Jones Stuns Trump to Reach British Open Final Against Selby in Career-Defining Week
Jones Produces Composed Display to Down Trump 6-3
Jak Jones continued his emergence as one of snooker's most dangerous outsiders by defeating world number two Judd Trump 6-3 in the semi-finals of the British Open, setting up a ranking event final against Mark Selby. The Welshman, who reached the World Championship final at the Crucible in 2024 before losing to Kyren Wilson, demonstrated considerable composure against one of the sport's most formidable players to advance to the biggest match of his career outside of Sheffield.
Jones made the early running with breaks of 95 and 68 to establish a 3-1 lead, only for Trump to respond with three consecutive frames and level the match at 3-3. It was the critical juncture of the contest, yet Jones did not wilt. Contributions of 59 and 52 restored his two-frame cushion at 5-3, and a pivotal moment in the ninth frame settled matters — Trump missed a green on the colours in what had been an extended, tightly contested frame, allowing Jones to capitalise and close out a 6-3 victory.
Speaking to Channel 5 after the match, Jones was candid about the fluctuating nature of his performance. "I started off quite well before the interval and then after that I started missing a few, didn't I?" he admitted. The 29-year-old also acknowledged the unfamiliar territory of competing at this level with regularity: "I can't say I'm in this position a lot so it's a bit different for me compared to Judd." That self-awareness is telling — Trump has contested and won ranking finals with metronomic regularity throughout his career, while for Jones, finals appearances of this magnitude remain a relative novelty. His ability to manage those pressures on the day will be central to his hopes against Selby.
Selby Reaches 40th Ranking Final in Hard-Fought Win Over Highfield
On the other side of the draw, Mark Selby secured his place in the final with a 6-3 victory over Liam Highfield — but the scoreline flatters the four-time World Champion somewhat. Highfield, competing in his first ranking event semi-final, pushed Selby throughout and gave little away over the course of the match.
Highfield took the opening frame before Selby levelled with an 85 and ground his way into a 3-2 advantage. A break of 56 from Highfield restored parity at 3-3, but Selby's experience and defensive solidity ultimately told as he reeled off three successive frames to claim victory. The Leicester player paid generous tribute to his opponent's safety play afterwards: "It was a tough match, Liam didn't make it easy for me at all. His safety was incredible. I can't remember him playing a poor safety shot all the way through the match."
The victory secured Selby's place in his 40th ranking event final — a landmark that underscores his standing among the sport's all-time greats. For context, only a handful of players in the history of professional snooker have reached that number of ranking finals, with Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, and John Higgins the most prominent names ahead of him on that particular list. Selby reflected on the significance of the milestone with characteristic understatement: "To think, when I was starting out, a 16-year-old kid in 1999, if somebody had said I'd get to 40 ranking finals, I'd have said 'no chance'. I'd have been happy to get to just one or two."
Rankings Implications Add Extra Weight to the Final
Beyond the silverware, Sunday's final carries significant ranking consequences. Selby currently sits fourth in the world rankings, but a victory at the British Open would propel him up to second — leapfrogging several players and firmly re-establishing him in the sport's elite tier. At 40 years of age, Selby's consistency in reaching finals of this nature is a statistical outlier, and his hunger for titles shows no sign of diminishing.
For Jones, the prize money and ranking points on offer for a first ranking title would represent a transformative moment in his professional career. His 2024 Crucible run demonstrated he possesses the temperament and the shot-making to compete with the very best in the world across a sustained period. Defeating Trump — particularly after surrendering a 3-1 lead to trail at 3-3 — suggests that resilience is becoming an increasingly reliable feature of his game.
The British Open final between Jak Jones and Mark Selby promises a compelling contrast of styles: Jones's attacking instincts and momentum-driven play against Selby's renowned safety game and ability to grind opponents into submission. Snooker fans will have plenty to savour when the two men meet to decide the title.
