World Snooker Championship debutant gets draw he asked for against Crucible legend

Crucible debutant Antoni Kowalski fancied a crack at a legend on his first trip to the World Snooker Championship and he has got his wish.

The 22-year-old came through qualifying for the first time this week, and will become the first Polish player to appear at the Crucible.

The pressure was on in the qualifiers as Kowalski had to win three matches, not just to reach snooker’s most iconic venue, but also to save his professional status.

Anything other than three back-to-back victories would have seen the Pole drop off the professional tour, but he no longer has those worries as his snooker future is looking bright.

Kowalski has a seriously tough task ahead of him on his Crucible debut, though, as he takes on three-time champion Mark Williams in his opener.

The 51-year-old is still going strong, reaching last year’s World Championship final and becoming the oldest ever winner of a ranking title when he won the Xi-an Grand Prix earlier this season.

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It might be a daunting test to face the Welshman, but it is one that Kowalski was keen to take on after he came through qualifying.

The Flying Pole has already played John Higgins professionally and was keen to take on one of the other members of the legendary Class of 92 at the Crucible.

‘I always wanted to play all of the Class of 92 so hopefully it would be Mark or Ronnie,’ said Kowalski. ‘I wouldn’t mind playing John again. That’s a dream.’

The debutant will be a significant underdog against the three-time champion, but he will bring plenty of confidence in himself and a healthy dose of ‘swag’ to the table, as fellow qualifier Dave Gilbert puts it.

‘Kowalski has got more swag than anybody I’ve ever seen,’ said the Angry Farmer. ‘What a guy he is! I love him. Ace.

‘Everyone’s so boring now. I love that. I don’t know the kid, I’ve never spoke two words to him, but I see him in the practice room and think this kid has got serious swag.

‘But he was like that when he wasn’t winning any games, so fair play to the youth.’

Kowalski is one of four debutants at the Crucible this year, with English pair Stan Moody and Liam Pullen making it through qualifying, along with China’s He Guoqiang.

19-year-old Moody will take on Masters champion Kyren Wilson, while his rival from their junior days Pullen, 20, meets Chris Wakelin.

A dream or a nightmare draw, depending on how you see it, has been given to He as he takes on seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan in his first ever Crucible outing.

2026 World Snooker Championship draw

Zhao Xintong (1) vs Liam Highfield

Ding Junhui (16) vs Dave Gilbert

Xiao Guodong (9) vs Zhou Yuelong

Shaun Murphy (8) vs Fan Zhengyi

John Higgins (5) vs Ali Carter

Ronnie O’Sullivan (12) vs He Guoqiang

Chris Wakelin (13) vs Liam Pullen

Neil Robertson (4) vs Pang Junxu

Kyren Wilson (3) vs Stan Moody

Mark Allen (14) vs Zhang Anda

Barry Hawkins (11) vs Matthew Stevens

Mark Williams (6) vs Antoni Kowalski

Mark Selby (7) vs Jak Jones

Wu Yize (10) vs Lei Peifan

Si Jiahui (15) vs Hossein Vafaei

Judd Trump (2) vs Gary Wilson

Higgins is the only Class of 92 member not to be taking on a debutant, quite the opposite, as he faces two-time finalist Ali Carter in his opening match.

The winner of that contest will meet the winner of O’Sullivan vs He in the second round, so there is potential for a blockbuster tie as early as the last 16.

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