The first 2025 UK/Europe Classical Q-School event delivered four graduates today.

Here is the report by WST:

Pullen, Ursenbacher, Brown And Baranowski Secure Tour Cards

Liam Pullen, Alexander Ursenbacher, Oliver Brown and Mateusz Baranowski secured two-year cards for the World Snooker Tour after successfully negotiating the Q School gauntlet at Event One in Leicester.

Pullen earned an immediate tour return by beating Germany’s Umut Dikme 4-2 in his final round match.

The Yorkshire cueman suffered relegation at the end of last term, having first qualified as a professional with success at Q School in 2023. 19-year-old Pullen displayed glimpses of his potential in his maiden stint on tour, including a run to the last 16 of the Shoot Out and the last 32 of the International Championship. However, he didn’t do enough to secure his place on the circuit. 

This morning’s clash with Dikme saw Pullen compose runs of 73, 82 and 58 to wrap up victory.

“The overriding emotion is relief. I’d rather have stayed on tour the proper way and been in the world’s top 64, but I’m here and I’ve come through this week,” said former WSF Junior Championship runner-up Pullen.

“When you have been on tour for a couple of years this is a bit of a come down. The environment is totally different. Even in that match there, I had a lot of knocks. I went to the toilet and I was in bits. I had a strong word with myself and I’m glad I found a way to get over the line. I know deep inside I should be on tour, but to do it, win and pot those balls is a different kettle of fish.”

Ursenbacher also booked an instant bounce back to the circuit with a 4-1 win over English 23-year-old Ryan Davies. 

Swizerland’s Ursenbacher is a Q School veteran, having now come through the process no fewer than four times. He last qualified in 2023, but after two disappointing years on tour he dropped off following this season’s World Championship. 

The former English Open semi-finalist, who has 3-0 head-to-head record with Ronnie O’Sullivan, top scored with 61 in today’s win. 

“I’ve changed my mindset a bit. I just can’t keep doing this for much longer. I don’t know how I keep doing it, my record in Q School is quite good. I’m just really proud and I want to make the next step now,” said 29-year-old Ursenbacher.

“I want to do what I dreamed of as a kid. I’m getting older and I see all these youngsters achieving stuff. You see the likes of Xintong winning the World Championship. At some time you have to stop kidding yourself. 

“You can talk all you want, but actions count and words mean nothing. I’ve always said what I think and what I feel, but discipline was a big problem for me. I know if I put the work in I will get results.“

Brown sealed his return after a year away from the tour with a 4-1 win over fellow former professional Craig Steadman. 

The Englishman first qualified for the World Snooker Tour by winning the European Championship in 2021. However, he was only able to muster ten match wins in his first two years and was relegated in 2023. 

After losing the opening frame this morning, Brown reeled off four on the bounce to prevail and give himself another shot at snooker’s top table. 

Brown said: “I’m absolutely delighted. I was half expecting not to get this far, but I just showed some real grit and determination this week. I’m really proud of myself and over the moon to be back on tour.

“The reason I’ve won today is because of my family. I have to pot the balls, but they give me self belief and make it as if it doesn’t really matter, win or lose. I feel very fortunate to be in that position.“

Poland’s Baranowski was the last player through after coming through a marathon showdown with England’s Patrick Whelan 4-2. 

The 27-year-old has a role in the coaching setup for Poland’s Junior Team, which includes 14-year-old sensation Michal Szubarczyk who will also join the tour next year. He has previously stated that their exploits have motivated him to try and forge a professional career for himself. The pair will now join compatriot Antoni Kowalski on the World Snooker Tour next season.

Leading 3-2 in today’s final round match, he prevailed in a 53-minute sixth frame to ensure his maiden two-year tour card.

Baranowski said: “It is a crazy feeling. I didn’t play my best game, but I was fighting and I was a lot more confident than last year. This is the first time I’ve come here and believed that I could do it.

“I’ve always wanted to play with professionals. This was my dream 20 years ago, when I started playing. To be honest I lost hope and I stopped playing in a lot of tournaments. It was always the same. I was going to tournaments and playing ten percent of my game. 

“In the past sometimes I have given up, but when I started coaching I knew they would be watching me. I needed to always play my best, even if I play badly. I tell them to focus and just give everything. I decided that I have to do the same. That has worked and I have been more focussed. I always say to my students, don’t give up and fight. Make sure you do your best.”

There are four more cards available in the second event, which gets underway tomorrow and runs until Sunday June 1st.

All four players are young(ish). Oliver Brown who will turn 31 next August is the older of the “graduates”. Two are British, two are from mainland Europe. Considering that the “Europe” Q-School is held in the UK and that the UK players are the “majority group” in the field it’s a good result for “mainland Europe” and one more indication that snooker needs to break free of the UK centric organisation that still prevails. It’s holding the sport back.

Mateusz Baranowski is the only “new” player, the other three have been pros before.

That said Liam Pullen is still only 19 and he’s done very well considering how young he was when he first turned pro. He hasn’t won much during his first two years on tour but impressed me in this Q-School. He showed a lot of maturity. He clearly learned a lot during his two years on tour despite the relative lack of “results”. It’s not always the case, far from it. It’s easy to get discouraged and to lose confidence when things aren’t working for you, especially when you are so young.