Mark Joyce
Encyclopedia
Mark Joyce is an English
professional snooker player who lives in Walsall
. Joyce enjoyed an outstanding amateur career, winning the European Under-19 Championship in 2001, the English Open in 2005 and the English Amateur Championship
in 2006, beating Martin O’Donnell 8–3 in the final.
Joyce also finished fifth on the 2005/06 Pontin’s International Open Series, winning the second of eight events, to book a place on the professional circuit.
10–4. He also recorded his highest break of 130 in professional play during the qualifiers. This would remain his highest break until the qualifying stages of the 2010 World Championship. He ended the season ranked 73rd.
before narrowly losing 5–4 to veteran John Parrott
in the penultimate qualifying round. The Grand Prix would be the first tournament that Joyce would qualify for after finishing 2nd in his qualifying group. However, he would go on to lose all 5 matches in the group stage of the tournament. After failing to qualify for the Northern Ireland Trophy, Joyce won 3 matches to reach the final qualifying round of the UK Championship before being ousted 9–2 by Ian McCulloch
. The remainder of the season was fairly uneventful as he failed to qualify for the Malta Cup, Welsh Open and the China Open. He finished the season off by losing in the third qualifying round of the World Championship
. His exploits in the season resulted in his ranking going up 14 places to number 59. This will mean he would have 1 less qualifying match to play in the following season.
and then a 5–0 defeat to Judd Trump
in the first ranking event of the season, the Northern Ireland Trophy
. He followed this up with a run to the final qualifying round of the Shanghai Masters
in the next event. Another win and a defeat in the Grand Prix after being reverted back to a knockout competition and the same result in the Bahrain Championship
. Joyce only recorded 1 win from the next three ranking tournaments, the UK Championship, the Welsh Open and the China Open. His best performance of the season was in the qualifying tournament for the Masters, where he reached final, only to lose 1-6 to Judd Trump. The season ended poorly for Joyce with a 10–6 defeat to Patrick Wallace
in his first match of the World Championship qualifiers. Despite this, he ended the season up 2 places to number 57 in the rankings.
, Michael Judge
and Barry Hawkins
to qualify for the Grand Prix. He was drawn against the defending champion John Higgins and was defeated 5–1. The remainder of the season up to the World Championship was uneventful with only 2 wins in 3 ranking tournaments. In qualifying for the World Championship, he recorded a 139 break (his highest so far in professional snooker) against Jimmy Robertson
in the 3rd qualifying round. He won this match 10–9 and then defeated Michael Judge
10–8 to set up a meeting with Jamie Cope
for a place at The Crucible
. Cope was to prove too strong for Joyce as he ran away a 10–5 winner.
for the first time in his career, beating six-time World Champion Steve Davis
9-2 in the final qualifying round. He reached the quarter-finals of a ranking
tournament for the first time in his career by defeating Ali Carter 9-6 in the last 32 and Judd Trump
9-7 in the last 16. In quarter-finals, he lost 7-9 to Mark Williams
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional snooker player who lives in Walsall
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
. Joyce enjoyed an outstanding amateur career, winning the European Under-19 Championship in 2001, the English Open in 2005 and the English Amateur Championship
English Amateur Championship
The English Amateur Championship is a snooker competition that has been played since 1916.The first two tournaments were won by Charles Nathaniel Jaques, who was subsequently shot through the wrist in World War I and unable to defend his title again....
in 2006, beating Martin O’Donnell 8–3 in the final.
Joyce also finished fifth on the 2005/06 Pontin’s International Open Series, winning the second of eight events, to book a place on the professional circuit.
2006/07 season
Joyce had a very uneventful first season on the tour, failing to qualify for any of the major events. He ended the season losing in the penultimate qualifying round of the World Championship to Fergal O'BrienFergal O'Brien
Fergal O'Brien is an Irish professional snooker player. He has won one ranking title and reached two other major finals, and spent three seasons as a top 16 player.-Career:...
10–4. He also recorded his highest break of 130 in professional play during the qualifiers. This would remain his highest break until the qualifying stages of the 2010 World Championship. He ended the season ranked 73rd.
2007/08 season
Joyce started the season with 2 wins in qualifying for the Shanghai Masters2007 Shanghai Masters
The 2007 Shanghai Masters was the inaugural event of the Shanghai Masters tournament and the first ranking event of the season. It took place between 6–12 August 2007 at the Shanghai Grand Stage.Dominic Dale won in the final 10–6 against Ryan Day....
before narrowly losing 5–4 to veteran 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...
in the penultimate qualifying round. The Grand Prix would be the first tournament that Joyce would qualify for after finishing 2nd in his qualifying group. However, he would go on to lose all 5 matches in the group stage of the tournament. After failing to qualify for the Northern Ireland Trophy, Joyce won 3 matches to reach the final qualifying round of the UK Championship before being ousted 9–2 by Ian McCulloch
Ian McCulloch (snooker player)
-External links:**...
