Michal Szubarczyk became the youngest winner of a World Snooker Championship match after beating Hong Kong star Ng On Yee 10-7 in the first qualifying round at the English Institute of Sport. Aged 15 years, two months and 25 days, the Polish prodigy broke the previous record set by Liam Davies in 2022.
Ng, a three-time women’s world snooker champion, had been in good form following wins on the women’s tour in February and March, but Szubarczyk prevailed on day one of the qualifiers.
“I feel very proud,” Szubarczyk told the World Snooker Tour. “I’m very excited to play the next match, and maybe this year or next year, I can become the youngest Crucible player. For me, it’s the first goal of every player in professional snooker [to play in the World Championship]. I’m enjoying the pressure. It doesn’t work in a bad way for me. I even like it, and I think that’s good. For the last six years, I have been dreaming about playing at the Crucible. I love representing Poland. Without the Polish events I wouldn’t be here, because I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to play at European or World Championships.”
Szubarczyk needs three more wins to become the youngest qualifier for the Crucible Theatre; if he does, he would surpass Luca Brecel, who made his Crucible debut in 2012 aged 17 years and 45 days. This year’s World Championship runs from April 18 to May 4 at the Crucible in Sheffield.
In other qualifying action, six-time World Championship finalist Jimmy White bowed out in the first round to Gao Yang. White, who turns 64 next month, led 5-1 early but the 21-year-old Gao fought back to win in a final-frame decider, extending White’s long wait to return to the Crucible despite yearly attempts.
