13th March

Global snooker updates from this week in an easy 5-minute read

Mark Joyce Q Tour Maximum

Mark Joyce made history by compiling the fourth maximum break in WPBSA Q Tour history during his Global Play-Off semi-final against Dylan Emery in Antalya, Türkiye.

Trailing 2-0 in the best-of-eleven match, Joyce achieved perfection in the third frame. Earlier, Emery, a Q Tour Europe event winner, had recorded a 120 break in the opening frame.

Joyce is now the third player to make a 147 in Q Tour history, following China’s Zhao Xintong, who did so in consecutive events in Stockholm and Manchester, and Ukraine’s Iulian Boiko, who accomplished the feat in Mons this January.

Vladislav Gradinari Wins English Under-18 Championship

Vladislav Gradinari claimed his first English Under-18 Championship title with a thrilling 5-4 victory over Shaun Liu in the final at Barratts Snooker Club, Northampton.

The 16-year-old Moldovan added this triumph to his growing list of achievements, which includes the 2024 European Under-16 Championship, 2024 English Under-16 Championship, and 2022 English Under-14 Championship.

Gradinari won eight consecutive matches en route to the title, overcoming defending champion Daniel Boyes and WSF Junior Championship runner-up Kaylan Patel.

In the last 16, he staged a remarkable comeback from 3-0 down against Dylan Smith, hitting an 80 break before sealing a 4-3 win. He then ended Boyes’ title defense (4-2) and whitewashed Asten Sahota in the semi-finals.

Liu, the former English Under-14 champion, impressed throughout, dropping just four frames on finals day. He produced a tournament-high break of 102 in the final and led 4-2 after runs of 38, 46, and 67.

However, Gradinari fought back, forcing a decider before a composed 57 break secured his third English national title.

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