The eight snooker graduates from Q School in Leicester

The 2025 edition of Q School concluded on Sunday with the final spots on the World Snooker Tour from the series being awarded in Leicester.

A frenetic couple of weeks at the Mattioli Arena saw two tournaments take place and eight competitors secure promotions to the professional circuit.

The octet successfully joins the four Q School graduates from the Asia & Oceania leg, which was previously held in Thailand in May.

While all four who advanced from Asia will represent rookies next season, Q School in Leicester provided a mix of seasoned journeymen and up-and-coming newcomers.

Each of the 12 Q School qualifiers will now have an opportunity to compete for millions of pounds worth of prize money, earnings that most snooker fans can only dream of pocketing at sites like https://optimobet.com/ where the best sportsbooks and online casinos are available.

Who qualified from Q School Event 1?

Two among the four cuiests who outlasted the competition in Q School event one represented bounce-back graduates.

Alexander Ursenbacher and Liam Pullen were relegated from the main tour last month after failing to break into the top 64 on the official world rankings list.

Ursenbacher has made a habit of surviving Q School, though, with the Swiss coming through the tough tournament for the fourth time in his career.

The 29 year-old, a former English Open semi-finalist, beat the likes of David Grace and Ashley Hugill en route to the last round, where he defeated Ryan Davies.

Pullen’s debut stint as a professional was disappointing, but the youngster will get an immediate second crack after overcoming Umut Dikme in the last round.

“The overriding emotion is relief. I’d rather have stayed on tour the proper way and been in the world’s top 64, but I’m here and I’ve come through this week,” Liam Pullen told the World Snooker Tour.

“When you have been on tour for a couple of years, this is a bit of a come down. The environment is totally different.”

“Even in that match there, I had a lot of knocks. I went to the toilet and I was in bits. I had a strong word with myself, and I’m glad I found a way to get over the line.

“I know deep inside I should be on tour. But to do it, win, and pot those balls is a different kettle of fish.”

Joining Ursenbacher and Pullen from the first event was another returning professional in the form of Oliver Brown.

The Englishman, a former European amateur champion, was relegated from the main tour in 2024 but secured his comeback after a year away with a 4-1 victory over Craig Steadman.

Mateusz Baranowski was the fourth player to make it through the opening event to become the third player from Poland with professional status for next season.

Baranowski reached the semi-finals of the WSF Championship earlier this year and proved that his run there wasn’t just a flash in the pan.

The 27 year-old secured a maiden pro card with victories over the likes of Jenson Kendrick, Phil O’Kane, and Patrick Whelan.

Who qualified from Q School Event 2?

With it being the last chance to earn promotion, there was even more pressure on the players competing in the second event.

Anthony Hamilton, Alfie Burden, Stuart Carrington, and Peter Lines were some of the high-profile players whose attempts ended in failure.

This time, there was an even combination of returning professionals and new graduates with two from each category progressing.

David Grace, who missed out in the final round of event one to Ursenbacher, didn’t waste his second shot.

The former UK Championship semi-finalist survived a tough battle with Andrew Higginson in a deciding frame in the third-last round before thumping both Barry Pinches and Jack Borwick 4-0 to guarantee his instant return.

“It is such a relief. You go through the mill here. I feel like I’ve been here a month. I’m really happy,” 40-year Grace said to the World Snooker Tour.

“I’ve managed to avoid Q School for most of my career. The last time was 2018 and that feels like a long time ago.”

“I wasn’t sure what to expect. It is a big deal. It is two years of your life. I didn’t want to be spending a year off tour.”

Ian Burns, who fell off the main tour at the end of the 2024/25 term with a lowly ranking of just 82, also got back onto the professional scene straight away.

Burns edged Kayden Brierley in the penultimate round in a 4-3 thriller before orchestrating a more comprehensive 4-1 triumph over Andrew Pagett.

Elsewhere, Fergal Quinn and Connor Benzey managed to safeguard their spots on the World Snooker Tour for the first times in their careers.

Quinn, from County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, counted Sean O’Sullivan and Ashley Carty among his conquests in the early rounds.

The 25 year-old then beat Dean Young 4-1 to fulfill a lifelong dream, admitting afterwards that he “wasn’t sure if this day would ever come.”

Benzey, meanwhile, got onto the main tour for the first time with a 4-2 victory over Rodion Judin in the last round.

The 23 year-old from England beat event one runner-up Patrick Whelan and ex-pro John Astley earlier in the competition.

The 2025/26 snooker season is scheduled to get under way on June 22nd with the players back in Leicester for the Wuhan Open qualifiers.

Featured photo credit: WST