Tony Drago
![]() Drago at the 2012 Paul Hunter Classic | |
Born | Valletta, Malta | 22 September 1965
---|---|
Sport country | ![]() |
Nickname | The Tornado[1] |
Professional | 1985–2008, 2009–2016 |
Highest ranking | 10 (1998/99) |
Century breaks | 132 |
Best ranking finish | Runner-up (1997 International Open) |
Tournament wins | |
Minor-ranking | 1 |
Tony Drago (born 22 September 1965) is a Maltese former professional snooker and pool player.
Known for his speed around the table, during his snooker career he won two professional titles: the 1993 Strachan Challenge Event 3 and the 1996 Guangzhou Masters. He later switched his focus to pool and won the 2003 World Pool Masters Tournament beating Hsia Hui-kai 8–6 and the 2008 Predator International 10-ball Championship beating Vince Upton 13–10.
Snooker career
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Tony_drago.jpg/200px-Tony_drago.jpg)
Drago's highest snooker world rankings position was number ten (in 1998). He has reached two major finals – the 1991 World Masters (losing to Jimmy White), and the 1997 International Open (his only ranking event final, and his first run past a quarter-final[4] beaten by Stephen Hendry). He reached the quarter-finals of the World Championship in 1988. He has appeared in the tournament 11 times more, most recently in 2004/2005, with five further last-sixteen runs. He lost to Matthew Stevens in three successive years – 8–13 in the last 16 in 1999, 2–10 in the 2000 first round, and 1–10 in the 2001 first round.
After failing to qualify for the 2004 World Championships, Drago entered a decline in snooker. He dropped out of the top 32 of the rankings a year later, and, after losing to Issara Kachaiwong in his opening qualifier for the 2008 World Championship, he dropped off the tour.[5]
In 2009, Drago won the EBSA International Open, which gave him the chance to return for the 2009–10 season. He reached the third qualifying round of the Shanghai Masters, Grand Prix, and 2009 UK Championship. He then qualified for the Welsh Open, by defeating Simon Bedford (5–3), Peter Lines (5–2), Jimmy Michie (5–2), and Gerard Greene (5–2), where he played against Ryan Day in the first round, but he lost 4–5. In the China Open qualifying, Drago defeated Lee Page (5–2), John Parrott (5–2), Anthony Hamilton (5–4), and Stephen Lee (5–2), to qualify for the televised stages of the China Open. As a result of such a solid season, he got a place in the top 64 and finished 54th.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Tony_Drago_PHC_2012-2.jpg/200px-Tony_Drago_PHC_2012-2.jpg)
2010/2011 was again a good season for Drago, as he climbed 8 places to finish 46th in the rankings. However, the 2011/12 season was much worse, with only 4 qualifying wins to Drago's name. His best results were reaching the last 32 of several of the PTC events. After unexpectedly losing 7–10 to amateur Justin Astley in the 2012 World Snooker Championship qualifiers, Drago finished the season ranked 65th, not making it into the top 64 guaranteeing their place for the next season; however, he was given a wildcard for the next season as a European nomination, along with young Luca Brecel. Drago could not qualify for any of the ranking events during the 2012–13 season.[6] He made headlines in his qualifying match against Alan McManus for the German Masters, when, upon being told he would be fined £250 for conceding the match early, he slapped himself in the face a number of times.[7] Drago finished the year ranked world number 82.[8]
His first match of the season was against Adam Duffy in the qualifying round for the 2013 Wuxi Classic; Drago lost the match 2–5. In the qualifying rounds for the 2013 Australian Goldfields Open, Drago defeated Christopher Keogan 5–2 and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 5–4, making a crucial 75 break in the deciding frame. In the third qualifying round, Drago was trailing Tian Pengfei 1–3, before winning four consecutive frames, including a 111 break, to win the match 5–3; however, he lost in the final qualifying round 3–5 to Ryan Day, despite leading 2–0 and 3–2.
Drago lost his place on the tour at the end of the 2015/16 season and he failed to qualify for the main tour in that season's Q School.
In 2020 Drago was once again selected for the Seniors World Championship. However, on the counsel of his personal doctor, he refused the offer due to the COVID-19 pandemic ongoing at the time.
