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The road to the professional tour: 2020–2025
From the WSF Open final at 14 to a World Snooker Tour return: five years that shaped Iulian Boiko’s professional journey.
In January 2020, 14-year-old Iulian Boiko reached the WSF Open final in Malta. He lost 3–5 to Ashley Hugill, but his place in the final earned him a two-year World Snooker Tour card from the 2020/21 season. At the time, Iulian became the tour’s youngest professional; that age record was later broken.
His first spell in the professional ranks lasted until 2022. After losing his tour place, Iulian kept competing in international amateur events and twice reached the final round of Q School.
The route back ended with victory at the EBSA European Under-21 Championship in March 2025. The title secured a new two-year WST card from the 2025/26 season — a second professional start backed by several years of work towards a return.
Primary source: World Snooker Tour · 17 March 2025
