WELSH snooker player Jak Jones claimed the biggest win of his career after downing four-time world champion Mark Selby 10-6 in the British Open final in Cheltenham.

The 33-year-old, who first stunned the snooker world by reaching the World Championship final as a Crucible qualifier in 2024, commuted from his Cwmbran home to last week's tournament because his wife Inna is expecting their second child in the next few days.

But nothing stopped him on the baize, ripping up the form book in the semi-final to knock out 2019 world champion Judd Trump 6-3.

And the World Snooker Tour reported that he then outplayed four-time world champion Selby in the final, winning five of the last six frames to land the Clive Everton Trophy and the £100,000 top prize.

The result continues a fabulous start to the season for Jones after winning his first title in July at the Championship League, and now jumping from 31st to 22nd in the Johnstone's Paint World Rankings.

Having won the European U19 Championship at just 16 in 2010, Jones has taken time to find his feet at the top table, but his run to the 2024 World Championship final in 2024 proved a huge leap, which ended in a tight 18-14 loss to Kyren Wilson.

Selby, 43, won the China Open three weeks ago, and was targeting a 27th ranking title, but still moved up to second in the world rankings behind only Zhao Xintong after Sunday’s defeat.

Tied 5-5 at The Centaur, Jones then went ahead for the sixth time, compiling a break of 65, before in frame 12 it came down to a safety exchange on the green, and the Welshman laid a tough snooker, creating the chance for him to clear and go 7-5 up.

Trailing 56-45 in frame 13, Jones potted the penultimate red from long range but was unlucky to see the cue ball drop into a centre pocket, and Selby capitalised to halve his deficit.

In the next Selby was 18-13 down when he under-hit an awkward black to a top corner, playing with the extended spider rest, and Jones punished him with 53 for 8-6.

Soon Jones was three up with four to play thanks to a run of 62.

Early in frame 16, Jones potted six reds with blacks before a tricky red to centre on 48 hit the far jaw.

Selby clawed his way back, taking it to the colours, but a tough final green stayed out, and that proved his last shot as Jones slotted in green, brown, blue and pink.

"The Championship League felt good, but this is a completely different level, it’s a major tournament," said Jones. "I’m over the moon. I felt I dragged Mark down a little bit throughout the day.

"I just kind of battled away and made a few 50 and 60 breaks. But to beat someone like Mark, who’s an all-time great and has won everything, is incredible.

"It's definitely the best day of my career. Winning a ranking event is better than coming runner-up in a World Championship.

"To finally win a big tournament like this – I thought it might not happen.

"It's an unbelievable start to the season for me, so I'm buzzing. It’s been tough for 15 years, I have been battling away but haven't really achieved that much, so to start winning titles feels amazing."