And so, here we are … the 2025 World Championship is underway. Yes, it’s called “qualifiers” but it is integral part of the tournament and, at least, it is played in the same location as the “main event”, and right before it. That’s how it should be for every event that requires qualifying rounds, without any exception and no matter where the event happens1.
Those matches featured eight players from the UK, and eight players from other nationalities. Only three of the matches were won by British players, proof – if it still was need – that snooker is no more a British fief and there is no excuse for perpetuating the current UK-centric organisation of the sport. Of course, as long as the BBC is showing the three “majors” there is mo hope for these events to move away from Britain, but everything else should be played elsewhere, with mainland Europe getting its fair share of them. Anyway …
Polish 21-year-old Antoni Kowalski took the first step in what he describes as his Mission Impossible, beating Reanne Evans 10-4 on the opening day of Halo World Championship Qualifying.
With an element of tongue in cheek, the talented rookie declared he is gunning to beat Stephen Hendry’s record as the youngest ever World Champion. The Scot was 21 years and 106 days old when he conquered the Crucible in 1990. That makes this Kowalski’s last opportunity to achieve the feat.
After a fragmented opening session today, Kowalski emerged just a solitary frame in front of 12-time Women’s World Champion Evans, leading 5-4.
However, he pulled away this evening with two breaks of 63 on his way to five on the bounce and a 10-4 win this evening. He now plays Zak Surety in round two.
Kowalski said: “It is my last ever chance to become the youngest ever World Champion. I’ve set myself Mission Impossible, but anything is possible in this game.
“In the morning I was thinking to myself, you have perfect conditions in front of you and you can’t make a 20 break, come on! It is a joy to play on the TV table. I am grateful for the opportunity and can’t wait to do it again.”
He wasn’t the only Polish success story of day one, with 27-year-old amateur Mateusz Baranowski thrashing Iran’s Amir Sarkhosh 10-2.
It was a brilliant win for Baranowski, who’s only other Crucible qualifying appearance came back in 2016, when he was subject to a 10-2 demolition at the hands of Ali Carter. He earned his place here this week by reaching the semi-finals of this season’s WSF Championship.
A former barman in his local snooker hall, Baranowski’s turn to coaching has inspired him to have a crack at returning to the sport’s biggest event himself. He’s recently coached the Polish Junior Team, which includes the likes of 14-year-old sensation Michal Szubarczyk.
Baranowski said: “I’m very proud of myself. It has been nine years since I’ve played in the World Championship. I started working as a snooker coach and decided that I wanted to try again to become a professional. I cannot believe I am playing here, because one year ago I was so low in my snooker career. To win 10-2 against a really good player is an amazing feeling.
“I started coaching the Polish Junior Team. This year we had two players in the final of the European Under 16 Championship and one in the final of the Under 18s. When I started, they were losing in the group stages. Now they are fighting for medals and winning tournaments. I thought I needed to show them not to give up. I love snooker.”
Hammad Miah kept his hopes of tour survival alive with a 10-0 whitewash win over Jonas Luz, while Welsh amateur Dylan Emery was a 10-4 victor against Latvia’s Artemijs Zizins. They now face Rory Thor and Joe Perry respectively.
TBH, Reanne didn’t offer much of a challenge. I’m afraid that, at 39, she isn’t the player she was anymore and, maybe, her motivation isn’t what it used to be either. She was poor yesterday.
Eight other matches are currently underway: the first session has been played, and the second session is scheduled for this afternoon. Notably, one of these matches saw Zhao Xintong return to professional snooker and it’s been a real “statement” of intent. Zhao currently leads by 8-1 after yesterday’s first session. In the process of building that lead, he made seven breaks over 77, including three centuries (122, 128, 132). His opponent, Ka Wai Cheung from Hong Kong, isn’t a bad player but he had absolutely no answer to Zhao’s game.
6 thoughts on “The 2025 World Snooker Championship Qualifiers – Day 1”
I arrived in Sheffield in time for the afternoon session, so I got to see all the players (one of my objectives), even if for only 1 frame.
It seemed almost too easy for Zhao Xintong, and I would say Cheung Ka Wai has been extremely unlucky to get such a draw. Artemis Zizins was similarly unlucky (Dylan Emery was excellent). There were many far weaker players they could have drawn.
The last match to finish (Gong’s win over Patel) was around 10:30pm, which is surprisingly early. But there weren’t any really close matches. That will come.
Thank you for the feedback Lewis. I wish I could be there with you but that’s unlikely to ever happen again… alas. Yes Cheung was unlucky. He’s not a bad player, far from it and could probably have passed a round or two, had he got a “normal” first round opponent.
snooker.org registered Mann-Totten as the last finished match.
Oh quite possibly . By the time I made it to the foyer, all matches were completed.
it is played in the same location as the “main event”,
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
I arrived in Sheffield in time for the afternoon session, so I got to see all the players (one of my objectives), even if for only 1 frame.
It seemed almost too easy for Zhao Xintong, and I would say Cheung Ka Wai has been extremely unlucky to get such a draw. Artemis Zizins was similarly unlucky (Dylan Emery was excellent). There were many far weaker players they could have drawn.
The last match to finish (Gong’s win over Patel) was around 10:30pm, which is surprisingly early. But there weren’t any really close matches. That will come.
Thank you for the feedback Lewis. I wish I could be there with you but that’s unlikely to ever happen again… alas. Yes Cheung was unlucky. He’s not a bad player, far from it and could probably have passed a round or two, had he got a “normal” first round opponent.
snooker.org registered Mann-Totten as the last finished match.
Oh quite possibly . By the time I made it to the foyer, all matches were completed.
You mean in the same city?
Yes, Sheffield. Not the same venue of course.