Joe Swail

{{Infobox snooker player

| name = Joe Swail

| image = Joe Swail PHC 2016-1.jpg

| caption = Swail at the 2016 Paul Hunter Classic

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1969|8|29}}

| birth_place =

| Sport country = {{NIR}}

| Professional = 1991–2012, 2013–2019

| High ranking = 10 (2001/02)

| Official maximums =

| Best finish = Runner-up (x1)

| Ranking wins =

| Minor wins = 1

| World champ =

}}

Joe Swail (born 29 August 1969) is a Northern Irish former professional snooker player from Belfast. He retired in May 2019 after being relegated from the tour. He has reached ten major ranking semi-finals, including the 2000 and 2001 World Championships but only one final. Swail is renowned for playing well at the Crucible Theatre, having reached the last 16 on four further occasions. He is also a former English amateur champion and Northern Ireland amateur runner-up, and has captained Northern Ireland internationally.{{cite news

|url=http://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/worldchampionships2005/profiles/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=snooker/03/04/11/manual_100357.html

|title=Profile on Sporting Life

|newspaper=Sporting Life

|access-date=5 April 2008

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629220126/http://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/worldchampionships2005/profiles/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=snooker%2F03%2F04%2F11%2Fmanual_100357.html

|archive-date=29 June 2011

|url-status=dead

}} He was Irish champion in 1992 and 2005.

Career

Swail has had a very mixed history in the rankings. He took just two seasons to reach the Top 32, and three to reach the top sixteen, but only remained there for one season,[http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Players/Global_Europe/Global_Ireland/ni_joe_swail.htm Profile on Global Snooker Centre] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070815123059/http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Players/Global_Europe/Global_Ireland/ni_joe_swail.htm |date=15 August 2007 }} before sliding out of the Top 32 after winning just two matches in 1997–98. His 2000 Crucible achievement made him the second player (after Rex Williams) to return to the Top 16 in the rankings after dropping out of the Top 32 in between. He climbed to No. 10 after his 2001 semi-final, but dropped to 16–27–30–40 in the next few years, finishing with a nightmare season in 2004–05. He then bounced back with an impressive and consistent showing in 2005–06 that brought him back into the Top 32. He came close to the Top 16 in 2006/2007, finishing one place short at 17 despite beating Mark Williams in round 1 of the 2007 World Championships from 0–4 down{{

Cite web

|url = http://www.thetabletonline.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=32

|title = World Snooker Championship 2007 – Day 4

|publisher = The Tablet

|year = 2007

|access-date = 5 April 2008

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929010911/http://www.thetabletonline.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=32

|archive-date = 29 September 2007

|df = dmy-all

}}{{Cite web

|url = http://uuptoday.org/newsroom/2007/04/25/donaldson-applauds-northern-ireland-snooker-players/

|title = Donaldson applauds Northern Ireland Snooker Players

|publisher = uuptoday.org

|year = 2007

|access-date = 5 April 2008

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080830010257/http://uuptoday.org/newsroom/2007/04/25/donaldson-applauds-northern-ireland-snooker-players/

|archive-date = 30 August 2008

|df = dmy-all

}} He came from 7–9 behind to beat Judd Trump 10–9 in qualifying for the 2008 World Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/tournament_news(id19228)-96.htm |title=World Snooker News - 888.com World Snooker Championship Qualifying - WONDERFUL WENBO |access-date=9 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310203158/http://www.worldsnooker.com/tournament_news%28id19228%29-96.htm |archive-date=10 March 2008 }} Swail scored a comprehensive 10–4 victory over Stephen Lee in the first round at the Crucible, before a 12–13 defeat by Liang Wenbo in the second round, after a trademark comeback from 8–12 down, due to a bad miss on the brown in the decider. This caused him to again miss the top 16, finishing the season in 20th place.

