Nigel Bond
Encyclopedia
Nigel Bond is an English
professional snooker
player. He was ranked within the top 16 from 1992 to 1999. After a season outside the top 32, he regained his place there. At 43 years old, he was the second-oldest player (behind Steve Davis
) in the 2008/2009
rankings top 32. He is a former British Open champion
, and World Championship
finalist; in 2009 he won the World Games title. He is noted as one of the best users of the swan neck rest. A solid breakbuilder, Bond has compiled 95 centuries so far in his career.
, Bond pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in the event's history, rallying from 9–2 to defeat Cliff Thorburn
10–9 in what would be Thorburn's final appearance at the Crucible. A year later, Bond reached the final, but lost to Stephen Hendry
18–9. This was his only semi-final run of the season. As a consequence of reaching the final, he climbed to number 5 in the world rankings for 1996/97, and in that same season he acquired his only ranking tournament victory (after three previous losing finals), the British Open, beating John Higgins 9–8 after needing a snooker in the final frame, winning the World Snooker Association Performance of the Year award for this achievement, although he has failed to maintain this level of performance.
He reached at least the quarter finals at the Crucible Theatre
every year from 1993 to 1996, losing to Stephen Hendry
every time, which added extra spice to their first round match in 2006. After leading comfortably throughout the match Bond was pegged back to 7–7, and the match went to a final frame. With only the black remaining, and 7 points up, Bond clipped it into the left corner pocket, only for the cue ball to go in the right middle pocket, resulting in a respotted black (the first one ever to decide the final frame of a World Championship match), which Bond potted to take frame and match. Final score 10–9, Bond's first win at the Crucible since 1999, and his only last-16 run of that season.
By the end of the 1990s, Bond was out of the top 16, and dropped out of the top 32 for the 2004–2005 season. However, he reclaimed his place a year later, and he has remained there ever since as of 2009. In the 2007 World Championship he lost in the first round, 10–7 to Peter Ebdon
.
A run to the last 16 of the 2007 UK Championships,
in which he came from 5–7 to win 9–7 against Ken Doherty
in the last 32 before losing 9–6 to Ding Junhui
in the last 16, was a precursor to his first quarter-final run for 5 years, at the China Open
. Victories over David Roe
, Stephen Lee
and Barry Pinches
took him to a meeting with Stephen Maguire
, which he lost 5–0.
He opened the 2008/09 season with first-round defeats in the first five tournaments, but victory over Ebdon in the first round of the World Championship ensured that he didn't lose his top 32 status.
On the 30th January 2011
, Bond won the 2011 Snooker Shoot-Out
event. This involved the top 64 players in the world of snooker. Bond was successful, winning only 6 frames to win the competition. He picked up the £32,000 prize money as well as the Snooker Shoot-Out trophy. He beat Robert Milkins
58–24 in the final.
, where he attended Churchtown Primary School. Bond is interested in football, supporting Manchester City.
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...
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. He was ranked within the top 16 from 1992 to 1999. After a season outside the top 32, he regained his place there. At 43 years old, he was the second-oldest player (behind Steve Davis
Steve 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...
) in the 2008/2009
Snooker world rankings 2008/2009
Snooker world rankings 2007/2008: The official world ranking points for the 96 professional snooker players in the 2007/2008 season are listed below. The total points from the seasons 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 were used to determine the rankings for the season 2008/2009.- Ranking points :...
rankings top 32. He is a former British Open champion
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....
, and 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...
finalist; in 2009 he won the World Games title. He is noted as one of the best users of the swan neck rest. A solid breakbuilder, Bond has compiled 95 centuries so far in his career.
Career
After a strong amateur career, Bond turned professional for the 1989–1990 season. He reached his first ranking semi-final in his first season, and his first final in his second season, but his career peaked in the mid-1990s. In the 1994 World ChampionshipsWorld 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...
, Bond pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in the event's history, rallying from 9–2 to defeat Cliff Thorburn
Cliff Thorburn
Clifford Charles Devlin Thorburn CM, known as Cliff Thorburn is a retired professional Canadian snooker player...
