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A Trethomas snooker player has reflected on a successful 2025, as he looks to continue his progress into next year.
Forty-seven-year-old Allan Morgan, who competes on the over-40s circuit, shone on the continental stage back in October, where he reached the quarter-finals at the European Championships in Albania.
Competing alongside more than 80 players, Morgan bettered his result from last year, where he reached the last 32 of the competition.
This year, he qualified from the group stage without dropping a single frame, before earning a 4-3 win over a Belgian opponent in the last 32 despite being 3-1 down. He then followed it up with a 4-0 victory over an Irish competitor in the last 16.
His run came to an end in the quarter-finals when he came up against England’s Mark Joyce, who had recently come off the professional circuit.
“He had fallen off the professional circuit, so he was a bit too good for me,” Morgan admitted – but said he was proud of his efforts in Albania.
It rounded off a good year for Morgan, who also enjoyed success at a number of Welsh ranking events – and is currently ranked second in Wales – but his aim is to eventually top the rankings himself.
“That’s what I’ trying to do, yes,” Morgan said, but he admitted there will be challenges ahead to reach that: “You’ve got some good players who have just turned 40 now this year, and obviously it’s an over-40s tournament, but some of these boys have been on the pro circuit, but I’ve never been lucky enough to get that far.”
When asked what his aims are for next year, Morgan, who practices at Caerphilly Conservative Club, said he was hoping for “the same again” in 2026.
“You have six Welsh ranking events through the season,” said Morgan. “If you finish in the top four, you get chosen to represent Wales in the European Championships.
“At the moment, we’ve played three ranking events. I’ve lost in the semi-finals at the first one and the third one, so I’m currently sitting number four in the rankings with three tournaments left.
“I’m hoping to finish as high as I can in the rankings and try and go to next year’s European Championships, which are being held in Antalya in Turkey in October.”
But before that, Morgan will be hoping to earn more success for Wales at the home internationals – a team competition he won with his team mates two years ago.
However, Morgan’s Wales side fell to England in last year’s final, but he is hoping to win the tournament back next August, when the Welsh side head to Leeds to compete.
“Hopefully this year if we get back up there, we can try to win it back.”
The team event sees each player play three frames each, with a maximum of 12 points available for each team. It starts with a group stage before a semi-final and final.
However, Morgan’s successes aren’t without all the costs of travelling and competing at the various events.
“I just want to thank the sponsors to be honest, because with them on board it takes a bit of the money pressure off,” said Morgan, who has received sponsorship from Ignuim Mechanical Limited, Ton Pentre AFC, and Dragon HVAC.
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