The Race to Malta – EBSA European Championships Qualification

The 2023 European Championships will be contested on the island of Malta in March 2023 and the race is on to represent England across four prestigious competitions.

To run from 6-18 March 2023, the Championships are organised by the European Billiards and Snooker Association (EBSA) and will include tournaments for three junior tournaments (Under-16, Under-18 and Under-21), alongside the flagship mixed gender competition.

The EBSA has confirmed that the winners of both the Under-21 and Mixed Gender competitions will both be nominated to receive a two-year World Snooker Tour card from the start of the 2023/24 season.

EPSB Selection

Each country has been allocated up to five places for each competition, which will be allocated in line with the EPSB Selection Criteria outlined at the start of the current season.

It is to be noted that the Under-16 tournament is a new event that was not announced until after the Selection Criteria was published and the policy for that event is set out below.

European Championship (Mixed Gender)

The qualification criteria for the event is as follows:

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

Jamie Curtis-Barrett will therefore be the first player nominated as the reigning English Amateur Champion, following his 10-5 victory against John Welsh in the 2022 final.

It can also be confirmed that he will be joined by both three-time event winner George Pragnell (315pts) and Event 3 champion Ashley Carty (220pts), who are both already assured of top four positions on the English Amateur Tour Rankings heading into next month’s final event at the Landywood Snooker Club.

The final two places will be decided at Event 5, with Martin O’Donnell and Lee Shanker currently occupying those qualification positions.

For O’Donnell (165pts), a quarter-final run at the season finale would be enough to guarantee a top four place, while he would still have chances with an earlier exit depending on other results.

For Shanker (140pts), however, there remains all to play for, with Harvey Chandler and Kayden Brierley (both 135pts) tied just behind and over 20 players still in contention over the final event.

Entry for the English Amateur Tour 5 event remains open until 6 January 2023.

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 from the Under-21 Premier Development Tour.”

The current English Under-21 champion is Callum Beresford, however, he will not be eligible to accept the place as he will be over-21 on 31 December 2022, as per the EBSA conditions. The five places will therefore all be allocated to the Under-21 Premier Development Tour.

With two events still to be concluded no player is yet safe, with a maximum 200 points still on offer to a player able to win both events, to be held over the weekend of 22-23 January at The Winchester in Leicester.

The current top five include Liam Pullen (260pts), Ryan Davies (250pts), Bradley Cowdroy (200pts), Samuel Lee Stevens (160pts) and Paul Deaville (150pts), meaning that all 32 players still have a mathematical chance of qualification.

One more deep run would surely be enough to seal a place in Malta for both Pullen and Davies, while Cowdroy also has a useful cushion to the chasing pack.

European Under-18 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 from the Under-21 Premier Development Tour.”

Stan Moody is therefore guaranteed a place at the tournament as the reigning EPSB English Under-18 Champion following his 7-0 victory against Aidan Murphy in the 2022 final.

He will be joined by the next ranked players on the Under-21 Premier Development Tour, who will be Under-18 at the end of 2022. These are currently set to be Liam Pullen (260pts), Oliver Sykes (135pts), Daniel Boyes (100pts) and Jake Crofts (90pts).

With two tournaments still to be played, top ranked Liam Pullen is already mathematically certain to finish inside of the top four positions of Under-18 players only, even if he were to lose both matches in Leicester.

For the remaining nine players, however, which includes Harry Wyatt and O’Shay Scott, who have competed on the tour this season as top-up players, there remains all to play for over the final weekend.

European Under-16 Championship

As a new tournament announced following the publication of the EPSB Selection Criteria, the EPSB has therefore decided that qualification will be based as follows:

“The current champion of the English Under-16 Championship, followed by the highest ranked eligible players from the Under-21 Premier Development Tour. If necessary, these will be topped up from the Under-16 Series on a pro rata basis.”

The reigning EPSB English Under-16 Champion is again Stan Moody, but having turned 16 earlier this year, he will not be eligible to compete in the tournament in Malta.

The places are therefore set to be allocated to the highest ranked Under-16 players on the Under-21 Premier Development Tour, following the conclusion of the final event next month.

These players are currently Daniel Boyes (100pts), Dylan Smith (80pts), Edward Jones (55pts), Harry Wyatt (30pts) and O’Shay Scott (30pts).

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 as soon as possible.