Igor Figueiredo will have an opportunity to return to the professional circuit at the start of the 2026/27 snooker season after winning the Pan American Open Championship.
The popular Brazilian earned a fresh two-year card through his victory in the international amateur event, which was staged in Sacramento last weekend.
Figueiredo comfortably emerged from his initial round-robin group with a perfect record of three 3-0 victories.
The 47 year-old from Rio de Janeiro subsequently beat two American potters to reach the quarter-finals, where he outscored Canada’s Jason Williams in a 4-1 scoreline.
In what was an all-Brazilian semi-final lineup at the Aryan Snooker Club, Figueiredo ousted Victor Sarkis with a comprehensive 4-0 triumph.
That took him through to the final where he faced another countryman, Fabio Anderson Luersen.
Figueiredo, who would have begun the tournament as one of the obvious favourites, raced into a 2-0 lead only to be pegged back with his opponent restoring parity.
A tight fifth frame crucially went in favour of the former, however, and he duly moved to within the brink of glory with a run of 57.
Figueiredo then took a close seventh frame to clinch a 5-2 success, adding to his maiden Pan American Championship victory from 2019.
It also completed a memorable double at the 2025 Pan American Championships following his glory in the seniors event earlier in the week.
Figueiredo was sporadically a professional player from 2010 until 2022 when he gave up his tour card amid the persistent travel difficulties concerning the global pandemic at the time.
A talented potter when in full flow, he reached the last 16 of a ranking event on a few occasions and boasted a career-high ranking of number 65 in the world.
His other notable success transpired at the 2024 World Seniors Championship when he beat Ken Doherty to claim the title at the Crucible Theatre.
Most of the players who have been promoted to the main tour through the Pan American Championship have ultimately struggled to mix it with the elite.
But Figueiredo represents a genuine talent and someone who could do some damage on the circuit if he’s willing to dedicate his time to the cause.
Either way, he will have two years to make an impact with his status as a professional player restored for the upcoming 2026/27 snooker season and also the 2027/28 term.
Indeed, Figueiredo is the first amateur player to safeguard his promotion for the next snooker seasons.
There are other regional international amateur events such as the European Championships, the Asia-Pacific Championship, and the African Championship.
The World Snooker Federation Championships additionally provide two tickets in the senior and junior categories.
Other opportunities for amateurs to get a professional card are available through competing on the Q Tour, at Q School, or on the CBSA China Tour.
2025 Pan American Open Championship
Selected Results
Last 16
Igor Figueiredo 4-1 Zia Sheik
Jason Williams 4-2 Rajnees Bansal
Victor Sarkis 4-0 Steven Wong
Levi Meiller 4-2 Tom Limor
Itaro Santos 4-2 Charlie Brown
Noel Rodrigues Moreira 4-3 Renat Denkha
Fabio Anderson Luersen 4-0 Mike Collier
Daniel Holoyda 4-0 Daren Mark Taylor
Quarter-Finals
Igor Figueiredo 4-1 Jason Williams
Victor Sarkis 4-1 Levi Meiller
Noel Rodrigues Moreira 4-2 Itaro Santos
Fabior Anderson Luersen 4-3 Daniel Holoyda
Semi-Finals
Igor Figueiredo 4-0 Victor Sarkis
Fabio Anderson Luersen 4-2 Noel Rodrigues Moreira
Final
Igor Figueiredo 5-2 Fabio Anderson Luersen
Featured photo credit: WST
It will be interesting to see if he takes up this card given his past issues.
The English Open will be on DMAX – weekday afternoon sessions and the weekend in its entirety.