Jackson Page believes he can win the Welsh Open – but pins Judd Trump as the favourite

by Matt Slater

Jackson Page believes that he can become the Welsh Open champion – if Judd Trump does not stand in his way.

Page, from Ebbw Vale, first competed in the Welsh Open as a 15-year-old boy back in 2017. He reached the last-32 after beating Jason Weston and John Astley, before losing to the current world number one, Judd Trump.

Since then, Page has played in every Welsh Open, but has failed to reach the same stage that he did four years ago.

But this is not stopping the snooker player from believing that he can lift the trophy.

“I go to every tournament believing that I can win it,” Page said.

“My main goal this year is to get inside the top-64.

“This would mean I can stay on the tour in the best way possible to then progress from there.”

“But Judd (Trump) is playing out of his skin currently, so it’s hard to see past him in every tournament.

“I have come up against him a couple of times, I played him earlier this season in the last 16 in one of the events and he was brilliant.

“When he plays his best, there is not much you can do – unless you match that which is much harder for us to do than it is for Judd.”

The tournament holds a great level of significance to Page, with his hometown situated just north of Newport and Cardiff. The snooker player is also a huge fan of the event and went to watch it every year.

“It is my home tournament,” Page continued.

“I always watched the Welsh Open when I was younger.

“I would go to the event, even when it was at Newport a long time ago.

“I went with my Dad and Bamb (Grandfather), and I loved it.

“Behind the World Championships, it is probably the one I want to win the most.

“This year I want to get inside the top-64 and then the plan is to be the best; I’ll put the hours in to climb the ranks and I strive to be the best.

And the lack of tour events in 2020 provided the perfect opportunity for Page to tighten some screws in his game.

“I have made a few changes to my game,” Page added.

“I have tried to better my cue ball positioning play; but I have been playing well.”

The Welsh Open starts next week at Celtic Manor in Newport.