Antoni Kowalski, a 22-year-old debutant at the World Snooker Championship, stunned spectators and veteran player Mark Williams with an extraordinary trickshot during their first-round match at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on April 18, 2026. The shot, which involved curling the cue ball around multiple coloured balls to pot a difficult red, drew audible gasps from the crowd and prompted Williams to shake his head in disbelief. Kowalski went on to win the frame, though he ultimately lost the match 10-6 to the three-time world champion.
The incident occurred in the sixth frame of the match, with Kowalski trailing 3-2. Faced with a tight snooker behind the yellow and brown balls, with the only accessible red tucked deep in the jaws of the top-left pocket, Kowalski opted not to play a safe escape. Instead, he struck the cue ball with low side spin, sending it curling off the yellow, grazing the brown, and snapping into the red to pot it cleanly. The shot succeeded despite the high risk of a miss or foul, which would have gifted Williams ball-in-hand.
I’ve seen a lot of shots in my time, but that one… I didn’t even know it was possible. He must have been practising that for years.
Mark Williams, post-match interview
Williams, a former world champion and consistent presence at the Crucible for over two decades, admitted he was momentarily stunned by the execution. “I’ve played against some inventive players, but that was something else,” he said. “You don’t expect to see that kind of creativity in a first-round match at the World Championship. It took me a second to realise what had just happened.”
Kowalski, ranked 78th in the world entering the tournament, earned his Crucible debut by winning through the qualifying rounds, including a 10-7 victory over former world number one Stuart Bingham in the final qualifier. His run to the main draw marked his first appearance at snooker’s most prestigious event, having turned professional only in 2022 after a successful amateur career in Poland, where he won the European Under-21 Championship in 2021.
Context and Significance of the Shot
While trickshots are common in exhibition play and practice sessions, they are exceptionally rare in competitive ranking events, particularly at the World Snooker Championship. The Crucible Theatre’s tight pockets and demanding conditions make such creative shot selection a high-risk endeavour, with most players opting for safety or conservative attempts under pressure. Kowalski’s decision to attempt the shot — and its success — drew immediate comparisons to legendary inventive players like Ronnie O’Sullivan and Jimmy White, known for their flair under pressure.
Match Outcome and Tournament Progress
Despite the highlight-reel moment, Kowalski could not sustain the momentum against Williams’ experience and consistency. The Welshman took control after the interval, winning four of the next five frames to extend his lead to 7-3. Kowalski won two more frames to trail 8-5, but Williams sealed the victory with two more frames to win 10-6 and advance to the second round, where he faced defending champion Kyren Wilson.
Williams, seeking his fourth world title, described the win as a solid start to his campaign. “It’s never easy first match, especially against someone who brings that kind of energy,” he said. “Antoni has a bright future. He’ll learn from this, and I expect to see him back here.”
Kowalski, reflecting on his debut, acknowledged the result but expressed pride in his performance. “To play at the Crucible, to hear that roar when the shot went in… it’s everything I’ve dreamed of,” he said. “I wanted to enjoy the moment, and I did. Losing hurts, but I’ll take that shot with me forever.”
The 2026 World Snooker Championship continued through early May, with Kowalski’s trickshot becoming one of the most talked-about moments of the opening week. The clip of the shot was widely shared across snooker’s official social media channels and picked up by major sports broadcasters, underscoring the rare blend of skill and audacity that defines the sport’s enduring appeal.