Snooker star Moody the talk of the tables in Halifax after World Championship debut

Moody, from Sowerby Bridge, lost in the first round to former champion Kyren Wilson, but not before a sensational opening session that announced his arrival on the big stage.

And back in his home town of Halifax, Moody's exploits have been the talk of the tables.

Mat Brown, one of the managers at Halifax Snooker Club, said: "I definitely think we've had more players as a result of him doing well and there's been a lot of talk in-house about him.

"He absolutely smashed Kyren Wilson, like he was world number two and Kyren was world number 44.

"But then Kyren smelt blood in the second session."

Mat says it's brilliant that a player from Halifax has made the breakthrough onto the main tour.

"We've had some good players from Halifax but they've never made it onto the big stage," he said.

"Stan getting there within his first couple of seasons or so, it's fantastic.

"He started off playing here. I'm pretty sure his first go on a full sized table was at our club.

"I've got a lovely photo of him winning a charity challenge and he was having go after go and he won about £170 off this challenge. He was only about seven.

"I could tell he was talented from really early on and I knew he was going to do well."

Alan Donegan, a snooker coach in Hebden Bridge, says Moody's breakthrough comes at a time when young players from the Far East are beginning to shine, with two Chinese players winning the last two World Championships.

"Stan's appearance in the World Snooker Championships was unusual in that here was a British teenager gaining success in a game that has in recent years been dominated by British players in their 40s and 50s," Alan said.

"The emerging wave of young players under 21 years old have all come from China. And Stan is a 19-year-old lad from Halifax.

"The recent emergence of elite young players from China compared with only Stan and York's Liam Pullen beginning to emerge from the UK is mainly down to the access to professional standard tables that Chinese kids have.

"There are 1,500 professional standard tables as seen on TV in schools in China. The company that supplies the world snooker circuit 'STAR' is a Chinese company that also supplies schools in China.

"In comparison, there are only a relatively small number of full-size snooker tables in Calderdale and these are in clubs that prohibit children playing or charge table rates of £8-10 per hour, which prevents them playing.

"The only way to become as good as Stan Moody, even with his aptitude for the game and his solid technique, is many hours practice.

"Calderdale young people do not have access to full size tables either through high cost or licensing laws.

"Also the image of snooker is a problem with younger people as it is slow, quiet game played by older men wearing waistcoats and bow ties."

Alan says snooker offers real benefits for younger people and hopes Stan's success inspires more of them to take up the game.

"The positives of playing snooker for kids include concentration, focus, an escape from other difficulties, a safe, social environment supervised by adults, time away from screens, a hobby to occupy time," he said.

"Snooker is not a strength sport so a junior could compete against adults. It also helps them understand etiquette and the manners of the game and rewards discipline, it's great for mindfulness and mental distraction, stimulation and developing goals to improve."

The Pennine Club in Hebden Bridge, which is home to a 100-year-old Edwardian billiard room room containing many original features and two recently-refurbished full-size tables, will be launching weekly Saturday morning junior snooker sessions with tips and coaching from Alan.

For more details, call 07976 219189