Qualifiers for the Cazoo World Snooker Championship 2023 Announced

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) and World Snooker Tour have unveiled the names of the 16 amateur qualifiers who will compete at the Cazoo World Snooker Championship in Sheffield next month. The qualifiers will join professionals ranked outside the world’s top 16 after the Duelbits Tour Championship, for a shot at the most prestigious trophy in snooker.

The qualifiers were selected based on their performances in recognized international competitions during the current season, including the World Snooker Federation Championships, the WPBSA Q Tour, and the World Women’s Snooker Championship. The list includes some of the most promising juniors in the world, such as Hai Long Ma and Stan Moody, who won the WSF Championship and Junior Championship respectively.

Also among the qualifiers are experienced former ranking event semi-finalists Martin O’Donnell and Daniel Wells, who demonstrated their top-level snooker skills during their time off the tour. Liam Graham, who won the EBSA European Under-21 Championship, and Bulcsú Révész, who triumphed in the EBSA European Under-18 Championship, complete the list of impressive amateurs who have earned their spot at the World Championship.

Jason Ferguson, WPBSA Chairman, expressed his pride in the qualifiers, saying that their inclusion in the field “reflects the current strength of the amateur game globally and the prestige of each of the qualifying pathways”. He also mentioned the WPBSA’s well-developed global system that provides direct access to the World Snooker Tour for elite performers.

The list of qualifiers also includes Siripaporn Nuanthakhamjan, who won the 2023 World Women’s Snooker Championship. Nuanthakhamjan is set to be one of five women competing in the qualifying rounds, equalling a record set in 1992.

The World Snooker Championship qualifying rounds will take place from 3-12 April 2023 at the English Institute for Sport in Sheffield. The players selected will need to accept their place and adhere to any travel restrictions in place. Any replacement players will be selected from a reserve list that includes performances at World Snooker Federation, Q Tour, and recognized regional events.

All in all, the field promises to be an exciting mix of established names and emerging talents, setting the stage for a thrilling World Snooker Championship.