He started 2008–09 poorly, with four successive first-round defeats. His first victory of the season was against Liang Wenbo in qualifying for the 2008 UK Snooker Championship. He then reached his firstThe Strachan Challenge which Swail won in 1993 only carried a fraction of the points of a regular ranking tournament so is often dismissed as a ranking tournament since most of the top pros did not compete in it. ever ranking final in his 18-year professional career at the 2009 Welsh Open.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7902719.stm BBC Sport: Snooker] – Swail makes semis after epic win Swail led the match 5–2, but never won another frame, losing 9–5 to Ali Carter.

After finishing 69th the end of the 2011–12 season, outside of the top 64 that retain their professional status, Swail dropped of the tour after 21 years as a professional.

As an amateur, Swail played in many of the Players Tour Championship events. At the Paul Hunter Classic, Swail defeated players such as Jimmy White, Shaun Murphy and Barry Hawkins en route to the final, doubling the black ball in a final frame decider against Hawkins. In the final, he was defeated 1–4 by Mark Selby. This not only booked his place on the tour for the following season, but also qualified him for the PTC Finals in Galway, Ireland, where he defeated Stephen Maguire 4–3, despite being 0–3 down. He lost 0–4 in the Last 16 to fellow Northern Irishman Mark Allen. At the 2013 World Snooker Championship, Swail entered the pre-qualifying rounds for amateur players, he won 3 of these matches, as well as his Last 96 and Last 80 matches against Pankaj Advani, and Adam Duffy respectively. He lost his Last 64 match against Mark Joyce 7–10, picking up £4,600 for his efforts.

After regaining his professional status due to his performances in the previous season's PTC events, Swail was able to play in ranking events during the season. He lost in the Last 96 of the Wuxi Classic, 2–5 to Ken Doherty, in the qualifiers for the Australian Open, he beat Darren Cook 5–2, before losing 4–5 in the Last 96 to Pankaj Advani.

Playing style

Swail is known for his very unorthodox way of cueing up. Instead of keeping his cue-arm vertical as most players do, Swail cues up with his arm bent at least 45 degrees outwards, and his elbow towards his back. Although it appears to be extremely difficult to actually pot balls when cueing like that it has worked for Swail and provides him with an abundance of cue power.

Personal life

Swail is congenitally hearing-impaired, and his brother Liam is completely deaf.{{cite web |url=http://www.learntosign.org.uk/events/northernI.htm |title=Learn to Sign |access-date=2007-08-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015010421/http://www.learntosign.org.uk/events/northernI.htm |archive-date=15 October 2006 |df=dmy-all }} He has told the BBC that he regards this as an advantage for snooker, as he is less likely to be distracted by crowd and other background noise.

Swail's nickname, "the Outlaw", is a pun on his name "Joe Swail" and The Outlaw Josey Wales, the 1976 film. He has a son, Joe Jr.{{Cite web

|url = http://www.northernshow.biz/joe_swail.htm

|title = Profile on northernshow.biz

|publisher = Northern Show Biz

|access-date = 5 April 2008

|url-status = usurped

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070807105337/http://www.northernshow.biz/joe_swail.htm

|archive-date = 7 August 2007

|df = dmy-all

}} and supports Liverpool F.C.

Performance and rankings timeline

class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%"

! Tournament

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}}From the 2010/2011 season it shows the ranking at the beginning of the season.

| style="text-align:center;"|He was an amateur.

| style="text-align:center;"|New players on the Main Tour don't have a ranking.

| style="text-align:center;"|53

| style="text-align:center;"|25

| style="text-align:center;"|12

| style="text-align:center;"|19

| style="text-align:center;"|17

| style="text-align:center;"|22

| style="text-align:center;"|36

| style="text-align:center;"|28

| style="text-align:center;"|16

| style="text-align:center;"|10

| style="text-align:center;"|16

| style="text-align:center;"|27

| style="text-align:center;"|30

| style="text-align:center;"|40

| style="text-align:center;"|30

| style="text-align:center;"|17

| style="text-align:center;"|20

| style="text-align:center;"|22

| style="text-align:center;"|39

| style="text-align:center;"|54

| style="text-align:center;"|He was not on the Main Tour.

| style="text-align:center;"|New players on the Main Tour don't have a ranking.

