Referee leaves Kyren Wilson stunned after demanding fan be thrown out of Northern Ireland Open final

Kyren Wilson triumphed at the Northern Ireland Open for the second time in three years with a clinical 9-2 victory over Jak Jones, but the final wasn't void of controversy.

Wilson carried his impressive tournament form into the final as three century breaks helped him storm into a 6-2 lead. The Englishman then won the opening three frames of the evening session to clinch his 11th ranking title and his first since the Players Championship in 2025, moving him ahead of Jimmy White in the all-time list.

A dominant performance from the 2024 world champion included a controversial moment midway through the ninth frame when he was on a 34 break, leading to a fan being ejected from the Waterfront Hall by referee Rob Spencer.

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Kyren Wilson gives priceless reaction to fan being removed from Northern Ireland Open final

It is strictly forbidden for spectators to use their mobiles or leave them unmuted during a snooker match and one fan found out the hard way at the Northern Ireland Open.

After hearing their phone go off multiple times during the ninth frame, Spencer was given no choice but to ask for the spectator to be ejected from the arena.

"Can I ask security, if you can see who that phone is, can you throw them out straightaway, please? I've asked them twice now." The demand from the experienced referee was met with a loud applause from the majority inside the Waterfront Hall.

"I wish I was as popular as you," Wilson said in response to the fan, with his reaction drawing a chorus of laughs from the crowd and even Spencer, who smiled at the snooker star.

The 34-year-old saw the funny side after establishing a 6-2 lead in the match at the time and then went on to power past Jones to lift the Alex Higgins Trophy.

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Kyren Wilson reacts to Northern Ireland Open triumph

Tournament victories have been few and far between for Wilson during the past year or so. He did win the Masters - arguably second only in prestige to the World Championship but a non-ranking event - at the start of the year.

But since then, the Englishman's form in 2026 has been a mixed bag, including defeat to Judd Trump in the final of the Shanghai Masters and a shock last 32 exit to Liam Highfield at British Open in September.

To get over the line and win a trophy memorialising Northern Ireland snooker great Higgins, therefore, meant a lot.

"Obviously the trophy has got an absolute legend of our sport's name on it in, so I am very grateful that I can take this trophy home for a second time," Wilson said.

"I think the fans in Belfast quite like to see positive snooker. They like to see players going for their shots and maybe just trying to do something a little bit different every now and again when frames are over, and that's what I'm all about.

"I'm about trying to entertain people and also trying to get the win at the same time, which is not an easy balance sometimes. I am very glad I managed to do that this week."

Wilson will now head to the International Championship in China, beginning the tournament with a clash against Highfield on November 1.