Push shot or not? Jak Jones pot against Stuart Bingham in World Championship semi-final raises eyebrows

ByAlex Livie

Published 03/05/2024 at 18:27 GMT

Stuart Bingham and Jak Jones are locked together at 8-8 after two tense sessions of their World Snooker Championship semi-final. The theme has been Bingham starting fast and Jones hanging on. There has been plenty of tension and one moment of controversy over a possible push shot. Stream top snooker action, including the 2024 World Championship, live and on-demand on Eurosport and discovery+.

While the semi-final between Stuart Bingham and Jak Jones lacked the quality of the clash between Kyren Wilson and David Gilbert, it more than made up for it in tension.

Bingham raced out of the blocks at the start of each session, seemingly intent on putting his younger rival under pressure.

On both occasions, Jones stood up to the challenge and matched Bingham blow for blow - with the match well poised at 8-8.

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During Friday’s second session, Jones secured a lead for the first time and was looking to press on.

• O'Sullivan says he had to have 'arm twisted' to play at World Championship
• Wilson and Gilbert remain level in semi-final after high-quality second session

Leading 7-6, but trailing by 36 points with one red on the table, Jones had a tough pot to go at - with the cue ball devilishly close to the object ball.

After assessing his options, Jones made the pot the but the sound of cue on ball was not clean - raising suspicions of a push shot.

Joe Johnson in the Eurosport commentary box picked up on the suspicious sound.

“It sounded like a push shot, but nothing called and that is why they keep playing it,” Johnson said.

'Snooker gods for you having their fun' - Bingham pots red and goes in-off

The camera panned to Bingham in his chair and he had a curious look on his face, while referee Marcel Eckardt also had the cameras focused on him.

Push shot or not? We are sitting on the fence here, but make up your own mind.

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