Jak Jones Stuns Judd Trump in World Snooker Championship Upset

Jak Jones, a Welsh qualifier ranked 44th in the world, has pulled off a major upset by defeating world number 2 Judd Trump 13-9 in the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. The 30-year-old Jones reached the semi-finals with a dominant performance, taking advantage of an error-prone Trump.

The match resumed at 8-8 on Wednesday, with Jones winning 5 of the 6 frames played to secure the victory. Trump admitted that Jones fully deserved the win, as he struggled to find his usual high form throughout the match. "Jak did me a favor really, knocking me out, because I'd have been embarrassed to go out and play like that if I played Ronnie [O'Sullivan] in the semis," Trump said.

Jones, who was making his second appearance at the Crucible, is now two wins away from becoming only the third qualifier to win the World Championship title, after Terry Griffiths in 1979 and Shaun Murphy in 2005. This result is Jones' biggest win of his career, as he reaches the semi-finals of the World Championship for the first time.

Why this matters: The stunning upset by Jones over one of snooker's top players and a pre-tournament favorite sends shockwaves through the sport. It opens up the possibility of a new name being etched on the trophy and showcases the unpredictability and competitiveness at the highest level of professional snooker.

Trump, who had won five ranking events this season, was well below his best and failed to make a break higher than 22 in the final session. Jones capitalized on Trump's error-strewn display, finishing the match with a nerveless 106 clearance to seal his place in the semi-finals. "I could see pretty early on that Judd was not flowing, not playing his normal game, his fast, flowing, aggressive style," Jones said after the match.

Key Takeaways

• Jak Jones, ranked 44th, defeated world #2 Judd Trump 13-9 in World Snooker quarters.
• Jones reached the semi-finals, becoming only the 3rd qualifier to do so.
• Trump admitted Jones deserved the win as he struggled to find his usual form.
• Jones' victory is a major upset, opening up the possibility of a new champion.
• Jones capitalized on Trump's error-strewn display, sealing the win with a 106 clearance.