Liam Highfield defeated Michał Szubarczyk 5-0 to win the 2025 European Billiards & Snooker Affiliation (EBSA) European Championship title in Antalya, Türkiye.
The success rounds off a dream fortnight for the 34-year-old Englishman after he got here by way of the WPBSA Q Tour International Play-Offs on the identical venue 9 days earlier to safe a return to the World Snooker Tour (WST).
Highfield ended the memorable run of 14-year-old Szubarczyk, who received each the European Underneath-16 and Underneath-18 titles earlier than securing a nomination for the WST by reaching the ultimate of the Major competitors. Ought to the Pole settle for the nomination then he’ll make historical past because the youngest ever skilled snooker participant.
On Monday, Ukraine’s Iulian Boiko defeated Oliver Sykes 5-4 within the remaining of the European Underneath-21 occasion to earn a two-year WST tour card following a three-year absence from the skilled ranks.
A trio of group stage victories noticed Highfield comfortably attain the knockout levels of the Major competitors earlier than victories over Alain Vergere (4-0) and Richard Wienhold (4-3) noticed the Englishman e book his place within the final 16.
Consecutive wins over former professionals Craig Steadman (4-0), Ashley Hugill (4-2) and Dylan Emery (4-3) adopted as Highfield continued his spectacular type to arrange a remaining assembly with Szubarczyk.
The Polish teenager was seeking to make it a hat-trick of titles in Antalya and got here into the ultimate on the again of securing an historic nomination for knowledgeable tour card on the age of simply 14 after beautiful former European champion Harvey Chandler in a deciding body.
Highfield proved too sturdy within the title match, nevertheless, opening the best-of-nine body contest with a break of 112 after which added contributions of 70, 54 and 63 to open up a 4-0 lead on the mid-session interval.
An additional half-century break in body 5 proved to be sufficient for the cueist from England to safe the celebrated European title and conclude the Championships in fashion.
