Jones shows Crucible class to book spot in next group stage at Championship League

Jamie Jones picked up where he left off at the World Championship in April to ease through to the last 32 of the Championship League in Leicester.

The Welshman stunned Neil Robertson 10-9 to qualify for the Crucible before losing 10-6 to John Higgins in the first round, but showed he has lost none of his scoring quality or trademark grit at the season’s first ranking event.

Jones produced a 124 break in a 3-0 win over Chris Totten in Group 30, drew 2-2 with Ishpreet Singh Chadha, before recovering from 2-0 behind to earn a draw with Liu Hongyu as breaks of 99 and 68 saw the world No. 41 edge out Chadha on frame difference.

He was joined in the next phase by Ben Woollaston, who topped Group 29 on seven points in his home city, after following up a 2-2 draw with Stan Moody by completing wins over Dylan Emery (3-0) and Dominic Dale (3-1).

World Championship runner-up Jak Jones is in action on Monday at the Mattioli Arena.

There is £33,000 on the table for the winner plus a spot in the Champion of Champions later in the year which is worth another £12,500 for qualifying.