, dubbed it as the finest clearance of his career. 

"It's the best. It will live with me forever. After everything that has gone before over the last two years, to stand up under the most intense pressure is a very proud moment for me,” said 48-year-old Higgins. 

Stephen Maguire won a fiery encounter with Shaun Murphy 13-9 to make the quarter-finals. 

The pair have been engaged in a rivalry which spans over three decades and they were both in demonstrable moods around the table in this showdown. 

After Maguire deposited the final pink of the second session to end 10-6 up, he hammered the table and clenched his fist with delight. 

That proved to be a key moment and he controlled the final session to run out the victor. 

Quarter-finals

The last eight saw Welsh qualifier Jak Jones stage one of the great Crucible shocks, defeating 2019 World Champion Judd Trump 13-9. 

The Cwmbran cueman made the last eight on his debut a year earlier, with his sensational defeat of Trump this time earning him a slot in the hallowed single table setup. 

Jones began the event as a 200-1 outsider, but after beating Zhang Anda, Si Jiahui and Trump he found himself one win away from snooker’s biggest match. 

"I only slept for two hours last night, but the adrenaline of this event keeps you going,” said 30-year-old Jones. “My dad is here with me and he is a very calming influence. He has been there with me since my junior days and he never gets too down when I lose or excited when I win. We don't even talk much about snooker!"

Kyren Wilson remedied a crushing 13-2 loss at the hands of John Higgins 12 months ago, by inflicting a 13-9 reverse on the Scot. Victory saw the Warrior clinch a World Championship semi-final berth for the fourth time in his career.

Wilson said: “To come off the back of absolute annihilation from John here last year, I had to put that to one side. There is nothing I can do about the past. I just focussed on what was in front of me.”

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s bid for a record breaking eighth Crucible crown was ended by 2015 World Champion Stuart Bingham, who was visibly emotional after he completed a 13-10 win. 
David Gilbert earned a second Crucible semi-final spot after beating Stephen Maguire 13-8. 

Semi-finals

For the first time since 1977 there were three qualifiers involved in the semi-final lineup, but only one of them would go on to reach the title match. Kyren Wilson and David Gilbert were arguably the two form players heading into the semis and they collided for a place in the final. 

There was never more than a frame between the pair until 9-9, when Wilson made his move. He racked up five frames on the bounce to move 14-9 up and eventually ran out a 17-11 victor. 

It was a second Crucible final for 12th seed Wilson, while Gilbert bowed out in the semi-final stage for the second time in his career. However, Gilbert’s ten centuries were the highest tally acheived by anyone in the tournament. 

Wilson said: "It's what you dream of, to play in the Crucible final with a packed crowd. I'll try to soak it all in because you never know if you'll get another chance. It will be a fairy tale ending for whoever wins."

The other semi-final saw 2015 World Champion Stuart Bingham take on underdog Jak Jones. 

A 17-12 victory for Jones saw him become the sixth Welshman to make the Crucible final. As world number 44 he was the lowest ranked to reach the final since Shaun Murphy, then 48th, won the title in 2005. 

It also meant that this would be the first final since 2005, when Murphy beat Matthew Stevens, that a new name on the famous trophy was assured.

The Final

The title match saw Kyren Wilson finally realise his snooker destiny, 14 years on from first turning professional, to lift the famous World Championship trophy.

Wilson came storming out of the traps to lead 7-1 after the opening afternoon session of a match which threatened to turn into a procession. However, it was Jones who came fighting back in the evening. 

Having clawed his way back to 10-6 down, he left Wilson needing a snooker in the last frame of day one. He got it and took the frame down to the black, where the pair battled it out for a full eight minutes. Crucially it was Wilson who deposited the final ball to end 11-6 up overnight. 

Jones again fought hard in the third session, clawing his way back to contention at 13-10. Wilson once more saw off hopes of a rally from his opponent, taking the last two of the session to lead 15-10.

He continued to move towards the finishing line and at 17-11 had looked set for victory. That was before Jones summoned one last rally to pull within three at 17-14. However, Wilson wasn't to be denied and got over the line to win 18-14 and captured snooker's biggest prize.

After shaking hands with his opponent, Wilson broke down in tears whilst being embraced by his brother Taylor and children Finley and Bailey.