{"id":6844,"date":"2026-04-15T14:07:40","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T14:07:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=6844"},"modified":"2026-04-15T14:07:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T14:07:40","slug":"young-snooker-stars-hoping-to-create-own-luke-littler-effect-at-the-crucible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=6844","title":{"rendered":"Young snooker stars hoping to create own Luke Littler effect at the Crucible"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Stan\t<\/div>
Stan Moody and Liam Pullen will walk down the Crucible steps for the first time (Pictures: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Where is the next generation of British snooker stars is a question that has been asked for years and we may have got the answer at the 2026 World Championship.<\/p>\n

Stan Moody and Liam Pullen have been the answer to that question for a while, in truth, but as they both book Crucible debuts, they are showing that they are stars, not just of the future, but the present.<\/p>\n

19-year-old Moody won two matches to come through qualifying, while Pullen, 20, had to win four from the first round, impressively downing Thai pair Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and Noppon Saengkham at the English Institute of Sport.<\/p>\n

Snooker bosses would love to see either or both players bring about a boom in interest like Luke Littler has in darts, attracting the attention of a huge number of new, young fans.<\/p>\n

Littler is already a two-time world champion on the oche, while neither Moody nor Pullen have been beyond a ranking quarter-final, so they are not in the same league yet.<\/p>\n

However, in terms of hopefully being the flagbearer for a new generation of fans, Moody is happy to accept the comparison.<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\tAre you mad about snooker?\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n

You’re in the right place. I’m Phil Haigh, and I cover the game we all love for Metro<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In my new newsletter, The Table, I’ll be analysing the biggest talking points, breaking down frames and crowning the week’s winners and losers every Monday.<\/p>\n

With another brilliant World Championships just around the corner, now is the time to join. Sign up here.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"A\t<\/div>
Phil has been reporting on snooker for over a decade, since working in World Snooker’s press office in 2012<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2018Yeah, I think it\u2019s quite fair,\u2019 Moody said on being dubbed the Luke Littler of the baize. \u2018Snooker is a lot harder than darts, I\u2019d say. <\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"2025\/26\t<\/div>
Luke Littler is world number one on the oche at just 19 years old (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018There\u2019s not many young players coming through. There\u2019s obviously Liam Pullen, but doing what I\u2019m doing, there\u2019s not many of them. So it is a fair comment.<\/p>\n

\u2018Hopefully, yeah [I can inspire new fans]. I think people think it\u2019s a boring game, it\u2019s an old man\u2019s game. It\u2019s not. It can be fun. <\/p>\n

\u2018That\u2019s why I try and play more attacking, play fast, and try and encourage young players to do it and believe they can do it.\u2019<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"2025\t<\/div>
Moody has huge ambitions in snooker (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Moody is taking inspiration himself from watching someone his own age become a world champion, albeit in a very different sport.<\/p>\n

\u2018Snooker\u2019s a lot harder to dominate, especially nowadays with the standard, anyone can beat anyone, he said. \u2018Darts isn\u2019t really like that. There\u2019s sort of a top few that are very good. But Luke\u2019s generational, he\u2019s amazing. That\u2019s what I\u2019m trying to be in snooker.<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019ve got a bit to go yet, but I\u2019ll keep going.\u2019<\/p>\n

\n

\n