With the first century break in the opening frame of a Crucible final since Stephen Hendry’s 136 against Jimmy White in 1993, the Englishman got things going in excellent fashion.
Wilson seized total command after his 129 clearance, with breaks of 52, 66, 62, 90, and yet another century.
Although it was understandable that Welsh qualifier Jones, who is competing in his first-ever ranking final, took some time to become comfortable, he pumped his fist in celebration after breaking 65 to win the last frame of the session.
When play picks back up this evening at 19:00 BST, Jones will have to get going quickly if he wants to put any real pressure on Wilson.
In the 1985 black-ball final, Dennis Taylor overcame Steve Davis after losing the opening session 7–0. If he wants to mount a similarly impressive comeback, the world number 44 will need to display all of his match-play abilities.
After falling to Ronnie O’Sullivan 18-8 in 2020, Wilson has calmly advanced to his second global final and declared himself prepared to take “anything that is thrown” at him this time.
But he breezed through a session against a player he faced off against at Q School thirteen years prior, and his performance did little more than confirm his status as a world champion-in-waiting.
A magnificent 129 break to start the game and a half century to end it were preceded by a spectacular long red.
In a frame that the Welshman appeared certain to pinch, Wilson, who is vying for his sixth ranking title, mercilessly punished Jones for failing to land a black in the upper left corner.
And every time his opponent gave him a chance, he continued to widen his lead.
It has not happened in a world final scoreline since 1991, when Jimmy White was led by John Parrott, when Wilson had a 7-0 lead.
