Mark Bennett (snooker player)
Encyclopedia
Mark Bennett is a former Welsh
professional snooker player from Newport
.
After winning the Welsh amateur title in 1985, he turned professional the followiing year. He was ranked in the top 32 for four seasons between 1991 and 1995, reaching a high rank of 24
in 1993. Throughout his thirteen year professional career he never reached a ranking final, but managed to reach several tournament quarter-finals and semi-finals. His last, and most famous, run to a ranking semi-final was in the 1996 Grand Prix
. http://www.snooker.org/trn/9697/gp_res.shtml On the way he knocked out four seeded players, Peter Ebdon
5-3, Chris Small
5-0, Steve Davis
5-3 (from 0-3 down) and Tony Drago
5-1, before losing 3-6 to Euan Henderson
in the semi-finals after having led 3-1 at the interval. His quarter-final against Drago was particularly memorable for Drago hurling his cue at the table and storming out of the arena at the end of the match, with Drago later accusing Bennett of bad sportsmanship because Bennett, who had trapped Drago in a snooker that yielded 24 points in the final frame, suggested twice to the referee that he thought Drago had missed the red ball on purpose.
He qualified for the World Championship four times between 1987 and 1994, but never made it past the first round, coming closest in the 1990 event when he lost 9-10 to John Parrott
.
Following his promising result in the 1996 Grand Prix, Bennett's career went into decline, and he eventually retired from professional snooker in 1999; however, he still occasionally plays in Welsh Amateur League matches and works as a snooker coach in the Monmouthshire region.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
professional snooker player from Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
.
After winning the Welsh amateur title in 1985, he turned professional the followiing year. He was ranked in the top 32 for four seasons between 1991 and 1995, reaching a high rank of 24
Snooker world rankings 1993/1994
Snooker world rankings 1993/1994: The professional world rankings for the top 32 snooker players in the 1993/1994 season are listed below.-References:...
in 1993. Throughout his thirteen year professional career he never reached a ranking final, but managed to reach several tournament quarter-finals and semi-finals. His last, and most famous, run to a ranking semi-final was in the 1996 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...
. http://www.snooker.org/trn/9697/gp_res.shtml On the way he knocked out four seeded players, 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:...
5-3, Chris Small
Chris Small
Christopher "Chris" Small is a retired Scottish professional snooker player. His career was ended by the spinal condition ankylosing spondylitis.-Career:...
5-0, 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...
5-3 (from 0-3 down) and Tony Drago
Tony Drago
Tony Drago is a professional snooker and pool player from Malta. He won the 2003 World Pool Masters Tournament beating Hsia Hui-kai 8–6 and also reached the quarter finals of the World Snooker Championship...
5-1, before losing 3-6 to Euan Henderson
Euan Henderson
Euan Henderson is a retired Scottish professional snooker player. In his twelve year professional career he reached only one ranking final, in the 1996 Grand Prix albeit without beating any of the game's established leading players, although his 6-3 semi-final win over Welsh veteran Mark Bennett...
in the semi-finals after having led 3-1 at the interval. His quarter-final against Drago was particularly memorable for Drago hurling his cue at the table and storming out of the arena at the end of the match, with Drago later accusing Bennett of bad sportsmanship because Bennett, who had trapped Drago in a snooker that yielded 24 points in the final frame, suggested twice to the referee that he thought Drago had missed the red ball on purpose.
He qualified for the World Championship four times between 1987 and 1994, but never made it past the first round, coming closest in the 1990 event when he lost 9-10 to John Parrott
John Parrott
John Parrott MBE is an English professional snooker player and TV personality.He won the World Snooker Championship in 1991, defeating Jimmy White in the final. Two years earlier he had lost 3–18 to Steve Davis, the heaviest final defeat in modern times...
.
Following his promising result in the 1996 Grand Prix, Bennett's career went into decline, and he eventually retired from professional snooker in 1999; however, he still occasionally plays in Welsh Amateur League matches and works as a snooker coach in the Monmouthshire region.