Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Jak Jones was runner-up at the World Snooker Championship in 2024
Jak Jones revealed he was struggling to breathe at times during his heavy defeat to Mark Selby in the first round of the World Snooker Championship.
The 2024 runner-up was comfortably beaten 10-2 by Selby on Wednesday.
He said breathing difficulties caused by asthma meant he could not concentrate and can even develop into a panic attack, though he did not blame the health problems for his exit.
"When you can't breathe, you can't be composed and I feel like pressure in my head and get headaches and stuff," he said.
"It turns into a panic attack because I can't breathe and I want to just rip my shirt off.
"I probably would've lost by the same scoreline but it just makes it harder with my asthma if you can't breathe properly."
Jones, 32, said his asthma is the reason he does not wear a bow tie when competing.
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"I can end up feeling absolutely terrible, I get tremors and stuff like that," he added.
"If I take my medication it can make it worse [when playing] as it can give me the shakes.
"It happened in my last match [qualifier] against Luca Brecel but I got through it."
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Jones trailed 7-2 after the morning session against four-time champion Selby having felt "absolutely shocking".
The world number 19 recovered later in the day but had no answer as Selby claimed the three more frames required to seal victory.
It was a disappointing exit for the Welshman who came through qualifying with the aim of going one better than his appearance in the final two years ago at The Crucible.
Jones added: "I missed a few easy balls and it turned into a bit of a nightmare.