The Race to Bosnia & Herzegovina – EBSA European Championships Qualification

The 2024 European Championships will take place in Bosnia & Herzegovina and the race is on for the opportunity to represent England across four prestigious competitions.

Organised by the European Billiards & Snooker Association (EBSA), the championships will be held at Hotel Hills in Sarajevo from 11-23 March and the winners of the mixed gender and under-21 events will be nominated for a two-year World Snooker Tour card.

EPSB NOMINATIONS

Each country has up to five places for each competition (mixed gender, under-21, under-18 and under-16) and these are allocated according to the EPSB selection criteria outlined at the start of the current season.

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP (MIXED GENDER)

The qualification criteria for the event is as follows:

“The current champion of the English Amateur Championship, followed by the highest ranked eligible players on the English Amateur Tour.”

Paul Deaville was the first player to secure their nomination by defeating Leo Fernandez 6-2 to become the 2023 English Amateur Champion back in April.

English Amateur Tour rankings leader Steven Hallworth (225 points) is guaranteed a top four finish after winning the first two events, but is unable to accept his invitation to the European Championship due to personal commitments. 

Therefore, with one event to go next weekend (January 13-14) at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds, no player is yet mathematically qualified and there is plenty still to play for. 

Event 4 champion Craig Steadman (175 points) and Ryan Davies (165 points) sit in strong positions heading into the final weekend, while former UK seniors champion Peter Lines (120 points) and event 3 runner-up Daniel Wormersley (120 points) are level on points in the final two spots.

Lifting the trophy in Leeds would guarantee qualification for any player ranked down to 18th in the list, which includes event 3 winner Billy Castle and event 2 runner-up Kuldesh Johal.

Entry for English Amateur Tour Event 5 remains open until 12pm on Friday 5 January 2024.

EUROPEAN UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP

The qualification criteria for the event is as follows:

“The current champion of the English Under-21 Championship, followed by the highest ranked eligible players on the English Junior Tour.”

Ryan Davies defeated Lewis Ullah 5-0 in the final of the 2023 English Under-21 Championship, but is ineligible for nomination due to being over-21 on 31 March 2024, meaning the top five eligible players in the English Junior Tour rankings will be nominated.

Oliver Sykes (305 points) has earned an unassailable lead at the top of the rankings, winning three of the four events so far this campaign, and is already guaranteed of a nomination regardless of what happens in the final Junior Tour event of the season at the Landywood Snooker Club on 20-21 January.

However, the remaining four spots are still all up for grabs heading into event 5. Aidan Murphy (195 points) and Paul Deaville (195 points) currently occupy second and third places respectively, but know that only lifting the title in Walsall would guarantee qualification. Results going their way elsewhere, however, could still seal their places in the top four.

Fourth-placed Vladislav Gradinari of Moldova (190 points), is ineligible for nomination by the EPSB, meaning Jake Crofts (170 points) and Samuel Lee Stevens (150 points) currently sit in the final qualifying positions.

With one event to go, players as low as 17th in the rankings (with the exception of Shaun Liu, who is also ineligible for EPSB nomination) could still mathematically qualify and so the race remains wide open.

EUROPEAN UNDER-18 CHAMPIONSHIP

The qualification criteria for the event is as follows:

“The current champion of the English Under-18 Championship, followed by the highest ranked eligible players on the English Junior Tour.”

Liam Pullen defeated Oliver Sykes 4-2 in the final of the English Under-18 Championship, but having secured a two-year World Snooker Tour card at Q School, he is ineligible for nomination. Therefore, the five highest-ranked eligible players aged under-18 on 31 March 2024 will qualify.

Although nobody is yet guaranteed of qualification with one event still to be played at the Landywood Snooker Club on 20-21 January, Daniel Boyes (95 points), Edward Jones (90 points) and James Pears (85 points) are well placed and know that a solid run in the final event should be enough.

O’Shay Scott (70 points) occupies the fourth qualifying spot currently, while 11-year-old Adam Abbas (50 points) leads both Ethan Llewellyn (45 points) and Kaylan Patel (45 points) by the smallest of margins in the battle for the final nomination.

EUROPEAN UNDER-16 CHAMPIONSHIP

The qualification criteria for the event is as follows:

“The current champion of the English Under-18 Championship, followed by the highest ranked eligible players on the English Junior Tour.”

As mentioned above, Liam Pullen is the reigning English Under-18 Championship winner but is once again ineligible for nomination due to his age and professional status. Therefore, the five highest-ranked eligible players aged under-16 on 31 March 2024 will qualify.

Edward Jones (90 points) currently occupies the top qualification spot with O’Shay Scott (70 points) sitting in second place.

The three remaining spots are currently held by Adam Abbas (50 points), Kaylan Patel (45 points) and William Hurley (40 points) but with one event still to be played at the Landywood Snooker Club on 20-21 January, anyone could still mathematically qualify.

CONFIRMED PLAYERS

The EPSB will contact all qualified players as soon as possible to confirm tournament information and request any required information in respect of airport transfers and accommodation requirements.