The story so farWilson Lionel Garton Jones, grew up watching his uncle, India hockey centre-half OB Massey, play in a Pune billiards saloon close to his home and was hooked. At the age of 18, when he was within permissible age to get into the saloon, Jones burst into prominence. After winning the Evening News of India Snooker Championship in Bombay, he was offered a job at the House of Vissanji and free access to the owner RK Vadabhai Vissanjis billiards table. His training schedule was unrelenting. Jones said he had never missed a practice session in 20 years - neither weekends nor on holidays. From 1950 onwards he was to be easily the best billiards player in the country. He made three initial unsuccessful attempts at the world title - starting with 1951 in London, followed by the world championships in Calcutta (1952) and Sydney (1954).The moment In 1958, the world championship returned to Calcutta, where Jones hit his stride. The world championships until then had been competed for and won largely by Britons, Australians and South Africans. In Calcuttas Great Eastern Hotel, Jones pulled off the biggest upset in the world game at the time - not only because he became the first Asian to win it, but also in the manner he did it. When the final session began against defending champion Leslie Driffield of England, Jones trailed by 661 points. Mild-mannered, courteous and gentlemanly away from the green baize, when Jones was given his chance at the table in Calcutta he turned into a prowling tiger. He ate into Driffields lead, ahead with only 15 minutes left, on the back of breaks of 170, 232, 0, 5, 113, 117, 0, 5, 147 and 33. Driffield returned to the table with nine minutes left, but could go no further than 69. Jones came back for an unfinished 123 and the world title was finally his. It made him the first Indian world champion in any sport since the countrys independence.The reaction When the world title came to India for the first time, I can safely say that was the happiest moment of my life. - Wilson JonesNo other player, professional or amateur, could have conceded such a big lead and still have beaten me. - Leslie Driffield, former world billiards championExpert view How he put India on the map in a game which was the white mans exclusive preserve, the manner in which he instilled pride in Indian sportspersons and the inspiration he provided to a whole generation of players who went on to become world beaters at a time when money did not drive the mare, his contribution cannot be viewed only from the narrow prism of the three-ball game. His deeds furthered the cause of Indian sport as a whole to an extent that was remarkable. - Michael Ferreira, former world billiards championThe story since Wilson Jones unsuccessfully tried to defend his world title in Edinburgh, 1960, and then attempted to win it for a second time in 1962 in Perth, but despite close contests against Herbert Beetham and Bob Marshall, Jones was unable to do so. His time though was to come in distant Pukehoke, just outside Auckland, New Zealand in 1964. Unbeaten through the event, he won his second world title in a tournament with a full field, and was equally delighted at the success of his compatriot, a young player like him from Bombay, called Michael Ferreira, who finished third. Jones retired in 1967, after winning his 12th and final national title, beating Ferreira, and having won five national snooker titles in seven finals. 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With a massive £250,000 up for grabs this weekend, Jeff Stelling gives you his predictions for Saturdays Super 6 games Merse correctly predicted four of the 10 Premier League outcomes in midweek, so read on for his weekend shouts... Mersons last Premier League predicitions Merses prediction Result Aston Villa 0-3 Everton 1-3 Bournemouth 1-1 Southampton 2-0 Leicester 2-1 West Brom 2-2 Norwich 0-2 Chelsea 1-2 Sunderland 2-1 Palace 2-2 Arsenal 2-0 Swansea 1-2 Stoke 3-1 Newcastle 1-0 West Ham 1-1 Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool 1-1 Man City 3-0 Man Utd 1-0 Watford 1-0 Watford v Leicester City - 5.30pm, Saturday Night Football Leicester were lucky against Norwich - there is no doubt about it - scoring in the last minute, but they did not play well. I thought they really played well in midweek though when they drew 2-2 with West Brom, and I am going to go for a draw here.I thought Watford also played well in midweek at United and there is not a million miles between these two teams, believe me! It is weird, but one is very consistent and has been on a roll, and the other has been in and out really, but punched above their weight.So fair play to both teams and I am going for 1-1…PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet Odds 5/1) Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal - 12.45pm, Saturday The way Arsenal are playing, I just cannot see them getting anything out of the game. No Cech, no Koscielny and if Tottenham get going, start well and score first, I can see it getting out of hand. Biggest north London derby in 25 years Merse previews Tottenham v Arsenal The only problem is they looked tired the other day at West Ham and against Swansea, but I am going to go for a very hopeful 1-1, as that is what my heart is saying, but my head is telling me Tottenham are going to win this.Arsenal are all over the shop at the moment, they have just lost two in a row and are without their best defender and goalie so I do worry for them. This is not the greatest Arsenal team and they do not have a lot of fight in them.