By World Snooker Tour

When Connor Benzey was delivering pizzas for Domino's and Papa Johns during the Covid pandemic, his ambition of joining the World Snooker Tour seemed a long way off. 

In 2019 he had won the European under-17 title, but when he entered Q School in 2020, he lost in the first round of all three events. In three further attempts at Q School in 2021, 2022 and 2023, he was unable to make it past the last 64. But something clicked for Benzey in 2024 when he reached the last 32 of both Q School events, and that earned him a place in the Championship League where he showed his quality by beating David Grace and Fergal Quinn, then drawing 2-2 with Mark Williams. 

And Benzey is now the proud holder of a tour card for the next two seasons after a superb showing at Q School last month, beating Rodion Judin 4-2 in the final round of event two. He cites a change in mentality as the key factor behind his improved performances.

"Q School is horrible, there is so much pressure," said the 23-year-old. "Every match means so much, you are basically playing to have a job. In the past I really felt that burden and I was playing not to lose. Over the last couple of years I have managed to play to win and not worry about losing. This time I was able to play with a lot of freedom and the feeling that snooker is not the be-all and end-all. I will keep the same mentality on the tour. The adrenaline rush when I won my last match was like nothing I had felt before. It was the culmination of a lot of years of hard work." 

Benzey is the latest player to emerge from the hot-bed of snooker development in Hampshire on England's south coast. He first learned the sport at the renowned Chandler's Ford Snooker Club near Southampton, under the expert eye of coach Tim Dunkley, and he is now based at the Waterlooville club near Portsmouth. The same arena has produced the likes of Billy and Shane Castle, Jamie Wilson, Oliver Sykes and O'Shay Scott. 

"There are so many good juniors at Chandler's Ford, Tim does an amazing job coaching them and I think we will see others turning pro within the next few years," said Benzey. "But no one from the area has really established himself on tour yet so hopefully I'll be the first one. 

"I'm feeling confident about my first pro season and I believe I can settle in fast and play my own game. But I know this is only the start and there's a lot of work ahead. I have always been one to practise hard - if I am on my own I will do four or five hours, and if I'm playing someone else I'll happily play all day. Break-building is my strength, while I lack consistency in long potting so I know I need to work on that."

When he is not potting balls, Benzey works at his snooker club. "I have always wanted to have jobs to pay for my expenses," he added - explaining the former pizza delivery role. He also enjoys golf, and in fact made his first birdie during a round on the same day that he won his final Q School match. 

But his focus now is purely on the pro tour and a brutally tough first match against Kyren Wilson in the Wuhan Open qualifiers this month, when we'll get the first indication of his true potential at the highest level.