By Elliott West
“I could have played all day out there”.
Jamie Jones reflecting on his win against David Lilley in the second round of the 2021 World Championship qualifiers.
Introduction
People say that a week is a long time in politics but the phrase could also be associated with snooker. I wrote a piece about Jamie Jones not so long ago at a time when he was just coming towards the end of his ban from the sport regarding having prior knowledge of an approach to fix an aforementioned match and failing to report it. A ban that cost him a year out of the game.
Better Times
Since that fateful day, thankfully a lot of water has flowed under the bridge. A great run at Q School in 2020 including dispatching Michael Georgiou from the main tour, propelled Jones back into the thick of it and he was awarded a two year tour card. Unlike the previous pressures inflicted on this tremendous player from Neath, Jones has found a good headspace in the form of running. Like Ronnie O’Sullivan, Jamie finds this form of exercise as a good way of relieving the stresses and strains of snooker, a natural form of cognitive therapy.
This seems to work well for him and has put him through to the third round of the World Championship qualifiers. He now has to play the often brilliant, Michael Holt. Despite the pressure vacuum that is the World Championship qualifiers, Jamie feels comfortable when out there and is able keep the pressure at bay. A tactic that he believes that could keep him playing snooker for many hours.
Jones is no stranger to the Crucible stage and has graced its stage on several occasions, including reaching the quarter-finals in 2012. before his ban. On a good day, Jones can produce poetic snooker. A master break builder, Jamie has already shown his worth, making a maximum break in the last 64 of the 2018 Paul Hunter Classic, his first professional 147 break.
Jones was also the youngest ever player at 14 to make a 147 break. He has also made the semi-final stage of the 2015 Australian Goldfields, 2017 Paul Hunter Classic and the 2020 Scottish Open. Someone who has already made 112 centuries and earned £423,580 in career prize money.
Currently ranked at 69, Jamie Jones now feels comfortable losing a match and is able to walk away, dust himself down, reflect and return to the action. He no longer beats himself up about not crossing the winning line and tackle the anguish involved. This is such an important quality for any sportsperson in their field. The difference now is that the Welshman is enjoying the battle and feels like a stronger character. Jones is just now jumping at the chance to play in front of fans at the Crucible and is proud of his new attitude.
