Chris Small
{{short description|Scottish snooker player}}
{{for|the New Zealand cricketer|Chris Small (cricketer)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2012}}
{{Infobox snooker player
| name = Chris Small
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|9|26|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| Sport country = {{SCO}}
| Professional = 1991–2005
| High ranking = 12 (2004/05)
| Official maximums =
| Ranking wins = 1
| Minor wins = 1
}}
Christopher Small (born 26 September 1973) is a retired Scottish professional snooker player and now a qualified snooker coach.{{Cite web |url=http://www.chrissmallsnookercoaching.co.uk/ |title=Chris Small Snooker Coaching website |access-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127081906/http://www.chrissmallsnookercoaching.co.uk/ |archive-date=27 November 2013 |url-status=live }} His playing career was ended by the spinal condition ankylosing spondylitis.{{Cite web|url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Exsnooker-star-Chris-gives-up.4338395.jp|title=Ex Snooker Star Chris gives up|access-date=21 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109142259/http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Exsnooker-star-Chris-gives-up.4338395.jp|archive-date=9 January 2009|url-status=live}}{{cite news | title = Small forced to give up snooker. Former World No.12 Chris Small has retired from snooker due to a degenerative spinal disease. | work = BBC News | publisher = BBC | date = 23 September 2005 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/4274298.stm | access-date = 18 December 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131016053150/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/4274298.stm | archive-date = 16 October 2013 | url-status = live }}
Career
At age 15, Small was the number 1 under-19 player in Scotland. He turned professional the following year.[https://archive.today/20131130052815/http://www.chrissmallsnookercoaching.co.uk/Biography.php Career details on Chris Small website] In 1992, he won the Benson & Hedges Championship, defeating Alan McManus in the final, and in 1995 he reached the Semi-finals of the Welsh Open, and was again a semi-finalist at the 1998 Grand Prix event.
His greatest achievement was winning the 2002 LG Cup, beating Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins, before a 9–5 win over Alan McManus in the final. This followed a season in which he won only three matches, owing to the severity of his medical condition.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/lg_cup/2325455.stm|title=Small claims biggest prize|date=14 October 2002|via=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=5 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324150302/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/lg_cup/2325455.stm|archive-date=24 March 2020|url-status=live}} He reached the quarter-finals of the LG Cup in the following season.
The 2003/2004 season ended with him having to pull out of a World Championship match against Alan McManus while trailing 1–7, as the regular steroid injections he required in his neck caused problems with his vision.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/snooker-opening-day-at-sheffield-comes-with-a-small-eruption-56442.html|title=Snooker: Opening day at Sheffield comes with a Small eruption|date=21 September 2013|website=The Independent|access-date=17 August 2021|archive-date=20 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820192053/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/snooker-opening-day-at-sheffield-comes-with-a-small-eruption-56442.html|url-status=live}} The 2004–05 season was disastrous for him, as he lost all his ranking tournament matches, and in September 2005 he announced his retirement from the game. Small then started coaching other players, but by 2009 his condition had worsened, and he had to give up coaching.
Despite being the youngest player ever to win on his Crucible debut (10–7 against Doug Mountjoy aged 18 in 1992), he never progressed beyond the last-16 in the World Championship. He was a regular in the top 32 for several years, but his LG Cup win helped him reach #12 for the 2004–05 season, the only time he had entered the top 16. His career-high break was a 141.
He applied for a grant from a trust fund for players who have fallen on hard times from the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, but was rejected.{{cite news |title=Ex-snooker star Chris gives up cash battle |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/ex-snooker-star-chris-gives-cash-battle-2513031 |date=30 July 2008 |work=The Scotsman |access-date=17 August 2021}} This decision, stemming from Small's refusal to provide a £250 medical certificate, has been criticised by figures including Jimmy White, Graeme Dott ("Everybody in the game that I've spoken to is behind him"){{Cite web|url=http://www.prosnookerref.co.uk/blog/|title=Eirian Williams - Snooker Refereeing The Professional Way|date=23 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823001722/http://www.prosnookerref.co.uk/blog/|archive-date=23 August 2007}} and Clive Everton.
In 2012, improved medication allowed Small to return to coaching, one of his players being former snooker professional Michael Leslie.
