Huang Jiahao Bounces Back With Q School Glory to Secure Two-Year Tour Card
The Quick Version
Huang Jiahao has secured his return to the World Snooker Tour after defeating fellow Chinese player Liang Xiaolong 4-2 in the final round of Asia Oceania Q School Event Two in Bangkok. The 30-year-old, who was relegated from the tour at the end of last season, held his nerve in a tense finish to earn a fresh two-year professional card. Youngster Liu Yang also claimed the final tour card on offer at the event, beating Chen Ruifu 4-2 to turn professional for the first time at just 22 years of age.
Huang's Road Back
It has been a tough twelve months for Huang Jiahao. The Chinese cueman only broke onto the professional circuit back in 2024, earning his tour card through strong performances on the CBSA Tour — China's domestic amateur circuit and one of the most competitive pathways into the professional game. He made a decent early impression too, reaching the quarter-finals of the Shoot Out in his debut season, which is no small achievement in one of snooker's most unpredictable and entertaining formats.
However, consistent results proved harder to come by. Huang was unable to break into the top 64 of the world rankings over the course of last season, and when the final standings were confirmed, he found himself among those dropping off the tour. Relegation is brutal in professional snooker — one poor season can undo years of work — but Q School exists precisely to give players like Huang a route straight back in, and he has taken full advantage of that opportunity in Bangkok.
A Final That Had It All
This afternoon's final was a fascinating contest. Huang looked to be in complete control after racing into a 3-0 lead, but Liang Xiaolong refused to go quietly. The defeated finalist reeled off three consecutive frames with breaks of 77, 67 and 62 — a genuinely impressive sequence under pressure — to haul himself back to 3-2 and set up a nervy finale.
At that point, plenty of players might have tightened up. Losing a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven is the kind of momentum shift that can feel impossible to recover from mentally. But Huang found a response when it mattered most, compiling a break of 93 in the deciding sixth frame to close out a 4-2 victory and book his place back on the professional circuit. It was a mature, composed performance when the pressure was at its highest.
Speaking after his victory, Huang was understandably emotional: "This means a lot to me. I can now concentrate on playing better in the upcoming season. I would like to thank all the snooker fans in China for their support through social media, which helps keep me motivated. I now want to establish myself in the top 64 of the world rankings." Given he has just secured a two-year card, he has the time and the platform to do exactly that.
Liu Yang Turns Pro for the First Time
The other tour card at Event Two went to Liu Yang, who defeated Chen Ruifu 4-2 to earn professional status for the very first time. The 22-year-old produced a composed display, with breaks of 88 and 65 highlighting his quality throughout the match. Turning professional is a significant milestone for any player, and Liu will now have two years to prove he belongs on the biggest stage in snooker.
Huang and Liu now join Deng Haohui and Thanawat Thirapongpaiboon — the two players who earned their cards through Asia Oceania Q School Event One — as the quartet of players to graduate from the Bangkok qualifying process this week. Thanawat in particular will be a familiar name to snooker fans; the Thai cueman has previous tour experience and will be keen to kick on during his next stint on the circuit.
What to Watch For Next Season
With the new tour season approaching, all four players will be looking to hit the ground running. For Huang specifically, the challenge is clear — he needs ranking points from the opening events to give himself a platform to build on. Players returning from relegation often have a hunger and a point to prove, and that mentality can translate into some surprise results early in a season. He is worth keeping an eye on in the lower rounds of full-ranking events, where the bracket often throws up intriguing match-ups between emerging Chinese professionals.
The depth of Chinese snooker continues to grow at a remarkable rate, with Q School acting as a conveyor belt of talent from the CBSA pathway. For Huang Jiahao, the hard work starts again — but at least now he has the tour card to show for it.
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