| style="text-align:center;"|72

| style="text-align:center;"|64

| style="text-align:center;"|53

| style="text-align:center;"|Players qualified through Q School started the season without prize money ranking points.

| style="text-align:center;"|91

colspan="30" | Ranking tournaments

style="background:#EFEFEF;"| Riga MastersThe event was called the Riga Open (2014/2015–2015/2016)

|align="center" colspan="24" style="color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|MR

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | World OpenThe event was called the Grand Prix (1991/1992–2000/2001 and 2004/2005–2009/2010) and the LG Cup (2001/2002–2003/2004)

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" |SF

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" |SF

| 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;"|3R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|RR

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Not Held

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

style="background:#EFEFEF;"| {{nowrap|Paul Hunter ClassicThe event was called the Grand Prix Fürth (2004/2005) and the Fürth German Open (2005/2006–2006/2007)}}

| align="center" colspan="14" style="color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Pro-am Event

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Minor-Ranking Event

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

style="background:#EFEFEF;"| China Championship

| align="center" colspan="26" style="color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NR

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | European MastersThe event was called the European Open (1991/1992–1996/1997 and 2001/2002–2003/2004), Irish Open (1998/1999) and the Malta Cup (2004/2005–2007/2008)

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ

| 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; color:#555555;"|NH

| 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="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NR

| colspan="8" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ

| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ

style="background:#EFEFEF;"| English Open

| align="center" colspan="26" style="color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

style="background:#EFEFEF;"| International Championship

| colspan="22" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

style="background:#EFEFEF;"| Northern Ireland Open

| colspan="26" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | UK Championship

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R

| 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;"|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;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|4R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Scottish OpenThe event was called the International Open (1992/1993–1996/1997) and the Players Championship (2003/2004)

| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Not Held

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| 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;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| colspan="8" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| MR

| colspan="3" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Not Held

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | German MastersThe event was called the German Open (1995/1996–1997/1998)

| colspan="5" 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; color:#555555;"|NR

| colspan="11" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | World Grand Prix

| colspan="24" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NR

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|DNQ

style="background:#EFEFEF;"| Welsh Open

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A

| 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:#ffebcd;"|QF

| 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:yellow;"|SF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| 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

| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Shoot-Out

| colspan="20" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Non-Ranking Event

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Indian Open

|align="center" colspan="23" style="color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NH

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

style="background:#EFEFEF;"| {{nowrap|Players ChampionshipThe event was called the Players Tour Championship Grand Finals (2010/2011–2012/2013) and the Players Championship Grand Final (2013/2014–2015/2016)}}

| colspan="20" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|DNQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|DNQ

style="background:#EFEFEF;"| Gibraltar Open

|align="center" colspan="25" style="color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| MR

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| align="center" style="color:#555555;" | WD

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

style="background:#EFEFEF;"| Tour Championship

|align="center" colspan="28" style="color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|DNQ

style="background:#EFEFEF;"| China OpenThe event was called the China International (1997/1998–1998/1999)

| colspan="7" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NR

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Not Held

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | World Championship

| 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; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| 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:yellow;"|SF

| 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;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ

colspan="270" | Non-ranking tournaments

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | The Masters

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|WR

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|WR

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Championship League

| colspan="17" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|RR

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | World Seniors Championship

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NH

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A

| colspan="19" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A

colspan="270" | Former ranking tournaments

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Classic

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ

| align="center" colspan="27" style="color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Strachan OpenThe event was called the Strachan Challenge (1992/1993–1993/1994)

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NH

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|MR

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NR

| align="center" colspan="25" style="color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Dubai ClassicThe event was called the Thailand Classic in 1995/1996 and the Asian Classic in 1996/1997

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| colspan="22" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Malta Grand Prix

| colspan="4" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| colspan="5" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Non-ranking

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NR

| colspan="18" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Thailand MastersThe event was called the Asian Open (1991/1992–1992/1993) and the Thailand Open (1993/1994–1996/1997)

| 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:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| 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;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NR

| colspan="3" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Not Held

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NR

| colspan="12" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | British Open

| 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;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|SF

| 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;"|3R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| colspan="14" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Irish Masters

| colspan="12" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Non-Ranking Event

