Veteran Fergal O'Brien to retire from snooker after 30-year career

The Dubliner who reached a career-high of ninth in the world in 2000-01 revealed his intention to hang up his cue to RTE Sport 

END OF THE LINE: Fergal O'Brien. Picture: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Veteran Irish snooker pro Fergal O'Brien has revealed his intention to step away from the table, bringing the curtain down on a career which has spanned over 30 years.

O'Brien is a former British Open winner and finalist at the Masters in 2001 but lost his elite-level playing privileges last year when he was relegated from the professional tour. While he later regained his status in Q School, O'Brien has decided that now is the right time to transition to a role away from day-to-day competition. 

"I’m initially sad at the thought of not playing anymore because obviously I’ve been a professional for 33 years. It's been my life," O'Brien told RTE Sport after revealing the news to the national broadcaster. 

"I could be on my own playing, you know, happy as anything, just playing. So obviously I'll still be playing, but obviously not the same amount or the same intensity. I will miss that.

"Obviously I have had some success. I would have liked more, of course, but I think ultimately for me, you know, without sounding too corny, the journey is the reward. I always wanted to play snooker.

"I loved playing snooker and even the bad days and the disappointments were still, in some ways fulfilling. You're still alive. You still felt something. I'm fortunate now that I do have other options still in snooker. That's going to soften the blow."

O'Brien said he intends to pursue media work as well as snooker coaching.