Can the Warrior halt the unlikeliest march to the Crucible throne?
05/05/2024 03:59 AM
There have been many shocking scenes over the years at the World Snooker Championship but Jak Jones could out-surprise the lot of them by lifting the trophy on Monday night.
The world number 44 is embarking on his first ever ranking final when he takes on Kyren Wilson at the World Championship. He’s not just going in at the deep end, he’s taking his cue into the Mariana Trench of snooker matches.
There was a sign that this expedition was being planned, but only one and it came 12 months ago when the Welshman made his Crucible debut and impressively reached the quarter-finals.
Since then the omens have not been so good. That run to the last eight in Sheffield was not replicated in any event this season, until he returned to the Crucible and worked his magic again.
Magic it might be, because the 30-year-old’s run to the final is defying logic. Not only is it confusing that Jones can win so few matches over a season but then reel off victories in the biggest event of them all, but it is also perplexing how he is doing it.
By his own admission, he is not even playing especially well.
'I don't think I am playing well, I'm just winning,’ Jones said after beating former champion Stuart Bingham in the semis. ‘I'm not doing anything exceptional, I don't think. I'm not scoring heavy, I'm not doing anything special.'
We’ve seen incredible, unexpected runs at the Crucible before. Sensational efforts that have gone all the way to the title, but they do not tend to be like this.
Shaun Murphy arrived at the Crucible as a qualifier in 2005 and left with the trophy, but he was a highly-touted youngster playing a wildly attacking and dynamic game.
Similar could be said about Judd Trump when he finished runner-up in 2011 and even Si Jiahui when he reached the semi-finals last year.
Joe Johnson was a seed but an outsider when he shocked the world in 1986 and he too was an aggressive, inspirational kind of player who soaked himself in a purple patch at the right time.
Jones is a completely different beast. He is presenting something of an old school challenge for modern players who appear unable to cope with it.
He plays at a steady pace – not as outrageously slow as some may claim – and he is happy to keep things tight when he feels it necessary, showing off his safety skills throughout this event.
This World Championship has not been a century-fest at all, but Jones has made just two on his way to the final, backing up his claim about his relatively lightweight scoring.
Something about the world number 44 has proved an absolute nightmare for his opponents. Zhang has had a brilliant season but in the first round appeared a shadow of the player that has excelled over the campaign.
In a quarter-final defeat, Trump was unrecognisable to the man who has won five ranking titles this season, while Bingham was superb in beating Ronnie O’Sullivan only to be ’embarrassing’ in a loss to Jones.
Just one player has the chance to turn this trend around, with Wilson now tasked with stopping the unlikeliest march towards the Crucible throne.
The Warrior has been pretty dominant so far in Sheffield, brushing aside Dominic Dale and Joe O’Connor before over-powering John Higgins and Dave Gilbert.
The 32-year-old has employed a hypnotherapist to help him sleep during the event and after four wins in which he has not really been pushed, he comes into the final well rested.
Patience is clearly required for the Jones challenge and anyone taking him on will need to be in a clear headspace, prepared to wait him out and pounce when chances arise.
Both Bingham and Trump finished their matches unbearably frustrated that they had chances and were unable to capitalise on them. Wilson will be devastated if he is in the same position come Monday night and he does appear well set mentally to avoid that fate.
The Warrior is scoring more heavily than Jones, has been to more finals, has more World Championship experience and is rightfully favourite against him, but that could have been said about all the Welshman’s opponents so far.
What Wilson will not lack is the belief that he can and even should become world champion. His confidence is unshakeable to the extent that he feels his talent is overlooked as a result of his mental toughness.
While Jones may be surprised to be in the final, Wilson feels a sense of destiny about his snooker journey.
Asked if he is ready to become world champion, he said: ‘I think I have always been ready. I have always dedicated my life to this game.
‘I have a young family that have missed out a lot on me being away. I have missed massive occasions because I have put this game first. So, when you think you are ready to do that in your life, you earn the right to become a world champion.’
Wilson will certainly need to earn the right to beat Jones, with absolutely nothing given away cheaply by the Welshman, who could not care less about his opponent’s destiny.
The Englishman may well be the one to finally put a stop to the remarkable Jones run, but it will be a hell of a battle for the Warrior.
MORE : Kyren Wilson ‘taking apart’ snooker legend has filled him with Crucible belief
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