Liam Highfield won the 2025 EBSA European Amateur Championship with a 5-0 defeat of Michał Szubarczyk on Saturday in Turkiye.
The Englishman produced a strong display to comfortably see off the young Polish player and claim the most prestigious title of his career.
Highfield compiled an excellent break of 112 in the opening frame and never looked back, reeling off further contributions of 70, 54, 53, and 53.
The 34 year-old was a World Snooker Tour member from 2010 until he lost his professional status at the end of last season.
But the Stoke potter found form at just the right time of his amateur campaign this term to reclaim a potentially lucrative spot on the main circuit.
Highfield had already guaranteed his promotion back to the WST through his success at the Q Tour Global Play Offs earlier in March.
But he can now return to the big-time with a renewed sense of confidence in his game after capturing one of the most prestigious international prizes.
Highfield emerged from the initial round-robin phase at the 2025 European Amateur Championship with a perfect record of three wins from three.
He then beat Alain Vergere 4-0 in his opening knockout fixture before surviving his first big test in the last 32 when he edged Richard Wienold in a deciding frame.
Victories over fellow ex-pros Craig Steadman and Ashley Hugill followed before Highfield secured a berth in the final with a dramatic 4-3 defeat of Dylan Emery.
Trailing 3-1, Highfield won the last three frames to deny the former European under-21 amateur champion.
He began the title-deciding fixture as the obvious favourite against the inexperienced Szubarczyk and lived up to those expectations with a resounding scoreline.
“I found the table really quickly in the final,” Liam Highfield told the European Billiards and Snooker Association.
“That helps with your cue ball control, you’re just comfortable around the table. You make it easy for yourself, and that’s what I managed to do.”
“Q Tour obviously took the pressure off this tournament, but I still felt at times really under pressure in this tournament.
“I just want to win, that’s my nature. So it’s just nice – I sort of missed out on these tournaments turning pro so young.
“I never got to really play in any of these, so it’s nice to step backwards in a way and pick up one. It’s been really nice, I’ve had a great week.”
It was a memorable competition for Michał Szubarczyk, meanwhile, who will also be given the opportunity to compete on the World Snooker Tour from the next season.
As Highfield had already earned his place through Q Tour, the ticket on offer for the European amateur champion will go to its runner-up instead.
That means that 14 year-old Szubarczyk will become the youngest ever snooker professional should he choose to accept the invitation.
Szubarczyk had already won the European under-16 and under-18 titles before orchestrating his memorable run in the senior competition.
2025 European Amateur Championship
Selected Results
Last 16
Liam Highfield 4-0 Craig Steadman
Ashley Hugill 4-0 Aaron Busuttil
Mateusz Baranowski 4-0 Barry Pinches
Dylan Emery 4-0 Vladislav Gradinari
Jovan Todorovic 4-3 Simon Lichtenberg
Harvey Chandler 4-1 Ryan Davies
Nicolas Mortreux 4-3 Kayden Brierly
Michał Szubarczyk 4-1 Chris Peplow
Quarter-Finals
Liam Highfield 4-2 Ashley Hugll
Dylan Emery 4-2 Mateusz Baranowski
Harvey Chandler 4-1 Jovan Todorovic
Michał Szubarczyk 4-0 Nicolas Mortreux
Semi-Finals
Liam Highfield 4-3 Dylan Emery
Michał Szubarczyk 4-3 Harvey Chandler
Final
Liam Highfield 5-0 Michał Szubarczyk
Featured photo credit: WPBSA
