{"id":6950,"date":"2026-04-16T11:00:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T11:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=6950"},"modified":"2026-04-16T11:00:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T11:00:17","slug":"world-snooker-championship-debutant-gets-draw-he-asked-for-against-crucible-legend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=6950","title":{"rendered":"World Snooker Championship debutant gets draw he asked for against Crucible legend"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\t\"World\t<\/div>
Antoni Kowalski got the big name he wanted in the World Championship draw (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The pressure was on in the qualifiers as Kowalski had to win three matches, not just to reach snooker\u2019s most iconic venue, but also to save his professional status.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The 51-year-old is still going strong, reaching last year\u2019s World Championship final and becoming the oldest ever winner of a ranking title when he won the Xi-an Grand Prix earlier this season.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tAre you mad about snooker?\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

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 Championship just around the corner, now is the time to join. Sign up here.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"\"\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

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.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"SNOOKER-WORLD\"\t<\/div>
Mark Williams was beaten by Zhao Xintong in last year\u2019s final (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u2018I always wanted to play all of the Class of 92 so hopefully it would be Mark or Ronnie,\u2019 said Kowalski. \u2018I wouldn\u2019t mind playing John again. That\u2019s a dream.\u2019<\/p>\n

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 \u2018swag\u2019 to the table, as fellow qualifier Dave Gilbert puts it.<\/p>\n

\u2018Kowalski has got more swag than anybody I\u2019ve ever seen,\u2019 said the Angry Farmer. \u2018What a guy he is! I love him. Ace. <\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"2025\t<\/div>
Kowalski downed Jamie Jones and Joe O\u2019Connor on his way to the Crucible (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018Everyone\u2019s so boring now. I love that. I don\u2019t know the kid, I\u2019ve never spoke two words to him, but I see him in the practice room and think this kid has got serious swag.<\/p>\n

\u2018But he was like that when he wasn\u2019t winning any games, so fair play to the youth.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\u2019s He Guoqiang.<\/p>\n

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

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\u2019Sullivan in his first ever Crucible outing.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t2026 World Snooker Championship draw\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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Zhao Xintong (1) vs Liam Highfield<\/p>\n

Ding Junhui (16) vs Dave Gilbert<\/p>\n

Xiao Guodong (9) vs Zhou Yuelong<\/p>\n

Shaun Murphy (8) vs Fan Zhengyi<\/p>\n

John Higgins (5) vs Ali Carter<\/p>\n

Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan (12) vs He Guoqiang<\/p>\n

Chris Wakelin (13) vs Liam Pullen<\/p>\n

Neil Robertson (4) vs Pang Junxu<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Kyren\t<\/div>
Masters champion Kyren Wilson is third seed at the Crucible (Picture: PA Wire)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Kyren Wilson (3) vs Stan Moody<\/p>\n

Mark Allen (14) vs Zhang Anda<\/p>\n

Barry Hawkins (11) vs Matthew Stevens<\/p>\n

Mark Williams (6) vs Antoni Kowalski<\/p>\n

Mark Selby (7) vs Jak Jones<\/p>\n

Wu Yize (10) vs Lei Peifan<\/p>\n

Si Jiahui (15) vs Hossein Vafaei<\/p>\n

Judd Trump (2) vs Gary Wilson<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The winner of that contest will meet the winner of O\u2019Sullivan vs He in the second round, so there is potential for a blockbuster tie as early as the last 16.<\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/svg>MORE: Dennis Taylor names his two favourites to win World Snooker Championship<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/svg>MORE: World Snooker Championship draw hands Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan a debutant<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/svg>MORE: Snooker star felt \u2018complete embarrassment\u2019 during \u2018absolutely nuts\u2019 Crucible qualifier<\/span><\/p>\n
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The Table<\/h4>\n

Stay ahead of snooker’s next big break with Metro’s resident expert Phil Haigh in his new weekly newsletter.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

World Snooker Championship debutant gets draw he asked for against Crucible legend
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#World #Snooker #Championship #debutant #draw #asked #Crucible #legend<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Antoni Kowalski got the big name he wanted in the World Championship draw (Picture: Getty…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6951,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[6474,1766,4632,6473,599,344,1765,920],"class_list":["post-6950","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-asked","tag-championship","tag-crucible","tag-debutant","tag-draw","tag-legend","tag-snooker","tag-world"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/news678.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2208994224_1776330860.jpg",1200,630,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/news678.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2208994224_1776330860-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/news678.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2208994224_1776330860-300x158.jpg",300,158,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/news678.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2208994224_1776330860-768x403.jpg",640,336,true],"large":["https:\/\/news678.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2208994224_1776330860-1024x538.jpg",640,336,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/news678.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2208994224_1776330860.jpg",1200,630,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/news678.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2208994224_1776330860.jpg",1200,630,false],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/news678.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2208994224_1776330860-1024x538.jpg",1024,538,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/news678.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2208994224_1776330860-540x340.jpg",540,340,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?author=1"},"category_info":"Sports<\/a>","tag_info":"Sports","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news678.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6950","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news678.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news678.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news678.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news678.top\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6950"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/news678.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6950\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news678.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6951"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news678.top\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6950"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news678.top\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6950"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news678.top\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}