Dominic Dale is a Welsh professional who won two ranking titles during a long and unconventional career, despite never breaking into the world’s top 16.
Dominic Dale – Career Snapshot
| Date of birth: | 29 December 1971 |
| Nationality: | Wales |
| Turned professional: | 1992 |
| Highest world ranking: | No. 19 |
| Ranking titles: | 2 |
| World Championship titles: | 0 |
| Triple Crown titles: | 0 |
| Masters appearances: | 0 |
| Maximum 147 breaks: | 0 |
Dominic Dale’s Snooker Career
Dominic Dale turned professional in 1992 after reaching the final of the IBSF World Amateur Championship. Over the next three decades, he carved out a distinctive career on the main tour, combining longevity with an ability to produce occasional deep runs at major events.
Nicknamed the Spaceman for his eccentric on-table personality, Dale became one of a relatively small group of players to win multiple ranking titles. Curiously, however, he never managed to break into the world’s top 16, with a career-high ranking of number 19.
His first major breakthrough came at the 1997 Grand Prix, where he defeated Steve Davis and Jimmy White before overcoming John Higgins 9-6 in the final. The victory secured Dale’s first ranking title and remains one of the most unexpected results of the decade.
Almost ten years later, he produced another surprise run to claim the 2007 Shanghai Masters. Dale beat Ken Doherty and Mark Selby en route to the final, where he defeated Ryan Day 10-6 to secure his second ranking trophy.
Although he spent several seasons hovering around the top 20, Dale was unable to find the sustained consistency required to reach the elite tier. As a result, he remains one of the few multiple ranking event winners never to have appeared at the Masters.
Alongside his ranking successes, Dale also enjoyed a number of notable victories away from the traditional tour structure, including the 2014 Snooker Shoot Out. He was also part of the Welsh team that won the Nations Cup in 1999.
Dale retired from the main tour in 2025 and in more recent times has become a regular voice as a commentator and pundit on televised snooker coverage.
Dominic Dale’s Ranking Titles
Dominic Dale won 2 ranking titles during his professional career.
| Year | Tournament |
|---|---|
| 1997 | Grand Prix |
| 2007 | Shanghai Masters |
Other Major Titles and Notable Wins
- Snooker Shoot Out (2014)
- Malaysian Masters (1996)
- Nations Cup (1999)
- Minor ranking event – PTC Event 6 (2010)
Dominic Dale and the Triple Crown
Dominic Dale has won 0 Triple Crown titles during his professional career, twice reaching the quarter-finals of the World Championship.
- World Championship: 0 titles
- UK Championship: 0 titles
- Masters: 0 titles
SHQ Star Rating: ★★★
SnookerHQ uses a seven-point star scale based on the scoring values of snooker balls, with a black (7) representing the highest career classification. Ratings are assigned using career achievements, longevity, and historical impact.
Dominic Dale: ★★★
SHQ Star Rating: How it works →
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Featured photo credit: WST