‘I’m carrying it with me’ – Jack Lisowski reveals Ukraine inspiration after Neil Robertson win at World Championship

Jack Lisowski says his World Championship bid is being impressed by occasions in Ukraine though he has been blocked from sporting the nation’s flag on his waistcoat.

Lisowski’s grandfather is from Ukraine, which has been invaded by Russia for the final two months.

He wore a Ukraine badge on his waistcoat in tournaments main as much as the World Championship to point out his help for the nation, however World Snooker refused to grant permission for a similar gesture on the Crucible.

“I needed to put on the Ukraine badge and I wasn’t allowed for no matter cause so I mentioned if I gained that sport I’d get the flag out, I haven’t obtained that but!” he advised Eurosport.

“Final night time I used to be considering simply win it so you will get a flag out. Everyone knows what’s occurring, I ought to have the flag in my waistcoat however I’m not allowed.

“I simply need to preserve profitable and say help Ukraine. I’m carrying it with me, I’ve mentioned about it, I performed three or 4 tournaments with the badge on and I felt proud sporting it.”

Lisowski got here via a thriller to beat pre-tournament favorite Robertson in a final-frame decider.

The Australian got here again from 9-7 down, profitable 4 frames in a row and making a 147 to maneuver 11-10 forward.

Nevertheless, Lisowski battled again and managed to e book a quarter-final assembly with John Higgins.

“That’s the most effective feeling I’ve ever had as a result of I gave it all the pieces,” mentioned Lisowski.

“That’s the toughest I’ve ever labored for a sport. It was a tremendous feeling and a tremendous match. I believed he was going to beat me 13-11, I believed he wasn’t going to overlook and I realised I used to be so gutted as a result of I gave that match all the pieces I had. I felt prefer it deserved a decider, simply an unimaginable match.

“Neil is the most effective participant on the planet, he’s taking part in the most effective snooker and has had the most effective season. He was the worst draw for me, he beat me 13-9 on the identical stage final season, typically you may’t let these guys preserve beat you so I felt the final three days I used to be making an attempt my finest to try this. To simply pip him on the finish is unimaginable.”

Reflecting on the influence of the 147, which noticed Robertson shut the result in 10-9, Lisowski added: “It got here after I misplaced an in depth body after which I left him an extended pink and you understand he’s going to pot it, the utmost by no means regarded unsure and he by no means regarded like he was going to overlook.

“I wanted the interval, hit just a few balls and at 11-10 I potted a very good pink to the center, made an 88, and that gave me a little bit of perception.”

Lisowski will likely be again in motion on Tuesday when he faces Higgins.

Lisowski beat Higgins of their earlier assembly on the Scottish Open however was additionally thrashed by him 13-1 the final time they met on the Crucible in 2018.

“I beat [Stuart] Bingham then I had John the following sport and I modified my tip and he’s a savage human being and I wasn’t on the races,” he mentioned.

“I beat him twice earlier than, I’m placing that one all the way down to the tip! I might need gained 4 frames if I had the tip on!”

– – –