By Elliott West
“I can’t do anything about it, but just keep fighting and playing and hopefully that my game will cheer people up back at home and make them a little bit more happier”.
Iulian Boiko
Introduction
In a time when Ukraine is in the media headlines, it is important to highlight the sheer brilliance of this diverse and cultural population. In snooker, one player that is currently rocketing to the top of the game is the highly talented Iulian Boiko. The son of Serhii Boiko who is responsible for creating and overseeing the Ukrainian Snooker Federation, this 16-year-old from the Ukrainian capital city, Kyiv, is already causing shockwaves on the snooker circuit. A YouTube video of him making a 147 break in practice at the age of 14 in just under six minutes first propelled this young talent into the spotlight with many hailing him as someone to watch out for in the future. An effortless break that was accompanied by music via his ear pod.
Career
Known for being a fast player, Iulian won the Six Reds EU Championship defeating Darren Morgan 5-3 in the final when he was 14 years old and was cited for being an unbelievable potter, playing snooker like there was no tomorrow. Coached by Brando, an EBSA Assistant Head Coach and a WPBSA World Snooker Coach, Boiko turned professional in 2020 and has already reached the last 64 stages of the 2021 Gibraltar Open, Scottish Open and Welsh Open. In May 2020, Iulian registered his first official century break at Q School where he was narrowly defeated by Billy Castle 4-3.
Turning professional in 2020, thanks to being runner-up at the WSF Open, losing to Ashley Hugill 3-5, Boiko was awarded a two-year tour card, making him the youngest player at the age of 14 amongst the 128 field of players. Further success would follow when he took part in the 2020 World Championship qualifiers, an achievement in itself. Unfortunately, he lost in the first round to the Malaysian Thor Chuan Leong 6-3.
Afterthoughts
Now ranked 112th in the world rankings with a high of 95th in August 2021, Boiko has already made various last 64 and 128 finishes. His biggest paycheque to date as a professional was when he won £3,000 for reaching the last 64 of the Scottish Open, losing 4-2 to China’s Pang Jungxu. Most recently in this week’s Welsh Open, the 16-year-old beat the 15-year-old Welsh amateur Liam Davies 4-3 to reach the second round of the tournament being held for the first time in its 20 year history at Celtic Manor in Newport. Iulian will now face Mark Allen who previously beat Ken Doherty 4-1 in the first round.
In a time when war is raging in his homeland, Boiko has to flit his attention between snooker and the safety of his family in Ukraine. Iulian is one of four Ukrainian snooker players currently in the United Kingdom including the WPBSA junior champion Anton Kazakov who is stuck here as a result of the conflict with Russia. Boiko is an exciting prospect and someone who I tip to go far in snooker in the future.
