Révész Bulcsú won the 2024 WSF Junior Championship on Friday with a 5-3 defeat of Gong Chenzhi in the final.
With the victory, the 17 year-old earns a two-year main tour card and will become the first player from Hungary to compete on the professional circuit next season.
The WSF Junior Championship featured 75 players from countries all around the world.
Oddly enough, however, Révész and Gong were drawn to face each other in the same group during the opening phase of the competition.
Révész’s 3-1 triumph over the Chinese competitor, which helped him to top Group C with a 100% winning record, was a sign of things to come.
The teenager followed that up in the knockout stages with wins against Edward Jones, Joel Connolly, and Jack Borwick.
In the semi-finals, Bulscú overcame England’s Oliver Sykes and then saved his best display for the final against Gong, where he compiled an excellent 130 century break.
“It’s just amazing. I didn’t expect anything before the tournament,” a delighted Bulcsú Révész said afterwards.
“But I felt like I was getting better and better and before the final I just knew I was going to win.”
“I missed the pink to go 4-2 up and so at 3-3 I was on the floor. I don’t know how, but I won the seventh frame and then I was back in the saddle again.
“I think I am going to have so many messages because every Hungarian player was supporting me which is a brilliant feeling.
“I hope everyone is so happy and I hope this can inspire more players in Hungary. I have enjoyed playing since the age of eight and I still love it.
“To stay on tour after the first two years is my first goal. To be in the top 64 I will have to play even better than I have this week.
“But I know I can do it, I am looking forward to it.”
Révész was the young opponent who faced Shaun Murphy at the Snooker Shoot Out in September when the Magician compiled his remarkable 147 break under the shot-clock format.
The new star from Hungary, who also won last year’s European under-18 crown, will have more opportunities to face the sport’s biggest names from the 2024/25 campaign.
The flagship WSF Championship will be staged next in Albania, with a second two-year tour card on offer for the winner.
More details on both tournaments can be found by clicking here (external site).
Featured photo credit: WSF