Personal life
Small is the son of a taxi driver.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/|title=The Times & The Sunday Times|website=The Times|access-date=17 August 2021|archive-date=15 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215210244/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/|url-status=live}} He worked as a bank clerk before his success in snooker.{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=chris+small+snooker&start=10|title=chris small snooker - Google Search|website=google.com|access-date=19 March 2021|archive-date=17 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817213501/https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&hs=V3f&q=chris+small+snooker&start=10|url-status=live}} Small and his wife Clare have four children.{{Cite web|url=https://deadlinescotland.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/ex-snooker-champion-gives-up-battle/|title=Ex-snooker champion gives up battle 108|date=30 July 2008|access-date=5 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104033514/http://deadlinescotland.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/ex-snooker-champion-gives-up-battle/|archive-date=4 November 2010|url-status=live}}
Performance and rankings timeline
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;"
! Tournament ! 1991/ ! 1992/ ! 1993/ ! 1994/ ! 1995/ ! 1996/ ! 1997/ ! 1998/ ! 1999/ ! 2000/ ! 2001/ ! 2002/ ! 2003/ ! 2004/ |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Ranking{{cite web|title=Ranking History|url=http://www.snooker.org/rnk/history.asp|publisher=Snooker.org|access-date=6 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219070820/http://www.snooker.org/Rnk/history.asp|archive-date=19 December 2018|url-status=live}}From the 2010/2011 season it shows the ranking at the beginning of the season.
| style="text-align:center;"|New players on the Main Tour don't have a ranking. | style="text-align:center;"|75 | style="text-align:center;"|98 | style="text-align:center;"|86 | style="text-align:center;"|62 | style="text-align:center;"|30 | style="text-align:center;"|25 | style="text-align:center;"|25 | style="text-align:center;"|18 | style="text-align:center;"|21 | style="text-align:center;"|24 | style="text-align:center;"|29 | style="text-align:center;"|18 | style="text-align:center;"|12 |
| colspan="30" | Ranking tournaments |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Grand PrixThe event also ran under the name LG Cup (2001/2002–2003/2004)
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|SF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|W | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | UK Championship
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Malta CupThe event also ran as the European Open (1991/1992–1996/1997 and 2001/2002–2003/2004) and Irish Open (1998/1999)
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| NH | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Not Held | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;"| Welsh Open
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" |SF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;"| China OpenThe event ran under a different name as China International (1997/1998–1998/1999)
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| NR | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | World Championship
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R |
| colspan="30" | Non-ranking tournaments |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | The Masters
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|WR | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R |
| colspan="30" | Former ranking tournaments |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Classic
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Strachan Open
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Dubai ClassicThe event also ran under the names Thailand Classic (1995/1996) and Asian Classic (1996/1997)
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | German Open
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| NR | colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Malta Grand Prix
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Not Held | colspan="5" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Non-Ranking Event | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NR | colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Thailand MastersThe event also ran under the names Asian Open (1992/1993) and Thailand Open (1993/1994–1996/1997)
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| NR | colspan="3" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Not Held |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Scottish OpenThe event also ran under the names International Open (1991/1992–1996/1997) and Players Championship (2003/2004)
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| NH |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | British Open
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|SF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Irish Masters
| colspan="11" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Non-Ranking Event | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF | align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ |
| colspan="30" | Former non-ranking tournaments |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Australian Masters
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Not Held | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"|F | colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Scottish Masters
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ | colspan="11" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Not Held |
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%" | |
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|NH / Not Held | event was not held. |
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|NR / Non-Ranking Event | event is/was no longer a ranking event. |
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|R / Ranking Event | event is/was a ranking event. |
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|MR / Minor-Ranking Event | event is/was a minor-ranking event. |
{{Reflist|group=nb}}
Career finals
=Ranking finals: 1 (1 title)=
=Minor-ranking finals: 1 (1 title)=
| 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:#98FB98"|Winner
| 1. | 1992 | Benson & Hedges Championship | {{flagicon|SCO}} {{sortname|Alan|McManus}} | 9–1 |
=Non-ranking finals: 2 =
| 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. | 1995 | {{flagicon|ENG}} {{sortname|Anthony|Hamilton|dab=snooker player}} | 6–8 |
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 2. | 1995 | {{flagicon|ENG}} {{sortname|Anthony|Hamilton|dab=snooker player}} | 7–9 |
=Team finals: 1 =
| class="sortable wikitable"
!width="80"| Outcome !width="20"| No. !width="50"| Year !width="250"| Championship !width="200"| Team/partner !width="200"| Opponent(s) in the final !width="100"| Score |
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 1. | 1999 | {{flagcountry|SCO}} | {{flagcountry|WAL}} | 4–6 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{portal|Cue sports}}
- {{snooker.org player|2880}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Small, Chris}}