Antoni Kowalski sets himself ‘mission impossible’ at World Snooker Championship

Antoni Kowalski admits it is ‘close to mission impossible’ but is trying to become the youngest ever winner of the World Snooker Championship this year.

The 21-year-old is in his first season as a professional and has picked up some good wins, but his best run so far remains the last 16 at the Shoot Out.

The rising Polish star heads to Crucible qualifying in Sheffield ranked number 91 in the world and needing to win four matches to reach the iconic theatre.

Just qualifying would be an enormous achievement for the youngster, but he is eyeing up a lot more than just reaching the Crucible.

‘It would be very special to get to the Crucible,’ Kowalski told Metro. ‘This is my last chance to become the youngest ever world champion so I will be concentrated as much as I can on that.

‘It’s close to mission impossible but anything is possible in snooker.’

World Championship qualifying will be Kowalski’s first ever matches of this length, but he has been working hard to get ready for the epic contests.

‘This will be the first time for me ever playing a best-of-19 match, I’m definitely excited for that,’ he said. ‘Preparation has gone well. I had a slow start to the season but it’s now going in the right direction. I think everything is going great.

‘I’ve got a new cue, it’s back to its original length because the old one got cut, the ferrule broke the wood and it was cut a few centimetres which made my technique switch. I didn’t even realise. But getting a new cue, everything is back.

‘I’ve been playing best-of-19 matches in practice for the first time ever, with Chris Wakelin, Michael Holt, Louis Heathcote, some other players as well. I practiced with Neil Robertson. I played Kyren Wilson but we didn’t have time for a best of 19 unfortunately.’

Kowalski mixing it with players as high calibre as the world champion can only be a positive for his development and he is certainly not in awe of the sport’s biggest names.

‘I don’t look at them like I cannot reach their level, I just look at them like colleagues from work,’ he said. ‘However that sounds, I know I’m a rookie and he’s world champion, but that’s how I feel.

‘Most of the players don’t want to share their secrets in play, but they have treated me well, they treat me like I’m a top 16 player.

‘In practice I’m pretty good, no one sees it but I’m doing well against them, that’s why it’s so frustrating in tournaments. I’m not getting the results when I know how I can play. That’s snooker for you.’

Kowalski is a very confident character but admits that concentration is his weakness, while getting used to professional conditions has also proved a challenge.

As he learns and adapts he fancies his chances of progressing up the rankings.

‘I don’t feel stressed ever,’ he said. ‘I’m just enjoying myself playing snooker. Why would I stress? I’m just playing the game I love. I don’t care who watches me, how many people, I just enjoy the game. Concentration is my biggest problem and getting the feeling of the tables. If that clicks I’ll be good.

‘I didn’t realise there would be such a difference in conditions. I was very confident, as always, and thought I’d get in the top 64 in the first year. Looking now, how bad I felt on the table, how unnatural, the results have been good and I’m happy how it has gone. I’m full of confidence but I’m happy to have more.’

There is plenty of excitement over Polish snooker at the moment as 14-year-old Michal Szubarczyk has earned a place on the professional tour.

The young star won the European Under-16 and Under-18 titles and reached the final of the full European Championship.

Kowalski gave an honest assessment of his compatriot, maybe quelling excitement a little before Szubarczyk’s own World Championship qualifying campaign.

‘He’s solid. He’s very good,’ said Kowalski. ‘He’s nothing genius, I’m not saying he’s bad! But at his age I was playing similar to him. He’s not that special, for me, but he is very good and he will be very good.’

Kowalski plays Reanne Evans, starting on Monday morning, while Szubarczyk takes on Dean Young on Tuesday.