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NH

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NR

| colspan="12" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Northern Ireland Trophy

| colspan="15" 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; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| colspan="90" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Bahrain Championship

|align="center" colspan="18" style="color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

|align="center" colspan="90" style="color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Wuxi ClassicThe event was called the Jiangsu Classic (2008/2009–2009/2010)

| colspan="18" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not held

| colspan="4" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Non-Ranking Event

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| align="center" colspan="30" style="color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Australian Goldfields OpenThe event was called the Australian Open (1994/1995) and Australian Masters (1995/1996)

| colspan="4" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NR

| colspan="15" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| align="center" colspan="20" style="color:#555555;"|Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Shanghai Masters

| colspan="17" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NR

colspan="30" | Former non-ranking tournaments

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | World Masters

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Kent Cup

| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|W

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NH

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | King's Cup

| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|W

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NH

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Charity Challenge

| colspan="4" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Belgian Masters

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A

| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Not Held

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Pontins Professional

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Malta Grand Prix

| colspan="4" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|SF

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|RR

| colspan="18" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Irish Masters

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|SF

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| colspan="3" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Ranking Event

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NH

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| colspan="12" 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; color:#555555;"|LQ

| colspan="40" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Irish Open

| align="center" colspan="12" style="color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|W

| align="center" colspan="30" style="color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Northern Ireland Trophy

| colspan="15" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| colspan="3" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Ranking Event

| colspan="20" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Irish Professional Championship

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NH

| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|W

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| colspan="12" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|W

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| colspan="40" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Malta Cup

| colspan="7" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Ranking Event

| colspan="4" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Ranking Event

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|RR

| colspan="8" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| colspan="20" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Ranking

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Irish Classic

| colspan="17" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|SF

| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|W

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|SF

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | {{nowrap|Six-red World ChampionshipThe event was called the Six-red Snooker International (2008/2009) and the Six-red World Grand Prix (2009/2010)}}

| colspan="18" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|2R

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A

| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|2R

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NH

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A

| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|2R

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Shoot-Out

| colspan="20" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|SF

| colspan="20" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Ranking

class="wikitable" style="font-size:78%;"

! colspan="6"|Performance Table Legend

align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|LQ

| lost in the qualifying draw

| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|#R

| lost in the early rounds of the tournament
(WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin)

| align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| lost in the quarter-finals

align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF

| lost in the semi-finals

| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F

| lost in the final

| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|W

| won the tournament

align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|DNQ

| did not qualify for the tournament

| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|A

| did not participate in the tournament

| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|WD

| withdrew from the tournament

align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|DQ

| disqualified from the tournament

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.

Career finals

=Ranking finals: 1 =

class="sortable wikitable"

!width="80"| Outcome

!width="20"| No.

!width="50"| Year

!width="250"| Championship

!width="200"| Opponent in the final

!width="50"| Score

style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 1.

| 2009

| Welsh Open

| {{flagicon|ENG}} {{sortname|Ali|Carter|Ali Carter}}

| 5–9

=Minor-ranking finals: 2 (1 title)=

class="sortable wikitable"

!width="80"| Outcome

!width="20"| No.

!width="50"| Year

!width="250"| Championship

!width="200"| Opponent in the final

!width="50"| Score

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 1.

| 1992

| Strachan Challenge - Event 1

| {{flagicon|NED}} {{sortname|Stefan|Mazrocis|Stefan Mazrocis}}

| align="centr"|9–4

style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 1.

| 2012

| Paul Hunter ClassicSwail entered the tournament as amateur, having been relegated from the main-tour the previous season, so he received no ranking points.

