'I'd love to play O'Sullivan' - Jones wants World Snooker Championship Rocket clash

Jamie Jones wants to cause another giant-killing at the World Snooker Championship this year, fancying a crack at Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Crucible.

The Welshman secured a fifth trip to the Crucible on Tuesday night thanks to an impressive 10-5 victory over Tom Ford in the last round of qualifying.

It is 10 years on from Jones bursting onto the scene at the 2012 World Championship when he reached the quarter-finals thanks to wins over Shaun Murphy and Andrew Higginson.

Jones beat Murphy again in 2018 and downed Stephen Maguire in the first round last year, so he has plenty of Crucible pedigree and now he wants to take down the world number one on the biggest stage in the sport.

Asked which of the top 16 he wants to have a go at in round one, he said: ‘I love playing at the Crucible and I’d love to play Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Crucible.

‘I know there’s easier draws, but I’d love to play him there. Just because he’s a legend and my idol growing up.

‘We’ve actually been in talks for going for a couple of runs. I’ve been doing a bit of running. But it would be great just to play a legend at the greatest venue. Why not?’

Ranked 37 in the world Jones is on his way back up the rankings after returning to the tour at the start of last season.

He has designs on being much nearer Ronnie O’Sullivan’s ranking than he is now and is not scared of any draw he is given at the Crucible in Thursday morning’s draw.

‘I’m not really afraid of anyone,’ he said. ‘I’ve won a couple of games now, they [the top 16] are under pressure for first round points.

‘I played Mark Joyce the other day and it was £15,000 points or nothing. A huge game for me.

‘They will be…alright not that much pressure because they’re a bit more well off than me I