Faith restored as Ashley Hugill plays waiting game

Relegated from the sport’s main tour and failure to get through Q School, the 25-year-old’s battered confidence left him even doubting his ability to make it as a professional.

But a 147 maximum during a Challenge Tour event in Leeds reignited his career, and after an impressive season in the amateur ranks, Hugill has regained his pro tour card.

Now he just has to wait for the sporting lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic to end in order to carry on his fine form.

At least he will have time to practice, ahead of the delayed World Championship qualifiers, as he is staying at his parent’s house near York during the lockdown.

“We have a snooker table in the house which was recovered just a few months ago,” said Hugill.

“So it’s nice that I can play without having to leave the house and I realise other players might not be so lucky.

“It’s a shame the qualifiers are not being played in April because I am playing well and felt I could have done some damage.

“But there are much more serious things going on in the world. A lot of players are in limbo, waiting for the chance to try to keep their tour card or the chance to play in Q School and get promoted. The good thing for me is that I’ve got my card so I’m just waiting for next season, whenever that happens.

“I have achieved what I set out to do at the start of the season.”

On dropping off the main circuit, Hugill admitted in an interview with World Snooker: “I was at a very low ebb. I had lost a lot of matches and my belief in myself as a player was waning.

“The turning point came at the third Challenge Tour event in Leeds, when I made a 147.

“That helped restore my confidence.”

He went on to win two of the next four Challenge Tour events, reaching the final of another and the semis of the fourth.

When the snooker season resumes, Hugill is one of 16 amateur players invited to compete in the World Championship qualifiers in Sheffield.

Qualifiers were originally going to be staged April 8-15, at the city’s English Institute of Sport, chasing a Crucible spot. No re-arranged date has been set, but snooker chiefs hope to stage the tournament in July or August.