Stan Moody is preparing to make his World Snooker Championship debut on Monday, facing world number two Kyren Wilson in the first round.
The 19-year-old is the youngest player at this year’s tournament. He currently holds the world ranking of 44th.
Moody will become the first teenager since Judd Trump in 2007 to make his debut at the tournament.
Moody’s Path to the Crucible
Moody secured his place at the Crucible with qualifying wins over Robbie Williams and Jiang Jun. This set up the clash with 2024 world champion Wilson.
Hailing from Halifax, West Yorkshire, Moody turned professional in 2023. This followed his WSF World Junior Championship win earlier that year.
He debuted at the 2022 Snooker Shootout as a 15-year-old, where he beat Lu Ning. Jimmy White described Moody as a “serious player” following that win.
In the second round of the Snooker Shootout, Moody lost to Oliver Lines.
Ranking Tournament Performances
Moody has been a regular at ranking tournaments since the 2024-25 season.
Last season, Moody appeared at 10 ranking tournaments and the World Snooker Championship will be his 11th of the campaign this season.
Moody has twice reached a quarter-final this season. He achieved this at the Wuhan Open last August and the British Open a month later.
- Wuhan Open: Included a victory over Ding Junhui.
- British Open: Included a victory over Wilson.
- World Open: Beat John Higgins earlier this year.
Stan Moody is currently at a career high world ranking of 44th.
Shaun Murphy’s Mentorship
Shaun Murphy, the 2005 winner, has been described as a mentor to Moody throughout his career. Murphy was approached by Moody’s family to mentor him and said he was “honoured”.
Due to being on opposite sides of the tournament draw, Moody and Murphy would avoid a potential meeting until the final, should they both get there.
Moody’s debut marks a significant moment for the young player as he steps onto the biggest stage in snooker.