Rayleigh’s William Hurley, aged 13, has been chosen to represent England in the upcoming European Snooker Championships. He will be participating in both the under-16 and under-18 snooker tournaments in Sarajevo, Bosnia. The Pink Toothbrush, an iconic establishment in Rayleigh, is generously sponsoring William’s trip to Sarajevo for the championship.
William’s father, Daniel Hurley, shared that his son developed a passion for snooker after visiting the Rayleigh Lanes Snooker Club. Previously, William was involved in football from a young age, but his enthusiasm for snooker took over. The family has been supporting his journey by taking him to numerous junior tournaments.
William qualified for the European Championships after participating in the 2023-2024 English under-21 snooker junior tour, which consisted of five events held across the country from September to January. According to Mr. Hurley, there are few players of William’s caliber in the local area, making his achievements in snooker quite remarkable.
To secure sponsorship for William’s participation, the Hurley family approached ten companies in Rayleigh, and the Pink Toothbrush stepped forward to support them. Mr. Hurley expressed his hope that William’s success would inspire other aspiring snooker players and emphasized the growing trend of young players making a name for themselves in sports such as darts, citing the example of Luke Littler.
William dedicates his time to practicing at Rayleigh Lanes Sports Bar after school and on weekends. He also competes in local league matches at The Lanes and currently holds a favorable position in the Cuestars U21 Silver rankings.