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Andy Hicks

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Andy Hicks
Hicks at the 2016 Paul Hunter Classic
Born (1973-08-10) 10 August 1973 (age 51)
Tavistock, Devon, England[1]
Sport country England
NicknameThe Cream of Devon[2]
Professional1991–2013, 2019–2024
Highest ranking17 (1995/1996)
Maximum breaks1
Century breaks167 (as of 21 November 2024)
Best ranking finishSemi-final (x6)

Andrew Hicks (born 10 August 1973) is an English retired professional snooker player. Nicknamed "The Cream of Devon",[1] Hicks was a semi-finalist at both the World Snooker Championship and UK Championship in 1995, and the same stage at four other ranking tournaments. A Masters semi-finalist in 1996, he was ranked within the world's top 32 players between 1995 and 2000, and again from 2005 to 2007, but was relegated from the main tour in 2013. He regained a two-year tour card in 2019. He was relegated from the main tour at the end of the 2023–24 season.

Career

[edit]

Although a professional since 1991, Hicks first came to prominence in the 1995 World Championship, in which he reached the semi-finals, beating Steve Davis, Willie Thorne and Peter Ebdon along the way, but being blocked from the finals by Nigel Bond, 11–16.[1] He has never reached a major final, but reached the semi-finals of the four BBC-screened events within 2 seasons – the 1994 Grand Prix, the 1995 UK Championship and the 1996 Masters (as a wild card).[3]

He spent most of the second half of the 1990s close to the Top-16 elite section in the world rankings, peaking at no. 17 in the 1995/1996 season, and winning the 1997 Masters qualifier.[1] He struggled in the early part of the 2000s, however, winning only two of eighty-three matches in 2003.

Later, he was only one frame loss away from being bumped out of the Top 64, rallying to defeat Craig Butler 10–9 in a close 2003 World Championship qualifier.[1] He ended up ranked no. 62 for the 2003/2004 season. At this point, he had only qualified for the world championship once in six years, a 10–4 defeat to eventual winner Ronnie O'Sullivan in 2001.[4] However, he returned to form after this. He reached the second round of the 2004 World Championship, beating Quinten Hann in a match memorable for a near-fight between the two players at the end, started by Hann in the middle of the match, when he said to Hicks: 'I've enjoyed the last three times I've beaten you'. At the end of the match, Hicks retorted that Hann was about to drop out of the Top 16 as a result of the loss.[5] Hicks later admitted his delight at this. This marked the only time Hicks had won a match at the Crucible since 1995. He next gave Ronnie O'Sullivan a challenge in the second round, before ultimately losing, 11–13.

In 2004–05, Hicks made it to the quarter-finals of the British Open with a first-round victory over Ken Doherty.

Returning to the Top 32, in the following season he reached the last 32 in four of the six tournaments he entered, and retained his Top 32 status (marginally, at no. 31). He played in the 2006 World Championship, and lost to Steve Davis, 4–10, in the first round.[1] Although slipping only a single position in the rankings (from no. 30 to no. 31) for 2006/2007, the year was not truly successful for him, and neither was 2006/2007, resulting in a drop down to the no. 41 position for 2007/2008 world rankings. After failing to qualify for the Welsh Open and China Open, he contemplated retiring if he could not retain a top-64 ranking.

He has compiled over 100 competitive centuries during his career,[6] and has scored a maximum break at the UK Championship qualifiers in 2012. Despite winning only one key event, Hicks has career winnings of £562,560 (up to the start of the 2006/2007 season).[1] He entered the 2018 Q School in a bid to win back his place on the snooker professional tour.[7]

Hicks came through the third event of the 2019 Q School by winning six matches to earn a two-year card on the World Snooker Tour for the 2019/2020 and 2020–21 seasons.[8]

Personal life

[edit]

He currently lives in Launceston, Cornwall[1] and is the staff pro at Bell's Court Snooker Club in Falmouth.[9] His wife Rachel was working there when they met; they married in 2005, and had their first child in 2006.[1] He also plays golf, in a local society named after him.[1]

