Jimmy Michie
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Michie is an English
former professional snooker
player from Pontefract
, Yorkshire
, and a two-time WPBSA
ranking tournament semi-finalist
, who has also reached the World Snooker Championship
. Michie has been described as "charismatic" by the snooker press.
Michie was ranked only 61, for the first of two successive seasons, having failed to do better than the last-48 (third round) in ranking tournaments, although he did get that far twice that season. In the Northern Ireland Trophy
, after having beaten Ben Woollaston
and six-time World Champion runner-up Jimmy White
, he lost 4–5 to James Wattana
, and he fell in the Malta Cup
to Stuart Bingham
, 3–5.
Michie has placed as high as no. 55 twice, in both the 2002/2003
and 2004/2005
seasons.
His first ranking semi-final (fifth-round) performance was earned, at the 1999 British Open
by defeating Tony Drago
, Marcus Campbell
, double World Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan
, and 1991 World Champion
John Parrott
, finally losing to Anthony Hamilton
.
In the 2002 LG Cup
, he beat Marco Fu
and Mark King
, and narrowly defeated quarter-finalist Gerard Greene
5–4 (after having been down 1–4 before dramatically rallying), to reach the semi-finals again. However, he lost 2–6 against the tournament's eventual winner, Chris Small
.
His only World Snooker Championship entrance to date was in the 1996 event
, in which he was bumped out in the first round, 8–10, by James Wattana
. The World Snooker website reported that he "arrived in a stretch limo" at the Crucible
, apparently excited at his first World title opportunity, "but made a low-key exit after losing".
In January 2011, he was involved in a controversial televised match against Marcus Campbell
in the inaugural Snooker Shoot-Out
. Campbell's price to win the match crashed on the betting exchanges pre-match and several bookmakers refused to take any bets on it altogether. The WPBSA issued a statement saying that they would carry out a full investigation.
The match against Campbell would prove to be Michie's last as a professional, as he retired shortly afterwards.
1,000 for the return of his cue, which had been stolen along with his car.
He is a close friend as well as competitor of Ronnie O'Sullivan
, who borrowed Michie's cue
in the semi-final of the 2006 World Championship, because O'Sullivan had persistent problems with his own cue, especially the tip, which Michie helped him re-attach.
The tight-knit pro snooker world involves Michie in other ways, as of early 2007 he is in physical training to prepare for charity marathons to raise funds for the anti-cancer foundation that is the legacy of now-deceased fellow pro Paul Hunter
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former 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 Pontefract
Pontefract
Pontefract is an historic market town in West Yorkshire, England. Traditionally in the West Riding, near the A1 , the M62 motorway and Castleford. It is one of the five towns in the metropolitan borough of the City of Wakefield and has a population of 28,250...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, and a two-time WPBSA
World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, often abbreviated to the WPBSA, founded in 1968 and based in Bristol, England, United Kingdom is the governing body of professional snooker and English billiards...
ranking tournament semi-finalist
Snooker world rankings
The snooker world rankings are the official system of ranking professional snooker players to determine automatic qualification and seeding for tournaments on the World Snooker Tour. They are maintained by the sport's governing body, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association...
, who has also reached the World Snooker 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...
. Michie has been described as "charismatic" by the snooker press.
Career
In the 2006/2007 seasonSnooker world rankings 2006/2007
Snooker world rankings 2006/2007: The professional world rankings for the top 64 snooker players in the 2006/2007 season are listed below.-Notes:...
Michie was ranked only 61, for the first of two successive seasons, having failed to do better than the last-48 (third round) in ranking tournaments, although he did get that far twice that season. In the 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....
, after having beaten Ben Woollaston
Ben Woollaston
-External links:**...
and six-time World Champion runner-up Jimmy White
Jimmy White
James Warren "Jimmy" White MBE is an English professional snooker player. Nicknamed the "Whirlwind" and popularly referred to as the "People's Champion", White is a multiple World Championship finalist renowned for losing each of the six finals he contested.White's extensive list of achievements,...
, he lost 4–5 to James Wattana
James Wattana
James Wattana is a Thai professional snooker player.-Career:...
, and he fell in the Malta Cup
Malta Cup
The Malta Cup was a professional snooker tournament that has been on the World Snooker calendar since the 1988/89 season. It was previously known as the European Open as the sole ranking tournament in Europe, outside the British Isles.- History :Prior to the 1988/89 season, there were no ranking...
to Stuart Bingham
Stuart Bingham
Stuart Bingham is an English professional snooker player. He was the 1996 English Amateur and World Amateur champion, but for many years was something of a journeyman professional. He had a run of strong results in late 2005, to earn him a top 32 world rankings place he has yet to lose...
, 3–5.
