World Snooker Championship: Fergal O'Brien brings curtain down on 33-year career after defeat in Crucible qualifier

ByEurosport

Updated 10/04/2024 at 07:06 GMT

Ireland's Fergal O'Brien has ended his career as a professional player after losing in the first round of qualifying for the World Championship at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield on Tuesday. The former Masters finalist and British Open champion went down 10-8 to Mostafa Dorgham in his final match since turning professional in 1991, the year when John Parrott claimed the Crucible title.

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Former British Open champion Fergal O'Brien will hang up his cue after losing 10-8 to Egypt's world No. 125 Mostafa Dorgham in his opening World Championship qualifier.

World No. 106 O'Brien led 3-0, but was pegged back to 4-4 with his opponent claiming three of the final four frames from 7-7 to advance to the second qualifying round at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

The Irishman reached No. 9 in 2000/01, two years after winning the British Open in 1999 with a 9-7 win over Anthony Hamilton, while he also lost a memorable Masters final 10-9 to Paul Hunter in 2001.

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O'Brien finished the 2021/22 season at 76th in the world before regaining his professional tour card at Q School, but announced plans in January to retire at the end of the season after turning professional back in 1991.

He also reached the last eight of the World Championship in 2000, losing 13-5 to Mark Williams in the quarter-finals.

Elsewhere, former Crucible semi-finalist Marco Fu completed a 10-1 win over former women's world champion Baipat Siripaporn boosted by seven plus-50 breaks, while record 12-time women's world champion Reanne Evans endured a forgettable day in losing 10-0 to Oliver Brown.