Jack Lisowski wants the shot clock used to combat the “playability” he faces

Jack Lisowski has called for the use of a shot clock in more snooker tournaments, as he feels some opponents play too slowly and use their skills against him.

Lisowski has had a good season so far, reaching the semi-finals of the Masters and UK Championships after finishing the last season with his best run at the World Championships, going out in the quarter-finals.

He’s playing well and closing in on the elusive first major title, but thinks he’s hampered by opponents who play extra slow to throw him off his rhythm.

By playing this week’s Quickfire Shoot Out, the only professional event played under a shot clock, Jackpot recognizes the benefits.

“You see players these days, some of them are getting slower and slower, so it’s nice to play in a tournament where that doesn’t happen,” said Lisowski. Metro.nl. “I think we need a shot clock now because things are very slow these days.”

Lisowski was beaten 5-4 by Mark Allen in the quarter-finals of last week’s World Grand Prix, with the Pistol certainly playing a more stable game than he often does.

The eventual champion said after his crucial frame win: “My game plan worked, it wasn’t pretty, but I also played a lot of good things.”

When asked if he was talking about that game specifically, Lisowski said, “I’m not saying anything, but I think some players are getting really slow right now. I get a lot of people texting me on social media saying they’re fed up and don’t enjoy looking at it.

“The game could use a shot clock because you don’t need more than 20 seconds per shot to think about something. Any longer than that and you’ll be walking around the table looking at the same thing over and over again.

“For me, make sure some tournaments have a shot clock and there might be less playability when some players try to disrupt your rhythm.”

Lisowski is the kind of free-flowing, fast attacking player who is likely to be targeted by anyone looking to use slow-moving tactics, and he thinks his good current form encourages that even more.

“I think they have started [target me] because my good game is getting really strong now,” he said. “I think they think it’s too strong for them and maybe they try to slow me down as a tactic because I’m a rhythm player.

“But I think I’m learning to deal with it a lot better, I think I’ve proven this season that I can live with it. Nobody slaughtered me because they play very slowly.

“I’m sticking with it now, I’m just happy with how my game is developing, I think I’m doing well and enjoying my snooker, the game I play the most. I’m getting better, I’m good at my snooker I would say.’

The number 12 in the world is still on the hunt. a first title, but now he is more confident than ever that he is around the corner.

The 31-year-old is delighted to see his game improve and as his experience on the biggest stages grows he believes his breakthrough is near.

“I knock on the door at most matches now. I think I can fully do it now,” he said. “I’ve completed my education, played every player out there to play, I feel like I know what to do now, my game is ready and I’m getting closer to the business end of tournaments, it makes a lot of fun .

“I did well at the World Cup, Great Britain and the Masters. I feel like I’ve seen everything there is to see, I’ve seen every venue – except 9,000 people in Hong Kong – all the places you dream of playing. I’ve been there, got in a little bit of shape at every event and if I go to this big one I think I can do it, now I see a way. I’m enjoying it, I’m looking forward to the months to come, the seasons to come, things are going well.

With six runs to the ranking finals and a match in the top 16, the question remains when Lisowski’s first title will come out.

He admits that the same story can get boring, but he’s not worried about that and expects many more titles in the coming years.

“My thing is I just want to keep improving my game,” he said. “I don’t want to win one, there are players who have won a tournament and I don’t want their career, I prefer mine.

“I want to win as many as possible, I think I will win a lot, I want to start this process sooner rather than later. let’s go get it It will happen when it happens but hopefully it will get the ball rolling for more when I get one.

“Sometimes this season I’ve played the best I’ve ever played. I feel like I’m the most improved player of the last year. It’s not a boast or anything, I just sincerely believe it. Where my game has been and how I’ve progressed, it’s amazing for me to say I’ve made it. I’ve improved a lot of my weaknesses if I can make it next year, who knows how I’ll be?

“I think a lot of the criticism I get comes from a good angle, they want me to do well and they think I should do well. Even though it’s a bit annoying that people keep asking me about it, I think It’s a funny question when asked. I feel a little privileged to be in this position…but it sucks.”

Jack’s work with former World Champion Peter Ebdon is due, at least in part, to his impressive form over the past year and Lisowski can’t praise the Force enough for his help.

“Peter is such a good combination for me,” he said. “I can ask him a lot of questions about things I don’t understand. We were together in Covid but couldn’t really do much. He has only been able to come to tournaments with me since the World Cup, so it wasn’t even a full season.

“It’s so nice to have him around, I can ask him anything, he really helps me. It’s a combination of listening to him, doing what he says and working hard. My game has really improved, I will continue to do that and I’ll see where I am at this time next year, who knows what it will be like.”

Although Ebdon and Lisowksi feel they come from different eras, they have played professionally on six occasions, including at the World Cup and UK Championships.

Jackpot’s respect for Ebdon stems from those fights, but they’ve since become good friends as they worked together.

“When I played against him, we played good games,” said Jack. “He beat me 10-9 at the World Cup, I had really good moments with him. That’s another reason I like working with him, because he was so strong to play against him that I thought, ‘Wow, this guy is brilliant.’

“We are having so much fun. Lots of people are sending me stuff about him while he’s taking notes in his notebook, it gives me goosebumps. But he’s brilliant, he helped me learn a lot, just enjoy my snooker more, it’s more fun.

“I’m looking forward to moving on, I already have a lot to thank, but I think sooner rather than later he will pass me and give me my first title.”