Darren Morgan (born 3 May 1966) is a Welsh former professional snooker player.
Morgan won the World Amateur Championship in 1987 and played on the professional main tour from 1988 until 2006. He reached a high ranking of eight and was ranked within the top 16 for six years despite never winning a ranking event. He compiled 111 in his career.
Career Morgan was born in Newport, South Wales.
His best achievements as a professional were to win the Irish Masters in 1996, beating Steve Davis 9–8 in the final, and he captained Wales to victory in the 1999 Nations Cup. He was also a semi-finalist in the 1994 World Championship, beating Mark King 10–5, Willie Thorne 13–12 and John Parrott 13–11 before losing to Jimmy White 9–16. He was also a quarter-finalist on three occasions, beating Ken Doherty and Ronnie O'Sullivan in 1996 and 1997 respectively at the Crucible.
Morgan still plays in amateur and pro-am events, and won the EBSA Masters and World Masters Championship titles in 2007. On 22 October 2009 he won the TCC Pro-Am by beating fellow Welshman Mark Williams 7–4 in the final.
On 23 November 2009 Morgan won his second IBSF World Snooker Championship in the Masters section, defeating three-time defending champion Dene O'Kane of New Zealand 6–0 in the final.The Hindu: Kamal Chawla’s run comes to an end; Morgan is the master
Morgan entered the 2010 World Open as an amateur along with fellow senior Tony Knowles and caused an upset by reaching the last 64 of the competition, before narrowly losing to former world number four Matthew Stevens 3–2 in round three.
In November 2011, he entered the World Seniors Championships in Peterborough and came away with victory over Steve Davis in the final. Morgan beat former world champion Cliff Thorburn and 'Whirlwind' Jimmy White in the previous rounds before facing the six-times world champion in the final. In fact, Morgan had to win qualifying matches just to reach the final stages of the tournament. He beat Davis 2–1 in the final and came home to his Club in Cross Keys with the trophy.
In June 2016, as a wildcard entry to the Riga Masters having won the EBSA European Open title several weeks prior, Morgan overcame Bradley Jones 4–3, Adam Stefanow 4–2, Zhao Xintong 4–1, Doherty 4–3 and Xiao Guodong 4–2 to set up a semi-final encounter with Neil Robertson. Appearing at this stage of a ranking event for the first time since 2002, and becoming the oldest ranking semi-finalist since Rex Williams in 1986, Morgan was whitewashed 5–0 by the eventual champion.
Morgan made a maximum break of 147 against Gareth Edwards in an amateur Seniors event in 2023; this possibly makes him the oldest player to achieve a maximum break in competition.
Personal life He lives with his wife, Tracy, and their three daughters in Newbridge, and owns a nearby snooker club and sports shop that provides printing, embroidery, trophies and engraving in Crosskeys, Newport, named The Red Triangle, where he coaches young players. Darren now lives in Pentwynmawr, Newbridge where he is starting up a property portfolioWales Online: Meet snooker star Darren Morgan