| {{flagicon|ENG}} {{sortname|Mark|Selby|Mark Selby}}

| align="centr"|1–4

=Non-ranking finals: 8 (7 titles)=

class="sortable wikitable" !width="80"\|Outcome !width="20"\|No. !width="50"\|Year !width="250"\|Championship !width="200"\|Opponent in the final !width="50"\|Score
style="background:#98FB98"\|Winner	1.	1990	King's Cup	{{flagicon\|THA}} James Wattana	8–4{{cite news \|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph\|location=London \|title=Round-up: Snooker \|date=15 December 1990 \|page=31}}
style="background:#98FB98"\|Winner	2.	1991	Kent Cup	{{flagicon\|SCO}} Marcus Campbell	5–0
style="background:#98FB98"\|Winner	3.	1992	Irish Professional Championship	{{flagicon\|NIR}} Jason Prince	9–1
style="background:#98FB98"\|Winner	4.	1998	UK Tour - Event 2	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Alfie Burden	6–1
style="background:#ffa07a;"\|Runner-up	1.	2000	Scottish Masters Qualifying Event	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Jimmy White	2–5
style="background:#98FB98"\|Winner	5.	2003	Irish Open	{{flagicon\|IRL}} Fergal O'Brien	{{nowrap\|10–3{{cite news \| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/2791171.stm \| title=Swail lifts Irish crown \| work=BBC Sport \| access-date=16 February 2020}}}}
style="background:#98FB98"\|Winner	6.	2005	Irish Professional Championship (2)	{{flagicon\|IRL}} Ken Doherty	9–7
style="background:#98FB98"\|Winner	7.	2009	Irish Classic	{{flagicon\|IRL}} Fergal O'Brien	5–0

=Pro-am finals: 12 (5 titles)=

class="sortable wikitable"

!width="80"| Outcome

!width="20"| No.

!width="50"| Year

!width="250"| Championship

!width="200"| Opponent in the final

!width="50"| Score

style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 1.

| 1990

| Pontins Autumn Open

| {{flagicon|ENG}} {{sortname|Anthony|Hamilton|dab=snooker player}}

| align="centr"|1–5{{cite web |title=Pontin's Roll of Honour |url=http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Pontins/pontins-roll-of-honour.htm |publisher=Global Snooker Centre |accessdate=15 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219221716/http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Pontins/pontins-roll-of-honour.htm |archive-date=19 December 2008}}

style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 2.

| 2003

| Barry McNamee Memorial Trophy

| {{flagicon|IRL}} {{sortname|Ken|Doherty}}

| align="centr"|5–6{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.com/snooker/on-this-week_sto2027471/story.shtml|title=On this week|date=10 August 2009|website=Eurosport|access-date=15 July 2021}}

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 1.

| 2005

| Pontins Autumn Open

| {{flagicon|ENG}} {{sortname|Dave|Harold}}

| align="centr"|5–3{{cite web |title=Pontin's Roll of Honour |url=http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Pontins/pontins-roll-of-honour.htm |publisher=Global Snooker Centre |accessdate=15 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219221716/http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Pontins/pontins-roll-of-honour.htm |archive-date=19 December 2008}}

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 2.

| 2006

| Barry McNamee Memorial Trophy

| {{flagicon|NIR}} {{sortname|Jordan|Brown|dab=snooker player}}

| align="centr"|6–1{{cite web |title=Swail wins Dungannon tournament |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6219223.stm |website=BBC Sport |access-date=15 July 2021 |date=30 December 2006}}

style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 3.

| 2007

| Barry McNamee Memorial Trophy (2)

| {{flagicon|NIR}} {{sortname|Mark|Allen|dab=snooker player}}

| align="centr"|1–3{{cite web |title=Allen completes Trophy hat-trick |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7165382.stm |website=BBC Sport |access-date=15 July 2021 |date=30 December 2007}}

style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 4.

| 2008

| Dutch Open

| {{flagicon|ENG}} {{sortname|Stuart|Bingham}}

| align="centr"|3–6{{cite web|title=2008 Dutch Open|url=http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk:80/files/Results/2008-9/International/2008_Dutch%20Open.htm|publisher=Global Snooker Centre|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223061547/http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Results/2008-9/International/2008_Dutch%20Open.htm|archive-date=23 December 2008|access-date=15 July 2021|url-status=dead}}

style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 5.