Michie has placed as high as no. 55 twice, in both the 2002/2003
Snooker world rankings 2002/2003
Snooker world rankings 2002/2003: The professional world rankings for the top 32 snooker players in the 2002/2003 season are listed below.-References:...
and 2004/2005
Snooker world rankings 2004/2005
Snooker world rankings 2004/2005: The professional world rankings for the top 64 snooker players in the 2004/2005 season are listed below. This was Chris Small's only top 16 season, and Paul Hunter's only appearance in the top 4.-References:...
seasons.
His first ranking semi-final (fifth-round) performance was earned, at the 1999 British Open
British Open (snooker)
The British Open was a professional snooker tournament. It was a ranking tournament from 1985. The tournament has not been held since the 2004/2005 season....
by defeating Tony Drago
Tony Drago
Tony Drago is a professional snooker and pool player from Malta. He won the 2003 World Pool Masters Tournament beating Hsia Hui-kai 8–6 and also reached the quarter finals of the World Snooker Championship...
, 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:...
, double World Champion 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...
, and 1991 World Champion
World Snooker Championship 1991
The 1991 Embassy World Snooker Championship snooker tournament took place at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield between 20 April and 6 May 1991.John Parrott took the title, beating Jimmy White 18–11 in the final...
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...
, finally losing to Anthony Hamilton
Anthony Hamilton (snooker player)
Anthony Hamilton is an English professional snooker player noted for his strong break-building technique and distinctive appearance. He has spent five seasons ranked among the game's top 16, and fifteen in the top 32, reaching a career-high at number #10 in the world in the 1999/2000 season...
.
In the 2002 LG Cup
Grand Prix (snooker)
The World Open is a professional ranking snooker tournament. It has previously been known as the Professional Players Tournament, the LG Cup and the Grand Prix. During 2006 and 2007, it was played in a unique round-robin format, more similar to association football and rugby tournaments than the...
, he beat Marco Fu
Marco Fu
Marco Fu Ka-chun , commonly known as Marco Fu, is a professional snooker player from Hong Kong. He currently resides in Happy Valley. He is best known for winning the 2007 Grand Prix, beating Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final, and for being runner-up in the 2008 UK Championship...
and Mark King
Mark King (snooker player)
Mark King is an English professional snooker player. He has not yet won a ranking tournament, but came close when he was a beaten finalist in the 1997 Regal Welsh Open and the 2004 Irish Masters.- Career :...
, and narrowly defeated quarter-finalist Gerard Greene
Gerard Greene
Gerard Greene is a left-handed Northern Irish professional snooker player, who has represented Northern Ireland in international events , as his parents are from Belfast. He lives in Rainham in Kent...
5–4 (after having been down 1–4 before dramatically rallying), to reach the semi-finals again. However, he lost 2–6 against the tournament's eventual winner, Chris Small
Chris Small
Christopher "Chris" Small is a retired Scottish professional snooker player. His career was ended by the spinal condition ankylosing spondylitis.-Career:...
.
His only World Snooker Championship entrance to date was in the 1996 event
World Snooker Championship 1996
The 1996 Embassy World Snooker Championship snooker tournament took place at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield between 20 April–6 May 1996.Stephen Hendry won in the final 18–12 against Peter Ebdon.-Notable moments:...
, in which he was bumped out in the first round, 8–10, by James Wattana
James Wattana
James Wattana is a Thai professional snooker player.-Career:...
. The World Snooker website reported that he "arrived in a stretch limo" at the Crucible
Crucible Theatre
The Crucible Theatre is a theatre built in 1971 and located in the city centre of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. As well as theatrical performances, it is home to the most important event in professional snooker, the World Snooker Championship....
, apparently excited at his first World title opportunity, "but made a low-key exit after losing".
In January 2011, he was involved in a controversial televised match against 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:...
in the inaugural Snooker Shoot-Out
2011 Snooker Shoot-Out
The 2011 CaesarsCasino.com Snooker Shoot-Out was a cue sport tournament played under a variation of the standard rules of snooker, that took place between 28–30 January 2011 at the Circus Arena, Blackpool, England...
. Campbell's price to win the match crashed on the betting exchanges pre-match and several bookmakers refused to take any bets on it altogether. The WPBSA issued a statement saying that they would carry out a full investigation.
The match against Campbell would prove to be Michie's last as a professional, as he retired shortly afterwards.
Off the table
In 2002, he unsuccessfully offered a reward of £Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
1,000 for the return of his cue, which had been stolen along with his car.
He is a close friend as well as competitor of 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...
, who borrowed Michie's cue
Cue stick
A cue stick , is an item of sporting equipment essential to the games of pool, snooker and carom billiards. It is used to strike a ball, usually the...
in the semi-final of the 2006 World Championship, because O'Sullivan had persistent problems with his own cue, especially the tip, which Michie helped him re-attach.
The tight-knit pro snooker world involves Michie in other ways, as of early 2007 he is in physical training to prepare for charity marathons to raise funds for the anti-cancer foundation that is the legacy of now-deceased fellow pro Paul Hunter
Paul 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....
.