Jak Jones says social media abuse has motivated him at the World Snooker Championship, hitting out at ‘people with sad lives’ who have criticised him.
The world number 44 is a surprise semi-finalist at the Crucible this year, coming through qualifying and then downing Zhang Anda, Si Jiahui and Judd Trump to make the one-table set-up.
It was after his second round win over Si that he sent a rare tweet, noting how much stick he was getting online despite picking up huge wins in Sheffield.
After stunning Trump in the quarter-finals, the 30-year-old said he tries to avoid snooker online, but has not been able to during this tournament.
However, he is taking the positives, using the criticism to fire him up, and it seems to be working.
‘I go on Twitter just reading politics and other things but I try and stay away from snooker,’ said Jones. ‘I don’t follow any snooker people but for whatever reason snooker things keep coming up on my timeline.
‘I saw one not very nice comment, well I saw a few. I know every player gets it, I’m not that bothered.
‘It’s just people with sad lives. Sitting in their bedroom writing stuff on social media, criticising or slagging people off. Haven’t usually got pictures and stuff like that.
‘It kind of motivates me. I like seeing stuff like that as much as good things. I am not the first person to have it, every player gets it.’
Jones is one of the steadier players on tour, but says anyone who criticises him for slow play is wide of the mark as he has managed to speed up in recent years.
‘I think because of me being slow in the past people like to jump on it, but if they watch the game properly I don’t think they could come to that conclusion,’ he said.
‘People like to say I’m slow just for the sake of it. I watch other games and there’s top players who play a similar shot time, not all the time, I probably do it more than other players. But it’s not like I’m a slow player.
‘In practice I’m a fast player, but it’s just as soon as I can get the confidence to stop thinking I’ll be a faster player.’
Jones and Bingham play the final two sessions of their Crucible semi-final on Saturday morning and evening.
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