Crucible finalist Jak Jones believes he is playing well enough to win his first title as he looks ahead to this week's BetVictor Welsh Open.
Jones enjoyed a tremendous run to the World Championship final last spring, finishing runner-up to Kyren Wilson. This season, the world number 16 is yet to reach a semi-final, though he was a quarter-finalist at the Unibet British Open in September and has appeared in the last 16 of three other ranking events.
"I feel like I could win any tournament I go into," Welshman Jones told the BBC Sport website. "Being on the big stage doesn't affect me any more. I have the confidence and belief that I haven't had in the past. Even though I haven't had a good season, I've got confidence in my break-building, and feel I can switch it on at any moment and beat anyone.
"Maybe I'm saving it all for the World Championship - a one-tournament wonder! It probably sounds crazy, but I feel more confident winning the World Championship than any tournament on the tour. The longer formats like the World suit me down to the ground. And what happened last year has given me the belief I'm a top player, and I deserve to be at the top."
Jones, age 31 from Cwmbran, faces a South Wales derby against Matthew Stevens in the opening round in Llandudno on Tuesday afternoon. He added: "Apart from the World Championship, the Welsh Open was probably the tournament I enjoyed the most earlier in my career. It's still an amazing tournament, one of the best on the Tour, and I'd love to win it. I feel like I'm capable of winning it. It would be nice to have another Welsh winner."
The 2025 BetVictor Welsh Open runs from February 10-16 at Venue Cymru in Llandudno. Gary Wilson defends the title in a field of 64 players including the likes of Kyren Wilson, Mark Williams, Shaun Murphy, John Higgins, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson and Mark Allen. Tickets are still available from as little as £33 for a full day. For details click here.