Michal Szubarczyk makes history as youngest player to win World Championship match
Polish snooker sensation Michal Szubarczyk has etched his name into the history books after becoming the youngest player ever to win a World Championship match, reports BritPanorama.
The 15-year-old secured a 10-7 victory over former women’s world champion Onyee Ng during the first qualifying round held in Sheffield on Monday.
At precisely 15 years, two months, and 25 days old, Szubarczyk surpassed the previous record, which was held by Wales’ Liam Davies, who was 15 years and 277 days old when he achieved his victory in 2022.
This remarkable milestone marks another chapter for snooker’s youngest professional, who first made his competitive debut just a year earlier, at 14, in June 2025.
Szubarczyk is relishing this breakthrough moment, expressing his pride and excitement for the upcoming matches. “I feel very proud and excited about the next matches,” he remarked on the World Snooker Tour’s website. “Maybe this year or next year I can become the youngest Crucible player.” His immediate goal is to reach the iconic venue for the World Championship.
Despite the pressure, he is embracing the challenges, highlighting his long-held dream of competing at the World Championship. “I’m enjoying the pressure and expectation. I have been dreaming about playing in the World Championship for about the last six years,” he stated.
Looking ahead, Szubarczyk is set to face Sanderson Lam in the next qualifying round. With aspirations to break another record, he aims to become the youngest player ever to grace the Crucible Theatre, a title currently held by Belgium’s Luca Brecel, who qualified at 17 years and 45 days old in 2012.
As he progresses through the qualifying rounds, the young prodigy has multiple opportunities to surpass Brecel’s record, which he seems confident about achieving, irrespective of whether it happens this year or later.
Mark Williams, a three-time world champion, has lauded Szubarczyk’s talent, comparing him to the legendary Ronnie O’Sullivan. Williams noted, “I did say he’s up there; not quite as good as O’Sullivan when he was 14, 15, but he’s not far behind.” Williams pointed out that while O’Sullivan did not defeat established pros at such a young age, Szubarczyk has already achieved victories over notable players like Jimmy White and Neil Robertson.
As the snooker world keeps a watchful eye on the budding star, it’s clear that Michal Szubarczyk is not just a talent to admire; he might well be on the verge of rewriting the sport’s record books for years to come.
