Jack Lisowski paid an emotional tribute to Judd Trump, the man he beat in the final of the Northern Ireland Open, to claim his first ranking title in dramatic fashion.
It has been a long wait for the 34-year-old to lift a professional trophy, turning pro in 2010 and losing in six finals before his triumph in Belfast on Sunday night.
It was an epic battle for the Alex Higgins Trophy between the two good friends, with never more than a frame between them and the match reaching a dramatic climax in a deciding frame.
Both had chances, both looked to be struggling under the pressure, but it was Jackpot who got over the line against the world number one to win 9-8 and claim the £100,000 top prize.
Not only has it been a long wait for a big prize, Lisowski has been through a testing time off the table after his dad died in March, admitting that he had lost some fight on the baize since then.
The wildly talented star has been through a lot in his life, suffering with cancer as a teenager, so he is no stranger to a serious scrap.
Trump has been a close friend ever since those teenage years and has been of immense support since he lost his dad.
Lisowski was quick to thank his friend after his victory and there was barely a dry eye in the Waterfront Hall as a result.
‘I feel like I’m going to pass out. I’ve never felt like this in my life,’ Lisowski told TNT Sports. ‘It feels so surreal, I feel like I’m dreaming.
‘I’ve thought about this moment since I was six or seven years old. You can probably say it’s taken me a bit longer than I’d have liked it to. I feel like I’m dreaming.
‘I just want to say to Judd, he’s been my best friend since I was 14, he was there with me in a restaurant in Hong Kong when I got a message about my dad and you’ve been a better friend than I could have ever asked for over the last eight months.
‘He’s one of the greatest snooker players of all time already, but he’s been the best friend I could have ever wished for. You’re the closest thing I’m ever going to have to a brother. I love you.’
Lisowski was remarkably composed as many onlookers melted into a puddle of emotions, managing to dedicate his win to his dad and revealing he was wearing something of a lucky charm.
‘I’ve got my dad’s socks on today!’ Lisowski said. ‘When he passed away the first thing I said to someone was that he never saw me win a ranking title. My friends said I can do it for my mum.
‘This is for him if he’s watching down and for my mum. The support you guys have given me. I’m 34 but my mum still picks me up when I’m down.’
Trump was playing in his 50th ranking final, having become one of the most relentless winners the sport has ever seen, but in this unique situation he was far from crushed by the dramatic defeat.
‘I’m so pleased for Jack. I would never take it for granted, winning in the final, but I’m probably a lot happier than if I’d have won, to be honest,’ he said.
‘I gave it my absolute all. It wasn’t to be, I missed a few shots. Jack fully deserved the win and there’s no person happier for him than me.’
Lisowski has long been seen as the best player never to win a ranking event and as this was his first final since March 2021, there were doubts over whether he would ever manage it.
Trump is glad that debate is over, saying: ‘I said it to him, it’s so nice that he can just shut everyone up because it annoys me! No one can say that again.
‘He’s got an amazing family and friends around him, they’ve been so supportive. I’m glad to be a friend.
‘I hope this is a start of a real rivalry and he can get back to the top of the rankings where he deserves to be.’
Jackpot is obviously thrilled not to have to deal with the debate anymore and hopes to add plenty more titles to his CV, buoyed by the work with coach Chris Henry which has had immediate success as it only began six weeks ago.
‘I go on Instagram or Twitter and pretty much someone’s messaging me every day saying “you’re never going to win a ranking title.” I don’t know why because I don’t say “I’m so good, I’m going to win everything.” I’m quite a humble guy, I’m just happy to have one now,’ he said.
‘Chris Henry, I’ve been working with him for six weeks, I think I’m a little bit better than I was six weeks ago. This could be the start of something beautiful.’
It certainly looks that way, with Lisowski not just beating the world number one in the final but downing the likes of Mark Selby, Kyren Wilson, Zhou Yuelong and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh on his way to the showpiece.
There is little time to celebrate as Jackpot is back in action on Monday against Louis Heathcote at the International Championship in Nanjing, China.
