Rising star Stan Moody sets high targets for remainder of snooker season: "I believe I can do it"

The 19-year-old Englishman is currently in his third season on the sport’s top flight. Last year, he retained his professional status - an impressive feat for someone so young, and during their first stint on the World Snooker Tour.

Moody has built on those foundations this term and is becoming upwardly mobile in the world rankings, currently sitting inside the world’s top 50.

He has broken new personal ground in recent months, defeating home hero Ding Junhui and whitewashing top 16 star Barry Hawkins on his way to reaching a maiden ranking event quarter-final at the Wuhan Open.

Only a few weeks later in Cheltenham, Moody saw off two more multiple-time ranking event winners in Kyren Wilson and Ali Carter as he made the last eight of the British Open.

The Yorkshire cueist narrowly missed out on qualifying for the recent World Grand Prix in Hong Kong, finishing 35th in the race to qualify for it, only a few places below the top 32 cut-off.

However, Moody was still invited to the Far East by tournament organisers to experience the atmosphere and meet fans.

Speaking to the World Snooker Tour when over there, the youngster was clearly inspired by the Kai Tak Arena and is motivated to make the grade next season: "I watched Ronnie (O’Sullivan) the other day, I'd love to be playing and competing against these top players here - hopefully next year".

Reflecting on his season, so far, Moody - who has qualified for the upcoming Welsh Open, and is in World Open qualifying action this week - is pleased with his progress, and has some high targets for the remainder of the campaign.

"I've had a decent season, better than last season, improving all the time, so hopefully in the next season it will be even better” said the teenager.

"I want to win a tournament to be honest. Try and get into the 32 (of the world rankings). I know it's going to be difficult but I believe I can do it, so yeah, see what happens”.

The professional snooker landscape is changing, and last week’s 2026 World Grand Prix was an historic tournament for Chinese snooker with six of the eight quarter-finalists coming from the country before a clean sweep of representation in the semi-finals. Neither scenario had happened before at a ranking event.

These feats are the latest in a string of new records for Chinese snooker - they had similar accomplishments at the last Masters, UK Championship, and World Championship editions. Most notably of all, Zhao Xintong became China and Asia’s first winner of the sport’s blue riband title in Sheffield.

There are currently five Chinese players in the top 16 of the world rankings, with three of those aged in their twenties: Zhao (28-years-old), Wu Yize (22) and Si Jiahui (23). A further five cueists from China are in the 17 to 32 ranking bracket - four of those are in their twenties.

In comparison, there is not a single non-Chinese player aged in their twenties within the top 32 at present, although that could change very soon.

24-year-old Welshman Jackson Page is 33rd, and Ireland's Aaron Hill - who made the recent World Grand Prix cut - is 42nd. Moody is not too far back either, and is projected to be further up the standings at the end of the season.

In response to recent suggestions about a future of Chinese snooker dominance - something that seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry has recently talked about - Moody was positive about young British hopes breaking through to make an impact: "Yeah it's good. There's a few of us coming through - me, Liam Pullen, he's started getting results which is good to take on these Chinese. So yeah, hopefully it's the English people's turn next”.

Moody and Pullen already have several chapters in a friendly career rivalry. Moody ousted Pullen 5-4 in the final to win the English under-14 snooker title in 2019.

In early 2023, on the other side of the world in Sydney, Australia, Moody defeated Pullen in the final of the World Snooker Federation Junior Championship, an achievement that earned him promotion to the professional circuit for the first time.

Pullen got over that disappointment, though, only a few months later graduating through Q School to gain his pro tour stripes.

The 20-year-old got one over Moody at the English Open this season, and like his rival, he has realised new personal milestones in recent months - defeating John Higgins en route to the quarter-finals of the Xi’an Grand Prix, and completing his first maximum 147 break in professional competition at the UK Championship qualifiers.