HE turned pro the same year as the legendary Stephen Hendry.And despite a similarly long pro career he NEVER won a single ranking title – yet fans absolutely loved him.3Tony Drago (left) was a top ten player in his heydayCredit: PA:Press Association3Drago recently appeared as a guest on Stephen Hendry’s YouTube channelCredit: YOUTUBE / CUE TIPS3Despite his dismal record against Hendry, Drago LOVED playing against himCredit: YOUTUBE / CUE TIPSScots cue king Hendry, 55, turned professional in 1985 and would go on to break records in the game.He finished his career with seven world championships, a feat since matched only by Ronnie O’Sullivan.Tony Drago meanwhile only reached a ranking final once (losing to Hendry in the 1997 International Open) and the highest he climbed in the world rankings was to tenth.Drago, nicknamed the Tornado during his career due to his ferociously fast style of play, claimed his biggest win at the 1996 Guangzhou Masters in China.Now 59, Drago has since turned to the seniors circuit and continues to wow fans to this day.His exuberant style of snooker won him more plaudits than it did tournaments and punters fondly remember his time at the table.Drago’s unmatched speed saw him set several new records in the sport.In 1993 he recorded the fastest ever best-of-nine-frames victory when he beat Sam Lanigan and three years earlier he set the record for the quickest best-of-17 match, beating Joe O’Boye 9–0 in 81 minutes.Drago combined this up-tempo style with a tendency to show outbursts of emotion at the table. This sometimes unpredictable temperament made him a fascinating watch for snooker fans.And while his career achievements are dwarfed by Hendry, he insists he actually LOVED playing against him.’Woah what are you doing’ gasps Mark Williams after referee’s never-before-seen error at Saudi Arabia Snooker MastersOf their 18 encounters, Hendry won 15 to Drago’s three.But Drago explained that Hendry, unlike some others, didn’t resort to dirty tricks and tactics to try and slow down and disrupt Drago’s game.Speaking on the Cue Tips YouTube channel, Drago said: “It was great to go toe-to-toe with someone like you, but not always a pleasure playing you due to the all the hammerings you gave me!”He added: “I’m not going to mention names but there used to be players, because of the way I played the game, they would be extra slow.”I only won three matches against you out of 18 but I enjoyed it because you never tried to put me off my game.”But then again, you didn’t have to! Because you were the very, very best.”Hendry responded: “Our games were compatible. We played the same way.Stephen Hendry career achievementsSeven-time World Snooker ChampionYoungest-ever winner of World ChampionshipSix-time Masters ChampionFive-time UK Championship winner18 Triple Crown tournament wins36 ranking titlesNine seasons as World No1Awarded MBE in 1994Two-time BBC Scotland Sports Personality of the Year”I was fast but you were even faster than me. You were the fastest.”We just liked to go for shots and make big breaks.”Drago lated named Steve Davis as one player in particular that he hate coming up against and he famously got abruptly anger during a match against Peter Ebdon in 2003. Despite his lack of trophies from snooker (Drago eventually turned to pool and found much greater levels of success), he has no regrets over the way he played the game.And he called out those that think he didn’t have a winning mentality.Drago said: “People always say to me, ‘Oh you always played with a smile.’”But I wanted to win so much, so much.”My temperament was not always bad, otherwise I wouldn’t have got to number 10 in the world and lasted so long in the game.”But I did it my way and I don’t have any regrets. I, like you, wanted to world champion and world number one but I was only good enough for number 10.Read more on the Scottish Sun”What am I gonna do, am I gonna kill myself over that? No way.”But there are a lot of players who’ve had more success than me but if they retired on a Monday, no one would talk about them on the Tuesday.”Our New YouTube ChannelSubscribe to our new Scottish Sun Sport YouTube channel for all the latest football news, views and amazing moments.We’ve got every major development covered from Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Hibs, Aberdeen and the rest of the Scottish Premiership.Plus we have TWO brilliant new podcasts to watch every week…MONDAYGo Ballistic with Roger Hannah and special guest Kris Boyd will dissect all the weekend action and deliver their no-holds-barred reaction.WEDNESDAYRobert Grieve and Bill Leckie chew over the tastiest topics in Scottish football and offer their unique takes in their Coffee Club.FRIDAYGo Ballistic is back with Roger Hannah and top tipster Jim Delahunt looking ahead to the weekend games and analysing the biggest talking points.Subscribe now and don’t miss a thing. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
The post I’m a snooker cult hero who turned pro the same year as Stephen Hendry – I NEVER won a ranking event but fans love me first appeared on News Sports.
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Author : News-Sports
Publish date : 2024-09-30 15:30:34
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