Teenage prodigy Michal Szubarczyk, a 14-year-old from Poland, is poised to become the youngest player ever to participate in the World Snooker Championships by competing in the Crucible qualifiers. Szubarczyk will go head-to-head against Dean Young, a 23-year-old Scottish player, in the opening qualifying round on April 8 in a race to secure 10 frames.
To secure a place at the prestigious Crucible, Szubarczyk will need to triumph in four consecutive matches among 127 other contenders at the English Institute of Sport. Should he defeat Young, the 18-year-old Stan Moody from Halifax awaits him in the second round. Szubarczyk recently clinched victory in the under-16 and under-18 categories at the European Championships in Turkey, positioning him as a nominee for a two-year Tour card starting next season based on his stellar performance.
Mark Williams, a three-time world champion, has already praised Szubarczyk as one of the most talented 14-year-olds he has ever witnessed, comparing him to the legendary Ronnie O’Sullivan. The youngest player to debut at the Crucible remains O’Sullivan, who achieved this feat at the age of 16 in 1992, while the youngest winner of a World Championship qualifier match is Liam Davies from Wales.
The World Snooker Championships are scheduled to commence on April 19, with the final set to take place on May 4 and May 5. In other news, Zhao Xintong from China is set to make a comeback to the tournament after serving a 20-month ban due to his involvement in a match-fixing scandal.
Stephen Hendry, a snooker legend, expressed curiosity about Zhao Xintong’s performance in the championship, highlighting the increased competitiveness in the early rounds compared to past decades. Hendry emphasized the challenges players are likely to face in the tournament, underscoring the tough competition expected throughout the event.