Latvian teenager Artemijs Zizins secures World Snooker Tour card with Q School glory as Allan Taylor books return ticket

ByEurosport

Updated 27/05/2024 at 09:36 GMT

The first four professional tour cards from this year's Q School in Leicester were handed out on Sunday with Allan Taylor, Haydon Pinhey, Wang Yuchen and Artemijs Zizins all securing their spots on the main circuit for the next two seasons via qualifying event one. Qualifying event two runs from Monday to Saturday with the same process providing four more tour cards.

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Latvian national champion Artemijs Zizins has secured his spot on the main World Snooker Tour circuit courtesy of a 4-2 win over Kayden Brierley at Q School in Leicester on Sunday.

The 17-year-old continued his fine scoring form after producing a 128 break in a 4-2 win against Iulian Boiko in the last 32 on Saturday and runs of 58 and 64 in a 4-2 success over former Crucible qualifier Mark Joyce in the last 16.

Zizins opened with a sparkling 120 against 22-year-old Englishman Brierley, who edged the next two frames to lead 2-1, before the teenager stepped up a gear to reel off three straight frames boosted by classy closing efforts of 51 and 88.

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He will be joined on the main circuit by Allan Taylor, Haydon Pinhey and Wang Yuchen, who all secured professional tour cards for the next two seasons.

Liverpool-born Taylor was forced to return to Q School after finishing outside the top 64 last season as world No. 87, but showed his fighting qualities in a 4-3 win over Scotland's Chris Totten that saw both men produce two half centuries.

"I'll have a sit down and look back at what I've been doing right and wrong," said Taylor.

"I'll take inspiration from friends on the tour. A good friend of mine Martin O'Donnell got to the final of the Welsh Open and Robbie Williams got to the Crucible. I was lucky enough to go and watch him.

"Those things are still goals."

Meanwhile, Pinhey produced a 100 knock in a 4-2 win over evergreen Irish professional Gerard Greene, who first turned professional in 1993, while Hong Kong's Wang compiled a 100 break in a 4-3 win over Welsh potter Dylan Emery.

Qualifying event two begins at the Mattioli Arena on Monday and runs until Saturday, June 1 in Leicester, with the same process providing four more tour cards.

Two Asia and Oceania qualifying events in Bangkok (May 22 to 27 and May 28 to June 2) will see four more tour cards up for grabs.