The 2026/27 snooker season is almost upon us, and a fresh crop of rookie players will be hoping to make an immediate impact on the World Snooker Tour.
While several established stars will once again dominate the headlines, there will also be plenty of intrigue surrounding the nine newcomers who have earned professional status for the first time.
That figure is down from the 13 rookie players who joined the circuit a year ago, but there are several compelling stories among the latest intake.
The class of 2026 includes the youngest newcomer this year in 17 year-old Mykhailo Larkov and the oldest-ever first-time professional in 59 year-old Paul Norris.
China continues to strengthen its presence in the sport with four of the nine newbies hailing from the country, while Thailand’s Panchaya Channoi arrives as the reigning women’s world champion.
Here is a brief overview of the rookie players who will be hoping to make their mark during the 2026/27 campaign and how they secured their places on the main tour.
Paul Norris
Paul Norris will make history this season as the oldest-ever player to turn professional for the first time.
The 59 year-old earned his place on the World Snooker Tour by winning the Asia-Pacific Championship, where he edged Vinnie Calabrese in a dramatic 6-5 final.
English by nationality but based in Australia for many years, Norris has long been involved in the amateur game while his partner Jessica Woods is also a familiar face on the World Women’s Snooker Tour.
Mykhailo (Michael) Larkov
At the opposite end of the spectrum is Mykhailo Larkov, the youngest rookie among this season’s intake.
The 17 year-old Ukrainian secured a two-year card by winning the WSF Junior Championship, beating Wang Xinbo in the final.
Larkov was also crowned the Ukrainian national amateur champion in 2024 and represents another encouraging sign of snooker’s continued growth in Eastern Europe.
Panchaya Channoi
Panchaya Channoi arrives on the professional circuit after enjoying a memorable campaign on the women’s tour.
The 18 year-old completed a prestigious double at the Women’s World Championship in May, capturing both the main title and the under-21 crown.
Channoi defeated Bai Yulu, Mink Nutcharut, and Reanne Evans to become Thailand’s third-ever women’s world champion and compiled a brace of century breaks in the title-deciding contest to underline her considerable talent.
Wang Xinbo
Among the most highly regarded prospects in this year’s rookie class is Wang Xinbo.
The Chinese teenager earned a professional card after finishing at the summit of the CBSA China Tour rankings and boasts plenty of pedigree on the back of winning two matches at the World Snooker Championship qualifying competition in April.
Wang also reached the finals of both the WSF Junior Championship and the WSF Championship in 2026, losing to Mykhailo Larkov and Hammad Miah respectively.
Oliver Sykes
Oliver Sykes secured his place on the main tour through the European amateur pathway.
The 20 year-old finished runner-up in the EBSA European Amateur Championship but received the nomination after champion Anton Kazakov had already earned promotion by winning the European Under-21 Championship.
Sykes has previously sampled professional competition as an amateur, reaching the second round of the Shoot Out in 2023.
Phil O’Kane
Phil O’Kane’s promotion to the professional ranks was warmly received by many within the snooker community.
The Englishman has spent several years battling through the amateur circuit and suffering a series of missed opportunities before finally breaking through this year.
O’Kane earned his two-year card at Q School, defeating Jamie O’Neill in the final qualifying round to realise a long-held ambition.
Deng Haohui
Deng Haohui enters the professional game after a successful year on the amateur circuit.
The 23 year-old gained promotion from Asia and Oceania Q School in Thailand, where he beat Amir Sarkhosh in the final qualifying round.
Deng also captured the Asian Snooker Championship title in 2026, overcoming India’s Pankaj Advani in the final.
Liu Yang
Another player to emerge from Asia and Oceania Q School was Liu Yang.
The 22 year-old defeated Chen Ruifu in the final qualifying round to secure his maiden professional tour card.
Relatively little is known about Liu compared to some of the other newcomers, but he will be hoping to make an immediate impression as one of four Chinese rookies on the tour this season.
Luo Zetao
The final rookie among this year’s intake is Luo Zetao, who earned the second nomination from the CBSA China Tour.
Luo came close to turning professional a year earlier when he reached the final qualifying round of Asia and Oceania Q School before falling short.
The 25 year-old has now secured his place on the World Snooker Tour and will look to make the most of his opportunity during the next two seasons.
When will the rookies first play?
The rookie players don’t have to wait much longer before getting their opportunities on the professional snooker circuit.
They are each set to feature in the qualifying rounds of both the China Open and the Wuhan Open, which will be staged from June 10th to 18th at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester.
It will represent the first chance for snooker fans to see the latest crop of rookies competing alongside the established stars of the World Snooker Tour as the 2026/27 season gets under way.
Featured photo credit: WST
As a 55yr old Paul Noble has given me hope lol
Good luck to him