Posted on: October 25, 2023, 05:01h.
Last updated on: October 25, 2023, 05:01h.
The first thing UK lottery winner Neil Jones bought after collecting a £2.5 million jackpot in 2010 was a high-quality pool table. Thirteen years later, he’s making waves in the world of pool as he represents his country, England, at the upcoming European Pool Championships in Malta this November.
After claiming his lottery winnings, Jones left his tiling job and dedicated his time to achieving professional pool player status. The COVID lockdown provided him with ample opportunities to train intensely, resulting in him putting in “thousands of hours” of practice.
Catching a Break
In 2010, when Jones won £2.5 million, he had only £13 in his pocket and limited job prospects. The future seemed uncertain, especially with Christmas fast approaching.
At the time, he shared with The Daily Mirror, “We’ve just been scraping along. We borrowed some money so we could get through Christmas, knowing that in the New Year there were a couple of jobs possibly in the pipeline.”
Initially, Jones and his partner, Julie Kirkham, believed they had won a mere £10. However, upon closer examination, they realized that all six numbers on their Lucky Dip draw ticket matched.
Overwhelmed with excitement, Jones recalled, “My hands were shaking so much that I called Julie to come and check the ticket. She thought I was joking,” he said.
Next month, Jones will redirect his focus from playing six balls to eight-ball as he leads the England B1 team at the European Pool Championships in Malta. The mere thought of this opportunity brought tears to his eyes.
Like Winning the Lottery
Since his big lottery win, Jones transitioned from a junior snooker player to a key figure in Staffordshire’s pool team. In 2021, he narrowly missed out on playing for England but was presented with another chance in 2023, which he successfully seized. This achievement felt like winning the lottery for him, although he wished his late father could have witnessed the momentous occasion.
Jones fondly reminisced, “My dad was so supportive of me. He was so proud. When he was in the hospital, I used to update him on the county results every month, and he’d say, ‘You really want this, don’t you? It will come.’ And it did—it was a truly emotional experience.”
Despite his newfound wealth, Jones’s local pool club friends continue to appreciate him for his skills rather than his monetary success.
“It’s all about what you can achieve because money can’t buy you a place on the England team,” Jones emphasized. “Winning the lottery allowed me to dedicate countless hours to honing my skills. Without that opportunity, I’d still be on the floor, tiling.”