Few teenage talents have taken the amateur snooker circuit by storm quite like Vladislav Gradinari. Hailing from Moldova and refining his craft in Yorkshire, the young cueist first burst into the mainstream consciousness globally by becoming the youngest player ever to win a televised ranking match.
But true staying power isn’t measured by a single frame under the lights—it’s built through consistency, steel, and a relentless collection of silverware. Looking back at his explosive trajectory over the last two years, it is clear Gradinari is no flash in the pan. He is systematically solidifying his reputation as one of the most clinical young talents in the sport.
🏆 Becoming Europe’s Elite: The 2024 Breakthrough
Gradinari kicked off a stellar run at the 2024 European Under-16 Snooker Championship in Albufeira, Portugal.
Competing under the Moldovan flag, he put on a clinic in high-pressure matchplay. Facing Welsh talent Riley Powell in the final, Gradinari displayed maturity far beyond his years, blasting to an early 3-0 lead before closing it out with a decisive 4-1 victory. The win secured a historic milestone—marking the first-ever European snooker gold medal for Moldova.
🎩 The "National Hat-Trick" in 2025
Building on his continental success, Gradinari took his game to the English domestic circuit, where he pulls off one of the rarest feats in junior snooker: completing a full national age-group sweep.
At the English Under-18 National Championship in Northampton, Gradinari faced down a grueling field of 43 elite junior players. His path to the title was a masterclass in resilience:
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The Great Escape: Trailing 3-0 in a race-to-4 against Dylan Smith in the Last 16, he dug deep, rattling off a phenomenal break of 80 to pivot the momentum and storm back to win 4-3.
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The Defending Champion Takedown: He clinically dispatched the reigning champion Daniel Boyes 4-2 in the quarter-finals.
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The Decider Climax: In a high-octane final against 14-year-old prodigy Shaun Liu, Gradinari handled the pressure cooker of a deciding frame, clicking into gear with a brilliant 57 break to capture the U18 title.
Having previously won the English Under-14 title (2022) and the Under-16 title (2024), this victory officially cemented his English National Hat-Trick.
⚡ Technical Growth on the 2025/2026 Tour
The step up from age-group cueist to competing against top amateur adults on the WPBSA Q Tour is notoriously steep. Yet, Gradinari’s past year has been defined by clear, measured evolution.
In late 2025, he captured his second English Junior Tour Title in Dereham, overcoming tactical heavyweight Oliver Sykes on the final black ball. In his own words, his game underwent a massive shift during this window:
"I have definitely increased my level of the game. I am a bit more grown up now and have a better shot choice. I am very consistent."
— Vladislav Gradinari
Major Milestones (Last 24 Months)
| Tournament | Achievement | Significance |
| 2024 European U16 Championship | Winner (Gold Medal) | Moldova's first-ever European title. |
| 2025 English U18 Championship | Winner | Completed a career age-group sweep of England. |
| 2025 English Junior Tour (Dereham) | Winner | Proved tactical steel in a final-black decider. |
| English Amateur Championship | 3x Successive Final Stages | Maintained an incredible multi-year run into the final stages. |
| 2026 World Championship Qualifiers | Advanced to Round 2 | Knocked out 12-time World Champion Reanne Evans 10-7 in a massive test of stamina. |
What’s Next for the Moldovan Star?
Gradinari spends his days practicing on the heated Star tables here at Levels Snooker Club in Huddersfield, training constantly alongside seasoned professionals. Having recently gone toe-to-toe with tour veterans in the World Championship qualifiers—including a gritty 10-7 win over legendary multi-time women's world champion Reanne Evans—he is gaining the exact long-format stamina required for the pro ranks.
Gradinari's objective is entirely locked-in: securing a permanent tour card on the World Snooker Tour. If his trajectory over the last two years is any indicator, it is not a matter of if he crosses that threshold, but when.