Nuessle, Hallworth & Highfield Secure World Snooker Tour Cards

Florian Nuessle, Steven Hallworth and Liam Highfield Earn World Snooker Tour Cards

In an exciting finale to the WPBSA Q Tour Global Play-Offs in Antalya, Turkey, three talented players secured their spots on the professional World Snooker Tour. Florian Nuessle of Austria made history by becoming the first ever professional snooker player from his country, while England's Steven Hallworth and Liam Highfield earned emotional returns to the tour after absences of three and one years respectively.

Nuessle's Landmark Achievement for Austria
23-year-old Florian Nuessle defeated Estonia's Andres Petrov 10-3 in the play-off final to achieve the momentous feat of being Austria's first ever professional on the World Snooker Tour. The popular cueist had come close to qualification on several occasions in recent years, but finally got over the line with an assured performance.

Leading 6-3 after the first session, Nuessle reeled off four frames in a row, making breaks of 54, 86, 80 and a match-clinching 108 to seal a 10-3 victory. An emotional Nuessle dedicated the win to his supportive family and expressed his determination to not only stay on tour, but make an impact and win titles. He hopes his breakthrough will help elevate the profile of Austrian snooker.

Hallworth's Triumphant Comeback
England's Steven Hallworth overcame compatriot Mark Joyce 10-5 to regain his professional status after a three-year hiatus. The 29-year-old raced into a 6-3 lead after the first session, crafting a 113 break along the way.

Despite Joyce reducing the deficit to 8-5, Hallworth held his nerve in two tight frames to complete a 10-5 success. Fighting back tears, he cited "pure relief" at getting back on the tour and credited his strong mentality throughout the event. Now in a great place both on and off the table, the newly married Hallworth is determined to find consistency and make deep runs in the coming seasons.

Highfield Bounces Back at First Attempt
34-year-old Liam Highfield made an immediate return to the World Snooker after dropping off the tour last year. He dominated Ukraine's Iulian Boiko in a 10-3 victory, dropping just six frames across three matches during the event.

Five half-centuries helped Highfield establish a 7-2 advantage after the first session. He swiftly added three more frames to get over the line. The Englishman admitted to previously throwing matches away with negative thinking, but declared himself older, wiser and ready to fulfill his potential, targeting a maiden ranking title.

Key Takeaways:

• Florian Nuessle became the first Austrian professional snooker player by defeating Andres Petrov 10-3 in the play-off final
• Steven Hallworth regained his tour card with a 10-5 victory over Mark Joyce after a three-year absence
• Liam Highfield made an instant return to the World Snooker Tour, defeating Iulian Boiko 10-3 just a year after relegation
• All three qualifiers showed impressive composure and mental fortitude to achieve emotional and career-defining wins

The WPBSA thanked the EBSA and Turkish Billiards Federation for their support in staging a successful qualifying event. Nuessle, Hallworth and Highfield will now join the World Snooker Tour for at least the next two seasons, each determined to make their mark on the professional circuit.