Pool career
Drago's first major pool win was the 2003 World Pool Masters, which came just a few weeks after a run to the semi-finals of that year's World Pool Championship
Drago was member of the winning European team at the 2007 and 2008 Mosconi Cup. At 2007 in Las Vegas, Drago won all of his single matches which earned him the Most Valuable Player Award.
In 2008, Drago won the Predator International 10-ball Championship, beating Francisco Bustamante 13–10.
Accomplishments
Drago is well known for the speed of his play, and holds a number of records resulting from this. In 1993 he recorded the fastest ever best-of-9-frames snooker victory by beating Sean Lanigan in just thirty-four minutes at the 2nd leg of the Strachan Challenge.[9] He also holds the record for the fastest best-of-17 match, beating Joe O'Boye 9–0 in 81 minutes at the 1990 UK Championship.[10] Conversely, he lost 4–13 against Ronnie O'Sullivan in the second round of the 1996 World Championship in just 167 minutes and 33 seconds, an all-time Crucible record and less than 9 minutes per frame. In the 1996 UK Championship he made a century break in just three minutes and thirty-one seconds against John Higgins.[9] In the third round of the Fidelity Unit Trusts International he won the fifth frame 62–0 in just 3 minutes.[11] In 1995, he made a break of 149 in practice against Nick Manning in a snooker club in West Norwood, London. Drago was left snookered after a foul and potted the brown as a free ball and again as the colour, before potting the fifteen reds with thirteen blacks, a pink and a blue, and all the colours.[12]
Playing style
This section needs additional citations for verification. (October 2020) |
His combination of exceptionally fast play and emotional temperament has made him a popular character in snooker, although he was famously criticised by Steve Davis for hurling his cue at the table and storming out of the arena following his 1–5 quarterfinal defeat to Mark Bennett in the 1996 Grand Prix, with Drago later accusing his opponent of bad sportsmanship, because the latter had twice in the match suggested that Drago missed the object ball deliberately while snookered. Similarly, he became visibly angry with Peter Ebdon during their second round match in the 2003 World Championship, in which Ebdon repeatedly left the arena between frames. Drago took this as an attempt to disrupt the flow of his game, but apologised publicly when he later found out that Ebdon had been ill during the match.
Drago is known for his consistently high-speed play. His style has earned him the nickname "the Tornado".[13]
Performance and rankings timeline
Tournament | 1984/ 85 |
1985/ 86 |
1986/ 87 |
1987/ 88 |
1988/ 89 |
1989/ 90 |
1990/ 91 |
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 |
2013/ 14 |
2014/ 15 |
2015/ 16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ranking[14][nb 1] | [nb 2] | [nb 3] | 37 | 32 | 20 | 30 | 30 | 22 | 24 | 20 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 20 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 24 | 22 | 36 | 51 | 68 | [nb 2] | [nb 3] | 54 | 46 | [nb 4] | 81 | [nb 5] | 81 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Australian Goldfields Open[nb 6] | Non-Ranking Event | NH | 1R | Tournament Not Held | Non-Rank. | Tournament Not Held | LQ | LQ | LQ | A | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shanghai Masters | Tournament Not Held | 1R | A | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
International Championship | Tournament Not Held | LQ | LQ | A | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UK Championship | A | 2R | QF | 1R | 1R | 2R | 2R | QF | 2R | 3R | 2R | 2R | 3R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 3R | 2R | 2R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | A | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | 1R | 2R | 1R | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
German Masters[nb 7] | Tournament Not Held | 2R | 2R | QF | NR | Tournament Not Held | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Welsh Open | Tournament Not Held | 1R | 3R | 2R | 2R | 2R | 3R | 1R | 1R | 2R | LQ | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | A | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | 1R | 1R | 1R | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Grand Prix | Tournament Not Held | NR | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Players Championship Finals[nb 8] | Tournament Not Held | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
China Open[nb 9] | Tournament Not Held | NR | 1R | LQ | LQ | 1R | Not Held | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | A | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | WD | A | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Championship | A | LQ | LQ | QF | LQ | 1R | LQ | 1R | 1R | LQ | 2R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 1R | LQ | 2R | LQ | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | A | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Masters | A | A | A | A | A | A | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | WR | 1R | WR | 1R | QF | LQ | A | LQ | LQ | A | A | LQ | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Seniors Championship | Tournament Not Held | A | Tournament Not Held | LQ | 1R | 1R | 1R | LQ | 1R | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shoot-Out | Tournament Not Held | 2R | Tournament Not Held | 2R | 2R | A | A | A | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Canadian Masters | Non-Ranking Event | LQ | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Classic | A | LQ | LQ | 2R | 2R | 3R | QF | 1R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Strachan Open | Tournament Not Held | 2R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dubai Classic[nb 10] | Tournament Not Held | NR | 3R | 2R | 1R | 1R | LQ | 2R | 2R | QF | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Malta Grand Prix | Tournament Not Held | Non-Ranking Event | LQ | NR | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thailand Masters[nb 11] | Non-Ranking Event | Not Held | 3R | 2R | 3R | 1R | QF | QF | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | LQ | LQ | 1R | NR | Not Held | NR | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Scottish Open[nb 12] | A | LQ | 2R | 1R | 2R | 2R | Not Held | 1R | 3R | 2R | 3R | F | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | Tournament Not Held | MR | Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
British Open | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 3R | 3R | QF | QF | 1R | 1R | QF | 2R | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 3R | 1R | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Irish Masters | Non-Ranking Event | LQ | 1R | 1R | NH | NR | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Malta Cup[nb 13] | Tournament Not Held | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 3R | 2R | 2R | QF | 2R | NH | SF | Not Held | LQ | 1R | SF | LQ | LQ | LQ | NR | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northern Ireland Trophy | Tournament Not Held | NR | 1R | LQ | A | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Open[nb 14] | A | 3R | 2R | 3R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 2R | 2R | QF | 3R | 1R | 3R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 1R | LQ | LQ | A | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wuxi Classic[nb 15] | Tournament Not Held | Non-Ranking Event | LQ | LQ | 1R | NH | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former non-ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Costa Del Sol Classic | LQ | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kent Cup | Not Held | A | QF | NH | A | A | NH | A | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
London Masters | Tournament Not Held | QF | A | A | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pontins Professional | A | A | QF | SF | F | QF | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Masters | Tournament Not Held | F | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
European Masters League | Tournament Not Held | RR | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Matchroom League | Not Held | A | A | A | A | A | RR | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
European Challenge | Tournament Not Held | SF | A | F | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tenball | Tournament Not Held | SF | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Guangzhou Masters | Tournament Not Held | W | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Malta Masters | Tournament Not Held | 1R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Charity Challenge | Tournament Not Held | 1R | 1R | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Irish Masters | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | Ranking Event | A | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
German Masters[nb 7] | Tournament Not Held | Ranking | SF | Tournament Not Held | Ranking Event | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Malta Grand Prix | Tournament Not Held | F | QF | F | SF | QF | R | RR | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Scottish Masters | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | LQ | LQ | A | A | LQ | LQ | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Malta Cup[nb 13] | Tournament Not Held | Ranking Event | NH | R | Not Held | Ranking Event | RR | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Legends of Snooker | Tournament Not Held | QF | Tournament Not Held |
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 |
NH / Not Held | means an event was not held. | |||
NR / Non-Ranking Event | means an event is/was no longer a ranking event. | |||
R / Ranking Event | means an event is/was a ranking event. | |||
RV / Ranking & Variant Format Event | means an event is/was a ranking & variant format 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. | |||
VF / Variant Format Event | means an event is/was a variant format event. |
- ^ From the 2010/2011 season it shows the ranking at the beginning of the season.
- ^ a b He was an amateur.
- ^ a b New players on the Main Tour do not have a ranking.
- ^ Players qualified through European nomination started the season without ranking points.
- ^ Players qualified through European Tour Order of Merit started the season without prize money ranking points.
- ^ The event previously ran under different names as the Australian Open (1994/1995) and Australian Masters (1995/1996)
- ^ a b The event run under different name as German Open (1995/1996–1997/1998)
- ^ The event run under different name as Players Tour Championship Grand Finals (2010/2011–2012/2013) and Players Championship Grand Final (2013/2014–2015/2016)
- ^ The event run under different name as China International (1997/1998–1998/1999)
- ^ The event run under different names as Dubai Masters (1988/1989), Thailand Classic (1995/1996) and Asian Classic (1996/1997)
- ^ The event ran under different names such as Asian Open (1989/1990 to 1992/1993) and Thailand Open (1993/1994 to 1996/1997).
