Former snooker star Tony Drago thinks modern players on the main tour lack emotion, likening them to “robots” when there’s an opportunity to celebrate.
One of Malta’s greatest ever sportspeople, Drago was a recent guest on the popular YouTube channel of seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry.
The recently turned 59 year-old still possesses a deep love for the game – playing regularly on the World Seniors Tour and watching tournaments on the pro circuit from home.
But although the Tornado recognises that the standard today is high, he wishes players would show more character and personality when the chance to do so presents itself.
“In Malta now, they watch all the snooker players,” Tony Drago said on the Stephen Hendry Cue Tips YouTube channel.
“But they keep saying to me, ‘that time with yourself, Stephen [Hendry], Jimmy [White], we’ll never see again. We used to have such a good time.'”
“So now they appreciate the good snooker. [But] you know me, I always say things and I cannot hold back. Today, it’s like watching robots.
“They’re good, but when I was young…even now, if I’m on a maximum in practice, when I get to 104 I’ll be getting nervous.
“Now, you see a kid make a maximum on television, and he goes…” Drago says before going to his chair to mimic an expressionless celebration.
Who is Tony Drago?
Tony Drago was a naturally gifted player who memorably wore his heart on his sleeve, and he continues to be hugely popular with supporters all around the world.
First turning professional in 1985, his lightning quick speed around the table and an ethos to entertain immediately endeared him to fans of the game.
Drago was a professional on the main tour for more than three decades, reaching a career-high world ranking of number ten in 1998.
He won a Strachan Challenge minor ranking event in 1993 and the Guangzhou Masters invitational in 1996, where he beat Steve Davis in the final.
There were several near misses in tournaments, however, including at the 1997 International Open when he made his only appearance in a full ranking event final.
Drago also suffered disappointment twice on home soil when he finished runner-up at both the 1994 and 1996 editions of the Malta Grand Prix in front of his adoring fans.
Known for an amazing ability to pot balls without the need to rely on much time addressing the cue ball, Drago compiled a spectacular century break against John Higgins at the 1996 UK Championship in just three minutes and 31 seconds.
His great natural talent was not limited to snooker, with nine-ball pool also being a frequent source of success.
Drago was on two winning European teams of the Mosconi Cup, including in 2007 when he was selected as the competition’s Most Valuable Player.
In 2003, Drago won the prestigious World Pool Masters, but snooker has always been his primary passion and he reached the semi-finals of the World Seniors Snooker Championship earlier this year.
The slapping incident
One of Drago’s most infamous incidents, which happened at a time when it became easier for clips to go viral online, transpired at the 2013 German Masters qualifiers.
At a crucial moment of a tight match with Alan McManus that was deep into the deciding frame, he misinterpreted the score and offered his hand in concession.
After realising his mistake, the distraught Drago proceeded to aggressively slap himself repeatedly on the face.
Hendry, who Drago managed to beat three times during his pro career, didn’t shy away from asking about it during their honest chat.
“It wasn’t funny,” Drago admitted. “What happened is, I’m playing against Alan McManus. They call him Angles.”
“I needed two snookers, and I gave him the two easiest snookers in the world to hit. I mean, who’s the worst player in the world to get out of snookers? Even you would have hit them, sorry Stephen.
“And he missed them both. It’s 4-4, and I said, am I seeing stars here or what happened?
“Then I had an easy ball on the free ball, and I missed it. And I just said, well, that’s it. I’m not going to go into it, but I had a lot of problems off the table.
“I don’t think just the game of snooker was going to make me do that.”
You can watch the full episode of Tony Drago with Stephen Hendry on YouTube by clicking here.
Drago is arguably the most successful snooker player in the pool world.
He reached the quarter-finals on his Crucible debut in 1988.