Polish Teenager Smashes World Snooker Championship Record
As the World Snooker Championships prepare to commence later this month, a remarkable new talent has emerged on the professional circuit. Fifteen-year-old Michal Szubarczyk has made history by becoming the youngest player ever to secure a victory in a World Championship qualifying match.
The Polish snooker prodigy achieved this milestone during Monday's first qualifying round, where he defeated opponent Onyee Ng. His accomplishment surpasses the previous record held by Liam Davies, who was 15 years and 277 days old when he set the benchmark in 2022. Szubarczyk has beaten that record by approximately 200 days.
Drawing Comparisons to Snooker Legend Ronnie O'Sullivan
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the teenage sensation is already being likened to snooker icon Ronnie O'Sullivan. These comparisons actually began several months ago following Szubarczyk's impressive performance at February's Welsh Open, where his run was ultimately ended by world number three Neil Robertson.
Multi-time world champion Mark Williams has observed Szubarczyk's development closely and offered measured praise. "I did say he's up there; not quite as good as O'Sullivan when he was 14, 15, but he's not far behind," Williams commented. "He's been beating quite a few pros already."
Williams elaborated further, noting: "Ronnie wasn't beating established pros at 14 on tour. I mean he's already beaten Jimmy White, Martin O'Donnell, Jamie Jones, and a few others. He hasn't quite got the flair of O'Sullivan, but oh my God, he can pot from anywhere. Great to watch."
Rapid Rise Through the Ranks
Szubarczyk earned his place on the professional snooker circuit in March 2025 after triumphing at the European Amateur Championship held in Turkiye. Since turning professional, he has demonstrated his capabilities by defeating established players including Hatem Yassen and Jamie Jones during earlier tournament rounds.
Williams revealed he has been monitoring the teenager's progress for some time. "I've watched him play for a couple of years now," the Welsh champion explained. "I travel around with my boy playing the under-18s and I've been watching him - he just stands out by far for me."
"I told everyone, when he gets on the tour, he's going to win some matches," Williams continued. "A lot of them laughed at me and thought he's not going to win many games, but I said, 'you just watch this kid, he is unbelievable'."
Ambitious Goals for the Future
Following his record-breaking qualifying victory, Szubarczyk has set his sights on reaching the Crucible Theatre later this month. To achieve this, he must successfully navigate three additional qualifying rounds.
"I feel very proud and excited about the next matches," Szubarczyk told the World Snooker Tour's website. "Maybe this year or next year I can become the youngest Crucible player. For me, getting to the Crucible is the first goal of many others in professional snooker."
The young player appears unfazed by mounting expectations. "I'm enjoying the pressure and expectation," he stated. "I have been dreaming about playing in the World Championship for about the last six years."
Should Szubarczyk secure a spot in the main tournament, he would break another significant record. He would become the youngest player ever to feature at the Crucible, surpassing Luca Brecel's achievement from 2021 when the Belgian player reached the main draw at 17 years and 45 days old.
The snooker world now watches with anticipation as this remarkable teenager continues his journey through the qualifying rounds, potentially heralding the arrival of a new era in the sport.
