JAK Jones is eyeing an extended run at this year’s ManBetX Welsh Open after beating fellow countryman Matthew Stevens to clear the first hurdle for the second year in succession.

World number 87 Jones, from Cwmbran, defeated two-time Crucible finalist Stevens, ranked 41, 4-2 to book a place in the second round of the event in Cardiff.

The capital hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Jones in the past, with the 25-year-old only breaking his tournament duck 12 months ago at the fourth attempt.

“It’s a very good win because Matthew’s one of the best Welsh players ever,” he said.

“It was quite a good match and he didn’t miss much until the yellow at the end, which I didn’t expect him to.

“Winning matches is all you can do to improve your confidence. I’ve just got to keep building and hopefully I can keep it going.

“Winning a match like that and getting to the second round means you can relax more, that’s when I’ll start playing my best, and I feel like I can beat anyone anyway.”

When asked how special it would be to go far in his home tournament, he added: “It would be really good.

“The first round is always a bit difficult with all your friends and family coming to watch. You almost want to win more for them than yourself.

“Obviously I want to go really far in tournaments so the first and second rounds don’t really mean a lot.

“It’s about building on it and going deep into tournaments.”

Stevens led twice at 1-0 and 2-1, but Jones went ahead for the first time when winning frame five and then got over the line after his rival rattled the yellow in the jaws of the pocket.

Jones will now play Peter Lines in round two after the Englishman beat Wales' Michael White 4-2.