Ryan Day
Encyclopedia
Ryan Day is a Welsh
professional snooker
player. He is known as a very solid breakbuilder and is one of only 35 players to have made over a century of centuries.
(WPBSA). He won the 2001 Benson & Hedges Championship. With this win, he qualified for the 2002 Masters, where he defeated Dave Harold
, before losing 0–6 to Stephen Hendry
. He also won the WPBSA Challenge Tour
in the 2001/2002 season and was named WPBSA Newcomer of the Year in 2002. Due to problems with his liver in 2003, his results suffered badly.
In 2004, however, he qualified for the World Snooker Championship and he led John Higgins 9–7 in the first round, becoming the first player to score three in his first Crucible
match, but missed a pink in the 17th frame that would have left Higgins needing a snooker to stay in the tournament. Higgins went on to win the frame and the next two for the match. As some consolation, Higgins commented that Day was "going to be a top player for many years to come".
and Steve Davis
along the way (coming back from 0–4 to beat Steve Davis
5–4). He finished this season ranked 33, but as Quinten Hann
did not participate in any events, Day was always among the top 32 seeds, meaning one less qualifying match than he would otherwise have faced.
Back at the Crucible in 2006, he beat Joe Perry
10–3 in the first round and led Ronnie O'Sullivan
9–7 in the second round before losing 10–13. He narrowly missed reaching the top 16 of the rankings as a result.
The 2006/2007 season
was the most successful of his career to date. Day reached the quarter-finals of the 2006 Northern Ireland Trophy
and was runner up in the 2007 Malta Cup
, losing 4–9 to Shaun Murphy
. That year's performance saw him ranked 16 in the world for the 2007/2008 season
, one place higher than in the previous year. As a member of the Top 16, he automatically qualified for tournaments.
Day's 2007/2008 season started with an appearance in the final of the Shanghai Masters
; Day led his practise partner Dominic Dale
6–2 after the first session, but eventually succumbed to a 6–10 defeat. After failing to progress past the last 16 in the next three tournaments, he reached the semi-finals of the China Open, beating Matthew Stevens
, Ken Doherty
and Mark Williams
before he was beaten by Stephen Maguire
5–6, denying him a place in the final. Day made it through to the quarter-finals of the World Championship for the first time in his career by beating Irishman Michael Judge
10–6 and the defending champion
John Higgins 13–9 in one of the best wins of his career, before losing 7–13 to Stephen Hendry
. His consistent performances took him up to 8th place in the rankings.
Day reached the final of the 2008 Grand Prix where he lost to John Higgins, defeating Ricky Walden
, Mark Selby
, Jamie Cope
and Ali Carter. The year ended on a disappointing note when he lost in the first round at the UK Championship to Matthew Stevens
. He again reached the World Championship quarter-finals in 2009, before losing 11–13 to Mark Allen
. However, he continued to move up the rankings, climbing 2 places to number 6, the highest ranked player not to have won a ranking event.
A disappointing 2009/2010 season
in which he reached only one quarter-final (in the Welsh Open), culminated in a 8–10 first round defeat in the World Championship to Mark Davis
. This continued into the next season where he made a number of early exits which meant that at the first revision under the new ranking system he dropped out the top 16, down to number 20.
, Lynsey, in the summer of 2008. They were married in Pontycymer
, Bridgend
, South Wales
and honeymoon
ed in Crete
. Day and Lynsey started courting
when Day was just 13 years old and four years younger than Lynsey. The couple have two daughters, Francesca, born in 2006 and their youngest child born in 2010.
His younger brother Rhys
has played football
for Manchester City and captained the Welsh under-21 side. He is currently playing for Mansfield Town.
Day and his father run The Veterans Club in Pontycymmer. The club is a combination of a snooker club and a public bar.
| valign=top width=40% align=left |
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|Legend
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| World Championship (0–0)
|- bgcolor="dfe2e9"
| UK Championship (0–0)
|- bgcolor=
| Other (0–3)
|}
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
|width="80"|Outcome
|width="20"|No.
|width="50"|Year
|width="250"|Championship
|width="200"|Opponent in the final
|width="100"|Score
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 1.
| 2007
| Malta Cup
|
| 4–9
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 2.
| 2007
| Shanghai Masters
|
| 6–10
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 3.
| 2008
| Grand Prix
|
| 7–9
|}
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
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 is known as a very solid breakbuilder and is one of only 35 players to have made over a century of centuries.
