Jordan Brown calls Welsh Open success ‘dream come true’

Jordan Brown said it was “a dream come true” in becoming a ranking event champion from Northern Ireland after he sealed one of snooker’s greatest upsets as he beat six-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan in a final-frame decider to clinch the Welsh Open title at Celtic Manor.
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The world number 81, who started the tournament as a 750-1 outsider, held his nerve to clinch a 9-8 win and become the lowest ranked winner of a ranking title in over a quarter of a century.

A brilliant break of 74 in the decider completed victory for the Antrim 33-year-old and completed a spectacular change in fortunes for a player who almost fell off the tour last year after a string of poor results. The Antrim man now joins Mark Allen, Dennis Taylor and Alex Higgins in winning a ranking event and he said he was thrilled that his hard work had helped put him in such illustrious company.

“It means everything to be mentioned in the same bracket as them. It’s a dream come true,” he told BBC Sport.

Antrim's Jordan Brown.Antrim's Jordan Brown.
Antrim's Jordan Brown.

“In Northern Ireland we all get behind each other, but particularly in my home town of Antrim.

“I always believed in myself. I’ve had some dark days in my snooker life, but that’s what makes you stronger as a player and a person. It comes down to sacrifices and hard work. I was working full time in a petrol station as well as playing full time snooker as well.

“Five years ago I just said to myself to give it a proper go because I’d never really committed myself before that. It’s all paying off now.”

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