Performance and rankings timeline Tournament 1988/89 1989/90 1990/91 1991/92 1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18RankingNew players on the Main Tour do not have a ranking.5340331610889152223253954637566He was an amateur.Ranking tournamentsRiga MastersThe event ran under different names such as the Riga Open (2014/2015 to 2015/2016).Tournament Not HeldMinor-RankSFAWorld OpenThe event ran under different names such as the Grand Prix (1987/1988 to 2000/2001) and the LG Cup (2001/2002 to 2003/2004).LQ1R2R1R2R2R2R3R3R3R3R1R1RLQLQLQ1R2RLQAAAAAAAEuropean MastersThe event ran under different names such as European Open (1988/1989 to 1996/1997 and 2001/2002 to 2003/2004) and Irish Open (1998/1999).LQ1R2RQF3R2R2R2R2RNHLQNot HeldLQLQLQLQLQTournament Not HeldAAUK ChampionshipLQLQ2R3RQFSFQF2R1R3R1RQF1RLQLQLQLQLQAAAAAAAAScottish OpenThe event ran under different names such as International Open (1987/1988 to 1996/1997) and Players Championship (2003/2004).LQ1RNot Held1R3R3R1R1R1R1R1RWDLQLQLQTournament Not HeldAAGerman MastersThe event ran under different names such as German Open (1994/1995 to 1996/1997).Tournament Not HeldQF2R1RNRTournament Not HeldAAAAAAAAWelsh OpenNot HeldF1R3R2RQF1R1R1R1RLQLQLQLQLQLQAAAAAAALQ China OpenThe event ran under different names as China International (1997/1998 and 1998/1999) Tournament Not HeldNRLQLQLQQF Not HeldLQLQAAAAAAAA World Championship1RQFLQLQ2RSF2RQFQF2R1R1RLQLQLQLQLQLQAAAAAAAA Non-ranking tournaments Six-red World Championship Tournament Not Held2RNH2RRRAA2RRR The MastersAALQLQWR1R1RQF1R1RLQLQLQLQLQLQAAAAAAAAAA World Seniors Championship Not HeldLQ Tournament Not HeldAWSFQFQFFAA Former ranking tournaments Canadian Masters1R Tournament Not Held Hong Kong OpenThe event ran under different names as Australian Open (1994/1995) and Australian Masters (1995/1996). NHLQ Tournament Not HeldNRNR Tournament Not Held ClassicLQ3RLQ3R Tournament Not Held Strachan Open Not Held3RMRNR Tournament Not Held Dubai ClassicThe event run under different names as Dubai Masters (1988/1989), Thailand Classic (1995/1996) and Asian Classic (1996/1997) NR1R3R3R2R2R2R2R1R Tournament Not Held Malta Grand Prix Tournament Not Held Non-Ranking EventLQNR Tournament Not Held Thailand MastersThe event ran under different names such as Asian Open (1989/1990 to 1992/1993) and Thailand Open (1993/1994 to 1996/1997).NH1R2R1RFQFQF1R1R1RSFLQ1RLQNR Tournament Not Held British Open2R2R1R3R3R3R2RQF2R1R2R2R1RLQLQLQLQ Tournament Not Held Irish Masters Non-Ranking EventLQLQLQ Tournament Not Held Former non-ranking tournaments New Zealand MastersQFAAAAAATournament Not Held Shoot-Out Not HeldW Tournament Not HeldAAAAAA Ranking European Grand Masters Not HeldQF Tournament Not Held World Masters Not HeldSF Tournament Not Held QFWW Tournament Not Held World MatchplayAAA A1R Tournament Not Held Pot Black A A A A A2RTournament Not Held ATournament Not Held King's CupNot Held A NH AF ATournament Not Held Charity ChallengeTournament Not Held1RQF1R A A A A ATournament Not Held Malta Grand Prix Tournament Not HeldASFQFAARA Tournament Not Held Scottish Masters NHAQFAAA1RSF1RLQAAAAA Tournament Not Held Irish MastersAAAAAAA1RWFAAAA Ranking EventTournament Not Held Pontins ProfessionalWQFQFQFFASFSFAQFQFWTournament Not Held Masters Qualifying EventThe event was also called the Benson & Hedges Championship (1990/1991–2002/2003) Not HeldSFF MR A A A A4R4R1R2R3R2R A NH A A A Tournament Not Held
Performance Table LegendLQ lost in the qualifying draw#R lost in the early rounds of the tournament(WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin)QF lost in the quarter-finalsSF lost in the semi–finalsF lost in the finalW won the tournamentDNQ did not qualify for the tournamentA did not participate in the tournamentWD withdrew from the tournament NH / Not Held means an event was not held.NR / Non-Ranking Event means an event is/was no longer a ranking event.R / Ranking Event means an event is/was a ranking event.MR / Minor-Ranking Event means an event is/was a minor-ranking event.
