Daniel Wells (snooker player)
Encyclopedia
Daniel Wells is a Welsh
professional snooker
player, from Neath
.
Scholarship. This gave him the chance to practise in the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield
, alongside professional players, such as Peter Ebdon
and Ding Junhui
.
He first qualified for the Main Tour for the 2008/2009 season by finishing ranked fifth on the International Open Series
rankings.
in the Grand Prix. This was followed by a run to the penultimate qualifying round of the Bahrain Championship
where he lost to veteran John Parrott
3–5.
An impressive run to the last 16 of the Masters Qualifying tournament included a 5–4 win over Crucible quarter-finalist Liang Wenbo
. He followed this with a defeat to Li Hang
in the first qualifying round of UK Championship 3–9.
However, at the World Championship, Wells needed a good run of results to ensure his place on the tour for the following season. A sequence of 10–9 wins over Li Hang
, Ian Preece
and Marcus Campbell
took him to the final qualifying round where he lost 9–10 to Barry Hawkins
in the final qualifying match. In his 4 qualifying matches, he played the maximum 76 frames. His ranking rose to #70 as a result of his exploits that season.
with a win over fellow Welshman Ian Preece
5–3 in the Shanghai Masters before losing to Joe Delaney
in the next round by the same scoreline. In the UK Championship, he narrowly lost 8–9 to fellow Welshman Michael White
. In his home championship, the Welsh Open, Wells narrowly lost in the first quualifying round to James Wattana
4–5. Another first qualifying round defeat in the China Open meant that Wells was again in danger of losing his place on the tour. Wells failed to repeat his exploits of the previous season in the World Championship as he lost 7–10 to former world #12 David Gray in the first qualifying round. This meant that he fell off the tour.
Wells entered many of the PTC and EPTC events
, and managed to record some impressive wins eventually finishing 29th on the Order of Merit. He has regained a place on the main tour for 2011/2012
by finishing top of the Welsh rankings. Wells also won the European Snooker Championships and the European Team Championships (with team Wales).
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
professional snooker
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
player, from Neath
Neath
Neath is a town and community situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, UK with a population of approximately 45,898 in 2001...
.
Early career
He was awarded the inaugural Paul HunterPaul Hunter
Paul Alan Hunter was an English professional snooker player. His media profile developed swiftly and he became known as the "Beckham of the Baize" because of his good looks and flamboyant style....
Scholarship. This gave him the chance to practise in the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, alongside professional players, such as Peter Ebdon
Peter Ebdon
Peter "Ebbo" Ebdon is an English professional snooker player and former world champion renowned for his remarkably focused, determined style of play.-Early years:...
and Ding Junhui
Ding Junhui
Ding Junhui is a Chinese professional snooker player. Ding Junhui is China's most successful player ever, having become only the second teenager, after John Higgins, to win three ranking titles...
.
He first qualified for the Main Tour for the 2008/2009 season by finishing ranked fifth on the International Open Series
International Open Series
The International Open Series , was a series of snooker tournaments that ran from the 2001/2002 season until the 2009/2010 season...
rankings.
2008/2009
He had consistent results on his first spell on the main tour, winning his first qualifying match in most events, apart from defeat in the first qualifying round to Stefan MazrocisStefan Mazrocis
Stefan Mazrocis is an international standard Dutch amateur snooker player. He was born of Latvian/English parentage, spent his early snooker years of snooker in Leicester, England honing his snooker skills. He has recorded three maximum breaks in a single day...
in the Grand Prix. This was followed by a run to the penultimate qualifying round of the Bahrain Championship
2008 Bahrain Championship
The 2008 Bahrain Championship professional ranking snooker tournament took place between 8 November and 15 November 2008 at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre, Manama, Bahrain...
where he lost to veteran John Parrott
John Parrott
John Parrott MBE is an English professional snooker player and TV personality.He won the World Snooker Championship in 1991, defeating Jimmy White in the final. Two years earlier he had lost 3–18 to Steve Davis, the heaviest final defeat in modern times...
3–5.
An impressive run to the last 16 of the Masters Qualifying tournament included a 5–4 win over Crucible quarter-finalist Liang Wenbo
Liang Wenbo
Liang Wenbo is a Chinese professional snooker player. He is left-handed and ranked as China's number 2 player, after Ding Junhui. Liang is based at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield, England, United Kingdom.-Career:...
