Snooker wonderkid draws comparisons to Ronnie O'Sullivan with high praise from world champions

Szubarczyk - who only turned 15-years-old last month - is experiencing his rookie season on the professional snooker circuit, having been the youngest-ever player to win a tour card at last year’s European Amateur Championship in Turkiye.

Wins over Hatem Yassen and three-time ranking event semi-finalist Jamie Jones at the qualifying rounds held several weeks ago in Sheffield secured Szubarczyk a place in the last 64 main draw of the Welsh Open.

Facing this season’s number one ranked player in Australian Robertson, Szubarczyk immediately settled in, showing his class by sinking a long red off his opponent’s break-off shot and compiling a break of 90 to take the opening frame.

Career Triple Crown winner Robertson eventually progressed, though, as runs of 81, 67 and 70 kept him on course for a third Welsh Open crown.

Mark Williams on Szubarczyk: “just watch this kid, he is unbelievable”

Three-time world champion Mark Williams was in the BBC Sport studio analysing the match and was full of praise for Szubarczyk, a cueist he has been keeping a close on eye on in recent years whilst travelling with his son Joel to big junior events.

“I've watched him play for a couple of years now, I travel around with my boy playing the under-18s and I've been watching him - he just stands out by far for me” said the 27-time ranking event winner.

“I told everyone, when he gets on the tour, he's going to win some matches. A lot of them laughed at me and thought he's not going to win many games, but I said, 'you just watch this kid, he is unbelievable'.”

Inevitably, there have been comparisons made between Szubarczyk and arguably the sport’s greatest-ever player Ronnie O’Sullivan, who claimed the 1993 UK Championship as a record-breaking 17-year-old during only his second season on the sport’s top flight.

Williams feels that they are different players and O’Sullivan still holds the edge, but the new kid on the block isn’t too far behind at the same age. “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. He's been beating quite a few pros already” said the 50-year-old Welshman.

“Ronnie wasn't beating established pros at 14 on tour. I mean he's already beaten Jimmy White, Martin O'Donnell, Jamie Jones, and a few others.

“He hasn't quite got the flair of O'Sullivan, but oh my God, he can pot from anywhere. Great to watch.”

Szubarczyk has won 10 matches throughout his debut season - an impressive return, qualifying for the main venue stages of both the Xi’an Grand Prix and International Championship events in China, as well as his trip to Llandudno.

He also scored back-to-back victories in the two biggest ranking events held this season, so far, the Saudi Arabia Masters and the UK Championship.

Robertson salutes his young opponent’s ‘great poise’

Speaking to TNT Sports after booking a spot in the last 32 of the £550,400 world ranking event, Robertson also described his admiration for Szubarczyk’s game.

“The way Michal dropped in the long red in the first frame and made a break was really impressive. I hadn't seen him play much before but I know some of the other players think he has huge potential and he showed that tonight.

"There were a few things he can improve with experience. He has great poise around the table, he acquitted himself well given he hasn't played much on a TV table before. And you can see he is putting a lot of work in. It's great to see the younger European players coming through from countries like Poland, Belgium and Latvia, we have a really good mix."

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 Welsh Open, visit here.