Mark Selby faces Jak Jones in the 2026 British Open final: Experience meets ambition

Mark Selby and Jak Jones will meet in the 2026 British Open final at The Centaur, Cheltenham, England. The match is best of 19 frames, meaning a player needs 10 frames to win. The champion will earn £100,000. Selby enters as the clear favorite. The 43-year-old four-time world champion recently won the China Open and proved he still has a high level. Jones, aged 33 and ranked 31st, is the underdog. He reached the World Championship final in 2026 but struggled after that. His Championship League title early in the 2026/27 season has boosted his confidence. History favors Selby. He beat Jones 10-2 in the first round of the 2026 World Championship, and Jones has only one win in eight matches against Selby. Selby's safety play, positional skills and long-match experience are major advantages. Jones must use his ability to make frames messy and score in bursts if he wants to cause an upset. The final is expected to be tight, with jet lag affecting Selby after his China trip. Selby remains the safer pick, but snooker is a sport where underdogs can create surprises. Fans can expect a tactical contest between experience and ambition.