By Paul Jones
Jak Jones looks determined to keep flying the flag for Wales deep into the second week at the World Snooker Championship.
The Welsh star ensured it was a tense session for Judd Trump in their quarter-final at The Crucible in Sheffield after they finished level at 8-8 overnight.
𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 🤝
Jak Jones fires in a terrific break of 117 to square up the contest at 8-8 with Judd Trump and set up a fascinating finale on Wednesday!#WorldSnookerChampionship pic.twitter.com/aaMhDKqjoV
— Live Snooker (@Livesnooker) April 30, 2024
Locked at 4-4 going into the evening, Trump fell two behind as Cwmbran hero Jones won a 55-minute 10th frame, but the five-time world semi-finalist recovered to make it 6-6 at the mid-session interval.
Trump had produced a break of 110 to take the day’s opening frame, yet Jones served early notice of his doggedness by reeling off three successive frames.
It took a brilliant double on the black to move Trump level after the morning’s action, and he just could not shake world number 44 Jones off.
CAZOO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2024
Quarter-finals @JakJones147 continues his move.Judd Trump 🏴 4-4 Jak Jones
Match to be continued. #CazooWorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/g7bPKzCF4d— Snooker (@SnookerSuper) April 30, 2024
Jones went back in front at 7-6 before a 68 break from Trump – his highest since frame two – levelled it up again, then Jones saved his best until last – a 117 break – after falling 8-7 behind.
Trump, a 2019 world champion, was the huge favourite ahead of the tie but scrapped to 4-4 in the first session and couldn’t pull away from the determined Jones on Tuesday evening.
Play will continue on Wednesday morning at 10:00, with the winner set to face Ronnie O’Sullivan or Stuart Bingham in the last four.
The last Welshman standing at the snooker World Championships is in quarter-final action today, as Jak Jones takes on former champion Judd Trump!
The first session starts at 10:00am.#BBCSnooker pic.twitter.com/lbxwKCuitK
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) April 30, 2024