Epic celebrations from Brazilian snooker star Rodrigues after dramatic victory to earn maiden pro tour card

Competing in his home country, Rodrigues cleared with a 56 break in the deciding frame of the final to oust Daniel Holoyda, 5-4, on the final black and win a two-year professional snooker tour card for the first time in his career.

Organised by the Pan-American Billiards and Snooker Association (PABSA), this year’s prestigious Championship took place at the Mampituba Country Club in Criciúma and featured 48 players representing four nations - Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America, and the host nation Brazil.

Rodrigues - who has over one million followers combined across his various social media channels - finished top of his group to qualify for the knockout rounds where he scored whitewash wins in the last 16 and quarter-finals before pipping compatriot Claudio Menechini, 4-3, in the semi-finals.

Emerging from the other side of the draw was Holoyda, who was born and lives in Poland, but has dual-nationality and was eligible to enter this tournament representing the USA.

The 27-year-old - who reached the penultimate round of UK Q School in 2023 - qualified second from his group before registering a trio of knockout victories, booking a place in the final with a 4-1 success over Canada’s Jason Williams.

In the final, Rodrigues pinched the opening frame with a brown to black clearance, although Holoyda recovered from that disappointment by depositing the next two frames.

The most fluent spell of the tie came either side of the mid-session interval with Rodrigues crafting a 57 that helped him level at 2-2, and a 74 clearance from Holoyda in frame five that nudged him back in front.

Rodrigues restored parity by claiming the sixth on the colours, and then made it back-to-back frames to go 4-3 up, although his opponent won the eighth to force the contest all the way.

An effort of 37 aided Holoyda in establishing a handy lead in the deciding frame. However, with four reds remaining and the title so close, Holoyda miscued, allowing Rodrigues to come to the table and compile a clutch counter to snatch glory on the final ball.

As the final black sank into the pocket, Rodrigues exploded with joy, throwing his cue on to the table in celebration - although only narrowly missing the cueball that was still travelling from his tournament-winning shot. Had his cue made contact with the white, it would have been a foul, and with seven points difference between the players, the match would have gone to a re-spotted black.

Winner of the South American Snooker Championship title in 1999, this is the first time that Rodrigues has claimed this pan-continental accolade.

With PABSA being a member of the World Snooker Federation, its annual flagship event carries promotion to snooker’s top-flight, and according to a post from Rodrigues on Facebook, it looks like the 54-year-old will accept the World Snooker Tour card and turn professional next season (2027/28) when it becomes active.

“Today I'm fulfilling one of the biggest dreams of my career!

“I'm going to fulfil the dream of competing in the World Snooker Circuit, bringing the Brazilian flag to compete among the best in the sport!

“It's hard to put into words what this moment represents after so many years dedicated to snooker. Every championship, every trip, every victory, and every difficulty were part of this journey”.

Three of the last four winners of the Pan-American Championship have come from Brazil, including the country’s greatest-ever snooker player Igor Figueiredo. Former world seniors champion Figueiredo triumphed at last year’s event, although we have yet to see him return to the pro tour this season.