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet Odds 5/1)Chelsea v Stoke City - 3pm, Saturday I am going to go for a Stoke win here, because Chelsea have a big week coming up - they have got PSG in the Champions League, then Everton in the FA Cup. So, given they surely cant get into the top four, they have got to rest players for the two bigger games, in my opinion.Stoke could take advantage of that and I am going to go for a cheeky 2-1 Stoke win here, but ONLY because Chelsea have two big games coming up.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet Odds 20/1) Play Super 6 Think you know better than Merse? Enter your predictions here.dddddddddddd Everton v West Ham United - 3pm, Saturday West Ham have now put themselves in with a shout of the top four. Two weeks ago you would have been thinking that West Ham and Everton have both got the FA Cup to play for, which would have made this game at Goodison Park a make sure no one gets injured job.But now West Ham have got a chance of getting in the top four, and so this has become a massive game for them. Everton have got Chelsea in the cup next weekend, but I think they are are a good team and at home they can beat anybody, even a strong side going well like West Ham. The Fantasy Football Club Podcast Listen to this weeks podcast here! It does depend on what sort of team turns up, but Everton have been pretty consistent recently and this will be a hard game for West Ham. I do not think there are many harder games than this away from home and West Ham have just had to work very hard for the Tottenham result and they have a big game next weekend at Old Trafford, so I am going to go for a 2-1 Everton win.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet Odds 7/1)Manchester City v Aston Villa - 3pm, Saturday Man City have got to bounce back as they were an absolute joke against Liverpool - they are playing for the top four and it is unbelievable how they capitulated. They should not be getting beaten 3-0 with the amount of talent they have got on the pitch.So I expect them to bounce back and if they could have played anyone on Saturday, then it would have been Villa. City will roll them over.If I am being honest, with their squad City should walk the league. Put it this way - they should not be this many points behind Leicester.PAUL PREDICTS: 4-0 (Sky Bet Odds 9/1)Newcastle United v Bournemouth - 3pm, Saturday This is Newcastles cup final. They have seen Swansea get an unbelievable result at the Emirates, which has reduced the relegation battle into a four-horse race. So if Newcastle lose this…But as it is their cup final, I am going to go for Newcastle to win 2-1 - they simply have to win this game. And if they lose it, I think they are relegated. If they cannot get themselves up for this game, they may as well pack it in.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet Odds 17/2)Southampton v Sunderland - 3pm, Saturday I am going for Southampton, even though I thought Sunderland were unlucky last weekend when they lost at West Ham. The Saints are at home and thats why I think they will just sneak this one.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet Odds 7/1)Swansea City v Norwich City - 3pm, Saturday Gylfi Sigurdsson (L) of Swansea City and Robbie Brady of Norwich City compete for the ball If you had asked me three days ago, I would have said that this is Swanseas cup final, but now if they win this game that is it, I think they are safe - all within a matter of a week. No one expected them to beat Arsenal - I dont think they did either given the team they sent out! But fair play to them.I am going to go for 1-1 here. I think Norwich will have a go and one day they will put away all these chances they create.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet Odds 5/1)Crystal Palace v Liverpool - 1.30pm, Super Sunday Palace are on that glass slope with slippers on at the moment and they cannot stop sliding, while Liverpool had a great result in midweek and now the race for the top four is wide open.Liverpool will now be thinking if we can put five wins together, we can finish in the top four, so it becomes a big game. But they also have that Europa League game in midweek against Man Utd, so it depends how you balance things out. This is a really awkward time for these managers - what do you go for? Do you chase the teams above you in the league or do you go right, if we can beat Man Utd...?But I am going to go 2-1 for Liverpool, as after the win against Man City I think they will be flying.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet Odds 8/1)West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United - 4pm, Super Sunday Man Utd have turned the corner and sometimes you just need a little bit of luck. I thought they were lucky against Watford, who had a couple of chances and probably two months ago they would have scored and come away with a 2-0 win and everybody would have been booing. But they score in the last five minutes and everybody goes home happy, they are on a roll. Fantasy Six-a-Side West Brom v Man Utd is this weeks Fantasy Six-a-Side game. Play here to win ￡10k. Man City have just opened up the possibility of Champions League qualification for everybody, so instead of Liverpool and Man Utd looking forward to the Europa League on Thursday, these are now bigger football matches. And if you had said that three weeks ago, I would have said: No chance.But I am going to for Man Utd 2-1 as I think they are rolling now.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet Odds 8/1) Think you know better than Merse? Take him on at Super 6 for the chance to win £250,000 here. Also See: Merse: Biggest derby in 25 years Premier League questions Sanchez: Arsenal lack belief Martin Tylers stats Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '