British teenage snooker star defies doctor's orders to flee hospital and secures World Championship spot

Callum Vurley
Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:57:44 +0000

Stan Moody has pulled off something remarkable to secure his spot at the World Snooker Championship, leaving hospital against doctors' advice just a day before his crucial qualifying match.

The 19-year-old from Halifax was battling a nasty bout of tonsillitis but refused to let it stop him from chasing his dream.

Despite medical staff urging him to remain in hospital, the determined teenager discharged himself and headed straight to the table.

It paid off brilliantly as he edged past China's Jiang Jun in a nail-biting 10-9 thriller on Tuesday, clinching his place at the Crucible for the very first time.

Moody was refreshingly honest about just how close he came to missing out entirely.

"I was in hospital yesterday," he said. "They said 'we know you're going to say no, but we want you to stay in', but I said 'no, I have a match to play tomorrow', so it was never really in question."

The young star admitted he could barely function before his recovery began.

"I've been given a load of antibiotics so I'm on the mend. I couldn't talk yesterday or eat or drink, so I've come a long way."

He's been told to return if things take a turn for the worse.

The achievement carries real historical weight too.

Moody becomes the first British teenager to make their Crucible debut since Judd Trump stepped onto that famous Sheffield stage back in 2007, when the current world number one was just 17.

That's a 19-year gap without a homegrown teenage talent breaking through to snooker's biggest event.

The world number 44 showed exactly why he belongs at this level, rattling off three century breaks during his victory over Jiang Jun, including a crucial 104 in the deciding frame when the pressure was at its most intense.

"I'm normally good under pressure but in that last frame I've never felt pressure so much in my life," Moody admitted.

Moody won't be the only young Yorkshire talent making their Crucible bow this year.

Fellow rising star Liam Pullen, 20, from York also punched his ticket to Sheffield after defeating Thailand's Noppon Saengkham 10-8.

Pullen came agonisingly close to a maximum 147 during his match, potting 14 reds before missing the 14th black, with his break finishing on 105.

Had he completed the maximum, he would have pocketed £147,000 for achieving two 147s across major events in a single season.

"It is a bit of a shame about the max," Pullen said. "I'm very proud I'm still in the tournament."

Meanwhile, 2015 world champion Stuart Bingham suffered a shock exit, losing 10-7 to Welshman Matthew Stevens.