Nine Rookies Set to Join the World Snooker Tour for 2026/27 — From a 17-Year-Old Ukrainian to a Record-Breaking 59-Year-Old

A Smaller but Compelling Intake for the 2026/27 Season

The 2026/27 World Snooker Tour season brings with it nine first-time professionals, down from the 13 rookies who earned their cards 12 months ago. While the headline figures are reduced, the stories within this latest intake are anything but ordinary — spanning six decades of age, four continents, and a reigning women's world champion. Here is a detailed look at the players who have secured professional status for the first time and how they got there.

Paul Norris — History in the Making at 59

Few narratives from the 2026/27 intake will attract as much attention as that of Paul Norris, who becomes the oldest player ever to turn professional for the first time. At 59 years of age, Norris earned his main tour card by claiming the Asia-Pacific Championship, defeating Vinnie Calabrese 6-5 in a final that went to the final frame. English by birth, Norris has spent many years based in Australia and has long been a presence in the amateur game at regional level. His partner, Jessica Woods, is herself well known on the World Women's Snooker Tour, making theirs something of a snooker household. Norris's achievement sets a remarkable precedent — no player of this age has previously held a professional card for the first time — and his progress on the main tour will be watched with considerable interest throughout the season.

Mykhailo Larkov — Ukraine's Teenage Talent

At the other end of the age spectrum sits Mykhailo Larkov, the youngest of the nine rookies at just 17 years old. The Ukrainian secured a two-year tour card by winning the WSF Junior Championship, defeating Wang Xinbo in the final. Larkov also claimed the Ukrainian national amateur title in 2024, adding further credibility to what is already a notable junior record. His arrival on the professional circuit represents another indicator of snooker's expanding footprint in Eastern Europe, a region that has produced a small but growing number of competitive players in recent seasons. With two years guaranteed on tour, Larkov will have time to adjust to the demands of professional competition.

Panchaya Channoi — Thailand's Women's World Champion Steps Up

Panchaya Channoi arrives on the World Snooker Tour with arguably the most decorated recent CV of any newcomer in the 2026/27 intake. The 18-year-old Thai potter secured a remarkable double at the Women's World Championship in May, winning both the main title and the under-21 crown in the same event. En route to the title, Channoi defeated Bai Yulu, Mink Nutcharut — herself a former women's world champion — and Reanne Evans, who holds the record for the most women's world titles in history. Channoi compiled two century breaks in the title-deciding match, a statistic that speaks to both her technical ability and her composure under pressure. She becomes Thailand's third women's world champion, following in the footsteps of a nation that has demonstrated consistent strength in the women's game. Whether those attributes translate effectively to the rigours of the main tour — a different format, different field, different pace — remains to be seen, but her pedigree is undeniable.

China Continues Its Tour Expansion

Four of the nine newcomers for 2026/27 hail from China, continuing a trend of significant Chinese representation on the professional circuit. The country has invested heavily in snooker development infrastructure over the past two decades, and the pipeline of talent emerging through its national and regional amateur programmes shows no sign of slowing. Precise figures from CueTracker and snooker.org indicate that Chinese players have accounted for a growing share of ranking event appearances in recent seasons, and this latest intake reinforces that trajectory. The identities of all four Chinese rookies will become clearer as the 2026/27 fixture schedule is confirmed and tour cards are formally registered.

The Broader Picture

Nine new professionals joining the main tour represents a modest intake by recent standards, but the diversity of background, nationality, and pathway within this group is striking. From a 59-year-old Australian-based amateur champion to a teenage Ukrainian junior world champion, and from a Thai women's world champion to four Chinese prospects, the 2026/27 class reflects both snooker's global reach and the variety of routes now available into the professional game. How many will establish themselves beyond their initial tour cards is the question that the next two seasons will answer.