Ronnie O’Sullivan on Jak Jones, and Jak Jones replies, fans are surprise

Ronnie O’Sullivan has been extremely intrigued with Jak Jones, tipping the Welshman to get flatware and partake in a huge ascent up the world rankings.

The Rocket isn’t playing at the Welsh Open this week yet has been on punditry obligation for Eurosport, watching the activity intently in Llandudno.

The world number one had an eye on Jones as he stunningly beat Hossein Vafaei 4-2 in the last 32, tipping the 30-year-old for a decent couple of years to come.

Jones made his Big showdown debut last year and beat Neil Robertson to arrive at the quarter-finals and keeping in mind that he hasn’t exactly kicked on from that point, the Rocket figures the world number 43 will.

‘I truly rate Jak Jones, I believe he’s a fabulous player, somewhat like Ali Carter, only great at everything. Extremely made too,’ said O’Sullivan.

“I’ve gone with Jak Jones out of all the wildcards, the ones that people usually don’t like. One day, I believe he will win a tournament.’

‌O’Sullivan played Jones at this season’s Worldwide Title and was pushed hard in a 6-4 win, with the Welshman making breaks of 130, 83, 77 and 53.

‘He was one of my hardest matches this season,’ said the seven-time title holder. ‘ I played him in China, I was playing great and he had the better of me. I in the end dominated the game bt it was whenever I first played him and I thought, “I like this person. I super like this person.”

Day 6 of the 2024 Spreadex World Grand Prix pleased Ronnie O’Sullivan with Jak Jones’ performance (Photo: Getty Pictures)
‘I would rather not put the fakers on him, yet the manner in which he’s playing, the manner in which he played at the Big showdowns, I’ve encountered playing him, watching him very close today.

He is developing and gaining confidence. He’s a positive top 16 player. When he wins one I think he’ll win a couple since he’s somewhat of an in his shell sort of fellow, he’s not balshy. He’ll want more once he wins one.’

Regardless of whether it was the Rocket putting the impostors on him, Jones got back to play his keep going 16 match on Thursday night and was beaten 4-0 by veteran Dominic Dale.

The 52-year-old had an extraordinary day in Ridges, likewise beating teen ability Stan Cranky in the early evening meeting, with the two triumphs getting a quarter-last spot.

Surly is one of the most brilliant youthful abilities in the game, yet battled to find anything like his best structure against Dale, with O’Sullivan saying he should figure out how to manage various sorts of tension.

‘It’s difficult to pass judgment on somebody on one execution, yet while you’re taking a gander at any player, you’re believing there’s pressure, yet there’s various kinds of tension,’ he said.

‘He’s come in unnoticed, youthful, nothing to lose… wonderful. Then, at that point, when he’s on the match table expected to win, that is various sorts of tension. A few players are great leaders, you must have the option to play under tension.

“There is no one kind of pressure, and if you can’t handle all kinds, you will eventually be found out,” I feel that occurred with him today.

‘I think he recently froze. He just looked frightened, he didn’t appear as though he… a portion of the pots he got up, you believe he’s pulling it together, however at that point he missed it. It’s alright getting up and afterward preparing it, you believe he’s simply preparing himself set and, however at that point he misses it and you think, is there something different niggling away at him?’