Jones Battles Breathing Issues in Opening Loss to Selby at World Championship

Jones Battles Breathing Issues in Opening Loss to Selby at World Championship

The 2024 runner-up struggled with asthma-related complications during his lopsided 10-2 defeat in the first round of snooker's premier event.

Welsh snooker player Jak Jones has disclosed that respiratory difficulties stemming from his asthma hampered his ability to maintain focus throughout his opening-round encounter against Mark Selby at the World Snooker Championship. The defending finalist fell to a decisive 10-2 loss on Wednesday at The Crucible.

Though Jones emphasized he was not using his health condition as an excuse for the defeat, he detailed how his breathing problems created significant challenges during competition.

"When you can't breathe, you can't be composed and I feel pressure in my head and get headaches. It turns into a panic attack because I can't breathe and I want to just rip my shirt off," Jones explained.

The 32-year-old described his physical state on match day as among the most difficult he has experienced in professional play. "I practiced quite well and felt quite good coming here. But I felt absolutely shocking this morning, probably one of the worst I've felt in a match," he said.

Medical Management Challenges

Jones revealed that his condition influences his competitive attire, noting he refrains from wearing a bow tie during matches due to breathing constraints. Despite seeking medical guidance, the world number 19 has yet to find an effective solution to manage his symptoms during play.

The medications available to him present their own difficulties, as treatment can trigger tremors that negatively affect his performance.

"If I take my medication it can make it worse [when playing] as it can give me the shakes. It happened in my last match [qualifier] against Luca Brecel but I got through it," he added.

Match Performance

Jones trailed 7-2 after the opening session against four-time champion Selby, feeling considerably under the weather. While he showed improved form in the afternoon session, he could not mount a sufficient comeback against the Crucible specialist, who secured the three additional frames needed for victory.

The Welsh player acknowledged his performance lapses during the encounter. "I missed a few easy balls and it turned into a bit of a nightmare. I wasn't nervous or anything coming here, but I missed a few balls and in this venue it can get on top of you," Jones reflected.

Looking Forward

Jones expressed disappointment at his early elimination after reaching last year's final. He cited inconsistent preparation and personal challenges as contributing factors to his struggles.

"My life away from the game has been a bit of a mess at times, my practice has been pretty bad in the last five or six years and when I got to the world final it was a bit of a miracle, I've been kind of winging it," he concluded.