Florian Nuessle, Steven Hallworth and Liam Highfield have every earned two-year World Snooker Tour tour playing cards after efficiently coming by the WPBSA Q Tour World Play-Offs in Antalya, Türkiye.
Nuessle makes historical past for Austria by changing into the primary participant from the nation to turn out to be knowledgeable snooker participant after defeating Estonia’s Andres Petrov 10-3 within the play-off closing.
In the meantime, Hallworth and Highfield secured emotional returns to the World Snooker Tour after an absence of three and one years respectively.
The occasion was held alongside the EBSA European Championships in Antalya, Türkiye from 11-13 March 2025. Learn beneath to learn the way every part unfolded.
NUESSLE MAKES HISTORY FOR AUSTRIA
Austria’s Florian Nuessle defeated Estonia’s Andres Petrov 10-3 to make historical past by changing into the primary ever World Snooker Tour skilled from his nation.
The favored 23-year-old cueist lastly secured skilled standing for the primary time in his profession after a variety of near-misses lately.
It proved to be a snug closing spherical victory for the Austrian as he took a 6-3 lead into the concluding session earlier than confidently profitable all 4 frames of the afternoon to expire a 10-3 victor.
The early phases of the competition had been carefully fought with the 2 gamers sharing the primary 4 frames. A run of 4 consecutive frames, that includes breaks of 54, 86 and 80 then noticed Nuessle draw back and open up a 4 body benefit.
The Austrian, who had earlier eradicated Josh Thomond and Ehsan Heydari Nezhad to achieve the play-off closing, shortly moved one away from victory and confirmed spectacular composure to fireside in a break of 108 when it mattered essentially the most.
Following the landmark second in his profession, a visibly emotional Nuessle mirrored: “I really feel completely happy and relieved. I’m completely happy for my household as a result of they’ve supported me all the best way and it wouldn’t be potential with out them, however the largest half was proving it to myself as a result of I’m my harshest critic.”
“I believe I held myself collectively properly and did the proper issues on the proper moments which hasn’t all the time been the case previously. (The near-misses) had been positively on my thoughts – I’ve heard all of the tales of gamers not having the ability to recover from the road and also you don’t need that type of feeling to be carried round with you for too lengthy as a result of it will get heavier and heavier.”
“I hope it will assist to raise Austrian snooker. I’ve had many experiences on the tour already and I believe I can go on and, not solely keep on tour, however do some injury and hopefully win titles.”
HALLWORTH SECURES RETURN
England’s Steven Hallworth defeated fellow countryman Mark Joyce 10-5 to earn a two-year World Snooker Tour card in Antalya, Türkiye.
Hallworth began the strongest within the battle of the 2 former professionals by racing right into a 2-0 lead and ending the primary session with a 113 break to open up a 6-3 benefit.
The 29-year-old, who will return to the skilled ranks after a three-year absence, took the primary two frames of the afternoon session however Joyce hit again to take the following two and cut back the deficit to 8-5 on the mid-session interval.
Two shut frames adopted however Hallworth was in a position to maintain his nerve and are available from behind in each to finish an emotional 10-5 victory.
Hallworth was near tears after the match and mentioned: “It’s simply pure aid. The novice circuit is hard and there have been moments over the previous couple of years the place I didn’t consider that I might ever get again on however I confirmed my class as we speak which was pleasing.”
“I ‘ve bought rather a lot occurring off the desk and I’m in a extremely good place in my life – my spouse and I’ve truly simply bought again from our honeymoon final week. I might by no means be one to return right into a event with out practising all of the hours beneath the solar so I used to be a bit of bit anxious coming right here however I’ve felt actually relaxed and targeted and I fancied the job” he added.
Hallworth has taken to snooker commentary in latest months however defined: “It can definitely must go on the again burner now as a result of I need to be a snooker participant. I’ve loved doing it as a result of it has saved me concerned with the skilled sport. I’ve by no means watched a lot snooker in my life and I’m watching the very best gamers on the earth on a regular basis so I’m choosing up little bits – you’re by no means too outdated to study.”
Looking forward to the following two years, he mentioned: “Hopefully on the tour I can discover some consistency and get on a number of runs. I set myself some objectives this season and I’ve simply achieved my foremost purpose. We’ll see what occurs. I’m not going to spout off all these mad desires – we’ve all bought desires and I’m completely happy to maintain them with me.”
HIGHFIELD BOUNCES BACK
England’s Liam Highfield overcame Ukraine’s Iulian Boiko 10-3 to safe a return to the World Snooker Tour after a one-year absence.
The 34-year-old ended a 14-year unbroken spell among the many skilled ranks on the finish of final season, however confirmed spectacular kind throughout the week to drop simply six frames in three matches and earn his return.
Highfield confirmed his scoring prowess within the earlier days semi-final, firing in six breaks over 70 to defeat Harvey Chandler 6-2, and he adopted this up with a powerful show in opposition to Boiko within the play-off closing.
5 half-century breaks noticed the Englishman storm right into a 7-2 lead on the conclusion of the opening session and, from there, there was just one winner as he took three of the following 4 frames to recover from the road.
Publish-match, Highfield mentioned: “I’m over the moon to bounce again inside a yr. It seems to be actually snug however, once you’re on the market, it doesn’t really feel that manner.”
“I believe I’m again the place I belong. I broke my wrist which was an enormous setback initially of final season however I had bought into some dangerous habits and perhaps wasn’t working as exhausting as I ought to have. Generally previously I’ve been responsible of throwing a number of matches away and never considering nice however I believe I’m by that now” he mentioned.
Highfield added: “I’m a bit older and a bit wiser and that is the second a part of my profession now. I’ve executed lots of studying over the earlier 14 years and hopefully I’ll transfer on to larger and higher issues. I’ve bought a superb few years left within the sport so I wish to win a title at some point.”
The WPBSA wish to thank the European Billiards & Snooker Affiliation (EBSA) and Turkish Billiards Federation (TBF) for his or her help with working the 2025 WPBSA Q Tour World Play-Offs.
