Snooker stars back Jack, 15 (From Free Press Series)

Snooker stars back Jack, 15

10:00am Thursday 28th May 2009

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JACK Jones may be a modest 15-year-old, but he is being hotly tipped as a future World Snooker Champion.

The seventh of 10 children and living in Fairwater, Cwmbran, Jack’s raw talent was first spotted by ex-Welsh Amateur Champion Darren Morgan when he was 11 on holiday in Corfu, playing pool.

His mother Debra Jones explained: "He put his €2 down and just started playing against the older boys and men.

"Darren Morgan was immediately impressed and came over and asked if Jack was a member of any snooker club? He was shocked when we told him Jack had never picked up a cue before."

Back in Wales, the Croesyceiliog Comprehensive schoolboy went to see Morgan at the Red Triangle Club in Cross Keys.

Having been plucked from obscurity, Jack is now Wales’ top-ranked under-21 player and reached the quarter-finals of the Welsh Open in Prestatyn. He has played in tournaments in Russia and Ireland and in August heads to Iran for the World Under-21 Championships.

Still just 15, he trains daily at the Constitutional Club in Pontnewydd, competing for Wales at under-16, -19 and –21 level.

His mother continued: "He’s not allowed in the Constitutional Club normally but they open it up especially for him and he’s got his own table. He practises on it for at least an hour every day.

"His eight brothers are more into rugby – I don’t know where he gets his talent from but I’m so proud of him."

Financially, Jack is assisted by Pontins in Prestatyn, Torfaen Council and the Welsh Snooker Association via the Sports Council for Wales.

Jack’s ambition is to turn pro – modestly viewing his current achievements as simply part of that path to success – and with ex-World Champion Mark Williams among his admirers, and his family’s support, he has every chance.

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