After beating 2010 champion Robertson in the final qualifying round dramatically 10-9, having been 8-5 down against the Aussie just last week, Jones is ready for the fight tonight against his higher ranked opponent.
If Jones can pull off the scalp of Higgins this evening he will be the ninth unseeded player to do so in the first round of this years tournament – a feat that has never happened before at the first hurdle in the Sheffield-based competitions history.
“I don’t know what it is about this tournament, it just brings out the best of me”, said Jones.
“My style is to never give up and I knew I was up against it when it was 8-5 [against Robertson] but I thought if could hit him early I would have a chance.
“I love the way the top players play. In practice I play like a top player, I just don’t produce it enough in other competitions.
Jones, 36, playing in his fifth World Championship’s had taken a 3-1 lead at the interval against the ‘Wizard of Wishaw’ with a fluent 118 break in the first frame setting the tone.
The 48-year-old Scot playing in his 30th consecutive year in Sheffield, however, would use his experience to take the next four frames, before Jones would end strongly with a break of 82 to seal the final frame to set up an intriguing second session.
Play will resume in the best of 19 frame match-up at 7pm with the victor going on to face former runner-up and fourth seed Northern-Irishman Mark Allen on Saturday afternoon in the last-16.
[Lead image: World Snooker]
