Sanderson Lam Tops Q Tour Rankings After Maiden Title at Northern Snooker Centre

Lam Claims Inaugural Q Tour Crown With 4-1 Final Victory

Sanderson Lam secured his first Q Tour title on Sunday, defeating Farakh Ajaib 4-1 in the final of Q Tour Event 1 at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds. The 32-year-old, who dropped off the World Snooker Tour at the conclusion of last season having previously reached a career-high ranking of 57, produced seven consecutive victories across the four-day event to claim the opening title of the new Q Tour campaign.

Final Breakdown: Lam Controls the Decider

Lam made a composed start to the final, taking the opening two frames and contributing an 83 break in the second. Ajaib, 35, pulled a frame back courtesy of a 60 break to briefly reduce the deficit, but Lam reasserted control with contributions of 52 and 66 before a break of 64 in the fifth frame sealed a 4-1 triumph. The winning margin was convincing, though Ajaib — himself a former professional who suffered relegation from the main tour at the end of last season — had shown considerable quality throughout the week to reach his first Q Tour final since winning an event back in 2022.

Speaking after his victory, Lam said: "I am really happy to get off to a good start. I've been working hard on and off the table and I feel like something clicked in the last couple of days. I felt comfortable in the balls, and I was confident." The result will be particularly significant for Lam given the context of his recent tour exit — a first major title on the circuit providing immediate momentum ahead of six further events this campaign.

Route to the Final

Lam's path through the draw was far from straightforward. After an encouraging opening to the tournament, he defeated Ryan Davies 4-1 in the last 16 before edging past Paul Deaville 4-3 in a tight quarter-final encounter. The semi-final presented arguably his stiffest test on paper — former professional Mark Joyce — but Lam responded with a dominant 4-0 whitewash to book his place in the final. Ajaib, meanwhile, overcame Haris Tahir 4-2 in the other semi-final to set up an all-relegated-professional showdown for the title.

Notable Early Exits

The event was not without its surprises in the earlier rounds. Robert Milkins, a two-time ranking event winner on the main tour, exited at the last-64 stage following a 4-0 defeat to Stuart Watson — a result that will raise eyebrows given Milkins' pedigree at professional level. Former professional Mark Davis also fell at the same stage, losing to Hamim Hussain, while Peter Lines — himself a previous Q Tour event winner — was another high-profile departure at the last 64. The exits of Milkins, Davis, and Lines underline both the competitiveness of the Q Tour field and the challenges facing experienced professionals as they seek to rebuild their ranking positions.

Q Tour Rankings: Lam Leads the Early Standings

Lam's victory earns him 10,000 ranking points, immediately placing him at the summit of the Q Tour standings. Ajaib collects 7,000 points for his runner-up finish and occupies second place. The full early top eight, based on Event 1 results, is as follows:

What's at Stake Across the Seven-Event Season

As in previous seasons, the Q Tour European schedule comprises seven events in total. The structure of the campaign gives players ample opportunity to accumulate points, but the stakes are significant: the player who tops the final standings earns a two-year place on the World Snooker Tour, while the next 16 eligible players will advance to the Q Tour Global Play-Offs, where further tour cards are on offer. For Lam — who knows what it means to compete at the highest level having previously held a top-57 ranking — getting off the mark in Event 1 sets a strong foundation. Six events remain, and the Q Tour standings can shift considerably across the season, but Sunday's result ensures he begins the campaign with a commanding lead and, perhaps more importantly, a timely boost in confidence. (Points data via CueTracker; event results via snooker.org)