Mark Williams says 14-year-old wonderkid ‘up there with Ronnie O’Sullivan’ at same age

Mark Williams has watched 14-year-old star Michal Szubarczyk in action and feels he is one of the very best he has ever seen at that age, including Ronnie O’Sullivan.

The Polish teenager took the recent European Championships in Turkey by storm, winning the Under-16s and Under-18s event before reaching the final of the open age event.

That run to the final, which saw him beaten by Liam Highfield, saw him earn a two-year card for the World Snooker Tour, becoming the youngest ever professional in the process.

Szubarczyk will have a huge amount to learn on the professional tour, but Williams was blown away by the talent he showed for his age.

‘I was in Turkey watching the Europeans, I watched a young boy there and came back and told everyone in the club that this is one of the best 14-year-olds I’ve ever seen in my life,’ Williams told Metro. ‘Up there with O’Sullivan. Maybe not as good, but not far away.

‘Every time I watched him he was knocking in 80s, 90s, 100s. It was frightening.

‘I was speaking to John Higgins up in Telford and said: “Watch out for this kid, it’s something I haven’t seen for donkey’s!”‘

The step up to the professional game is a big one, and Williams is not saying the youngster will immediately take it by storm, but would expect him to win some matches against current pros.

‘I didn’t think he’d get on the tour this quick, but he’s unbelievable,’ said the three-time world champion. ‘I think he’ll definitely win games.

‘Obviously he’s going to struggle, he’s a 14-year-old boy, but I would have been calling to get him on even if he hadn’t got on. That’s the kind of people you want on.

‘If he drops off he’s got two years’ experience, then if he gets back on at 16-17 he’s ready to beat some people.

‘I’d seen him play the year before in Albania as well. He looked good then but Jesus Christ he’s improved.’

Former Masters champion Alan McManus has taken a different stance and would like to see the wildly talented youngster given the chance to differ his tour card for a year or two, finish school, then take on the pro circuit.

‘He’s 14 years of age and not actually 15 until January 12 of next year. He’s just not long turned 14. He has his schooling and plenty of other stuff, he’s literally just a kid,’ McManus said on his Snooker Breakfast podcast.

‘I would have absolutely no objection, and I don’t think anyone else would either, I think it would be a nice thing to offer him and his family the chance to put back his tour card by a season. Or maybe even two seasons until he’s actually 16, by which time he may have finished school.’

Szubarczyk and his family may indeed decide not to go full steam ahead into a professional career as early as this year, but it will certainly be tempting for the youngster to have a crack at the big time.

Williams was in Antalya to support his son Joel who is at an even earlier stage of his snooker life, but is keen on pursuing a career in the sport.

‘He loves it. He doesn’t win many games. He’s only 12 but he loves it. He loves the Welsh tournaments,’ said the 50-year-old, who is still riding high at number five in the world rankings.

Asked if he is behind his son’s interest in pro snooker, he said: ‘Not really. I’d rather him pick a golf club up or a tennis racket, but unfortunately he’s picked a snooker cue up.

‘He loves it at the minute, a bit like I did at that age. I can’t see him picking up a different sport now, but we’ll see.

‘He’s got tough shoes to fill! I’d like to see him do well, but I know how tough it is, it’ll be difficult for him. I’ll give him all the help I can, that’s all I can do, and see what happens.’

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