Fergal O’Brien – Player Profile, Career Summary, Stats

Fergal O’Brien Player Profile

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Summary

Fergal O’Brien has been an ever-present on the Main Tour since first turning professional in 1991.

During that long period, the Dubliner has earned a reputation as being one of the fiercest competitors on the circuit.

While not necessarily gifted with the most natural talent, O’Brien has carved out a respectable career based on the foundations of hard work and graft.

The Irishman’s most successful years came around the turn of the millennium, when strong performances saw him reach a career-high world ranking of number nine.

In 1999, O’Brien reached his first ranking event final and duly beat Anthony Hamilton 9-7 to capture the British Open crown.

Less than two years later, he narrowly missed out on glory in the game’s most prestigious invitational tournament.

At the 2001 Masters, O’Brien beat Mark Williams and Ken Doherty en route to the final in London, where he squandered a 7-3 lead in an eventual 10-9 reverse to Paul Hunter.

Soon after, O’Brien dropped out of the top 16 in the world rankings and could never rediscover the consistency to break back in.

He managed to reach the finals of the Northern Ireland Trophy in 2007 and the Gdynia Open in 2014 but came up short against Stephen Maguire and Shaun Murphy respectively.

With Ireland, he was also a runner-up to Scotland alongside Doherty and Stephen Murphy in the 1996 World Cup.

Upon making his debut at a World Championship in 1994, O’Brien became the first player to compile a century break in his very first frame at the Crucible Theatre.

Many years later at the 2017 World Championship qualifiers, he participated in the longest ever frame, a decider against David Gilbert that took 123 minutes and 41 seconds.

A year earlier, O’Brien also became the first player to tally five tons in a best-of-11 fixture.

In 2022, O’Brien was relegated from the Main Tour but immediately bounced back through Q School.

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Ranking Event Victories

1. 1999 British Open

Other Notable Victories

• N/A

Featured photo credit: WST

Fergal O’Brien Player Profile

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SHQ Stars: How it works

Rating	SHQ Stars	Career Requirements
Black	★★★★★★★	multiple world champion; 30+ ranking titles; career triple crown; world no.1 (at least 3)
Pink	★★★★★★	world champion; 10+ ranking titles; multiple winner of triple crown events; member of top 2; 15+ seasons in top 16 (at least 3)
Blue	★★★★★	winner of triple crown event; 5+ ranking titles; member of top 4; 12+ seasons in top 16 (at least 2)
Brown	★★★★	2+ ranking titles; member of top 8; triple crown event finalist; 8+ seasons in the top 16 (at least 2)
Green	★★★	ranking title; member of top 16 (at least 1)
Yellow	★★	member of top 64
Red	★	professional