Andy Hicks
Encyclopedia
Andy Hicks is an English
professional snooker
player currently from Cornwall
. Hicks, nicknamed "The Cream of Devon", has been a World Snooker Championship
semi-finalist and was ranked within the worlds top 32 for many seasons but has never broken into the top 16.
, 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. 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).
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. He struggled in the early part of the 2000s however.
Later, he was only one loss away from being bumped out of the Top 64, rallying to defeat Craig Butler
10–9 in a close 2003 World Championship
qualifier. 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. 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, triggered by Hicks pointing out to Hann that he was likely to drop out of the Top 16 as a result of the loss. Hicks later admitted his regret at this. This marked the only time Hicks had won a at the Crucible
since 1995. He next gave Ronnie O'Sullivan
a challenge in the second round, before ultimately losing, 13–11.
In 2004/2005
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. In a World Snooker interview, Hicks said of his comeback, "It’s amazing how things can change because a couple of years ago I was close to giving the game up. I’m playing great snooker and it's nice to be involved in the later stages of tournaments. I’m proving to myself that I can compete with the top players."
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 100 competitive during his career, and scored a 147 in a 1994 WPBSA
Tour event. Despite winning only one key event, Hicks has career winnings of GB£
562,560 (up to the start of the 2006/2007 season
).
. His wife Rachel was working there when they met; they married in 2005, and had their first child in 2006. He also plays golf, in a local society named after him.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
professional snooker
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
player currently from Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. Hicks, nicknamed "The Cream of Devon", has been a World Snooker Championship
World Snooker Championship
The World Snooker Championship is the leading professional snooker tournament in terms of both prize money and ranking points. The first championship was held in 1927; since 1977, it has been played at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England...
semi-finalist and was ranked within the worlds top 32 for many seasons but has never broken into the top 16.
Career
Although a professional since 1991, Hicks, a left-hander, first came to prominence in the 1995 World ChampionshipWorld Snooker Championship 1995
The 1995 Embassy World Snooker Championship took place at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield between 14–30 April 1995.Stephen Hendry won his fifth world title beating Nigel Bond 18–9.-Notable moments:...
, in which he reached the semi-finals, beating Steve Davis
Steve Davis
Steve Davis, OBE is an English professional snooker player. He has won more professional titles in the sport than any other player, including six World Championships during the 1980s, when he was the world number one for seven years and became the sport's first millionaire...
, Willie Thorne
Willie Thorne
William Joseph "Willie" Thorne , is a former English professional snooker player and now a sports commentator.Thorne became national under-16 champion at both snooker and English billiards in 1970...
and Peter Ebdon
Peter Ebdon
Peter "Ebbo" Ebdon is an English professional snooker player and former world champion renowned for his remarkably focused, determined style of play.-Early years:...
along the way, but being blocked from the finals by Nigel Bond
Nigel Bond
-External links:*...
, 11–16. 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
Grand Prix (snooker)
The World Open is a professional ranking snooker tournament. It has previously been known as the Professional Players Tournament, the LG Cup and the Grand Prix. During 2006 and 2007, it was played in a unique round-robin format, more similar to association football and rugby tournaments than the...
, the 1995 UK Championship
1995 UK Snooker Championship
The 1995 Royal Liver Assurance UK Championship took place at the Guildhall, Preston starting on 17 November and TV stages shown on BBC TV took place between 25 November and 3 December 1995....
and the 1996 Masters
1996 Masters Snooker
The 1996 Benson and Hedges Masters professional non-ranking snooker tournament took place between 4 and 11 February 1996 at the Wembley Conference Centre, London, England....
(as a wild card).
He spent most of the second half of the 1990s close to the Top 16 elite section in the world rankings
Snooker world rankings
The snooker world rankings are the official system of ranking professional snooker players to determine automatic qualification and seeding for tournaments on the World Snooker Tour. They are maintained by the sport's governing body, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association...
, peaking at no. 17 in the 1995/1996 season
Snooker world rankings 1995/1996
Snooker world rankings 1995/1996: The professional world rankings for the top 64 snooker players in the 1995/1996 season are listed below.* Peter Francisco was banned for five years.-References:...
, and winning the 1997 Masters qualifier. He struggled in the early part of the 2000s however.
Later, he was only one loss away from being bumped out of the Top 64, rallying to defeat Craig Butler
Craig Butler
Craig Butler is a professional Canadian football defensive back in the Canadian Football League for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He was drafted 12th overall by the Riders in the 2011 CFL Draft and signed with the team on June 1, 2011. He played CIS football for the Western Ontario Mustangs.-...
10–9 in a close 2003 World Championship
World Snooker Championship 2003
The 2003 Embassy World Snooker Championship professional ranking snooker tournament took place between 19 April and 5 May 2003 at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield....
qualifier. He ended up ranked no. 62 for the 2003/2004 season
Snooker world rankings 2003/2004
Snooker world rankings 2003/2004: The professional world rankings for the top 64 snooker players in the 2003/2004 season are listed below.-References:...