. He followed this with a defeat to Li Hang
Li Hang
Li Hang is a Chinese professional snooker player, who is making his debut on the Main Tour for the 2008/2009 season. He managed to qualify by winning the ACBS Asian Under-21 Championship. He competed in the 2008 Jiangsu Classic, finishing last in his group, although he managed to beat the 2008...
in the first qualifying round of UK Championship 3–9.
However, at the World Championship, Wells needed a good run of results to ensure his place on the tour for the following season. A sequence of 10–9 wins over Li Hang
Li Hang
Li Hang is a Chinese professional snooker player, who is making his debut on the Main Tour for the 2008/2009 season. He managed to qualify by winning the ACBS Asian Under-21 Championship. He competed in the 2008 Jiangsu Classic, finishing last in his group, although he managed to beat the 2008...
, Ian Preece
Ian Preece
Ian Preece is a Welsh professional snooker player, from the city of Newport, Wales. He appeared in main tour after much success as a junior including becoming the youngest winner of the World Amateur Championship in 1999.-Career:...
and Marcus Campbell
Marcus Campbell
Marcus Campbell is a Scottish professional snooker player. He lives in Erskine. He has been ranked within the worlds top 64 for 9 consecutive seasons and is currently ranked at 24.-Career:...
took him to the final qualifying round where he lost 9–10 to Barry Hawkins
Barry Hawkins
Barry Hawkins is an English professional snooker player. He has reached three ranking semi-finals, and spent five seasons inside the top 32 of the rankings. He has also played in the World Championship the last six years running.-Early career:Before taking up snooker professionally he was an...
in the final qualifying match. In his 4 qualifying matches, he played the maximum 76 frames. His ranking rose to #70 as a result of his exploits that season.
2009/2010
Wells started the new seasonSnooker season 2009/2010
The snooker season 2009/10 was a series of snooker tournaments played during 2009 and 2010. The following table outlines the results and dates for all the ranking and major invitational events.- Calendar :- Official rankings :...
with a win over fellow Welshman Ian Preece
Ian Preece
Ian Preece is a Welsh professional snooker player, from the city of Newport, Wales. He appeared in main tour after much success as a junior including becoming the youngest winner of the World Amateur Championship in 1999.-Career:...
5–3 in the Shanghai Masters before losing to Joe Delaney
Joe Delaney
Joe Alton Delaney was an American football running back who played two seasons in the National Football League . In his two seasons with the Chiefs, Delaney set four franchise records that would stand for over 20 years....
in the next round by the same scoreline. In the UK Championship, he narrowly lost 8–9 to fellow Welshman Michael White
Michael White (snooker player)
Michael White is a Welsh professional snooker player from Neath. He is the resident professional at the Whitez Snooker Club in the Uplands, Swansea.-Early career:...
. In his home championship, the Welsh Open, Wells narrowly lost in the first quualifying round to James Wattana
James Wattana
James Wattana is a Thai professional snooker player.-Career:...
4–5. Another first qualifying round defeat in the China Open meant that Wells was again in danger of losing his place on the tour. Wells failed to repeat his exploits of the previous season in the World Championship as he lost 7–10 to former world #12 David Gray in the first qualifying round. This meant that he fell off the tour.
2010/2011
Despite not being on the main tour during the 2010/2011 seasonSnooker season 2010/2011
The 2010/11 snooker season is a series of snooker tournaments played during 2010 and 2011. The following table outlines the results and dates for all the ranking and major invitational events.- Calendar :-New professional players:...
Wells entered many of the PTC and EPTC events
Players Tour Championship 2010/2011
The Players Tour Championship 2010/2011 started on 24 June 2010 and ended on 20 March 2011 with events held in Sheffield and Europe. The televised finals took place between the top 24 Order of Merit players, who have played at least 6 events ....
, and managed to record some impressive wins eventually finishing 29th on the Order of Merit. He has regained a place on the main tour for 2011/2012
Snooker season 2011/2012
The 2011/12 snooker season is a series of snooker tournaments played during 2011 and 2012. The following table outlines the results and dates for all the ranking and major invitational events.- Calendar :-New professional players:...
by finishing top of the Welsh rankings. Wells also won the European Snooker Championships and the European Team Championships (with team Wales).