May 1st 2024.
Jak Jones was taken aback by Judd Trump's performance in their World Snooker Championship quarter-final. The pace of play from the world number two was not what Jones expected, and it led to Trump admitting that he struggled to find his rhythm during their match. Jones, on the other hand, played an impressive game and secured a spot in the Crucible semis for the first time in his career.
It was truly a well-deserved victory for Jones, who outplayed his highly decorated opponent. Although Trump managed to make one century and two half-centuries, it was not enough to defeat the determined Welshman. Typically, Trump is known for his free-flowing and attacking style of play, while Jones is more methodical. However, in this match, their roles seemed to be reversed at times, surprising Jones.
"I was ready to play an attacking game and speed up my pace, which is not something that comes naturally to me," Jones shared. "But when I went into the interval at 3-1, I noticed that Judd was playing unusually slow for him. It was almost like how I used to play in the past, looking for problems and overthinking. It took me by surprise, but I took advantage of it."
Throughout the match, Trump struggled to get his scoring going, and Jones couldn't believe how slow his opponent was playing at times. "There were moments when I felt like I was the one playing faster," Jones admitted. "But I understand that the pressure of such a big tournament can do crazy things to your game."
Trump also acknowledged that the pace of the game was not to his liking, and he had a hard time finding his rhythm. "I just couldn't get it going," Trump said. "The pace was slower than I would have preferred, and every time I came to the table, it felt like I was starting over. Maybe I should have been more aggressive in the first sessions, but I was slower than usual. It's something I need to learn from."
Despite having plenty of opportunities to turn the match around, Trump couldn't capitalize on them. "I had many chances, but I just couldn't take them," he lamented. "I only have myself to blame for this defeat. I should have controlled the speed of the game better, but I got bogged down."
Unfortunately, Trump's chances of winning a second world title this year are over, thanks to Jones. After an incredible season, winning five ranking titles, it was expected that he and Ronnie O'Sullivan would meet in the semi-finals. But Jones has put an end to that, and he believes the pressure of expectation may have affected Trump's performance.
"I'm sorry to disappoint a lot of people," Jones said. "I know many were expecting Ronnie and Judd to face off after the incredible seasons they've both had. But the Crucible is a different tournament, and maybe the pressure got to Judd in the end."
Jones, who reached the quarter-finals on his Crucible debut last year, is now in the semi-finals for just the second time in his career after another impressive run in Sheffield. "I think the longer format of the game definitely helps, but it's also a different atmosphere at the Crucible," he explained. "I'm used to playing in qualifiers in quiet rooms, so it's a lot easier to get pumped up for a tournament like this. I'm just feeling really motivated and focused."
In the end, Trump's shocking defeat at the hands of Jones has caused quite a stir in the snooker world. But for Jones, it's just another step towards the ultimate goal - winning the World Snooker Championship.
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