Career finals
Ranking finals: 2
OutcomeNo.YearChampionshipOpponent in the finalScoreRunner-up 1. 1992 Welsh Open 3–9Runner-up 2. 1993 Asian Open 3–9
Non-ranking finals: 11 (6 titles)
OutcomeNo.YearChampionshipOpponent in the finalScoreWinner 1. 1989 Pontins Professional 9–2Runner-up 1. 1989 WPBSA Invitational - Event 1 1–8Winner 2. 1990 Welsh Professional Championship 9–7Winner 3. 1990 Shoot-Out 2–1Winner 4. 1991 Welsh Professional Championship (2) 9–3Runner-up 2. 1991 Benson & Hedges Championship 3–9Runner-up 3. 1993 Pontins Professional 3–9Runner-up 4. 1993 King's Cup 3–8Winner 5. 1996 Irish Masters 9–8Runner-up 5. 1997 Irish Masters 8–9Winner 6. 2000 Pontins Professional (2) 9–2
Team finals: 2 (1 title) OutcomeNo.YearChampionshipTeam/partnerOpponent(s) in the finalScoreWinner 1. 1999 Nations Cup 6–4Runner-up 1. 2000 Nations Cup 4–6
Pro-am finals: 7 (2 titles) OutcomeNo.YearChampionshipOpponent in the finalScoreRunner-up 1. 1989 Dutch Open 5–6Runner-up 2. 1996 Pontins Spring Open 3–7Runner-up 3. 1999 TCC Open Snooker Championship 4–6Winner 1. 2000 TCC Open Snooker Championship 6–3Runner-up 4. 2003 TCC Open Snooker Championship (2) Mark Williams1–6Runner-up 5. 2004 TCC Open Snooker Championship (3) Mark Williams6–7Winner 2. 2009 TCC Open Snooker Championship (2) 7–4
Amateur finals: 36 (30 titles) OutcomeNo.YearChampionshipOpponent in the finalScoreWinner 1. 1987 Welsh Amateur Championship John Herbert8–4Winner 2. 1987 World Amateur Championship Joe Grech 11–4Winner 3. 2007 European Amateur Championship - Masters Kieran McMahon6–2Winner 4. 2007 World Amateur Championship - Masters Kanchai Wongjan9–1Runner-up 1. 2009 Welsh Amateur Championship 2–8Winner 5. 2009 European Amateur Championship - Masters (2) 6–3Winner 6. 2009 Bargoed Labour Club Invitational Ian Sargeant5–4Winner 7. 2009 World Amateur Championship - Masters (2) 6–0Winner 8. 2010 European Amateur Championship - Masters (3) 6–0Winner 9. 2012 European Amateur Championship - Masters (4) Steve Judd 6–0Winner 10. 2012 World Amateur Championship - Masters (3) 6–2Winner 11. 2013 European Amateur Championship - Masters (5) Alan Trigg6–3Runner-up 2. 2014 World Amateur Championship - Masters Phisit Chandsri5–6Winner 12. 2015 Welsh Amateur Championship (2) 8–0Winner 13. 2015 European Amateur Championship - Masters (6) Jamie Bodle6–2Runner-up 3. 2016 Welsh Amateur Championship (2) 7–8Winner 14. 2016 European Snooker Open Shachar Ruberg4–1Winner 15. 2016 European Amateur Championship - Masters (7) Brendan Thomas6–0Winner 16. 2016 IBSF World 6-Reds Snooker Championship Chau Hon Man 6–4Runner-up 4. 2017 Welsh Amateur Championship (3) Rhydian Richards 4–8Winner 17. 2017 European Snooker Open (2) 4–1Winner 18. 2017 European Amateur Championship - Masters (8) Elfed Evans6–2Winner 19. 2017 IBSF World 6-Reds Snooker Championship (2) Kamal Chawla 6–4Winner 20. 2017 World Amateur Championship - Masters (4) Aiden Owens6–3Runner-up 5. 2018 WSF Seniors Championship Igor Figueiredo3–5Winner 21. 2018 European Snooker Shoot-Out Tom Zimmermann1–0Winner 22. 2018 European Amateur Championship - Masters (9) John Farrell4–2Winner 23. 2018 World Amateur Championship - Masters (5) Saleh Mohammadi6–0Winner 24. 2019 Welsh Amateur Championship (3) Gavin Lewis8–2Winner 25. 2019 European Amateur Championship - Masters (10) Alan Trigg4–2Runner-up 6. 2020 European 6-Reds Championship Iulian Boiko3–5Winner 26. 2021 European Amateur Championship - Masters (11) Frank Sarsfield4–0Winner 27. 2022 European Amateur Championship - Masters (12) Wayne Brown4–3Winner 28. 2022 Welsh Amateur Championship (4) 8–2Winner 29. 2022 World Amateur Championship - Masters (6) Manan Chandra5–3Winner 30. 2023 European Amateur Championship - Masters (13) Gary Milne5–3
Seniors finals: 3 (1 title)
OutcomeNo.YearChampionshipOpponent in the finalScoreWinner 1. 2011 World Seniors Championship 2–1Runner-up 1. 2016 World Seniors Championship 1–2Runner-up 2. 2019 World Seniors Championship (2) 3–5
References
External links