From petrol station to snooker glory for Antrim Ferrari Jordan Brown

He’d been working there three years ago, and almost gave up the sport.

On Sunday night he completed one of the most remarkable rags to riches stories when he beat world number one Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final of the Welsh Open.

Ranked number 81 in the world, Jordan – nicknamed the Antrim Ferrari – defied the odds to progress through the tournament having never before got beyond the quarter finals of a ranking event.

On Sunday evening he carried on the Province’s proud snooker tradition, becoming the fourth Northern Irish player to win a ranking event after Alex Higgins, Dennis Taylor, and Mark Allen.

Jordan and 2018 World Masters champion Mark are good friends, both members of 147 Snooker Club in Antrim.

After his win which saw him collect the Ray Reardon Trophy and £70,000 prize money, Jordan said: “I always believed in myself. I had some dark days in my snooker life but that makes you a stronger person.

“I never stopped believing in myself. All of those sacrifices and hard work. I was working in the petrol station and playing full-time snooker as well.

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

“I had some tough years and I was on the verge of quitting. I was getting up at half five in the morning to work in a petrol station.

“To think about that compared to now is very emotional.”

Joe McGonnell, secretary of the Northern Ireland Billiards and Snooker Association (NIB&SA), said: “Jordan had never before been past the quarter-finals of a ranking event so the world number 81 was in uncharted territory against Ronnie O’Sullivan.

“After four final frame battles including a win over former world champion and number one Mark Selby and a very famous win, 6-1 over number eight Stephen Maguire, he came face to face with the world number one in the final.

“It was the best win of his career to date, things can only get better.

“All the hard work and dedication is finally paying off for Jordan.

“Three years ago he was working in a petrol station serving customers, getting up at half five, half six every morning.

“It’s crazy to think since then the journey that he has had and being in a ranking tournament final is just incredible.

“Everyone at NIB&SA are so proud of Jordan. It’s a dream come true.”

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