Cork rising star Leone Crowley has snooker world in palm of his hands

Leone Crowley, an 18-year-old snooker sensation from Ballyvolane, is making big waves in the world of snooker. 

The star player recently won the World Snooker Federation Junior championship in Morocco.

This victory makes Leone the first Irish player ever to win this championship. Leone’s journey to this historic achievement has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Over the years, Leone has impressed in winning numerous National Titles, however, he has brought his form to another level over the last 12 months or so.

In his recent World Final win, Crowley impressed in topping his group. 

In his last 16 match, he easily brushed aside Scotland’s Ayaan Iqbal, winning by four frames to nil. 

His toughest test came in the quarter-finals when he came from 3-2 down to defeat Poland’s Michal Szubarczyk in a last-frame decider.

In the semi-finals, the Cork talent was too good for a second Iqbal brother, dismissing Amaan 4-1, before he produced another sizzling display to beat England's Patel in the final, winning in style without dropping a single frame in a superb 5-0 victory.

Speaking to the Echo, Leone said I went to Morrocco to win this World Junior Championship.

I knew if I played my own game I would have a great chance.

There was something different about this tournament. I concreated so match on every game and I just felt it was my time."

"After I came from behind to beat a good Polish player in the quarter-finals, it gave me so much confidence."

Crowley will now join another Cork man in the shape of Aaron Hill on the World Snooker tour.

"It's a dream come true. Ten years of hard work and it's great to join Aaron on the tour. He is doing really well and he had a fantastic run at the recent German Masters. Hopefully, we will be traveling together soon."

The young Cork star will compete in the World Championship qualifiers in April. 

"The experience for the two years on the tour is going to be unbelievable. The main goal will be to stay on the tour and stay in the top 64 over the course of the next couple of years."

TOP CLASS

Crowley's form over the last year or so has been top-class. 

Back in July, Crowley took the 2024 UK Open U21 Snooker Championship title. 

That was a huge victory for the Cork youngster as all the snooker stars from around the world competed for the title from Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Germany, Ukraine, and Hong Kong, but no one could deny the Irishman the title and the £1,100 first prize.

"The UK U21s over in Scotland was a big win. There was some really good players in it and I played really well to win it."

To win a tournament like that would have given Leone plenty of confidence going forward and he went on to win another nice tournament up in the North of Ireland, winning the Blackstaff Invitational Tournament, beating some serious players along the way which included Ryan Cronin, Philly Browne, Mick Judge and Patrick Wallace.

Back to more immediate matters, Leone Crowley will continue to practice as hard as he can as he gears up for the upcoming World Championship Qualifiers. 

"I'm looking forward to getting back up practicing with Mark Allen and all involved in his camp. 

"To be playing Mark Allen and Jordan Browne and other leading players is great. 

"Mark is number two in the World and he's after winning a lot of big titles. To play with him every day, you learn so much. 

"It's really helped me to improve my game."

Leone's dad, John Paul Crowley, is well known within snooker circles, having owned two clubs in Cork over the years.

John Paul said: "It's 10 years of hard work which has come together in Leone winning this World Junior Tournament and gaining his World tour card. 

"It was so special and very emotional.

I've been around snooker all my life. I lived 100 meters away from Potters Club in Cork, that was before Jimmy Hussey had The Crucible. 

"I knew Jimmy White and the Hurricane back in the day. I remember when Jimmy White came to town with Tony Riordan, there must have been four thousand people in the Savoy.

"Leone always looked young as a youngster, however, we have had a lot of ups and downs over the years. 

"Leone got beat in the European final in Albania, he lost in the quarter-finals in Russia. But over the last year, winning that UK Open and that event up in the Blackstaff club along with the practice up in Mark Allen's stable, that has really given him a massive lift.

"I can't wait for the World Championship qualifiers. We will have a lot of people going over. We have some great friends and we can't wait for the draw."

WONDERFUL

It's a wonderful time for Cork snooker. 

To have two on the World Snooker Tour is an incredible achievement and there's no doubt that the best days for both Aaron Hill and Leone Crowley are yet to come. All eyes will be on both Cork men in the coming weeks and months.