Ian Graham (snooker player)
| Born | 17 February 1967 |
|---|---|
| Sport country |  England |
| Professional | 1988–1996 |
| Highest ranking | 42 |
| Best ranking finish | QF (x2) |
Ian Graham (born 17 February 1967) is an English former professional snooker player.[1]
Career
[edit]Amateur career
[edit]Graham is from Watford.[2] During the 1986-87 amateur season he finished in the top 8 of the WPBSA Pro-Ticket series. In the subsequent play-off he defeated professional player Clive Everton 10-1.[3]
Pro Career
[edit]Graham turned professional in 1988. [4] Playing as a professional, Graham has a run to the last-16 of the 1988 Canadian Masters, including a 5-2 victory over Eddie Charlton, but was denied a first ranking event quarter final being edged out 5-4 by home player, and former World Champion, Cliff Thorburn.[5] He came through matches against Graham Cripsey and Martin Smith to reach the final qualifying round for the 1989 World Snooker Championship, but was defeated 10-5 by Dean Reynolds one match from The Crucible.[6] After the start to his pro career, Graham finished the 1988-1989 season ranked 59th in the world rankings.[7]
Ranking event quarter finalist and Crucible debut
[edit]He reached his first ranking event quarter final at the 1989 Hong Kong Open where he defeated James Wattana, Rex Williams, Tony Jones and Steve James before his run ended with a loss to New Zealand pro Dene O'Kane.[8] For the second consecutive season he reached the final round of qualifying at the Snooker World Championships, but did not make it to The Crucible as he was defeated 10-7 by Tony Drago.[9] He finished his second season as professional with his world ranking having risen to a career high of 51st following the 1989-90 season.[10]
In October 1990, he reached the last-16 of the 1990 Grand Prix with wins over experienced Welsh campaigners, Doug Mountjoy and Cliff Wilson.[11] Graham made his debut at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield as he reached the last-32 at the 1991 World Snooker Championship, with a win over Dene O'Kane in the final qualifying round, before losing to the ninth seed Steve James 10-3.[12] He finished the 1990-191 season with a career high world ranking of 42.[13]
In October 1991, he reached a second ranking event quarter final at the 1991 Grand Prix where he beat Jimmy White 5-4 before losing to Alan McManus.[14] He defeated former World Champion Dennis Taylor on his way to the last-16 of the 1993 British Open.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ "Ian Graham". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
- ^ "Snooker Scots to meet in semi-final". Herald Scotland. 26 October 1991. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
- ^ Morrison, Ian (1989). Snooker - Records, Facts and Champions. Guinness Publishing. p. 139-140. ISBN 0-85112-364-3.
- ^ Janice, Hale (1989). Rothmans Snooker Yearbook s 1989-90. Queen Anne Press. p. 81. ISBN 0-356-17922-2.
- ^ Morrison, Ian (1989). Snooker - Records, Facts and Champions. Guinness Publishing. p. 78. ISBN 0-85112-364-3.
- ^ Morrison, Ian (1989). Snooker - Records, Facts and Champions. Guinness Publishing. p. 31-32. ISBN 0-85112-364-3.
- ^ Smith, Terry (1989). Snooker - The Players - The Shots - The Matches. Macdonald & Co. p. 186. ISBN 0-356-19507-4.
- ^ Janice, Hale (1990). Rothmans Snooker Yearbook 1990-91. Queen Anne Press. p. 262-263. ISBN 0-356-19102-8.
- ^ Janice, Hale (1990). Rothmans Snooker Yearbook 1990-91. Queen Anne Press. p. 325. ISBN 0-356-19102-8.
- ^ Janice, Hale (1990). Rothmans Snooker Yearbook 1990-91. Queen Anne Press. p. 15. ISBN 0-356-19102-8.
- ^ Janice, Hale (1991). Rothmans Snooker Yearbook 1991-92. Queen Anne Press. p. 309. ISBN 0-356-19747-6.
- ^ Janice, Hale (1991). Rothmans Snooker Yearbook 1991-92. Queen Anne Press. p. 360. ISBN 0-356-19747-6.
- ^ Janice, Hale (1991). Rothmans Snooker Yearbook 1991-92. Queen Anne Press. p. 19. ISBN 0-356-19747-6.
- ^ Whitehead, Eric (1993). The World Snooker Almanac. Eric Dobby Publishing. p. 37. ISBN 1-85882-009-X.
- ^ "snooker:Threat to Taylor's ranking". Independent.co.uk. 20 February 1993. Archived from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2023.