It’s taken a while for Jackson Page to truly breakthrough in the professional ranking matches but a fortnight ago he did exactly that.

The former European U18, World U18, Welsh Amateur and European U21 champion reached his maiden rankings ranking tournament quarter-final and semi-final in China at the end of March and is now ready to bring his recent form to the World Championships.

“I did pretty well to get where I got at the World Tour in China,” said Page.

“Going out there playing John Higgins, I knew I had a tough game and I needed the win really, to take the pressure off the World Championships.

“I was practicing well, I played some good stuff, after that game you build confidence, and the Mark Selby match was one of the best I’ve had on tour.

“I don’t think I really missed a ball and I was really happy to do that on tour.”

After beating John Higgins 5-3 and Mark Selby 5-2 on route to the semi-final, Page faced World number two Judd Trump and lost 6-2.

“The semi-final was a bit of a let-down really, neither of us played very well,” said Page.

“The table wasn’t brilliant in the semi-final which didn’t help, and I cut my finger, and I don’t know how I did that. It delayed the start of the game and I went through a few rags with blood, so it wasn’t a great day in the semi-finals but a great week leading up to that.”

The run in China was a welcome release for Page having endured a difficult 2024 before that, unable to gather consistent momentum.

“Before China it had been a terrible year,” said Page.

“I would win in the first rounds but it’s tough when you face the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan and the other top boys every event.

“Again, with this one I didn’t have an easy draw but you have to beat them at some point and I’m just glad to beat a few at the same time.”

Next up for Page are the World Championships and he is one of several Welshmen hoping to impress at Sheffield’s crucible theatre.

Alongside him in qualifying are two time World Championships runner up Matthew Stevens, Dominic Dale, James Jones, Jak Jones, Jamie Clarke, Michael White, Daniel Wells and Ryan Day.

All the above have reached the semi-finals of qualifying and will be hoping to win two more matches to enter the crucible theatre.

If they do so they will join fellow Welshman and three-time World Champion Mark Williams, who showed his form by winning the latest World Tour event in Manchester beating Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-5 in the final having also beaten Judd Trump 10-4 and Mark Allen 10-5 on the way.

Page has only made it through qualifying once in 2022 where he beat former runner-up Barry Hawkins 10-7 in the first round before losing to Williams 13-3 in the second.

Still only 22 Page has his sights on getting as far as possible and could become the youngest winner since Stephen Hendry in 1990 should he go all the way.

“On the back of China a start would be continuing that form and getting back to the crucible,” said Page.

“There’s no feeling like being there but I still want to win, give it a good go, if I can beat a few records and be the youngest then that’s the plan.

“I know it’s a tough gruelling format but on the back of China I know I can beat any of them, I knew that anyway but now it’s proven. It’ll be tough over the distance but hopefully I can go deep.”