- ^ The event previously ran under different names as the Goya Matchroom Trophy (1985/1986), International Open (1986/1987 to 1996/1997) and Players Championship (2003/2004).
- ^ a b The event previously ran under different names as the European Open (1989/1990–1996/1997 & 2001/2002–2003/2004) and the Irish Open (1998/1999)
- ^ The event previously ran under different names as the Grand Prix (1985/1986–2000/2001 and 2004/2005–2009/2010), LG Cup (2001/2002–2003/2004), the World Open (2010/2011) and the Haikou World Open (2011/2012–2013/2014)
- ^ The event previously ran under a different name as the Jiangsu Classic (2008/2009–2009/2010)
Career finals
Ranking finals: 1 (1 runner-up)
Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
Runner-up | 1. | 1997 | International Open | ![]() |
1–9 |
Minor-ranking finals: 1 (1 title)
Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
Winner | 1. | 1993 | Strachan Challenge – Event 3 | ![]() |
9–7 |
Non-ranking finals: 7 (1 title, 6 runners-up)
Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
Runner-up | 1. | 1989 | Pontins Professional | ![]() |
2–9 |
Runner-up | 2. | 1991 | World Masters | ![]() |
6–10 |
Runner-up | 3. | 1993 | European Challenge | ![]() |
3–5 |
Runner-up | 4. | 1994 | Malta Grand Prix | ![]() |
6–7 |
Runner-up | 5. | 1995 | WPBSA Minor Tour – Event 5 | ![]() |
3–6 |
Winner | 1. | 1996 | Guangzhou Masters | ![]() |
6–2 |
Runner-up | 6. | 1996 | Malta Grand Prix (2) | ![]() |
3–7 |
Team finals: 1 (1 runner-up)
Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Team/partner | Opponent(s) in the final | Score |
Runner-up | 1. | 1989 | World Cup | Rest of the World | ![]() |
8–9 |
Pro-am finals: 5 (3 titles, 2 runners-up)
Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
Winner | 1. | 2012 | 3 Kings Open | ![]() |
5–3 |
Runner-up | 1. | 2013 | 3 Kings Open | ![]() |
4–5 |
Runner-up | 2. | 2014 | 3 Kings Open (2) | ![]() |
4–5 |
Winner | 2. | 2015 | 3 Kings Open (2) | ![]() |
5–4 |
Winner | 3. | 2016 | 3 Kings Open (3) | ![]() |
5–1 |
Amateur finals: 3 (2 titles, 1 runner-up)
Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
Winner | 1. | 1984 | Malta Amateur Championship | ![]() |
7–3 |
Runner-up | 1. | 1985 | Malta Amateur Championship | ![]() |
1–7 |
Winner | 2. | 2009 | EBSA International Open | ![]() |
5–4 |
Pool tournament wins
- World Pool Masters – 2003
- Mosconi Cup – 2007 & 2008
- French Open – 2008
- Predator International 10-ball Championship – 2008
References
- ^ "Tony Drago". World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ Watkins, Janie E (4 August 2010). "Maltese Falcon flies high in Shanghai Masters qualifiers". Times of Malta. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
- ^ "Tony Drago". World Snooker. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ Snooker.org: International Open 1997
- ^ World Snooker News – 888.com World Snooker Championship Qualifying – DRAGO DENIED
- ^ "Tony Drago 2012/2013". Snooker.org. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
- ^ "Tony Drago attacks himself after defeat". Eurosport. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
- ^ "Official World Snooker Ranking List For The 2013/2014 Season" (PDF). World Snooker. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
- ^ a b "Chris Turner's SNOOKER ARCHIVE – Records". 2008. Archived from the original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2008.
- ^ "Top Trump". snookerscene.blogspot.com. 14 November 2006. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
- ^ "On this week: Fastest frame". Eurosport. 31 August 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2009.
- ^ "The tide turns at St Helen's". London: The Independent. 15 June 1995. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ "Drago recovers from heart failure". World Snooker Tour. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ^ "Ranking History". Snooker.org. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Official website
- Tony Drago at worldsnooker.com
- Profile on Global Snooker
- Profile on World Pool Masters
- [1]
- Tony Drago at IMDb