English trio book World Snooker Tour returns after Q Tour playoff glory

The Playoffs - this year held at the Palace Hotel in Gandia, Spain immediately after the European Amateur Snooker Championships were staged there - were the culmination to this season's Q Tour programme, bringing together the best performing players from different regions of the world.

Those qualifiers were placed into different pathways - three eight-player straight knockout tournaments - with the winner from each claiming a coveted two-year card for the World Snooker Tour, to be activated later this year.

Carty is back in snooker's big time following a year's absence.

The former European Masters quarter-finalist began his campaign in Spain with a 5-3 opening round victory over Hayden Staniland during which he top scored with a 106.

The 30-year-old then ousted fellow ex-pro Peter Devlin 6-5, winning the final two frames to squeeze through into the section final.

At the last hurdle, Carty faced the experienced Peter Lines, stringing together four consecutive frames from 4-4 to take firm control in the best-of-19 frames affair.

Lines rallied, though, notching up four of the next five frames to move to within one his opponent, but Carty composed himself, clearing the colours in frame 18 for a 10-8 success.

Hugill had former ranking event winner Anthony Hamilton in his corner as he completed his mission objective on the Iberian Peninsula.

The 31-year-old, who made the last eight of the 2022 English Open, saw off Luke Pinches 5-1, and then Alfie Davies 6-3 - with the assistance of a 104 break - to reach Tuesday's final day.

Sharing the baize with former ranking event finalist Mark Joyce, Hugill got off to a dream start as he established a 4-0 lead, although he was later relieved to take the final frame of the opening session to keep his opponent at arm's length at 6-3 up.

During the concluding session a few hours later, Hugill always maintained at least a two-frame cushion, eventually recording a 10-5 win.

Steadman will resume his top-flight career after a three-year exodus.

A semi-finalist at the Snooker Shoot Out in the past, Steadman whitewashed Callum Beresford 5-0 in his opening outing in Gandia before coming through a topsy-turvy affair against Patrick Whelan in the last four.

Having led 3-0, Steadman watched Whelan piece together a five-frame sequence to reach the hill first, although 'Rock-steady' shifted the momentum again, forcing a deciding frame where he produced a 131 for a 6-5 verdict his way.

In the pathway three final versus Stuart Carrington - who was also trying to reclaim his professional stripes - Steadman constructed an effort of 123 for a 4-0 lead.

Carrington got a foothold in the tie with a three-frame streak, but Steadman deposited the final two frames of the session to take away a 6-3 lead.

Three times during the last session Carrington was only one behind, but Steadman resisted those rallies and held on for a 10-7 win to stamp his promotion ticket.

As well as the tour cards, Carty, Hugill and Steadman also earn invites to next month's 2026 World Snooker Championship qualifiers in Sheffield. All three have previously played at the Crucible Theatre in the past in the sport's blue riband event.

For the full results from the 2026 Global Q Tour Playoffs, visit snookerscores.net here.