Jack Lisowski 'freestyling' as he ditches help in search for winning formula

11/21/2024 06:56 AM

Jack Lisowski is flying solo, deciding to ‘freestyle’ after working with mentors and coaches, although he is yet to decide which is the best path for him.

The 33-year-old has booked his spot at the UK Championship after beating Bai Yulu in his final qualifier on Wednesday, having downed Rory Thor in his opener.

Jackpot reached the semi-finals in York two years ago and will be hoping to improve on that run, but he will be doing it without anyone in his corner.

The world number 21 was working closely with former world champion Peter Ebdon in recent years and spent some time with Mark Williams’ coach Lee Walker, but he is going it alone now.

Asked if he is working with anyone, he said: ‘No one. Just freestyling.’

On whether his game is better when not having lots of advice going through his head, he said: ‘Dunno, maybe, I’m not sure.

‘I think if I sit down and really think how to get better then maybe it’s better for me to have someone on board, so at the moment I’m just slapping them about and see what happens.

‘I’m just trying to apply myself, but I’m enjoying my snooker so that’s the main thing.

‘I could have lost that game against Thor, he was playing good and had me under it, but I felt calm. I could have panicked but this season in close games I’ve been doing really well so I think I’m applying myself better than before.’

Lisowski’s long quest for a first ranking title is still ongoing, having been to six finals, although the last of those was in 2021.

He is not worrying himself with titles, or even wins and losses in matches, though, just happy to enjoy playing again after a spell earlier this year when he fell out of love with the game.

‘Since the World Championships I’ve been enjoying my snooker again,’ he said. ‘It’s not like the end of the world if I lose and I’m not that bothered if I win either so I’m in a good place.

‘I sorted my life out off the table, got happier, sorted some things out. You get older and wiser. I’m feeling good.’

Lisowski’s semi-final run in 2022 was fantastic as he beat Xu Si, Hossein Vafaei and Shaun Murphy before a narrow loss to eventual champion Mark Allen.

His first round loss to Jamie Jones last year showed his inconsistency and he is hoping to make amends in York this time round.

‘I’ve been there about 10 years now, it’s a really nice place,’ he said. ‘Did alright there two years ago, did crap last year so I’ll try and put that right.

‘I think you can draw on stuff, you can get good feelings if you’ve done well there in the past. I’ve done alright there so it’s always nice to go back.’