Stan Moody has been one of the breakout stars of the snooker season so far, with the 19-year-old reaching the quarter-finals of the British Open in Cheltenham this week
Snooker’s answer to Luke Littler, Stan Moody, continues to make waves this season, getting all the way to the quarter-finals at the British Open. The sport has been yearning for a young sensation like darts prodigy Littler, and 19-year-old Moody might just fit the bill. The promising youngster has been living up to expectations this season, making his mark in high-profile tournaments.
In August, he triumphed over Chinese icon Ding Junhui and Barry Hawkins – the latter with a 5-0 victory – as he advanced to the last eight at the Wuhan Open, only to be defeated by eventual champion Xiao Guodong.
This week, he’s been knocking out more big names at the British Open in Cheltenham, defeating 2024 world champion and world No. 2 Kyren Wilson and former Crucible finalist Ali Carter on his way to the quarter-finals, where his journey was halted by Anthony McGill.
His youthful energy and class around the table have drawn comparisons with reigning PDC world champion Littler, who is just 18. Here’s everything you need to know about this rising snooker star…
Getting into snooker
Despite his young age, the Yorkshire lad has long been tipped as a future snooker star. He first picked up a cue at the age of nine while on a family holiday in Spain, trying his hand at pool.
Moody secured a World Snooker Tour card at just 16 after clinching the World Junior Championship in Australia. While that might appear remarkably young, it was all part of the determined teenager’s strategy.
Speaking in 2023, as he prepared to join the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump on the Tour, he explained: “I’ve got no GCSEs, nothing. I only went to school because I had to, I never enjoyed one bit of it. I just wanted to be at the club hitting balls, it’s my dream. Working in an office isn’t, it just isn’t my thing.”
Playing idol O’Sullivan
In early 2023, Moody took on his hero, O’Sullivan, at the Six Reds World Championship in Thailand before thousands of spectators. Though Moody lost, he held his own admirably, claiming a couple of frames against the Rocket.
“It was a great experience playing on TV against the best person ever to pick a cue up,” recalled Moody. “I know it was only six reds and people say it’s not a proper game, but you’ve still got the pot all the balls.”
Praise from greats
O’Sullivan heaped praise on Moody, who has been likened in appearance to Shaun Murphy, following that encounter, forecasting a bright future for him in the sport. The Rocket said: “Stan is going to be good. He has composure and that’s always a sign. If they look a little bit vulnerable out there, then you think, can they handle the pressure?
“But he certainly looked really comfortable out there. He just needs some experience. He will win tournaments, I’d imagine, for sure.”
Meanwhile, as he secured his place on the tour, Jimmy White dubbed him a “fantastic talent” and a “really serious player.”
Breaking curse
Beyond reaching the quarter-finals in Wuhan, Moody also shattered a lengthy jinx surrounding Ding. Throughout the preceding 18 months, spanning 22 matches, whoever eliminated Ding would invariably lose their subsequent match.
Yet Moody defied this pattern by defeating another Chinese star, Zhou Yuelong, 5-3. His triumph against Ding highlighted his capacity to handle pressure, considering Ding’s standing in China.
Moody said: “As the match went on I got better and better. I knew I needed to get over the line, but I felt very nervous. I’m very happy with the win.
“It was a fantastic experience. I knew what it would be like, with the crowd clapping every shot. When he got flukes they were cheering. I tried to enjoy it, view myself as the underdog and take the pressure off. I really enjoyed it.”
Moody returns to action in Sheffield on Tuesday when he faces former world champion Ken Doherty in the qualifying event for the International Championship, which will be held in Nanjing, China in November.
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