Clarke Earns World Snooker Tour Return at Q Tour

Jamie Clarke has secured a two-year World Snooker Tour (WST) tour card this evening via the 2025/26 WPBSA Q Tour Europe ranking list.

The Welshman, who previously competed on the WST between 2018 and 2025, arrived at the Landywood Snooker Club in pole position to earn a return to the professional ranks and has confirmed his place with a run to Sunday’s quarter-final stage.

Clarke, a winner of Q Tour titles in both Leeds and Sofia, initially required reaching the final to guarantee his tour card, but an early exit for Peter Lines at the hands of Antony Parsons meant a last eight place would be enough for the 31-year-old.

Victories over Rory McLeod (4-0) and Jamie Wilson (4-1) saw Clarke through to the last 16 stage on Saturday afternoon.

There, he faced Belgium’s Sybren Sokolowski and the Welshman held his nerve under pressure to complete a 4-0 victory and earn a tour card for the next two seasons.

Hammad Miah can still overtake Clarke at the summit of the Q Tour Europe ranking list depending on results, but the Englishman has already guaranteed his WST place by winning the 2026 World Snooker Federation (WSF) Championship in Bulgaria – meaning Clarke will still earn the tour card available for the series if he finishes in second.

Following his victory over Sokolowski, Clarke said: “I’m relieved to be honest! I’ve found the Q Tour a really pleasant experience this year, but I’m pleased to get the job done sooner rather than later.”

“Playing in the World Championship, UK Championship and all the big tournaments is brilliant but you’re already on a bit of prize money and ranking points so you can be a bit more relaxed. As strange as it sounds, at tournaments such as Q Tour or Q School it feels like ‘all or nothing’ and so in a way the pressure is even higher!”

Looking ahead to the next two seasons and beyond, Clarke added: “I’ve got two years on the Tour now and I’ve got a new outlook on the sport. I have my own academy now in Llanelli where I help out some of the youngsters, as well as having my own practice facility now, so I think think I will have a totally different approach this time around. I’ll just enjoy it, try my best and see how it goes.”

The seventh event of the Q Tour Europe series will conclude tomorrow (Sunday 1 March) and you can follow the event via WPBSA SnookerScores.