Early career
He was named Young Player of Distinction of the season 2000/2001 by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker AssociationWorld 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...
(WPBSA). He won the 2001 Benson & Hedges Championship. With this win, he qualified for the 2002 Masters, where he defeated 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"...
, before losing 0–6 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...
. He also won the WPBSA Challenge Tour
Challenge Tour (snooker)
The Challenge Tour was a series of professional snooker tournaments that ran from the 1997/1998 season until the 2004/2005 season. The tour was immediately below the level of the WPBSA Main Tour...
in the 2001/2002 season and was named WPBSA Newcomer of the Year in 2002. Due to problems with his liver in 2003, his results suffered badly.
In 2004, however, he qualified for the World Snooker Championship and he led John Higgins 9–7 in the first round, becoming the first player to score three in his first 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....
match, but missed a pink in the 17th frame that would have left Higgins needing a snooker to stay in the tournament. Higgins went on to win the frame and the next two for the match. As some consolation, Higgins commented that Day was "going to be a top player for many years to come".
2005–present
Day reached the quarter-finals of his home tournament, the 2005 Welsh Open defeating Allister CarterAllister Carter
Allister "Ali" Carter is an English professional snooker player, who lives in Tiptree. He reached the final of the 2008 World Championship, his first major final. Although he lost heavily to Ronnie O'Sullivan, this run allowed him to reach the top 8 of the rankings for the first time...
and 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...
along the way (coming back from 0–4 to beat 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...
5–4). He finished this season ranked 33, but as Quinten Hann
Quinten Hann
Quinten Hann is an Australian former professional snooker player who now plays professional pool. He was the 1999 WEPF World Eight-ball Champion and 1994 world under 21 champion. His highest break is 143...
did not participate in any events, Day was always among the top 32 seeds, meaning one less qualifying match than he would otherwise have faced.
Back at the Crucible in 2006, he beat Joe Perry
Joe Perry (snooker player)
-External links:*...
10–3 in the first round and led 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...
9–7 in the second round before losing 10–13. He narrowly missed reaching the top 16 of the rankings as a result.
The 2006/2007 season
Snooker 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:...
was the most successful of his career to date. Day reached the quarter-finals of the 2006 Northern Ireland Trophy
2006 Northern Ireland Trophy
The 2006 Northern Ireland Trophy was the 2006 edition of the Northern Ireland Trophy snooker tournament, held from 13 to 20 August 2006, at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Ding Junhui defeated Ronnie O'Sullivan by nine to six in the final to lift his third ranking title whilst...
and was runner up in the 2007 Malta Cup
2007 Malta Cup
-Final:-Qualifying:Qualifying for the tournament took place in Pontin's Prestatyn, Wales between 31 October and 3 November 2006.-Qualifying stages centuries:* 138 Mark Allen* 134, 100 Mark Davis* 131 Alfie Burden* 129 Mark King* 124, 102 Liang Wenbo...
, losing 4–9 to Shaun Murphy
Shaun Murphy (snooker player)
Shaun Murphy is an English professional snooker player, who won the 2005 World Championship. Nicknamed "The Magician", Murphy is noted for his straight cue action and his long potting. He is known for his dedication and for being a devout Christian.Born in Harlow, England, Murphy turned...
. That year's performance saw him ranked 16 in the world for the 2007/2008 season
Snooker world rankings 2007/2008
Snooker world rankings 2007/2008: The professional world rankings for the top 75 snooker players in the 2007/2008 season are listed below...
, one place higher than in the previous year. As a member of the Top 16, he automatically qualified for tournaments.
Day's 2007/2008 season started with an appearance in the final of the 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....
; Day led his practise partner Dominic Dale
Dominic Dale
-External links:**...
6–2 after the first session, but eventually succumbed to a 6–10 defeat. After failing to progress past the last 16 in the next three tournaments, he reached the semi-finals of the China Open, beating Matthew Stevens
Matthew Stevens
Matthew Stevens is a Welsh professional snooker player. Stevens has won two of the game's most prestigious events, the Benson and Hedges Masters in 2000 and the UK Championship in 2003. He has also been the runner-up in the World Snooker Championship on two occasions, in 2000 and 2005...
, 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...
and 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...
before he was beaten by 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...
