Mitchell Mann: Midlander wins back place on World Snooker Tour

Mitchell Mann has won back his place on the World Snooker Tour – 12 months on from giving up the game again.

After losing his tour card last year, then failing at qualifying school, the 32-year-old Midlander was so fed up with snooker that he packed in the sport for a second time.

But he opted to return to have another crack at this year’s Q-School in Leicester – and this time he succeeded.

Birmingham’s Mann fired match-winning breaks of 65, 76 and 51 to help secure an emotional 4-2 final-round victory over Manchester’s Josh Thomond.

Along with Lancashire’s Farakh Ajaib, Scotland’s Chris Totten and 20-year-old Pole Antoni Kowalski, it earns Mann a spot back on the professional tour for the next two years.

“It is absolutely amazing,” said Mann. “If I rewind the clock to 12 months ago, I’d quit the game and got a job. I fell out of love with it [snooker] and didn’t want to play.

“Getting a job changed my mind. I realised how good you have it playing on tour. It has all worked out nicely.”

Mann, who has a highest world ranking of 70, is an experienced campaigner, having competed in the World Championship at The Crucible in 2016.

He reached a ranking event semi-final when he made the last four at the 2017 Paul Hunter Classic, in which he lost to eventual winner Michael White.

But he has faced his demons away from the snooker table – and this is not the first time he has come back to the game after quitting.