Performance and rankings timeline

[edit]
Tournament 1991/
92 		1992/
93 		1993/
94 		1994/
95 		1995/
96 		1996/
97 		1997/
98 		1998/
99 		1999/
00 		2000/
01 		2001/
02 		2002/
03 		2003/
04 		2004/
05 		2005/
06 		2006/
07 		2007/
08 		2008/
09 		2009/
10 		2010/
11 		2011/
12 		2012/
13 		2014/
15 		2015/
16 		2016/
17 		2017/
18 		2018/
19 		2019/
20 		2020/
21 		2021/
22 		2022/
23 		2023/
24
Ranking[10][nb 1] [nb 2] 70 54 33 17 18 19 21 32 36 46 61 62 51 31 31 41 56 50 53 61 61 [nb 3] [nb 3] [nb 3] [nb 3] [nb 3] [nb 2] 93 [nb 4] 67 57
Ranking tournaments
Championship League Tournament Not Held Non-Ranking Event WD RR RR RR
European Masters[nb 5] 2R SF LQ LQ SF 2R NH LQ Not Held LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ NR Tournament Not Held LQ A LQ LQ 1R 1R 1R 2R
British Open LQ LQ 3R LQ 2R 2R 2R 1R 2R LQ 3R LQ 2R QF Tournament Not Held 2R LQ 1R
English Open Tournament Not Held A A A 1R 2R LQ LQ 1R
Wuhan Open Tournament Not Held LQ
Northern Ireland Open Tournament Not Held A A A 1R 3R 1R 1R LQ
International Championship Tournament Not Held LQ A LQ LQ A A LQ Not Held LQ
UK Championship 1R LQ 2R 1R SF 2R 2R 2R 1R LQ LQ LQ 1R 3R 1R 1R LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ A 1R 1R A A 1R 2R QF LQ LQ
Shoot Out Tournament Not Held Non-Ranking Event SF A 2R 1R 2R 1R 1R 2R
Scottish Open[nb 6] NH 2R 1R 2R 1R 2R 2R 1R 1R LQ LQ LQ LQ Tournament Not Held MR Not Held A A A 1R 2R LQ LQ LQ
World Grand Prix Tournament Not Held NR DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 1R DNQ DNQ
German Masters[nb 7] Tournament Not Held LQ 2R LQ NR Tournament Not Held LQ LQ LQ A LQ LQ A A LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ
Welsh Open LQ LQ 2R 1R 1R 1R 3R 1R 2R LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ 2R 1R LQ LQ LQ LQ 1R LQ A 1R 2R A A 1R 1R LQ 2R LQ
Players Championship[nb 8] Tournament Not Held DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ
World Open[nb 9] LQ LQ LQ SF 2R 1R 1R 1R 3R 1R LQ LQ LQ 2R 2R RR LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ Not Held LQ A A LQ Not Held LQ
Tour Championship Tournament Not Held DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ
World Championship LQ LQ LQ SF LQ 1R 1R LQ LQ 1R LQ LQ 2R 1R 1R 1R LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ A LQ LQ A LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ
Non-ranking tournaments
The Masters LQ LQ LQ LQ SF LQ WR LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ A A A A LQ LQ A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
World Seniors Championship A Tournament Not Held A A A LQ A A A NH A A A A A
Former ranking tournaments
Strachan Open[nb 10] 2R MR NR Tournament Not Held
Asian Classic[nb 11] 1R LQ QF LQ 1R LQ Tournament Not Held
Malta Grand Prix Not Held Non-Ranking Event LQ NR Tournament Not Held
Thailand Masters[nb 12] LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ 1R LQ 1R LQ LQ NR Not Held NR Tournament Not Held
Irish Masters Non-Ranking Event LQ LQ LQ NH NR Tournament Not Held
Northern Ireland Trophy Tournament Not Held NR 1R LQ LQ Tournament Not Held
Bahrain Championship Tournament Not Held LQ Tournament Not Held
Wuxi Classic[nb 13] Tournament Not Held Non-Ranking Event LQ A A Tournament Not Held
Australian Goldfields Open[nb 14] Not Held Non-Ranking Tournament Not Held LQ LQ A A Tournament Not Held
Shanghai Masters Tournament Not Held LQ 2R LQ LQ LQ LQ A LQ LQ A Non-Ranking Not Held NR
Paul Hunter Classic[nb 15] Tournament Not Held Pro-am Event Minor-Ranking Event 1R 1R A NR Tournament Not Held
Indian Open Tournament Not Held A NH LQ A 3R Tournament Not Held
China Open[nb 16] Tournament Not Held NR LQ LQ LQ LQ Not Held LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ A LQ 1R A A Tournament Not Held
Riga Masters[nb 17] Tournament Not Held Minor-Rank 2R A A LQ Tournament Not Held
China Championship Tournament Not Held NR A A LQ Tournament Not Held
WST Pro Series Tournament Not Held RR Not Held
Turkish Masters Tournament Not Held 1R Not Held
Gibraltar Open Tournament Not Held MR A 3R 2R 1R 1R 2R Not Held
WST Classic LQ Tournament Not Held 1R NH
Former non-ranking tournaments
Pontins Professional A A A A QF F SF A A Tournament Not Held
Scottish Masters A A A A LQ A A A A A A A Tournament Not Held
Masters Qualifying Event[nb 18] 1R MR 1R 3R 1R 1R W 3R 2R SF 1R 3R 2R NH A A 2R 2R A Tournament Not Held
Shoot-Out Tournament Not Held 1R 1R 1R A A Ranking Event
Performance Table Legend
LQ lost in the qualifying draw #R lost in the early rounds of the tournament
(WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin) 		QF lost in the quarter-finals
SF lost in the semi-finals F lost in the final W won the tournament
DNQ did not qualify for the tournament A did not participate in the tournament WD withdrew from the tournament
DQ disqualified from the tournament
NH / Not Held event was not held.
NR / Non-Ranking Event event is/was no longer a ranking event.
R / Ranking Event event is/was a ranking event.
MR / Minor-Ranking Event means an event is/was a minor-ranking event.
PA / Pro-am Event means an event is/was a pro-am event.
  1. ^ From the 2010/2011 season it shows the ranking at the beginning of the season.
  2. ^ a b New players on the Main Tour don't have a ranking
  3. ^ a b c d e He was an amateur
  4. ^ Players qualified One Year Ranking List started the season without ranking points
  5. ^ The event was called the European Open (1991/1992–1996/1997 and 2001/2002–2003/2004), the Irish Open (1998/1999) and the Malta Cup (2004/2005–2007/2008)
  6. ^ The event was called the International Open (1992/1993–1996/1997) and the Players Championship (2003/2004)
  7. ^ The event was called the German Open (1995/1996–1997/1998)
  8. ^ The event was called the Players Tour Championship Grand Final (2010/2011–2012/2013 and 2014/2015–2015/2016)
  9. ^ The event was called the Grand Prix (1991/1992–2000/2001 and 2004/2005–2009/2010) and the LG Cup (2001/2002–2003/2004)
  10. ^ The event was called the Strachan Challenge (1992/1993–1993/1994)
  11. ^ The event was called the Dubai Classic (1991/1992–1994/1995) and the Thailand Classic (1995/1996)
  12. ^ The event was called the Asian Open (1991/1992–1992/1993) and the Thailand Open (1993/1994–1996/1997)
  13. ^ The event was called the Jiangsu Classic (2008/2009–2009/2010)
  14. ^ The event was called the Australian Open (1994/1995–1995/1996) and the Australian Masters (1995/1996)
  15. ^ The event was called the Grand Prix Fürth (2004/2005) and the Fürth German Open (2005/2006–2006/2007)
  16. ^ The event was called the China International (1997/1998–1998/1999)
  17. ^ The event was called the Riga Open (2014/2015–2015/2016)
  18. ^ The event was also called the Benson & Hedges Championship (1990/1991–2002/2003)

