First Day of EPSB Junior Elite Performance Programme Staged in Sheffield

Day one of the 2024/25 EPSB Junior Elite Performance Programme was staged on Saturday at Ding Junhui’s Snooker Academy in Sheffield.

Now into its second season, the Programme provides additional benefits and opportunities for the elite junior players who have qualified as the top seeds on the EPSB Junior Tour, as well as additional invited players who have been selected based upon their achievements at EPSB Junior competitions and other tours such as the World Women’s Snooker Tour and World Disability Billiards and Snooker Tour.

Saturday’s session was run by Chris Lovell (WPBSA Head of Coaching and Training Development), Andrew Highfield (WPBSA Advanced Level 3 Coach) and Steven Hallworth (Qualified WPBSA Coach and reigning English Amateur champion) with nine elite junior players in attendance at Ding Junhui’s Snooker Academy.

The elite practice masterclass, led by Highfield and Hallworth, allowed the players to learn new techniques and routines for advanced levels of technical practice and break building from the qualified experts.

Hallworth, a former professional on the World Snooker Tour, said: “Hopefully I can provide an insight into what it takes to get on to the main tour and have a career in snooker. These junior players are still developing and so, if I can give a little nugget of information that’s going to improve their game, then it’s job done!”

Lovell, WPBSA’s Head of Coaching & Training Development, said: “It is the second year of the Programme and we aim to give the players a day off from competition, but put it to good use by learning from our experts.

“We hope the players have gained a different perspective from somebody who wants help them improve their game and provide an insight into what it is like to play on the World Snooker Tour. Hopefully the Programme can help with their aims of turning professional in the future.”

The second day of the EPSB Junior Elite Performance Programme will take place in Sheffield during the 2025 World Snooker Championship on Thursday 1 May.