Alexander Ursenbacher edges out Barry Pinches to regain snooker tour card at Q School – 'It means everything to me'

Alexander Ursenbacher put a nightmare season behind him to regain his World Snooker Tour at Q School in Leicester on Wednesday with a 4-3 win over veteran cueman Barry Pinches. The Swiss player – dubbed the 'Federer of Baize' – began his day with a 4-2 success against recent world seniors finalist Alfie Burden in the last 16 before denying Norwich professional Pinches in a tense final-frame decider. Ad Pinches opened with a 125 break before Ursenbacher claimed the next three frames boosted by two 60-plus breaks to lead 3-1, but his 52-year-old opponent was not finished as a timely 73 in the sixth frame forced the match all the way.

SnookerBoiko wins thriller to keep hopes alive at snooker Q School11 HOURS AGO With one of four tour places from Event One of Q School on the line, it was the former English Open semi-finalist who held his nerve with a fine closing 69 securing his place among the elite for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns, respectively. After slumping to 87 in the rankings last season, an emotional 27-year-old Ursenbacher will hope to avoid a return to Q School in future years. «What I went through in the last two years, I couldn't win a game,» he said.

«I'll call my mum because she is the reason I'm here. Qualifying means everything to me. »I need to make changes because I can't do this again.

I just didn't want to play another week of Q School. «We all love the sport, but it is a very individual thing. I know what I'm capable of.

»That puts a lot of pressure on myself, but I just didn't want to disappoint my family, my girlfriend and my friends. «The last two years were just horrible. I was very depressed.