Career finals

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Non-ranking finals: 4 (1 title)

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Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Runner-up 1. 1994 Strachan Open England Anthony Hamilton 4–9
Runner-up 2. 1995 Scottish Masters Qualifying Event Scotland Alan Burnett 2–5
Runner-up 3. 1997 Pontins Professional England Martin Clark 7–9
Winner 1. 1997 Benson & Hedges Championship Wales Paul Davies 9–6

Amateur finals: 2 (1 title)

[edit]
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Runner-up 1. 1989 British Under-16 Championship England Ronnie O'Sullivan 1–3[11]
Winner 1. 1991 British Under-19 Championship England Bradley Jones 4–3[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Player Profile — Andy Hicks". World Snooker. London, England: World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 2007. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2007.
  2. ^ "Andy Hicks". World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Andy Hicks Profile on Sporting Life (2006)". Sporting Life. 2006. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
  4. ^ Worley, Gavin (23 April 2001). "O'Sullivan rallies to open commanding lead". The Independent. London. Retrieved 16 July 2008.[dead link‍]
  5. ^ Shea, Julian (18 April 2004). "Bad-tempered Hann exits". BBC. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
  6. ^ "Chris Turner's Snooker Archive – Top Century Makers". 2008. Archived from the original on 23 June 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
  7. ^ "Snooker Q School Receives 190 Entries". World Professional Snooker and Billiards Association. 5 April 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  8. ^ "Q School Event Three Winners". World Snooker. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  9. ^ Official Homepage of Bell's Court Snooker Club Archived 1 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ "Ranking History". Snooker.org. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  11. ^ Lightbown, Chris (21 May 1989). "Digest – Snooker". The Sunday Times.
  12. ^ "Plymouth's Andy takes national title". Evening Herald. Plymouth. 23 April 1991. p. 36.
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