15-Year-Old Snooker Wonderkid Compared to Ronnie O’Sullivan After World Championship Record

Polish snooker player Michal Szubarczyk has set a new record as the youngest player to win a World Championship qualifying match. The 15-year-old achieved this milestone during the first qualifying round in Sheffield on Monday, April 7, 2026, by defeating former women’s world champion Onyee Ng with a score of 10-7.

Szubarczyk’s victory surpasses the previous record of 15 years and 277 days, which was established by Liam Davies in 2022. Reporting indicates that Szubarczyk broke this record by approximately 200 days.

Comparisons to Ronnie O’Sullivan

Following his performance in the World Championship qualifiers, the teenager has drawn comparisons to Ronnie O’Sullivan. These comparisons first emerged several months prior to the qualifying rounds, following Szubarczyk’s performance during the Welsh Open in February 2026.

During that tournament, Szubarczyk defeated Hatem Yassen and Jamie Jones in earlier rounds before his run was ended by World No. 3 Neil Robertson.

Three-time world champion Mark Williams, who has observed the player’s game, provided an assessment of the youngster’s current level compared to O’Sullivan’s early career.

I did say he’s up there; not quite as good as O’Sullivan when he was 14, 15, but he’s not far behind. He’s been beating quite a few pros already.

Mark Williams

Williams noted that while Szubarczyk may lack the specific flair associated with O’Sullivan, his potting ability is exceptional, stating oh my God, he can pot from anywhere.

Williams further highlighted that Szubarczyk has already managed to beat established professionals on tour, including Jimmy White, Martin O’Donnell, and Jamie Jones, noting that O’Sullivan was not beating established pros on tour at the age of 14.

Professional Path and Background

Szubarczyk’s ascent to the professional ranks began in March 2025. He earned his spot on the professional snooker circuit after winning the European Amateur Championship, which took place in Turkiye.

His recent success in the World Championship qualifying round marks a continued rise for the Polish player as the main World Snooker Championships are scheduled to begin later in April 2026.