Right on Cue: Jamie Jones

Eurosport - Fri, 23 Oct 15:55:00 2009

This week Right on Cue takes a look at another exciting prospect to emerge out of Wales - Jamie Jones.

SNOOKER Snooker cue generic - 0

Nationality: Welsh

Age: 21

World Ranking: N/A

2009/2010 PIOS Ranking: 7 (after three events)

Career Highlights: 2006 Welsh senior champion and Welsh number one; 2004 European U19 Champion; Welsh champion at U13, U14, U16, U18 and U21 level. Finished third in the PIOS rankings 2007/2008.

General: Jones enjoyed an outstanding junior career that was full of highlight moments. Aged just 14 he became the youngest player ever to produce a 147 break in a competitive match (a record that has since been broken by Judd Trump) and he also racked up a host of national titles at various age groups. 2004 was his real breakthrough year as he won the European U19 title and the Welsh U21 crown aged just 17. He has had two cracks at the main tour - in 2006/2007 and last season but was relegated on both occasions. However, he is currently in a promotion spot in the PIOS rankings and primed for a third shot at the big time.

Strengths: Jones is a clear natural talent and his break building skills are unquestioned. While he has struggled against the top players, his performances in longer matches has been good as illustrated by his run to the third round of qualifiers for both the UK Championships and the World Championship last season. Over the shorter best-of-nine format he did not win a professional match at all last season but it is clear when he settles into a match he takes some beating.

Weaknesses: Jones's lack of success on the main tour will always raise question marks until he finally makes a top level breakthrough. In the qualifiers for the big events the wilier old professionals, who are not as naturally gifted as Jones, will deliberately make matches scrappy, tactical battles and Jones needs to learn how to get the better of these exchanges. He cannot win every frame with a big break.

Trivia:

From the snooker hotbed of Neath just like past Right on Cue subjects Michael White and Daniel Wells.

Has spent time practising with Dominic Dale and Matthew Stevens.

Says he has always admired Stephen Hendry but that his favourite player is Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Played O'Sullivan in a televised snooker exhibition aged 13 and had a break of 69.

Plays at the Empire Club in Neath.

Started playing when he was 10 after being brought to the local snooker club by his father.

Originally wanted to be a footballer and played for his school football team until he left after doing his GCSEs.

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