Jak Jones’ remarkable World Snooker championship run makes Welsh history
As Wales’ sports stars continue to shine on the global stage and represent their country to the best of their ability, we’re taking a look at the latest Welsh representatives to emerge in the sporting world and what the may go on to achieve in the future, with snooker player Jak Jones creating history at this years’ World Championships.
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00:00So, James, coming off the back of a fantastic crucible run by Welshman Jack Jones. I mean,
00:09this is a sports story that's completely set the world alight. It's a massive story, especially
00:15in Wales as well. How important is it that there's another Welsh player? Because we've
00:20seen some fantastic Welsh snooker players over the years. He's made new ground and so,
00:25so close to becoming a world snooker champion. What was your take on it and how special is
00:31his achievement?
00:33No one saw this coming. It was amazing watching him for those two weeks. You were looking
00:37at the draw, some tough matches for all the Welsh guys playing out there. You had the
00:44one half of the draw, you had Ronnie and Judd in it and you had some of the Welsh guys there.
00:48It was looking tough at one point. Mark Williams went out in the first round. Jack Jones just
00:53kept winning. He kept frustrating opponents. He kept getting through it and none of them
00:58were really close in the end, the actual results of all the matches. They were all by three
01:03or four clear frames every time. There's been a lot of talk about him, obviously, even early
01:07on. He was frustrating opponents. He's not a young guy, but he's not done this before.
01:15This is his first finally ever made it too. So to see this come out is amazing. Welsh
01:19people, people who wouldn't have been watching snooker, I'm sure they would have been watching
01:22him in the final at least because it was so exciting. If he'd have done it, that would
01:28have been one of the most impressive comebacks in sports history, not just snooker history,
01:33I think, but so close at the end. But he did everyone in Wales proud and it was a remarkable
01:38achievement.
01:39Obviously, you say how outspoken he is. He's a real character and he was quite frustrated
01:45when he was announced to the stage in the final because he was announced as he was under
01:49pressure by Rob Walker. I mean, claiming he was under pressure, but he actually beating
01:54world champions Judd Trump and Stuart Bingham on his route there. It was quite incredible.
01:59He had every right to go into that as a near favourite, really, because it was, you know,
02:04Kieran Wilson winning his first as well. How tough was that final? But his run to the final
02:09certainly can't go undermined as well.
02:12The final itself was some amazing TV. So for him to go down 7-0 at one point, you know,
02:19he got the last frame that night and you could see him. He was like giving a good little
02:23punch to the air. He's happy about that. He got through, got one. And, you know, at the
02:27start of the tournament, he would have taken one frame in the final, like that's all he
02:31would have needed to go into it. But, you know, in the next sessions, he got back into
02:35it and at the end of the first day, he was something like 10-6 down, I think it was.
02:41That's crazy. No one thought that was going to be the way, or 10-7 down it might be, but
02:45no one thought he was going to be at that position. He didn't think he's going to be
02:47at that position, but he got through. And to be honest, I say that he was, the way he's
02:53played and the way he's spoken, he might've thought he's going to get in that position.
02:56He thought he was in it all the way through.