SNOOKER’S MEMORABLE MOMENTS COUNTDOWN: No. 30 – No. 26

30. Joe Swail on the bell in the Snooker Shoot-Out (2016)

There are small and funny moments in the Snooker Shoot-Out. Some rules are thrown out of the window. The crowd is allowed to have a more merry and boisterous time, which means that players can relax and have more fun. Think Hamza Akbar with his high-pitched whooping and Dechawat Poomjaeng being, well, Dechawat Poomjaeng.

The most amazing thing in the Snooker Shoot-Out happened between Gary Wilson and Joe Swail. Wilson was leading 16-9 with thirty seconds to go. The Outlaw potted a long red, followed by a blue and a red. While he managed to tie, he managed to release the pink into play with three seconds to go. Swail ran across the table and smashed the pink into the middle pocket right on the buzzer. Phil Yates initially described as the greatest shot he had ever seen.

The reason why it is at No.30 on the list is because it is the most forgettable. The Shoot-Out isn’t on the same level as other tournaments and the moment itself hasn’t been very significant or influential. But it is memorable, it is fun and it did epitomise what the Shoot-Out should be about.

29. The 147th Maximum Break (2019)

The 147th maximum break is a momentous feat. Snooker has come a long way since British Army officers created the sport while stationed in India. From the first official maximum break in professional competition in 1982, several people wanted to see the ‘maximum’ of maximums.

It just a shame so few people were there to see it live.

This is because the 147th maximum was made by David Gilbert in the Championship League. This competition was only broadcast via the Internet for those lucky enough to see it and not on television. In fact, there was no audience present at any of the Championship League matches. Just two players (Gilbert and Stephen Maguire) and the referee Paul Collier were there to see it. In some ways, that makes it so funny and memorable. The specific accolade that would only exist in the world of snooker was completed behind closed doors.

28. Alain Robidoux’s Grudge Against The Rocket (1996)

Alain Robidoux is a player people don’t give too much credit for. He reached one ranking final, which is the 1996 German Masters. He became just the sixth player to score a maximum and reached as high as No. 9 in the rankings. Lastly, he made his first World Championship semi-final in 1997, beating Brian Morgan, Stefan Mazrocis and Lee Walker before succumbing to a 17-7 defeat to eventual champion Ken Doherty. Unfortunately, he is most famous for being incredibly sulky towards Ronnie O’Sullivan.

It was the 1996 World Championships, where Robidoux and O’Sullivan met in the first round. In the middle of the match, O’Sullivan was dominating the Canadian and was playing many shots with his opposite hand. Even John Virgo commentated that the Rocket was “taking the mick.” It was at 8-2 to Ronnie when his showboating exhibitionism got to Alain. In frustration, Robidoux refused to concede, despite being 75-22 behind with brown to black on the table.

This pettiness carried on for at least seven minutes before Ronnie eventually won the frame. When Robidoux lost 10-3, he left the arena in disgust without shaking Ronnie’s hand. O’Sullivan then claimed that he can play with his left better than Alain can play with his right. It was an infamous and funny moment, but it showed the sport in a different light.

27. Dechawat Poomjaeng’s Hilarious Crucible Antics (2013)

In snooker, you remember an incredible break under pressure or a high-quality match, which sets a tone for the rest of any tournament. Then you remember Dechawat Poomjaeng and you can’t help but think back and laugh. Snooker in the modern era receives a lot of criticism for a lack of personalities on the tour. A lot of professionals are very serious, media-trained, deadpan and acting to the upmost decorum. A far cry from the likes of Alex Higgins and Jimmy White. But Poomjaeng brought a breath of fresh air into the sport with his playful, clumsy and Mr. Bean-esque attitude.

Poomjaeng qualified as a debutant in the 2013 World Championships and was drawn against Stephen Maguire. Throughout the match the commentators and the crowd were warmed by his infectious smile and animated expressions. He once got lost backstage, walked to the wrong table, applauded himself for his own shots and knocked over a jug of water by his seat. Incredibly, he pulled off one of the greatest Crucible shocks, beating Maguire 10-9, receiving a standing ovation in the process.

Mr. Poombastic or as commentators affectionately called him the ‘Mr. Bean of Thailand” failed to progress further. He was thrashed 13-3 by Michael White, infamously losing one frame via the ‘three-miss’ rule. Despite this, he was enjoying the interaction with the audience and Michaela Tabb, making him the fan favourite. Poomjaeng was very close to qualifying a second time, but lost to Mitchell Mann in the final qualifying round in 2016. Dechawat dropped off the tour the following season. But he will go down in history as one of snooker’s most odd, unlikely and genuine characters.

26. Ken Doherty’s Misses The Final Black (2000)

There are so many famous 147s made over the past few decades, with a few of them on this list alone. However, there are far more failed attempts at creating the magic maximum that we love to get excited about. There aren’t too many memorable ones. For me, the first one that comes to mind is Thepchaiya Un-Nooh’s final break miss during the 2015 UK Championship.

There is one that sticks out like a sore thumb. The one that is constantly replayed on any BBC compilation video. The one that is always reminded by John Virgo in the commentary box. That is the memorable and certainly infamous final black miss by Ken Doherty in the 2000 Masters final.

Many snooker sources explain the thoughts going through Ken Doherty’s mind as he missed a routine black off the spot. That it was all a blur and when he got down on the shot he was suddenly shaking. The fact that all Doherty could think about the £80,000 prize car for completing the 147. The devastation in his face as he slumped back to his chair smiling. Somewhere in the background, Matthew Stevens wore a face that painted a thousand words and the audience groaned in agony and despair.

Unfortunately, The Darlin’ of Dublin managed to lose 10-8 to Stevens. It is rather weird that Stevens’s victory is less famous than that miss on the black! Thankfully for Crafty Ken, he finally made his first maximum at the Paul Hunter Classic, twelve years after that memorable attempt.

The next article will talk about No. 25 – No. 21 in the Snooker’s Memorable Moments Countdown. This will be published in early February.