Ashley Carty emerged with a two-year professional card after winning the Q Tour playoff event in Darlington on Sunday.
The Englishman was relegated at the end of the 2021/22 snooker season, ending a four-term run on the main tour.
But Carty will return for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns thanks to a determined victory at the Q House Snooker Academy.
A former World Championship qualifier, Carty came from three frames behind to deny Farakh Ajaib in the last 16.
Subsequent triumphs over Hamim Hussain and Ross Muir helped him through to the final.
In the title decider, Carty handled the pressure well and outplayed surprise package Florian Nuessle 5-2 with breaks of 71, 58, 57, and 55.
Austria’s Nuessle had only gained a spot in the tournament at the last minute as a top-up entrant following the late withdrawal of Daniel Wells.
It looked like a main tour ticket was set to be written in the stars when he thumped Josh Thomond, edged Liam Davies, and overcame Steven Hallworth to reach the final.
But Carty produced the goods when it mattered the most, with his superior pot success rate of 92.35% telling the story, as Nuessle lagged on just 81.48%.
“It will probably take a few weeks to fully sink in, but I’m just over the moon really,” the 27 year-old said.
“I’ve been working really hard lately on and off the table, and it’s really pleasing that it’s paying off.”
“I feel that I’m in a good place at the minute and playing really well.”
Carty qualified for the Q Tour playoff event as the 13th highest ranked player on this season’s amateur series order of merit.
Martin O’Donnell finished the Q Tour on top spot in the rankings and gained the other two-year tour card.
Featured photo credit: WPBSA
Photographer: Andy Chubb
