Rude awakening for young stars as Crucible dreams crushed at qualifiers

The 15-year-old from Poland was aiming to break Luca Brecel’s record that has stood since 2012. Brecel was aged 17 years and 45 days when he played in the main draw of snooker’s blue riband event.

Rookie professional Szubarczyk had defeated Ng On Yee and Sanderson Lam earlier this week at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, moving him to within two wins of an incredible Crucible debut. But the youngster was brought down to earth by Hossein Vafaei.

A trio of half-centuries helped Iran's number one cueist to a 4-0 mid-session interval lead. On resumption, Vafaei then won another four frames - highlighted by a run of 122 in the seventh.

In the final frame of the morning session, it looked like Szubarczyk was going to get on the board as an effort of 58 assisted him towards a 67 points advantage with five reds left.

But former Snooker Shoot Out champion Vafaei sank a long red and went on to take maximum points with a 67 clearance to force a re-spotted black.

Playing first, Szubarczyk left Vafaei with a thin chip to a middle pocket which he deposited for a 9-0 session whitewash.

Returning that evening for the concluding session, Szubarczyk showed heart as he avoided the whitewash and then strung together back-to-back frames, but world number 32 Vafaei got the job done in frame 12.

'The Prince of Persia' has had a frustrating season, so far, having gone past the last 32 of just one event, but he can end his campaign on a high with a trip to the Crucible for a fifth consecutive year.

In the final qualifying round next week, Vafaei will face Chinese 21-year-old Gao Yang who recovered from 7-4 down to defeat Tom Ford, 10-8.

Former World Champion Bingham on course for Crucible return

Another youngest dealt a harsh green baize lesson at the EIOS was 18-year-old Wang Xinbo who was eliminated by 2015 World Champion Stuart Bingham.

A Crucible semi-finalist two years ago, Bingham posted runs of 69, 59, 59, 72, 108, 121, 65 and 86 in a dominant first session performance that saw him sweep the scoreboard with a 9-0 advantage.

Like Szubarczyk, though, teenager Wang - who was competing as an amateur invite due to his results at the World Snooker Federation Championships earlier this year - made sure he wasn't bageled in the evening session with consecutive frames.

Bingham wasn't inconvenienced too long, however, as a 71 stamped him a 10-2 win.

The world number 17 - the highest ranked cueist at these qualifiers - will meet two-time world championship runner-up Matthew Stevens at the final hurdle after the Welshman got past Peter Lines, 10-8.

Two-time Crucible semi-finalist David Gilbert had his scoring boots on as he notched up four century breaks and a further eight half-centuries in a 10-3 victory over teenage rookie Leone Crowley.

Runner-up at the English Open earlier this season, Zhou Yuelong won eight consecutive frames from 3-2 down to dispatch 21-year-old Robbie McGuigan, 10-3. Zhou crafted efforts of 129 and 121 during his win.

Ireland's number one Aaron Hill constructed a 133 and then a 137 in successive frames near the end of his 10-3 victory over Yao Pengcheng; Michael Holt saw off the higher ranked Daniel Wells, 10-5.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 World Championship qualifying rounds, visit here.