10–9 in what would be Thorburn's final appearance at the Crucible. A year later, Bond reached the final, but lost to Stephen Hendry
Stephen Hendry
Stephen Gordon Hendry, MBE is a Scottish professional snooker player. In 1990, he was the youngest-ever snooker World Champion, at the age of 21. He has won the World Championship a record seven times and was snooker's world number one for eight consecutive years between 1990 and 1998, and again...
18–9. This was his only semi-final run of the season. As a consequence of reaching the final, he climbed to number 5 in the world rankings for 1996/97, and in that same season he acquired his only ranking tournament victory (after three previous losing finals), the British Open, beating John Higgins 9–8 after needing a snooker in the final frame, winning the World Snooker Association Performance of the Year award for this achievement, although he has failed to maintain this level of performance.
He reached at least the quarter finals at the Crucible Theatre
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....
every year from 1993 to 1996, losing to Stephen Hendry
Stephen Hendry
Stephen Gordon Hendry, MBE is a Scottish professional snooker player. In 1990, he was the youngest-ever snooker World Champion, at the age of 21. He has won the World Championship a record seven times and was snooker's world number one for eight consecutive years between 1990 and 1998, and again...
every time, which added extra spice to their first round match in 2006. After leading comfortably throughout the match Bond was pegged back to 7–7, and the match went to a final frame. With only the black remaining, and 7 points up, Bond clipped it into the left corner pocket, only for the cue ball to go in the right middle pocket, resulting in a respotted black (the first one ever to decide the final frame of a World Championship match), which Bond potted to take frame and match. Final score 10–9, Bond's first win at the Crucible since 1999, and his only last-16 run of that season.
By the end of the 1990s, Bond was out of the top 16, and dropped out of the top 32 for the 2004–2005 season. However, he reclaimed his place a year later, and he has remained there ever since as of 2009. In the 2007 World Championship he lost in the first round, 10–7 to 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:...
.
A run to the last 16 of the 2007 UK Championships,
in which he came from 5–7 to win 9–7 against 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...
in the last 32 before losing 9–6 to 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...
in the last 16, was a precursor to his first quarter-final run for 5 years, at the China Open
China Open (snooker)
The China Open is a professional snooker tournament. It is one of a number of ranking tournaments and began in 1997.-History:The first international snooker tournament in China was the China International in September 1997, a non-ranking tournament for the top 16 players and local players. The...
. Victories over David Roe
David Roe
David Roe is a former English professional snooker player, and a four-time ranking tournament quarter-finalist.Roe began his professional career for the 1986/1987 season...
, Stephen Lee
Stephen Lee
Stephen Lee is a professional snooker-player from Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England, whose smooth cue action is regarded by some pundits as the most natural in the game. He has won four ranking titles, and spent 10 seasons in the Top 16 of the world rankings before dropping out for the snooker...
and Barry Pinches
Barry Pinches
-External links:**...
took him to a meeting with 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...
, which he lost 5–0.
He opened the 2008/09 season with first-round defeats in the first five tournaments, but victory over Ebdon in the first round of the World Championship ensured that he didn't lose his top 32 status.
On the 30th January 2011
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...
, Bond won the 2011 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...
event. This involved the top 64 players in the world of snooker. Bond was successful, winning only 6 frames to win the competition. He picked up the £32,000 prize money as well as the Snooker Shoot-Out trophy. He beat Robert Milkins
Robert Milkins
- External links :* * * *...
58–24 in the final.
Personal life
Bond was brought up in Darley DaleDarley Dale
Darley Dale, also known simply as Darley, is a town in Derbyshire, England, with a population of around 6,000 people. It lies north of Matlock, on the River Derwent and the A6 road.- History :...
, where he attended Churchtown Primary School. Bond is interested in football, supporting Manchester City.
World Championship finals: 1 (1 runner-up)
| Outcome | Year | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| Runner-up | 1995 |  Stephen HendryStephen Hendry Stephen Gordon Hendry, MBE is a Scottish professional snooker player. In 1990, he was the youngest-ever snooker World Champion, at the age of 21. He has won the World Championship a record seven times and was snooker's world number one for eight consecutive years between 1990 and 1998, and again... |
18–9 |
Amateur wins
- World Games (Snooker – Men's Singles)Snooker at the 2009 World Games – Men's singlesThe men's singles snooker competition at the World Games 2009 took place between July 22–26 at the Jhongjheng Martial Arts Stadium.-Last 16:-Last 8:...
– 2009