{"id":11461,"date":"2026-05-25T13:44:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T13:44:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=11461"},"modified":"2026-05-25T13:44:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T13:44:14","slug":"four-graduate-from-snookers-q-school-to-join-stars-of-professional-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=11461","title":{"rendered":"Four graduate from snooker’s Q School to join stars of professional tour"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t<\/div>Welsh teenager Liam Davies has made an immediate return to the pro ranks (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Four players have booked their places on the professional snooker tour after the first UK Q School event this year, with one graduate ending a lengthy wait to join the big league.<\/p>\n
With 128 places available on the pro circuit, eight are decided each year in UK Q School, with another four on offer at the Asia and Oceania Q School.<\/p>\n
Anyone can pay their \u00a3960 to play in Leicester, meaning there are club players and former ranking event winners scrapping to keep their snooker dreams alive in a behind-closed-doors dogfight.<\/p>\n
There are two UK events, with the first concluding on Monday and one new professional emerging from the battle at the Mattioli Arena.<\/p>\n
33-year-old Phil O\u2019Kane beat Jamie O\u2019Neill 4-1 in the final round, meaning he has come through Q School at the 14th attempt, having first entered as a teenager in 2011.<\/p>\n
He has been close to fulfilling his goal of turning pro a number of times and has finally got it done with five good wins in Leicester, the second of which a 4-3 victory over Zachary Richardson after losing the first three frames.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tAre you snooker loopy?\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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You’re in the right place. I’m Phil Haigh, and I cover the game we all love for Metro<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t<\/div>Phil has been reporting on snooker for over a decade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Speaking to Metro<\/strong> ahead of this year\u2019s Q School, which he called \u2018the worst tournament in the world,\u2019 O\u2019Kane said: \u2018I think it\u2019s unrealistic to say now I want to be world champion because that\u2019s every kid\u2019s dream and there\u2019s only a certain few that do it. It\u2019s just one goal at a time. Get on the main tour, get in the 64 and then just see where it goes from there.<\/p>\n\n
\n\t\t\t<\/div>Phil O\u2019Kane has conquered Q School on his 14th visit (Picture: Instagram)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\u2018People around you don\u2019t really understand, people are like, \u201cwhy are you still chasing? What are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018You\u2019ve got to tell yourself you\u2019re still young enough in the game of snooker and you\u2019ve got to trust your own ability. If you don\u2019t do it, who else will?\u2019<\/p>\n
The other three graduates have all been on tour before, with Liam Davies and Cheung Ka Wai both bouncing straight back after dropping off at the end of the season.<\/p>\n
19-year-old Davies showed promising signs during his first two years on tour but ultimately fell short of saving his card.<\/p>\n
He impressed in Leicester, though, winning three deciders on the spin before a 4-0 victory over Patrick Whelan and a 4-2 win over Dean Young on Monday, including a 134 total clearance.<\/p>\n\n
\n\t\t\t<\/div>Cheung Ka Wai will represent Hong Kong on the pro tour again (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Hong Kong\u2019s Cheung also first turned pro in 2024 and the 27-year-old gets another crack at the main tour after a 4-1 win over Jack Bedford in the final round.<\/p>\n
Sean O\u2019Sullivan is the other graduate from the first event, earning a fourth stint on the pro circuit thanks to a 4-2 win over Josh Thomond.<\/p>\n
The Storm has been to the last 16 of a ranking event before and made a 147 on tour, now the 32-year-old will be hoping to push on to more success over the next two years.<\/p>\n\n
\n\t\t\t<\/div>Sean O\u2019Sullivan is back in the big time (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The second UK event begins tomorrow, with the final four graduates decided on Sunday and anyone falling short consigned to the amateur ranks for the next year.<\/p>\n
The Asia and Oceania Q School has already produced its four graduates, with two newcomers from China in Liu Yang (22) and Deng Haohui (23).<\/p>\n
Compatriot Huang Jiahao bounced straight back onto tour after dropping off this year, while Thailand\u2019s Thanawat Thirapongpaiboon returns after a 10 year absence from the professional game.<\/p>\n
The 32-year-old emerged as a great talent when he first turned pro in 2010 but dropped off tour in 2016 and was later banned for match-fixing between 2013-15, admitting that he fixed the outcome of six matches.<\/p>\n
That ban expired last year and he is now back on tour, still young enough to make an impact.<\/p>\n
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