Chris Turner’s SNOOKER ARCHIVE
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What happened this week in years gone by
19 August 2001
– HIGGINS WINS THE FINAL CHAMPION’S CUP
At the Brighton Centre, the third and last Champion’s Cup was won by John
Higgins who beat Mark Williams 7-4 in the final. Mark has the distinction
of being the beaten finalist in all three of them.
19 August 2006 – RONNIE CRUSHES DOM IN LESS THAN AN HOUR
In the semi final of the Northern Ireland Trophy at the Waterfront Hall in
20 August 1900
– MURT O’DONOGHUE BORN
An otherwise unremarkable player, Edward James ‘Murt’ O’Donoghue has a
place in snooker history on two counts. In
20 August 2006 – THIRD RANKING TITLE FOR DING
At the Waterfront Hall in
21 August 2003 – DING LOSES OUT ON PRO DEBUT
Making his debut as a professional, Ding Junhui lost 2-0 to Jimmy White
in the round robin stage of the Euro-Asia Masters Challenge in
22 August 1993
– HELGASON GIVES ICELAND A HOME VICTORY
Iceland’s Kristjan Helgason beat Indika Dodandogade of Sri Lanka 11-7 to
win the IBSF World Under-21 title in his home city of Reykjavik.
23 August 1946 – COLIN BRINDED
BORN
One of snooker’s most respected referees,
If you know of any events that could
feature in these columns, particularly those occurring in the summer months
when little happens in the snooker world, then please let me
know.
17 August
KIRK STEVENS is 50.
Famous for his white suit, Kirk joined the tour in 1978/9. Over the next eight
seasons he reached two semi finals and three quarter finals at the Crucible as
well as one final, two semis and five quarter final in other ranking events. He
compiled only the third official maximum break in professional competition, in
the 1984 Benson & Hedges Masters. Having at one time been ranked fourth in
the world, he dropped off the tour in 1993. He did make a brief return in
1998/9, he was unable to make it last.
TOM FORD is 25.
A former English Unde5-15 and Under-18 champion, Tom joined the tour in 2001/2.
He only lasted one season but was back again in 2003/4 and has kept his place
ever since. Currently ranked 48, his best performance so far was to reach the
quarter finals of the 2005 Malta Cup.
19 August
SEAN STOREY is 37.
Sean lost his place on the tour at the end of the 2006/7 season after a run of
16 seasons going back to 1991/2. His best performance was to reach the last 16
at the Crucible in 2003 and his highest ranking position has been 50th.
JAMIE O’NEILL is 22.
Winner of the European Under-19 Championship in 2003, Jamie made his debut on
the world ranking tour in 2007/8 having qualified through the Pontins
International Open Series, but failed to keep his place for a second season.
20 August
MATTHEW FARRANT is 35.
Matthew joined the tour in 1993/4 and lost his place after just two seasons. He
returned for one more season in 2002/3. His highest ranking was 124.
21 August
SEAN LANIGAN is 41.
Sean spent a total of seven seasons on the main tour, in two spells, between
1991/2 and 1998/9. He got to the last 32 of a ranking event just once and his
best ranking position was 80.
JUDD TRUMP is 19.
English champion at Under-13, Under-15 and Under-18 levels, Judd made a 147 at
the age of 14. He joined the ranking tour in 2005/6 and has so far reached the
last 32 in the 2007 World Championship and the 2008 Welsh Open. He has risen to
41st in the rankings and great things are predicted for him.
22 August
STEVE DAVIS OBE is 51.
Steve has fulfilled his ambition of still being in the top 16 at the age of 50
but dropped out of that elite group for the second time at the end of the
2007/8 season and now stands at his lowest ever ranking of 29th. He is starting
his 31st season as a professional with well over 80 titles to his
name including 28 world ranking events and six world championships.
Best wishes to them all!
© Chris Turner 2008