. The remainder of the season was fairly uneventful as he failed to qualify for the Malta Cup, Welsh Open and the China Open. He finished the season off by losing in the third qualifying round of the World Championship
World Snooker Championship 2008
The 2008 888.com World Snooker Championship professional ranking snooker tournament took place between 19 April and 5 May 2008 at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield.John Higgins was the defending champion, but he lost in the second round 9–13 against Ryan Day....
. His exploits in the season resulted in his ranking going up 14 places to number 59. This will mean he would have 1 less qualifying match to play in the following season.
2008/09 season
The season started with a 5–0 victory against Patrick WallacePatrick Wallace
Patrick Wallace is a former professional snooker player from Dungannon in Northern Ireland. He is an accountancy graduate from Queens University, Belfast...
and then a 5–0 defeat to Judd Trump
Judd Trump
Judd Trump is an English professional snooker player from Bristol. He enjoyed considerable success in youth tournaments before turning professional in 2005. On 3 April 2011, Trump won his first ranking title, beating Mark Selby 10–8 in the final of the China Open...
in the first ranking event of the season, the Northern Ireland Trophy
2008 Northern Ireland Trophy
The 2008 Northern Ireland Trophy professional ranking snooker tournament took place between 24 and 31 August 2008 in the Waterfront Hall in Belfast....
. He followed this up with a run to the final qualifying round of the Shanghai Masters
2008 Shanghai Masters
The 2008Roewe Shanghai Masters professional ranking snooker tournament took place between 29 September and 5 October 2008 at the Shanghai Grand Stage, Shanghai, China...
in the next event. Another win and a defeat in the Grand Prix after being reverted back to a knockout competition and the same result in the Bahrain Championship
2008 Bahrain Championship
The 2008 Bahrain Championship professional ranking snooker tournament took place between 8 November and 15 November 2008 at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre, Manama, Bahrain...
. Joyce only recorded 1 win from the next three ranking tournaments, the UK Championship, the Welsh Open and the China Open. His best performance of the season was in the qualifying tournament for the Masters, where he reached final, only to lose 1-6 to Judd Trump. The season ended poorly for Joyce with a 10–6 defeat to Patrick Wallace
Patrick Wallace
Patrick Wallace is a former professional snooker player from Dungannon in Northern Ireland. He is an accountancy graduate from Queens University, Belfast...
in his first match of the World Championship qualifiers. Despite this, he ended the season up 2 places to number 57 in the rankings.
2009/10 season
Joyce's fourth season on the tour got off to a bad start with a 5–2 defeat to Joe Jogia in the qualifying for the Shanghai Masters. He followed this up with victories over Andrew NormanAndrew Norman
Andrew Norman is an English professional snooker player who lives in Bristol, who turned professional in 2001. He has progressed up the ranking list between 2005 and 2007, jumping 30 places...
, Michael Judge
Michael Judge
-External links:**...
and Barry Hawkins
Barry Hawkins
Barry Hawkins is an English professional snooker player. He has reached three ranking semi-finals, and spent five seasons inside the top 32 of the rankings. He has also played in the World Championship the last six years running.-Early career:Before taking up snooker professionally he was an...
to qualify for the Grand Prix. He was drawn against the defending champion John Higgins and was defeated 5–1. The remainder of the season up to the World Championship was uneventful with only 2 wins in 3 ranking tournaments. In qualifying for the World Championship, he recorded a 139 break (his highest so far in professional snooker) against Jimmy Robertson
Jimmy Robertson (snooker player)
Jimmy "Robbo" Robertson is an English professional snooker player.He was on the main tour for 2002/2003 where he was the youngest player on the tour...
in the 3rd qualifying round. He won this match 10–9 and then defeated Michael Judge
Michael Judge
-External links:**...
10–8 to set up a meeting with Jamie Cope
Jamie Cope
-External links:***...
for a place 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....
. Cope was to prove too strong for Joyce as he ran away a 10–5 winner.
2010/11 season
Despite starting from the first round of qualification, Joyce managed to qualify for the televised stages of the UK Championship2010 UK Championship (snooker)
The 2010 12BET.com UK Championship professional ranking snooker tournament took place between 4–12 December 2010 at the Telford International Centre, Telford, England.Ding Junhui was the defending champion, but he lost 8–9 against Mark Allen in the last 16....
for the first time in his career, beating six-time World Champion 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...
9-2 in the final qualifying round. He reached the quarter-finals of a ranking
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...
tournament for the first time in his career by defeating Ali Carter 9-6 in the last 32 and Judd Trump
Judd Trump
Judd Trump is an English professional snooker player from Bristol. He enjoyed considerable success in youth tournaments before turning professional in 2005. On 3 April 2011, Trump won his first ranking title, beating Mark Selby 10–8 in the final of the China Open...
9-7 in the last 16. In quarter-finals, he lost 7-9 to Mark Williams
Mark Williams (snooker player)
Mark James Williams, MBE is a Welsh professional snooker player who has been World Champion twice, in 2000 and 2003. Often noted for his single-ball potting, he has earned the nickname, The Welsh Potting Machine...
.