. 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
Ronnie O'Sullivan
Ronald Antonio "Ronnie" O'Sullivan , is an English professional snooker player known for his rapid playing style and nicknamed "The Rocket". He has been World Champion on three occasions , and is second on the all-time prize-money list, with career earnings of over £6 million, behind only Stephen...
in 2001. However, he returned to form after this. He reached the second round of the 2004 World Championship
World Snooker Championship 2004
The 2004 Embassy World Snooker Championship took place between 17 April and 3 May 2004 at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield.Mark Williams was the defending champion, but he lost in the second round 11–13 against Joe Perry....
, beating Quinten Hann
Quinten Hann
Quinten Hann is an Australian former professional snooker player who now plays professional pool. He was the 1999 WEPF World Eight-ball Champion and 1994 world under 21 champion. His highest break is 143...
in a match memorable for a near-fight between the two players at the end, triggered by Hicks pointing out to Hann that he was likely to drop out of the Top 16 as a result of the loss. Hicks later admitted his regret at this. This marked the only time Hicks had won a at the Crucible
Crucible Theatre
The Crucible Theatre is a theatre built in 1971 and located in the city centre of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. As well as theatrical performances, it is home to the most important event in professional snooker, the World Snooker Championship....
since 1995. He next gave Ronnie O'Sullivan
Ronnie O'Sullivan
Ronald Antonio "Ronnie" O'Sullivan , is an English professional snooker player known for his rapid playing style and nicknamed "The Rocket". He has been World Champion on three occasions , and is second on the all-time prize-money list, with career earnings of over £6 million, behind only Stephen...
a challenge in the second round, before ultimately losing, 13–11.
In 2004/2005
Snooker world rankings 2004/2005
Snooker world rankings 2004/2005: The professional world rankings for the top 64 snooker players in the 2004/2005 season are listed below. This was Chris Small's only top 16 season, and Paul Hunter's only appearance in the top 4.-References:...
Hicks made it to the quarter-finals of the British Open
British Open (snooker)
The British Open was a professional snooker tournament. It was a ranking tournament from 1985. The tournament has not been held since the 2004/2005 season....
with a first-round victory over Ken Doherty
Ken Doherty
Ken Doherty is an Irish professional snooker player. He is the only player ever to have been world amateur and world professional champion...
.
Returning to the Top 32, in the following season
Snooker world rankings 2005/2006
Snooker world rankings 2005/2006: The professional world rankings for the top 64 snooker players in the 2005/2006 season are listed below.-Note:...
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
World Snooker Championship 2006
The 2006 888.com World Snooker Championship professional ranking snooker tournament was held at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, and was scheduled for 15 April through 1 May 2006, but continued into the early hours of 2 May 2006. Ending at 12:52 a.m...
, and lost to Steve Davis, 4–10, in the first round. In a World Snooker interview, Hicks said of his comeback, "It’s amazing how things can change because a couple of years ago I was close to giving the game up. I’m playing great snooker and it's nice to be involved in the later stages of tournaments. I’m proving to myself that I can compete with the top players."
Although slipping only a single position in the rankings (from no. 30 to no. 31) for 2006/2007
Snooker world rankings 2006/2007
Snooker world rankings 2006/2007: The professional world rankings for the top 64 snooker players in the 2006/2007 season are listed below.-Notes:...
, 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
Snooker world rankings 2007/2008
Snooker world rankings 2007/2008: The professional world rankings for the top 75 snooker players in the 2007/2008 season are listed below...
. After failing to qualify for the Welsh Open
Welsh Open (snooker)
The Welsh Open is a professional ranking snooker tournament. It replaced the Welsh Professional Championship, which started in 1980 and was only open to Welsh players.- History :...
and China Open
China Open (snooker)
The China Open is a professional snooker tournament. It is one of a number of ranking tournaments and began in 1997.-History:The first international snooker tournament in China was the China International in September 1997, a non-ranking tournament for the top 16 players and local players. The...
, he contemplated retiring if he could not retain a top-64 ranking.
He has compiled 100 competitive during his career, and scored a 147 in a 1994 WPBSA
World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, often abbreviated to the WPBSA, founded in 1968 and based in Bristol, England, United Kingdom is the governing body of professional snooker and English billiards...
Tour event. Despite winning only one key event, Hicks has career winnings of GB£
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
562,560 (up to the start of the 2006/2007 season
Snooker season 2006/2007
The snooker season 2006/2007 was a series of snooker tournaments played during 2006 and 2007. The following table outlines the results and dates for all the ranking and major invitational events.-Calendar:- Official rankings :...
).
Personal life
He currently lives Launceston, Cornwall and is the staff pro at Bell's Court Snooker Club in FalmouthFalmouth, Cornwall
Falmouth is a town, civil parish and port on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a total resident population of 21,635.Falmouth is the terminus of the A39, which begins some 200 miles away in Bath, Somerset....
. His wife Rachel was working there when they met; they married in 2005, and had their first child in 2006. He also plays golf, in a local society named after him.