There was never more than a frame between the two teenagers until Jones drew clear at 5-4 with a run of 64 and clinched the next frame with two scoring visits.
Earlier in the match Jones came from 58 behind to steal the third frame on the black with a 56 clearance and he repeated the feat in the fifth frame. McGill opened with a 64 the unfazed Jones stepped in with a mature 73 clearance to take the frame on the black.
McGill bounced back with 73 in the sixth to level the scores and, after the next two were shared, Jones mounted his run to the line.
Jones first started playing snooker aged 11, in Darren Morgan’s Red Triangle Club, where Morgan supported the youngster with useful advice. More recently he has moved to play at the Tredegar Snooker Centre, recently opened by Mark Williams and Simon Griffiths. Williams regularly practises with Jones and the teenager agrees that it has helped his game a lot to play and learn from the twice World Champion.
Jones made his debut on the PIOS at the start of 2009-10 season and surpassed his and everyone’s expectations by reaching two semi finals and a final and he currently stands at Number 8 on the PIOS rankings, with two events to be played.
After his victory, Jones was naturally delighted. “When I came out here I thought I had the ability to win, but I didn’t really expect to, with so many good players here," he said.
“Today every time I got ahead I was trying to get two frames up, but I couldn’t, Anthony kept coming back at me. He played really well but I think I just potted a couple of outrageous balls at vital times to get in. Also I stole two frames with clearances from a long way behind.
“I learned a lot this season from the PIOS. Before I would never have believed I could win a frame from 70 behind. I didn’t expect anything when I went on the PIOS as I was just coming straight from Welsh Junior Snooker. It was a lot of money for my family to find for me to play and I’m really grateful to them for giving me the chance.
“To be nominated to turn professional is just unbelievable. To go from the Welsh Juniors to the Professional Ranks is a fairy tale. If I’m accepted I won’t have any expectations at all, I will just be going for the experience and seeing what happens.”
Jones’ success rounded off a fabulous day for the Welsh. In the morning defending Masters Champions, Darren Morgan and Phil Williams, trounced Malta 7-0 in the final.
The results were: Darren Morgan (46,50) 3-0 Ivan Rizzo, Philip Williams (65,72) 3-0 Tony Mifsud, Philip Williams 1-0 Ivan Rizzo.
This was followed by the Welsh Mens’ team comprising Jamie Jones, Andrew Pagett and Rhydian Richards beating Scotland to take the Men’s title. In the semi final the Welsh team had beaten their team mates, the defending champions – Peter Roscoe, Elfed Evans and Lee Walker, 10-8 in a gripping semi final. Scotland came through a nail biter against Germany, winning 10-9 in a final frame shoot out, on the black.
Scotland Two 6-10 Wales Two
James McBain 0-2 (85) Andrew Pagett, Robert Stephen 1-1 Jamie Jones, Scott MacKenzie 0-2 Rhydian Richards,
James McBain (60) 1-1 Rhydian Richards, Robert Stephen 1-1 (51) Andrew Pagett, Scott MacKenzie 0-2 (81) Jamie Jones
Scott MacKenzie 1-0 Andrew Pagett, James McBain (82) 1-0 Jamie Jones, Robert Stephen 1-0 Rhydian Richards
Semi Finals
Sam Craigie 2-5 Anthony McGill
90-5, 85-45, 42-62, 0-83(83), 1-85(50), 17-60, 22-73
Jak Jones 5-0 Nick Jennings
76(76)-13, 53-12, 64(50)-14, 69-53, 68-40
Quarter Finals
Sam Craigie 5-0 Sean Conway
68-39, 72-23, 78(77)-0, 82-36, 68-29
Anthony McGill 5-3 Tom Maxfield
4-71, 64-8, 82(63c)-51, 19-79(70), 23-62(54), 89(58)-4, 65(56)-39, 79(76)-0
Eden Sharav 1-5 Jak Jones
50-74, 47-66, 27-60, 5-81, 56-19, 20-72
Nick Jennings 5-1 Jason Devaney
59-43, 60-16, 76-21, 97-7, 10-77(60), 77-0
Last 16
Sam Craigie 4-2 Michael Leslie
55-42, 13-66, 67-13, 70-4, 0-1, 88(57)-12
Duane Jones 2-4 Sean Conway
28-56, 26-47, 57-20, 23-62, 61-16, 46-73
Anthony McGill 4-0 David Cassidy
77-20, 72(54)-65, 68-36, 67(51)-6
Ross Higgins 1-4 Tom Maxfield
30-81, 32-60, 34-66(57), 59-53, 19-70(53)
Mitchell Mann 2-4 Eden Sharav
22-79(57), 0-74(73), 79-14, 41-69, 12-(68)-0, 9-58(55)
Nicky Godeyne 1-4 Jak Jones
0-101(97), 42-56, 18-57, 44-37, 43-63
Nick Jennings 4-1 Michal Zielinski
109(108)-8, 77-16, 24-66, 73-44, 62-10
Jason Devaney 4-2 Luca Brecel
63-19, 0-73, 64-51,24-73, 74-6, 79-26
Last 32
Sam Craigie 3-1 Sascha Breuer
63-29, 66-53, 34-67, 98(81)-0
Declan Brennan 1-3 Michael Leslie
26-46, 11-52, 71-42, 42-68
Duane Jones 3-1 Bairaq Al Urfy
97(71)-0, 70(56)-0, 18-53, 78-16
Rhys Clark 1-3 Sean Conway
39-65, 18-64, 59-27, 22-64
Anthony McGill (54) 3-1 Julius Grauls
40-53, 77(54)-4, 71-7, 71-0
David Cassidy 3-2 Campbell Dunlop
87-0, 25-69, 63-10, 21-77, 80-48
Dale Lawrence 1-3 Ross Higgins
64-25, 35-55, 23-63, 8-66
Benedikt Griesdorn 1-3 Tom Maxfield
29-52, 72-11, 0-97(90), 6-90(63)
Mitchell Mann 3-1 Karl Fitzpatrick
37-74, 82-19, 63-34, 66-10
Eden Sharav 3-2 Adam Stefanow
39-68(57), 47-41, 68-29, 45-79, 72(56)-20
Jurian Heusdens 0-3 Nicky Godeyne
14-57, 17-71, 43-50
Mario Amza 0-3 Jak Jones
44-69, 22-56, 7-62(56)
Nick Jennings 3-1 Aaron Busuttil
95(78)-2, 120(83)-1, 60(60)-79, 63(51)-28
Shacher Ruberg 2-3 Michal Zielinski
47-13, 30-77, 50-59, 70-31, 31-65(61)
Jason Devaney 3-2 Angelo Eyckmans
46-26, 42-57, 43-67, 61(52)-15, 66-7
Alexander Gauss 0-3 Luca Brecel
30-77, 14-58, 41-62
