Last 16 Set for 2026 English Amateur Championship

The last 16 line-up for the 105th edition of the English Amateur Championship has been confirmed following regional qualifiers in Leeds, Walsall and Reading last weekend.

A total of 151 cueists competed at the Northern Snooker Centre, Landywood Snooker Club and The Crucible Club for a place in the last 16 of the longest running competition in the sport following its first staging in 1916.

Qualification places were split pro-rata based on entry numbers in each region and you can read about who earned their places in the last 16, which will take place at the Landywood Snooker Club on 18-19 April, below.

North

Seven players earned their place in next year’s final stages after coming through a field of 63 cueists at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds on Saturday.

Among the successful qualifiers was the 2025 runner-up Anthony Parsons, who will be aiming to go one better at the Landywood Snooker Club in April after coming through two deciding frame contests to earn his place in the last 16.

Teenagers Vladislav Gradinari and Shaun Liu, who are the reigning English Under-18 and Under-16 champions respectively, will be hoping to add the flagship title to their trophy cabinets after qualifying courtesy of final round victories over Daniel Boyes (4-3) and Craig Butler (4-2).

Gradinari has now qualified for the final stages of the English Amateur Championship in three consecutive years and held off a spirited fight back from Boyes that included a break of 133 to force a decider.

Former ranking event semi-finalist Peter Lines defeated Hayden Staniland 4-1 to earn qualification while fellow former professional Jeff Cundy scored a top break of 58 in beating James Silverwood 4-2 in the concluding round.

Completing the North qualifiers was Joshua Thomond, who came from 2-1 behind to beat Johnathan Bagley in a decider, and Ryan Davies – who will be looking to complete a unique national grand slam by adding the English Amateur crown to English Under-21, Under-18, Under-16 and Under-14 titles he has already won.

Midlands

The Midlands regional qualifier at the Landywood Snooker Club saw 39 entrants narrowed down to four on Saturday.

A trio of former professionals were joined by former World Seniors Snooker (WSS) world number one Stuart Watson in reaching the last 16 stage of the 2026 English Amateur Championship.

Three consecutive 4-2 victories earned Watson his place in the next stage as he last defeated 2024 runner-up Callum Downing with a top break of 54 to earn qualification.

Sean Maddocks was forced to battle hard by 17-year-old Kaylan Patel, who finished runner-up at the 2025 WSF Junior Championship, as he trailed on three separate occasions before finally getting over the line in a deciding frame.

Former ranking event quarter-finalist Ashley Carty made lighter work of his qualification route as he dropped just three frames in four matches and secured his last 16 spot with a 4-1 success over Alex Millington.

Luke Simmonds completed the Midlands qualifiers with an impressive final round display as he came from 2-0 down against Hamim Hussain to earn the victory with consecutive breaks of 94, 90 and 63.

South

A field of 49 cueists was reduced to five qualifiers at The Crucible Club in Reading on Saturday as the defending champion saw his reign brought to an end.

Zachary Richardson, who won the prestigious title in March, reached the final round of qualifying in Berkshire before losing out 4-2 to Nathan Jones who completed his victory with a stunning break of 135.

Sean O’Sullivan will be one of six former professionals among the last 16 line-up after he came through a deciding frame against Hammad Miah in the penultimate round before defeating Bradley Cowdroy 4-2 to earn qualification.

Nineteen-year-old Oliver Sykes, who has topped the English Junior Tour ranking list for the last two seasons, was in impressive form as he whitewashed Phil O’Kane in the final round with contributions of 57,76 and 89.

There we also final round 4-0 wins for Ronnie Sullivan, who did not drop a single frame across the day and last defeated Matthew Day, and Luke Pinches – who reached the last 16 by beating Sean Vaz by the same scoreline.

The last 16 onwards will take place at the Landywood Snooker Club on 18-19 April 2026 with the draw to be announced in due course. Learn more about the English Amateur Championship.