Snooker star says he'd give up £147k bonus after suffering World Championship heartbreak

Jackson Page was left dreaming of a place in the World Snooker Championship, despite making history in qualification for the tournament. Page astounded onlookers as he became the first ever player to in a single match during a qualifier.

The 23-year-old admitted he would swap his achievement in a heartbeat for a place at the Crucible in the coming days. The Welshman offered up by World Snooker Tour bosses for any player that recorded two 147 breaks across any of the Triple Crown events.

Unfortunately, Page was unable to convert that achievement into a . After dispatching Allan Taylor 10-2 by the way of his maximums, before falling to Joe O'Connor, who made it into the draw, 10-7.

An additional £10,000 bonus for hitting a 147 in qualifying and a possible £15,000 for a tournament high break prize have not proven enough to diminish Page's disappointment. The young star had aspirations of winning the tournament.

"I think I’d rather be at the Crucible," he said. "You’ve got a chance of winning if you’re there and I was here to win the tournament, I’m not now.

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"I know this might sound silly but I think I’d rather be at the Crucible. I know I should be happy but I’m not seeing it that way at the minute. I’ll give myself a little bit of time and I will see it differently. You’re number one at something. Guinness book of records and all that. I will look at it eventually like that, but I’ll need a week or two."

Page revealed he found it difficult to manage the high he achieved after hitting his 147s. "It is tough because you’re on such a high," he said.

"I know last year in this I played Noppon [Saengkham] in the last round and he’d just had a 147 and I beat him. I suppose it’s the highs and lows of the game.

"Everyone’s been congratulating me, most of the players as well. Even Joe before we went on. It’s a great feat but I’m still gutted now."

Page's talents have previously been appreciated by . The Rocket hailed him as a 'complete player' capable of competing with the best players in the sport after facing the Wales national at the Crucible last year.

"That kid is only 22?," he commented. "He's some player."

Despite easing to a , the seven-time champion was impressed by his opponent's promise. "He looks like a complete player, ready to challenge the best," he added.

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