Dominic Dale
Encyclopedia
Dominic Dale is a Welsh
professional snooker
player and occasional snooker commentator and presenter for the BBC
.
.
He has won two ranking tournaments in his career, the first of which – the Grand Prix in 1997 – he won while ranked number 54 in the world, beating then world number 2 John Higgins 9–6 in the final. It took him a decade to repeat the achievement at the 2007 Shanghai Masters
, where he defeated compatriot Ryan Day
10–6 in the final, from 2–6 behind. On his way to the Shanghai final he beat Rory McLeod
, Ken Doherty
, Adrian Gunnell
, Dave Harold
and Mark Selby
.
Both of his ranking victories were in the season-opening tournaments; he also reached the semi-finals of the season-opening events in 2002 (LG Cup) and 2006 (Northern Ireland Trophy
). He also beat Peter Ebdon
at the 2008 Malta Cup, despite a bout of stomach cramps and a drinking session the night before the match.
Dale is the only player to have won multiple ranking tournaments without ever reaching the top 16, but he was 14th on the one-year list for both 1997/1998 and 1999/2000 (missing out due to an unsuccessful 1998/1999 season).
His best World Championship
performance was in 2000, when he reached the quarter-finals with a 10–6 victory over Peter Ebdon
and an emphatic 13–1 defeat of David Gray.
Dale won the third professional tournament of his career when he won Event 6
of the Players Tour Championship 2010/2011
, beating Martin Gould
4–3 in the final. This win, along with other consistent performances, were enough to see him back into the top 32 players. He also qualified for the World Championship
for the first time since 2004, although he was comprehensively beaten 10–2 in the first round by Ronnie O'Sullivan
.
and operatic singing. After his Shanghai Masters win, he celebrated by singing "My Way
" at the post-match conference. In December 2007 Dale moved to Vienna
with his girlfriend Katharina. His form declined after this move, which he attributed to not having a professional training partner in Vienna, and he returned to live in the UK four years later.
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{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#eee;"
|Legend
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| World Championship (0–0)
|- style="background:#dfe2e9;"
| UK Championship (0–0)
|- bgcolor=
| Other (2–0)
|}
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
|width="80"|Outcome
|width="20"|No.
|width="50"|Year
|width="250"|Championship
|width="200"|Opponent in the final
|align="center" width="50"|Score
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 1.
| 1997
| Grand Prix
|
| align="center"|9–6
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 2.
| 2007
| Shanghai Masters
|
| align="center"|10–6
|}
|-
|width="80"|Outcome
|width="20"|No.
|width="50"|Year
|width="250"|Championship
|width="200"|Opponent in the final
|align="center" width="50"|Score
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 1.
| 2010
| Players Tour Championship – Event 6
|
| align="center"|4–3
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 1.
| 2011
| Players Tour Championship – Event 10
|
| align="center"|2–4
|}
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 and occasional snooker commentator and presenter for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
Career
Dale won the Welsh Amateur Championship, which allowed him to compete at the World Amateur Championship in Bangkok. Dale reached the final, but lost 9–11 against Noppadon Noppachorn. Dale turned professional for the 1992/1993 seasonSnooker season 1992/1993
The snooker season 1992/1993 was a series of snooker tournaments played during the years 1992 and 1993. The following table outlines the results for ranking, minor-ranking and the invitational events.-Calendar:...
.
He has won two ranking tournaments in his career, the first of which – the Grand Prix in 1997 – he won while ranked number 54 in the world, beating then world number 2 John Higgins 9–6 in the final. It took him a decade to repeat the achievement at the 2007 Shanghai Masters
2007 Shanghai Masters
The 2007 Shanghai Masters was the inaugural event of the Shanghai Masters tournament and the first ranking event of the season. It took place between 6–12 August 2007 at the Shanghai Grand Stage.Dominic Dale won in the final 10–6 against Ryan Day....
, where he defeated compatriot Ryan Day
Ryan Day
-External links:* * *...
10–6 in the final, from 2–6 behind. On his way to the Shanghai final he beat Rory McLeod
Rory McLeod (snooker player)
Rory McLeod is an English professional snooker player. After ten years on the Challenge Tour he reached the Main Tour professional ranks for the 2001/2002 season, paving the way for a solid journeyman career.-Career:...
, Ken Doherty
Ken Doherty
Ken Doherty is an Irish professional snooker player. He is the only player ever to have been world amateur and world professional champion...
, Adrian Gunnell
Adrian Gunnell
Adrian Gunnell is an English professional snooker player from Telford. He has reached the last-16 in four world ranking events , but has yet to progress beyond that stage...
, Dave Harold
Dave Harold
David 'Dave' Harold is an English professional snooker player from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England. He is known by the nicknames of "the Hard Man" and "the Stoke Potter"...
and Mark Selby
Mark Selby
Mark Anthony Selby is an English professional snooker and pool player. Runner up in the World Snooker Championship 2007, he was the 2006 WEPF World Eight-ball Champion. Selby has won the Masters on two occasions, the Welsh Open and the Shanghai Masters...
.
