Page needs to take it one step at a time, saysWhite

JACKSON Page has well and truly burst onto the snooker scene but legend Jimmy White is urging the Ebbw Vale potter to walk before he can run.

Teenager Page was awarded a wildcard entry for last week’s Coral Welsh Open in Cardiff and immediately made the most of the opportunity afforded him.

The 15-year-old beat Jason Weston 4-3 on a respotted black in his first round and then defeated John Astley by the same scoreline in his next match.

World number one Judd Trump proved a different prospect altogether however and that is where Page’s adventure came to an end as he lost 4-0 in round three.

In a professional career spanning almost four decades White has seen it all in the world of snooker, and he has some sound advice for the game’s latest prodigy.

“My advice to Jackson Page is to just keep playing, but play in as many PRO-AMs and as many small tournaments as he can because now he is raw, he has come out of the snooker club onto the big stage,” said White.

“Now he needs match play and the only way he can get that is by playing in PRO-AMs or by playing the local players. But, he is a very big talent.

“If he has anything about him he will come up trumps. The good players who go on to make it don’t struggle with the added expectations.

“I think he can go on and win tournaments, he has got the ambition, he has got the game and I think he has the dedication so I don’t see why not.

“But, there are different types of styles, he is more of a ‘scores what he can and run away’ which is OK but with the game at the standard it is now, you have got to get in and try and kill the frame off.

“If you don’t kill the frame off in one visit at least two or three times in a match you are going to lose – especially in the shorter games.”

And while eventual Welsh Open runner-up Trump proved a bridge too far on Sunday, White believes the make-up of the new and innovative Home Nations series could play into Page’s hands.

“It is a best of seven race in the earlier rounds it is a very quick game, there is no interval so it is all very quick,” White said.

“It definitely suits the younger players like Page because they are just used to playing all the way through with no break.

“It is definitely good for snooker, these Home Nations tournaments have been brilliant.”

The Welsh Open was LIVE on Eurosport 1 and Quest, featuring daily studio analysis from Ronnie O’Sullivan, Jimmy White and Neal Foulds.