Jak Jones reacts to making snooker history on epic Championship League run

Yesterday at 11:28 AM

Jak Jones earned himself a piece of snooker history this week as he made the most centuries ever by a player in a professional tournament and he is not finished yet.

The World Championship finalist is on an epic stint in the Championship League Invitational tournament, still competing in Group Six, having entered in the first group.

Two players are relegated from each group, while one triumphs and goes through to the Winners’ Group, whereas Jones has done neither so far and keeps returning for more and more games.

The 31-year-old has been playing good stuff throughout – making a 147 earlier in the campaign – and during Group Five on Tuesday he took his century tally past the previous record for a single tournament of 24, ending the day on 26.

The Welshman is still going in the event so he could set a really huge record, but is typically understated about his achievement.

‘Yeah it’s alright,’ Jones told Metro. ‘I suppose it’s quite a good record to have. I’m sure if Judd was to play in every group then he could beat it, but it’s good.

‘I haven’t felt great all the way through. Half the time I’ve wanted to be here and the other half just wanted to go home. But I’ve stuck through it. I’d be practicing at home anyway in the club so I may as well be here playing matches, so it’s good.’

Jones is feeling the benefit of playing so much competitive snooker over the last three weeks and believes he can recreate the performances that took him to the Crucible final last year and the quarter-final on debut 12 months before that.

‘The World Championship when I do well it’s long formats and you’re constantly playing, which suits me down to the ground so playing here, loads of matches, I start playing more naturally rather than overthinking,’ he said.

‘It’s really good, I’ve played 40 matches now. I do feel quite sharp. I have felt quite tired at times, but sharpness shouldn’t be a problem.

‘I’ve struggled with short formats, it’s something I need to try and crack and starting better. All these matches can only help with that.’

Jones was hoping to build on his Crucible final with a first career title this season, which hasn’t happened yet and his best run being a quarter-final at the British Open.

He still feels that he has been battling himself as much as his opponents, but is positive that he is overcoming that problem now.

‘It’s probably mindset, I try too hard, overthink things and I can go back into playing a bit slower which doesn’t help me at all,’ he said. ‘I’ve done that quite a lot this season. I’ve had a lot going on off the table but that’s getting better now and I’m feeling quite positive now.

‘I feel good. I feel like it could happen at any moment. I’m really looking forward to the World Championship again, obviously with the longer formats I feel like I can do something again there. I feel positive.’

There is plenty more snooker to play before the World Championship, with yet more Championship League action this week, before the German Masters starts on Monday.

Jones is relishing playing at the iconic Tempodrom in Berlin with an incredible amount of match practice under his belt.

‘I’ve only played there once so I’m really looking forward to it. It’s an amazing arena,’ he said. ‘I’ve never played on the centre table, but the outside tables are a lot different to other venues, with the lighting, but the crowd are amazing, so I’m looking forward to it.’

Jones continues his Championship League challenge in Group Six on Wednesday and Thursday, shown live on Matchroom’s YouTube.