Haydon Pinhey has expressed “pure relief” after finally securing a place on the World Snooker Tour, ending a series of near-misses. The Plymouth-based player overcame Gerard Greene 4-2 at Q-School last month, breaking a streak of four consecutive final-round losses to earn his tour card.
Finally on the Professional Stage
This achievement grants the 27-year-old two years on the professional tour, offering him the opportunity to regularly compete against the sport’s top players.
“I lost four last rounds. It was heart-breaking, blood, sweat and tears, but it’s worth it in the end,” Pinhey told BBC South West. “It’s been tough, but the game is tough, so it was just pure relief in the end.”
With his promotion to the tour, Pinhey is now among the world’s top 128 players, giving him the chance to qualify for all the major championships. If he can break into the top 64 by 2026, he will retain his place on the tour—a goal he has dreamed of since he was seven years old.
Overcoming Past Struggles
However, the journey has been challenging, particularly over the past four years, where he repeatedly fell at the final hurdle in his quest for the professional stage.
“The third year I lost in a row was the hardest. I was actually thinking that I couldn’t take any more last-round losses,” Pinhey added. “I’ve got to be realistic, it is tough to stay on after two years, so who knows, I can just try and enjoy it.”
Pinhey remains optimistic about his chances. “I think I’ll be a dangerous draw. I’ve had a lot of pro events, so to try and stay on there for two years is the first aim, but it’s tough.”
Belief in His Abilities
Pinhey has proven his capability to compete with the best, having defeated Luca Brecel just four weeks before the Belgian won the 2023 World Championship, along with victories over other highly-ranked players.
“Snooker’s all about belief,” he said. “We all can play, it’s about believing you can beat the top guys and that was amazing.
