Stan Moody: 16-year-old storms into round two of World Championship qualifiers in Sheffield
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Updated 04/04/2023 at 09:30 GMT
Ronnie O'Sullivan has been among those to laud the progress of teen sensation Stan Moody, and the 16-year-old made more waves in Sheffield on Monday night as he made it into round two of the World Championship qualifiers in Sheffield. Moody beat Andres Petrov 10-7, and will now face Zhang Anda on Wednesday. Stream the World Championship live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com.
Watch Moody, 16, hit superb break of 110 in World Championship qualifiers
Teenage sensation Stan Moody, 16, stormed into round two of the World Championship qualifiers in Sheffield with a remarkable 10-7 win over Andres Petrov.
Moody has been the sport's undoubted breakout star since beating Lu Ning - then a top-32 player - in his debut ranking event at the 2022 Shoot Out.
He backed that up by winning the WSF Junior Championship earlier this year - a feat that secured him a place on the World Snooker Tour for two seasons as of 2023/24 - and now has another highlight to add to his palmares, after seeing off Estonian Petrov.
“It means everything,” said Moody. “All the practice has paid off. I came here not expecting anything, so I just wanted to enjoy it.
“When you get to nine, it’s a different ball game. All of that goes out of the window and you are just desperate to get over the line.
“I’m very proud of myself. I slowed up a bit and just potting them winning balls – the relief, I couldn’t stop shaking, I couldn’t breathe and I just held myself together.”
Moody, who has received praise from snooker luminaries such as Ronnie O'Sullivan and Jimmy White, began strongly and led 5-3 after the first session.
He then moved one frame from victory at 9-5 but Petrov, 10 years Moody's senior, took the next two as it became a nervy affair - for both players.
Finally, belying his tender age, Moody - who has been mentored in his fledgling career by Shaun Murphy - sunk a beautiful long yellow, followed by the green, and when Petrov was unable to find the snookers he needed, he approached the 16-year-old to shake his hand and offer his congratulations.
Moody, who made a break of 110 as well as five half-centuries in his stunning victory, will next face Zhang Anda on Wednesday, with that match to complete on Thursday.
“I’m just going to enjoy it," he added. "I think all the pressure is off. I got over the hurdle of winning the first one, so hopefully next time it will be a bit easier.”
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