Plymouth potter Haydon Pinhey scores biggest career win

Plymouth aspiring snooker star Haydon Pinhey secured the biggest win of his career by beating world number 21 Matt Selt in qualifying for the European Masters. The 25-year-old amateur narrowly missed out on earning a tour spot and turning professional at Q School in June.

But with not all 128 professionals entering the event, Pinhey, who was 12 th in line for a top-up place, was given his chance to compete. And the Plymothian took it in style with a 5-1 win over the former ranking event winner.

The Plymouth potter knocked in four breaks of more than 50, including a decisive 70 in the fourth frame to steal it on the black. A 74 break in the sixth frame was enough to pick up the win and book his spot in the last 64.

It is the first time that Pinhey has qualified for the final stages of a tournament, and he will be among the 64 players who will travel to Furth in Germany in August. There he will face fellow amateur Rory McLeod in the last 64.

Pinhey also was a top-up player in the group stages of the Championship League held earlier this month. He beat Fraser Patrick of Scotland 3-0, but was beaten 3-1 by Lyu Haotian of China and 3-1 by former World Champion Graeme Dott to finish third in his group, failing to qualify for the second stage.

Tavistock’s professional Andy Hicks has also qualified for the last 64 of the European Masters. The 48-year-old beat Zak Surety 5-2, and will face 25th seed Jimmy Robertson, a former winner of the event in 2019 next.

Hicks also failed to get out of his group in the Championship League. The world number 77 beat Allan Taylor and Sanderson Lam 3-1, but a 2-2 with Robert Milkins in the deciding match saw last year’s Gibraltar Open champion progress on frame difference.