Robbie McGuigan captured the EBSA European Snooker Championship with a 5-4 defeat of Craig Steadman on Saturday in Sarajevo.
The 19 year-old from Northern Ireland prevailed in the prestigious international amateur event under dramatic circumstances.
McGuigan needed deciding-frame victories in his last five knockout-round fixtures in the competition, eventually winning the last two frames against Steadman to complete a memorable success.
Reward for the talented teenager from County Antrim is a two-year card to compete on the professional World Snooker Tour.
McGuigan will get the opportunity to test himself against the likes of world number one Ronnie O’Sullivan and countryman Mark Allen on a regular basis from next season.
Early on in the 2024 European Amateur Snooker Championship, McGuigan comfortably advanced from his initial round-robin group with three wins from three.
A comfortable 4-1 triumph over Scotland’s Steven Wardropper followed in the last 64, his first outing in the knockout phase.
From then on, it was an incredible war of attrition as McGuigan defied the odds on numerous occasions to get the job done in final-frame deciders.
Close 4-3 defeats of Daniel Womersley, Shachar Ruberg, and Iulian Boiki helped McGuigan through to the last four, where he beat Florian Nuessle by the same scoreline.
In the final, experienced opponent Steadman took the opening frame with a break of 75 before McGuigan responded to move 2-1 in front.
A topsy-turvy showdown saw former pro Steadman regain the initiative at 3-2, only for his young challenger to restore parity with a terrific contribution of 128.
Steadman edged nearer the winning line by taking the seventh frame, but McGuigan dug deep as he had done throughout the week and snatched the last two frames for the glory.
Last week, 17 year-old Liam Davies captured the European Under-21 Championship title to also gain a two-year pro card.
McGuigan and Davies will represent fresh faces on the main tour during the upcoming 2024/25 and 2025/26 snooker campaigns.
Lei Peifan, meanwhile, will also be on the main tour next season after winning the 2024 Asia Pacific Open Championship in Australia.
2024 European Amateur Snooker Championship
Selected Results
Last 16
Robin Hull 4-3 Matthew Glasby
Florian Nuessle 4-2 Brian Ochoiski
Iulian Boiko 4-0 Umut Dikme
Robbie McGuigan 4-3 Shachar Ruberg
Brian Cini 4-2 Artemijs Zizins
Paul Deaville 4-2 Rodney Goggins
Ryan Davies 4-3 Luke Pinches
Craig Steadman 4-0 Callum Beresford
Quarter-Finals
Floran Nuessle 4-2 Robin Hull
Robbie McGuigan 4-3 Iulian Boiko
Brian Cini 4-2 Paul Deaville
Craig Steadman 4-2 Ryan Davies
Semi-Finals
Robbie McGuigan 4-3 Florian Nuessle
Craig Steadman 4-1 Brian Cini
Final
Robbie McGuigan 5-4 Craig Steadman
Featured photo credit: EBSA
Allen was once his stepdad.