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Anthony Hamilton (snooker player)
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Anthony Hamilton (born June 29, 1971, Nottingham, East Midlands) is an English professional snooker player. He is nicknamed "the Sheriff of Pottingham", and his distinctive goatee beard has also earned him the less flattering nickname of "Swampy", after the eco-warrior. He now lives in Muswell Hill, north London.
CareerHamilton's world ranking reached no. 10 in the world in the 1999/2000 season, the best of his four-season run in the Top 16. Hamilton has only reached two ranking tournament final rounds, the British Open of 1999, where he lost to Fergal O'Brien, and the 2001 China Open where Mark J. Williams beat him 9-8, despite Hamilton having led 8-5. He made the first of his four World Championship quarter-finals in 2000, losing 3-13 to John Higgins. In the same year he suffered a broken wrist while attempting to stop a friend being mugged, an injury which kept him out of three tournaments and ultimately cost him his 2001/2002 Top 16 place.
He has reached the quarter-finals of the World Championship on three later occasions, but without reaching the semi-final stage. In 2002, he lost 6-13 to eventual winner Peter Ebdon. In 2004, he made two consecutive to come from 0-2 down to level at 2-2 in his quarter-final against eventual champion Ronnie O'Sullivan, but eventually lost the match 3-13. Hamilton's 438 points scored in this match are a record low for a World Championship Quarter-final. He also has the highest ever points total in a first-round match at the Crucible, 1271 against Chris Small in 1999, though he lost this match 9-10 . In 1997 he reached the second round; facing John Parrott at this stage he scored 414 unanswered points in frames 1-5, but still lost the match (this is the second highest number of unanswered points in Crucible history; the record was set by John Higgins against Hamilton in the second round in 2000).
Hamilton did not fare well in the 2006 World Championship, losing 1-10 in the opening round to Mark J. Williams. However, a strong two seasons ensured that he reclaimed a top 16 place.
In the high point of his campaign in the 2006/2007 season, Hamilton reached the Welsh Open quarter-finals by defeating both Joe Perry and Dave Harold, before losing his quarter-final match to Steve Davis in a final- decider. After winning no other matches up to the 2007 World Championship, he entered the Championship provisionally ranked no. 32.
Despite being unable to retain his Top 16 ranking for 2007/2008, Hamilton reached his fourth World Championship quarter-final in the 2007 event, pulling off a surprise 10-3 victory over Marco Fu in round 1, and a 13-8 second round win over Ian McCulloch (who had eliminated reiging champion Graeme Dott in the first round). However, he failed again to advance to the semi-final stage, losing 7-13 to Stephen Maguire.
The 2007/2008 season produced little achievement of note for Hamilton, as he failed to reach the last 16 of any ranking event. He ensured his qualification for the 2008 World Championship with a 10-2 victory over Scott MacKenzie in the final qualifying round, but lost 10-3 to Stephen Maguire in the first round proper.
Known as a prolific builder, Hamilton has compiled 173 competitive centuries during his career.
Tournament WinsNon-Ranking
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