Mark Williams knows a thing or two about snooker, so when he described Michal Szubarczyk as "one of the best 14-year-olds I’ve seen in my life" he certainly ramped up expectation ahead of the Polish wonderkid's debut season on tour, when he will make history as the sport's youngest ever professional.
Veteran Williams made that comment after the EBSA European Championship in Turkey in March, where Szubarczyk won the Under-16 and Under-18 titles as well as finishing runner-up to Liam Highfield in the senior event. Williams added: "He's up there with Ronnie O’Sullivan at that age. Maybe not as good, but not far away. Every time I watched him he was knocking in 80s, 90s, 100s. It was frightening."
Michal and his family will make sure that the teenager balances school with snooker. "In Poland there is a duty of education until the age of 18, and my parents will definitely make sure that I will make it," said Michal, who names maths as his favourite subject. "I will have individual learning conditions, adapted to my frequent trips."
They will remain based in Poland and travel to the UK ahead of tournaments to practise. He added: "Of course I would like to move to the UK, but I can't do it just like that, it is impossible for now. I will fly to England for sparring whenever possible, mainly at Victoria's academy in Sheffield. Victoria treats me and my dad very warmly, we are grateful for her hospitality and I like the atmosphere there. I would like to meet a few players who I can practise with more often and get some match advice from them.