Fergal O'Brien

Infobox Snooker player
Name = Fergal O'Brien


Caption =
Born = Birth date and age|1972|3|8|mf=y
Birthplace =
Nationality = Irish
Nickname = "The Baby-Faced Bandit", "Fearless Fergal"
Professional = 1991–
High ranking = #9 (2000/01)
Current rank = 24
Prize money =
High break = 143 (Masters, 1991)
Best finish =
Ranking wins = 1
Other wins =
World champ =

Fergal O'Brien (born March 8, 1972), and growing up in Bayside, Dublin is an Irish professional snooker player.

His greatest achievement was winning the British Open in 1999, beating Anthony Hamilton 9-7 in the final. He has also reached the final of the 2007 Northern Ireland Trophy, three other ranking semi-finals, and the final of the 2001 Masters. He spent 3 seasons as a top 16 player.

He is also the only player to score a century in his first frame at the World Championships in the Crucible, which he achieved against Alan McManus in 1994 (though he lost the match 10-7 and did not qualify again until 1998), and the first player ever to beat John Parrott in a World Championship qualifier, in 2005. Fergal has compiled 98 competitive century breaks in his career.

2007

Fergal started the 2007/2008 campaign in Shanghai where he had beaten Paul Davies and Barry Hawkins in qualifying rounds, however, he lost to Steve Davis in the first round. Fergal also took part in Grand Prix but only managed to whitewash Ali Carter and lose four other matches what resulted in ending in fifth place leaving only Graeme Dott behind him in the group stage.

After qualifying for the main draw of Northern Ireland Trophy by beating Barry Pinches in a deciding frame, Fergal went on to beat Dave Harold in the first round of main draw. His big run continued with victories over John Higgins (in a decider), Barry Hawkins and Ronnie O'Sullivan. He secured his second ranking-event final of career by beating Mark Allen with 6 frames to 3. He lost the final to Stephen Maguire, 5-9.

Tournament Wins

Ranking Wins

*British Open - 1999

External links

* [http://fergalobrien.ie/ Fergal's official site]
*World Snooker|id=8388

Persondata
NAME = O'Brien, Fergal
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Irish snooker player
DATE OF BIRTH = March 8, 1972
PLACE OF BIRTH =
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =