Neil Jones, a former tiler from Stoke-on-Trent, has won a bronze medal at the European Blackball Championships in Malta after buying a pool table with the £2.4 million he won from the National Lottery in 2010. Jones had retired after winning the lottery and had bought a professional-grade pool table to practice on. He was selected for the England B1 team to compete in the over-50s Masters category, which he captained.
Jones was initially invited to attend an open trial for anyone interested in trialing for the England team, making the news of his selection all the more momentous. Speaking ahead of the tournament, Jones said it was overwhelming to be representing his country at the Championships and that he wished his father was there to see it all. He has since dedicated the bronze medal to his late father.
Before winning the lottery, Jones had just £13 in his pocket and did not have enough money to get through Christmas. However, a celebration at a pool hall with friends led to him measuring his dining room so he could buy a professional-grade pool table. The lottery win allowed him to retire and practice, a luxury he could not have enjoyed while still working.
The tournament consisted of England, Wales, France, Spain, Belgium, Ireland, and Gibraltar, with Jones’ team playing against second-level over-50s teams before losing to Wales in the semi-final. Scotland won the gold medal. Jones said the journey was amazing, and he was so proud of his medal since it was the result of his post-retirement hobby
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More