Jak Jones has paid an emotional tribute to his family after winning the first ranking title of his career at the Championship League in Leicester. The Welshman, who previously reached a World Championship final, secured the 3-2 victory over David Gilbert on Wednesday night.
Emotional Victory
Speaking after the tense match, Jones said: 'It feels unreal, to be fair. I probably felt more nervous there than I did in the World final, so it’s crazy really. Probably the smallest ranking event, but I’ll take it.' He added: 'I’ve just stuck in there, I don’t think I’ve ever got through my first group in this tournament. To win it this year, it’s pretty good.'
The 32-year-old from Cwmbran turned professional in 2010 and described the win as 'a monkey off my back.' He expressed gratitude to his family: 'It’s good for my wife, my son, who support me so much. I can’t wait to go home to them. Also for my parents who’ve been through 15 years of watching me lose all the time so it’s nice to win one for them.'
Road to the Title
Jones narrowly advanced from his first group with four points, topping the table on frame difference. He then overcame tough opponents in the second stage, including Chang Bingyu and Marco Fu. In the final group, he defeated Hossein Vafaei and Dylan Emery, drawing with Zhang Anda to reach the final against Gilbert.
Gilbert's Strong Run
David Gilbert, 45, aimed to become the first player to win the ranking version of the Championship League twice. He navigated challenging groups, including a second group featuring Chris Wakelin, Ali Carter, and He Guoqiang. He went unbeaten in his third group against Noppon Saengkham, Elliot Slessor, and Lei Peifan but fell short in the final. The runner-up prize was £23,000.
Significance of the Win
The £33,000 top prize marks a minor ranking event on the World Snooker Tour, but for Jones, it represents a significant milestone. 'I won’t really be thinking, I need to win a ranking event, so it’s good to get that out the way,' he said. The victory adds to his career achievements and provides a strong start to the season.