| 2009

| Barry McNamee Memorial Trophy (3)

| {{flagicon|NIR}} {{sortname|Jordan|Brown|dab=snooker player}}

| align="centr"|1–3{{cite web|title=Jordan leaves Swail Browned Off|url=http://www.global-snooker.com/globalsnooker-news-mcnamee-280909.asp|publisher=Global Snooker|accessdate=15 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012012134/http://www.global-snooker.com/globalsnooker-news-mcnamee-280909.asp|archive-date=12 October 2011|url-status=usurped}}

style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 6.

| 2011

| Barry McNamee Memorial Trophy (4)

| {{flagicon|NIR}} {{sortname|Patrick|Wallace}}

| align="centr"|2–3{{cite web|url=http://www.tyronetimes.co.uk/sport/super-wallace-retains-mcnamee-title-1-3385878|title=Super Wallace retains McNamee title|work=Tyrone Times|accessdate=15 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520051022/http://www.tyronetimes.co.uk/sport/super-wallace-retains-mcnamee-title-1-3385878|archive-date=20 May 2017|url-status=dead}}

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 3.

| 2014

| Barry McNamee Memorial Trophy (2)

| {{flagicon|IRE}} Michael Judge

| align="centr"|3–0{{cite web|url=http://www.tyronetimes.co.uk/sport/snooker-swail-wins-mcnamee-trophy-without-losing-a-frame-1-7070655|title=SNOOKER: Swail wins McNamee Trophy without losing a frame|work=Tyrone Times|accessdate=15 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423034605/http://www.tyronetimes.co.uk/sport/snooker-swail-wins-mcnamee-trophy-without-losing-a-frame-1-7070655|archive-date=23 April 2019|url-status=dead}}

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 4.

| 2015

| Barry McNamee Memorial Trophy (3)

| {{flagicon|NIR}} {{sortname|Patrick|Wallace}}

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 5.

| 2017

| Barry McNamee Memorial Trophy (4)

| {{flagicon|IRL}} {{sortname|Rodney|Goggins}}

| align="centr"|3–2{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/newrossstandard/sport/other-sports/rodney-right-on-cue-37670229.html|title=Rodney right on cue|date=5 January 2019 |publisher=New Ross Standard|access-date=15 May 2020}}

style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 7.

| 2018

| PMK Invitational Pro-Am

| {{flagicon|SCO}} {{sortname|Graeme|Dott}}

| align="centr"|0–4{{cite web |title=Dott Defends PMK Invitational Title |url=http://www.thecueview.com/dott-defends-pmk-invitational-title.html |website=The Cue View |access-date=15 July 2021}}

=Amateur finals: 4 (2 titles)=

class="sortable wikitable" !width="80"\| Outcome !width="20"\| No. !width="50"\| Year !width="250"\| Championship !width="200"\| Opponent in the final !width="50"\| Score
style="background:#ffa07a;"\|Runner-up	1.	1988	{{nowrap\|Northern Ireland Amateur Championship}}	{{flagicon\|NIR}} Paul Doran	7–10
style="background:#98FB98"\|Winner	1.	1988	British Under-19 Amateur Championship	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Anton Bishop	3–0{{cite news \|newspaper=The People \|location=London \|title=Swail's title \|date=29 May 1988 \|page=45}}
style="background:#98FB98"\|Winner	2.	1990	English Amateur Championship	{{flagicon\|SCO}} {{sortname\|Alan\|McManus}}	13–11
style="background:#ffa07a;"\|Runner-up	2.	1991	{{nowrap\|Northern Ireland Amateur Championship (2)}}	{{flagicon\|NIR}} Michael Duffy	9–10

Notes and references

External links

{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708100746/https://www.joeswail.com/ |date=dmy |title=Official website}}
{{WST player|archive=20230922144126}}
{{snooker.org player}}

Category:Snooker players from Northern Ireland

Category:Deaf sportspeople

Category:1969 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from Belfast

Category:Deaf people from Northern Ireland