Mark Davis (snooker player)
Encyclopedia
Mark Davis is an English
professional snooker
player from St. Leonards
in Sussex
, England
. The highlights of his career so far have been winning the Benson & Hedges Championship in 2002 – earning him an appearance at the Masters
– and winning the 2009 Six-red World Championship
.
in the first round of the World Championship
. Two years later Doherty beat him in the first round of the Irishman's 1997 title-winning run. He also qualified for the event in 1994, 2001 and 2008, reaching 2008's event with a 10–9 victory over Leo Fernandez
and a 10–2 win over Gerard Greene
. He went on to be knocked out in the first round by Mark Williams
, where he lost 10–3.
Davis came close to losing his Main Tour status in the late 1990s, but recovered in the early 2000s to return to the top 48. Reaching the quarter-finals of the 2001 Regal Scottish tournament, his second career quarter-final, was the main catalyst for this. His success in reaching the 2008 World Championship came after 2 poor seasons, leaving him at #58 in the rankings. He opened the 2008/2009 season strongly by qualifying for the 2008 Northern Ireland Trophy and defeating local hope Joe Swail
5–4 in the first round, before beating Ding Junhui
5–4 in the last 32 in one of the best wins of his career. He was beaten in the last 16 5–2 by Ali Carter. He followed this up by also qualifying for the Bahrain
and UK Championships, though he was forced to pull out early in his last-32 match against Joe Perry
in the latter, due to a stomach upset http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7781545.stm. He exceeded his 2007/2008 ranking points total after only five of the eight events of the 2008/2009 season.
In 2009 Davis won the Six-Red World Championship
.
In 2010, Davis reached the second round of the World Championship for the first time in 15 years by defeating sixth seed Ryan Day
.
Davis has compiled 100 competitive centuries in his career up to September 2010, putting him 35th in the top of the players reaching a century of centuries in a career.
He got his career best tournamant break of 143 in the China Open on 29 March 2010, the 93rd of his career, in a wild-card round match against Tian Pengfei
.
After an excellent 2009/2010 season, he reached the top 32 of the players and also claim his highest rank, by being ranked 26th.
He also qualified for the 2010 Shanghai Masters event where he reached the last-eight beating Marco Fu
and Stephen Maguire
on the way before surrendering a 4–1 lead against Jamie Burnett
and going out 5–4. However, his strong performances continued and took him to a career high ranking of 18.
. Nor is he related to Fred Davis or Joe Davis
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...
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 St. Leonards
St Leonards-on-Sea
St Leonards-on-Sea is part of Hastings, East Sussex, England, lying immediately to the west of the centre. The original part of the settlement was laid out in the early 19th century as a new town: a place of elegant houses designed for the well-off; it also included a central public garden, a...
in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The highlights of his career so far have been winning the Benson & Hedges Championship in 2002 – earning him an appearance at the Masters
Masters (snooker)
The Masters is a professional snooker tournament and the second longest running tournament outside the World Championship. Although not a ranking event, it is regarded as one of the most prestigious tournaments on the circuit, earning the second biggest prize money.-History:The tournament was held...
– and winning the 2009 Six-red World Championship
2009 Six-red World Championship
The 2009 Six-red World Championship was a six-red snooker tournament, held 14 to 18 December 2009 at the INEC, Killarney, Republic of Ireland....
.
Career
Davis first gained attention in 1995, when he defeated Ken DohertyKen Doherty
Ken Doherty is an Irish professional snooker player. He is the only player ever to have been world amateur and world professional champion...
in the first round of the 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...
. Two years later Doherty beat him in the first round of the Irishman's 1997 title-winning run. He also qualified for the event in 1994, 2001 and 2008, reaching 2008's event with a 10–9 victory over Leo Fernandez
Leo Fernandez
Leo Fernandez is a current amateur and former professional snooker player born in Limerick, Ireland and living in London, England. He is currently competing on the Pontins International Tour , attempting to gain promotion to the Main Tour to regain professional status...
and a 10–2 win over 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...
. He went on to be knocked out in the first round by Mark Williams
Mark Williams (snooker player)
Mark James Williams, MBE is a Welsh professional snooker player who has been World Champion twice, in 2000 and 2003. Often noted for his single-ball potting, he has earned the nickname, The Welsh Potting Machine...
, where he lost 10–3.
Davis came close to losing his Main Tour status in the late 1990s, but recovered in the early 2000s to return to the top 48. Reaching the quarter-finals of the 2001 Regal Scottish tournament, his second career quarter-final, was the main catalyst for this. His success in reaching the 2008 World Championship came after 2 poor seasons, leaving him at #58 in the rankings. He opened the 2008/2009 season strongly by qualifying for the 2008 Northern Ireland Trophy and defeating local hope Joe Swail
Joe Swail
-External links:*...
5–4 in the first round, before beating 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...
5–4 in the last 32 in one of the best wins of his career. He was beaten in the last 16 5–2 by Ali Carter. He followed this up by also qualifying for the Bahrain
Bahrain Championship 2008
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...
and UK Championships, though he was forced to pull out early in his last-32 match against Joe Perry
Joe Perry (snooker player)
-External links:*...
in the latter, due to a stomach upset http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7781545.stm. He exceeded his 2007/2008 ranking points total after only five of the eight events of the 2008/2009 season.
In 2009 Davis won the Six-Red World Championship
2009 Six-red World Championship
The 2009 Six-red World Championship was a six-red snooker tournament, held 14 to 18 December 2009 at the INEC, Killarney, Republic of Ireland....
.
In 2010, Davis reached the second round of the World Championship for the first time in 15 years by defeating sixth seed Ryan Day
Ryan Day
-External links:* * *...
.
Davis has compiled 100 competitive centuries in his career up to September 2010, putting him 35th in the top of the players reaching a century of centuries in a career.
He got his career best tournamant break of 143 in the China Open on 29 March 2010, the 93rd of his career, in a wild-card round match against Tian Pengfei
Tian Pengfei
Tian Pengfei is a professional snooker player from the People's Republic of China.-Career:Tian first competed on the main tour in the 2006/2007 season, dropping off the tour in the following season....
.
After an excellent 2009/2010 season, he reached the top 32 of the players and also claim his highest rank, by being ranked 26th.
He also qualified for the 2010 Shanghai Masters event where he reached the last-eight beating 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 Stephen Maguire
Stephen Maguire
Stephen Maguire is a Scottish professional snooker player.-Early career:Maguire almost qualified for the 2000 World Championships, leading eventual semi-finalist Joe Swail 9–6 in the final qualifying round before losing 9–10, but first served notice of his true potential by knocking out Stephen...
on the way before surrendering a 4–1 lead against Jamie Burnett
Jamie Burnett
Jamie Burnett is a professional snooker player from Hamilton, Scotland.-Career:During the qualifying stages of the 2004 UK Championship, he achieved the impressive feat of becoming the first ever player to compile a break over 147 in a professional match, in which he made a break of 148 against...
and going out 5–4. However, his strong performances continued and took him to a career high ranking of 18.
Personal
He has a brother called Steve, though he is not related to multiple World Champion Steve DavisSteve Davis
Steve Davis, OBE is an English professional snooker player. He has won more professional titles in the sport than any other player, including six World Championships during the 1980s, when he was the world number one for seven years and became the sport's first millionaire...
. Nor is he related to Fred Davis or Joe Davis
Joe Davis
Joe Davis, OBE was a British professional player of snooker and English billiards....