5–6, denying him a place in the final. Day made it through to the quarter-finals of the World Championship for the first time in his career by beating Irishman Michael Judge
Michael Judge
-External links:**...
10–6 and the defending champion
World Snooker Championship 2007
The 2007 888.com World Snooker Championship professional ranking snooker tournament began on 21 April and ran until 7 May 2007 at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield....
John Higgins 13–9 in one of the best wins of his career, before losing 7–13 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...
. His consistent performances took him up to 8th place in the rankings.
Day reached the final of the 2008 Grand Prix where he lost to John Higgins, defeating Ricky Walden
Ricky Walden
-External links:**...
, 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...
, Jamie Cope
Jamie Cope
-External links:***...
and Ali Carter. The year ended on a disappointing note when he lost in the first round at the UK Championship to Matthew Stevens
Matthew Stevens
Matthew Stevens is a Welsh professional snooker player. Stevens has won two of the game's most prestigious events, the Benson and Hedges Masters in 2000 and the UK Championship in 2003. He has also been the runner-up in the World Snooker Championship on two occasions, in 2000 and 2005...
. He again reached the World Championship quarter-finals in 2009, before losing 11–13 to Mark Allen
Mark Allen (snooker player)
Mark Allen is a Northern Irish professional snooker player. He won the World Amateur Championship in 2004. The following year he turned professional and took only three seasons to reach the elite top 16...
. However, he continued to move up the rankings, climbing 2 places to number 6, the highest ranked player not to have won a ranking event.
A disappointing 2009/2010 season
Snooker 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 :...
in which he reached only one quarter-final (in the Welsh Open), culminated in a 8–10 first round defeat in the World Championship to Mark Davis
Mark Davis (snooker player)
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.- Career :Davis...
. This continued into the next season where he made a number of early exits which meant that at the first revision under the new ranking system he dropped out the top 16, down to number 20.
Personal life
Day married his father's sister-in-lawSister-in-law
A sister-in-law is the sister of one's spouse, the wife of one's sibling, or sometimes the wife of one's spouse's sibling...
, Lynsey, in the summer of 2008. They were married in Pontycymer
Pontycymer
Pontycymer is a former mining village in Britain. It is situated in the Garw Valley, in Bridgend County Borough in south Wales. The name, sometimes spelled "Pontycymmer", is Welsh: pont signifies "bridge", while cymer signifies "confluence" of watercourses.Original signs for the village use the...
, Bridgend
Bridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
and honeymoon
Honeymoon
-History:One early reference to a honeymoon is in Deuteronomy 24:5 “When a man is newly wed, he need not go out on a military expedition, nor shall any public duty be imposed on him...
ed in Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
. Day and Lynsey started courting
Courtship
Courtship is the period in a couple's relationship which precedes their engagement and marriage, or establishment of an agreed relationship of a more enduring kind. In courtship, a couple get to know each other and decide if there will be an engagement or other such agreement...
when Day was just 13 years old and four years younger than Lynsey. The couple have two daughters, Francesca, born in 2006 and their youngest child born in 2010.
His younger brother Rhys
Rhys Day
Rhys Day is a Welsh footballer who plays for Mansfield Town.Day mainly plays as a central defender, and has been capped several times for the Wales under-21 team.-Career:...
has played football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
for Manchester City and captained the Welsh under-21 side. He is currently playing for Mansfield Town.
Day and his father run The Veterans Club in Pontycymmer. The club is a combination of a snooker club and a public bar.
Ranking event finals: 3 (3 runner-ups)
{|| valign=top width=40% align=left |
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|Legend
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| World Championship (0–0)
|- bgcolor="dfe2e9"
| UK Championship (0–0)
|- bgcolor=
| Other (0–3)
|}
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
|width="80"|Outcome
|width="20"|No.
|width="50"|Year
|width="250"|Championship
|width="200"|Opponent in the final
|width="100"|Score
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 1.
| 2007
2007 Malta Cup
-Final:-Qualifying:Qualifying for the tournament took place in Pontin's Prestatyn, Wales between 31 October and 3 November 2006.-Qualifying stages centuries:* 138 Mark Allen* 134, 100 Mark Davis* 131 Alfie Burden* 129 Mark King* 124, 102 Liang Wenbo...
| 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...
|
| 4–9
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 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
|
| 6–10
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 3.
| 2008
| Grand Prix
|
| 7–9
|}