Local teen Jake Jackson wins state junior billiards championship

Jackson, 15, advances to national competition in July

Provided photos: Jake Jackson, 15, studies a shot during the New York State Junior Billiards Championship Saturday in Endicott.

Jake Jackson knew the competition would be tough, but that didn’t deter the 15-year-old from giving it his all.

On Saturday, Jackson won the state title at the New York State Junior Championships in Endicott, qualifying him for a free spot in the national competition in July in Quincy, Ill. Five from that competition will be chosen to represent the USA in the world championship in New Zealand.

Jake Jackson of Lyndonville holds his trophy as he poses with certified billiards instructor Kim Young after winning the New York State Junior Billiards championship Saturday.

Jake’s toughest competition on Saturday were two brothers, 17 and 18, said his father Roger. His first match ended with a score of 5-4. Then he won 5-2 and 5-1, scoring 5-0 in the final game against an 18-year-old.

Roger said Jake,a Lyndonville ninth-grader, had been battling flu and a sinus infection for two weeks, but his fever had dropped to normal on Thursday after a week of antibiotics. He hadn’t even been well enough to practice all week, Roger said.

“Jake was still very tired, and slept all the way there and all the way home,” Roger said. “He was not himself, but he knew he needed that win to get to the nationals in Quincy. There are several qualifiers throughout the country, and if he lost Saturday he would have needed to go to Pennsylvania to try.”

This week the family is heading to the Super Billiards Expo at the Philadelphia Expo Center, considered the largest billiards event in the country. There are 64 players entered in the 18 and under division, in which Jake will be playing. He finished third in the event last year at the age of 14, his first major tournament.

Roger said the event also draws nearly 200 vendors, one of whom he hopes will be interested in sponsoring Jake.

The junior division at the event will have players from coast to coast.

“All the best will be there,” Roger said. “Some of these kids are already ranked pros and will also play in the open events at the Expo.”

There will be 500 pool tables there, and $82,000 in total prize money, he said.

He added all the pro tables will have live stream on them, and Roger will be live streaming Jake’s matches.