Both of his ranking victories were in the season-opening tournaments; he also reached the semi-finals of the season-opening events in 2002 (LG Cup) and 2006 (Northern Ireland Trophy
Northern Ireland Trophy
- History :First contested in 1981 and named Northern Ireland Classic. It was an invitational event held at Ulster Hall, Belfast, and Jimmy White beat Steve Davis in the final....
). He also beat 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:...
at the 2008 Malta Cup, despite a bout of stomach cramps and a drinking session the night before the match.
Dale is the only player to have won multiple ranking tournaments without ever reaching the top 16, but he was 14th on the one-year list for both 1997/1998 and 1999/2000 (missing out due to an unsuccessful 1998/1999 season).
His best World Championship
World Snooker Championship
The World Snooker Championship is the leading professional snooker tournament in terms of both prize money and ranking points. The first championship was held in 1927; since 1977, it has been played at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England...
performance was in 2000, when he reached the quarter-finals with a 10–6 victory over 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 an emphatic 13–1 defeat of David Gray.
Dale won the third professional tournament of his career when he won Event 6
Players Tour Championship 2010/2011 – Event 6
The Players Tour Championship 2010/2011 – Event 6 minor-ranking snooker tournament took place over 14–17 October 2010, at the World Snooker Academy, Sheffield, England.Dominic Dale won in the final 4–3 against Martin Gould.-Prize fund and ranking points:1 Only professional players...
of the Players Tour Championship 2010/2011
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 ....
, beating Martin Gould
Martin Gould
Martin Gould is an English professional snooker player from Pinner in the London Borough of Harrow. He practises at the Whetstone Snooker Club. He works part-time as a debt collector, where he picked up his nickname "Solid Gould"....
4–3 in the final. This win, along with other consistent performances, were enough to see him back into the top 32 players. He also qualified for the World Championship
2011 World Snooker Championship
The 2011 Betfred.com World Snooker Championship professional ranking snooker tournament took place between 16 April and 2 May 2011 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England. It was the 74th edition of the event and was the last ranking event of the 2010/2011 snooker season...
for the first time since 2004, although he was comprehensively beaten 10–2 in the first round by Ronnie O'Sullivan
Ronnie O'Sullivan
Ronald Antonio "Ronnie" O'Sullivan , is an English professional snooker player known for his rapid playing style and nicknamed "The Rocket". He has been World Champion on three occasions , and is second on the all-time prize-money list, with career earnings of over £6 million, behind only Stephen...
.
Personal life
Dale's personality, dress sense and hair styles make him one of the more colourful players on the circuit. His interests include snooker memorabilia, Art DecoArt Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
and operatic singing. After his Shanghai Masters win, he celebrated by singing "My Way
My Way (song)
"My Way" is a song popularized by Frank Sinatra. Its lyrics were written by Paul Anka and set to music based on the French song "Comme d'habitude" composed in 1967 by Claude François and Jacques Revaux, with lyrics by Claude François and Gilles Thibault. Anka's English lyrics are unrelated to the...
" at the post-match conference. In December 2007 Dale moved to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
with his girlfriend Katharina. His form declined after this move, which he attributed to not having a professional training partner in Vienna, and he returned to live in the UK four years later.
Ranking event finals: 2 (2 titles)
{||-
| style="width:40%; vertical-align:top; text-align:left;"|
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#eee;"
|Legend
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| World Championship (0–0)
|- style="background:#dfe2e9;"
| UK Championship (0–0)
|- bgcolor=
| Other (2–0)
|}
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
|width="80"|Outcome
|width="20"|No.
|width="50"|Year
|width="250"|Championship
|width="200"|Opponent in the final
|align="center" width="50"|Score
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 1.
| 1997
| Grand Prix
|
| align="center"|9–6
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 2.
| 2007
2007 Shanghai Masters
The 2007 Shanghai Masters was the inaugural event of the Shanghai Masters tournament and the first ranking event of the season. It took place between 6–12 August 2007 at the Shanghai Grand Stage.Dominic Dale won in the final 10–6 against Ryan Day....
| Shanghai Masters
|
| align="center"|10–6
|}
Minor-ranking event finals: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)
{| class="sortable wikitable"|-
|width="80"|Outcome
|width="20"|No.
|width="50"|Year
|width="250"|Championship
|width="200"|Opponent in the final
|align="center" width="50"|Score
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 1.
| 2010
| Players Tour Championship – Event 6
Players Tour Championship 2010/2011 – Event 6
The Players Tour Championship 2010/2011 – Event 6 minor-ranking snooker tournament took place over 14–17 October 2010, at the World Snooker Academy, Sheffield, England.Dominic Dale won in the final 4–3 against Martin Gould.-Prize fund and ranking points:1 Only professional players...
|
| align="center"|4–3
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 1.
| 2011
| Players Tour Championship – Event 10
Players Tour Championship 2011/2012 – Event 10
The Players Tour Championship 2011/2012 – Event 10 minor-ranking snooker tournament took place over 27–30 November 2011, at the World Snooker Academy, Sheffield, England....
|
| align="center"|2–4
|}