Ben Woollaston Explained

Ben Woollaston
Birth Date:1987 5, df=yes
Birth Place:Leicester, England
Professional:2004/2005, 2006–2008, 2009–present
High Ranking:25 (March–April 2016 and February 2017)[1] [2] [3]
Official Maximums:1
Best Finish:Runner-up (x1)
Minor Wins:1

Ben Woollaston (born 14 May 1987) is an English professional snooker player from Leicester. His sole professional title came at the minor-ranking third Players Tour Championship event in 2011. Woollaston's only ranking event final came at the 2015 Welsh Open, in which he lost to John Higgins.

Career

Born in Leicester, England, Woollaston began his professional career by playing the Challenge Tour in 2003, at the time the second-level professional tour.[4] He first entered the Main Tour for the 2004–05 season, but was unable to retain his place for the following season. He regained his place for 2006–07 by winning the European Under-19 Championship. He was awarded a concessionary place for the 2007–08 tour. Woollaston has twice reached the final group stages of the Grand Prix in 2006 and 2007, enjoying a marginally better tournament in 2006 by winning two matches compared to none in 2007. He also reached the final stages of the 2007 Welsh Open, beating David Gray to reach the second round, in which he lost 2–5 to seven-time World Champion Stephen Hendry.

2011/2012 season: First title

Woollaston's second professional title was Event 3 of the Players Tour Championship in the 2011–12 season. He defeated former World Champion Graeme Dott 4–2 in the final.[5] His performances in the other 11 PTCs, including a quarter-final run in Event 8, saw him claim ninth place in the Order of Merit and therefore qualify for the 2012 Finals. It was the first time he made it to the main stages of a ranking event since 2007. He played Ding Junhui in the opening round and lost 2–4.[6] [7] Woollaston also qualified for the 2012 China Open by winning three qualifying matches, concluding with a 5–4 victory over Ryan Day.[8] He played Ding again in the first round of the event, and looked to be on course for a shock result as he led 4–0 at the interval in the best-of-nine frame match. However, Ding found his form, and won five successive frames to take the match 5–4.[9] His season concluded with a 3–10 loss to Dominic Dale in the final qualifying round for the World Championship and he finished ranked world number 43, meaning he had risen 26 places from the start of the season, the most of anyone on the tour.[10] [11]

2012/2013 season

Woollaston failed to qualify for nine of the eleven ranking events in the 2012–13 season.[12] He fared much better in the minor ranking PTC events, as he was a losing quarter-finalist in four of the ten tournaments to finish 10th on the Order of Merit.[13] This saw him qualify for the Finals, where he defeated Mark Williams and Joe Perry both 4–3 to reach his first ever ranking event quarter-final.[14] He played Kurt Maflin and was this time on the wrong end of a 4–3 scoreline.[15] Woollaston kept his form going into the World Championship Qualifiers by beating Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 10–3 in the third round to face Ryan Day, just one match short of reaching the main draw of the tournament for the first time.[16] There was never more than a single frame between the players in the closing stages of the match with Woollaston compiling a vital break of 64 in the deciding frame to edge the match 10–9 and stated that he wanted to draw reigning champion Ronnie O'Sullivan in the first round as he felt he now had nothing to lose.[17] He drew last year's runner-up Ali Carter and from leading 3–1 and 4–3 Woollaston lost seven frames in a row to exit the tournament, saying afterwards that he had struggled to maintain his confidence and concentration during the match.[18] He climbed 10 spots in the rankings during the season to world number 33, his highest position to date.[19]

2013/2014 season

Woollaston qualified for five ranking events during the 2013–14 season, by far the most he has reached in a single season during his career. At the Wuxi Classic he beat Chen Zhe and Joel Walker both 5–2, before he lost 5–2 to Cao Yupeng in the last 16.[20] Woollaston was defeated in the first round of the Australian Goldfields Open, the International Championship and the German Masters. He saw off Vinnie Calabrese and Alfie Burden with the loss of just one frame to reach the last 32 of the Welsh Open, where he came close to knocking out Ding Junhui but lost 4–3.[21] In the minor-ranking European Tour event the Ruhr Open, Woollaston edged out reigning world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan 4–3 and then whitewashed Burden and Chris Norbury 4–0, before losing in a final frame decider to Stephen Maguire in the quarter-finals. He went a step further at the Antwerp Open by beating Joel Walker in the quarters, but O'Sullivan this time got the better of Woollaston to win 4–2 in the semi-finals.[22] These results aided him to a 20th placing on the Order of Merit to qualify for the Finals for the third year in a row.[23] Woollaston beat Ding, a four-time winner on the tour this season, 4–3 having been 3–0 behind to advance to the last 16 of a ranking event for the second time this campaign, where he was eliminated 4–2 by John Higgins.[24] [25]

2014/2015 season: First ranking final

Woollaston was knocked out of the 2014 Wuxi Classic in the second round 5–3 by Judd Trump, and then failed to qualify for the next two ranking events.[26] In the opening round of the International Championship he led Ronnie O'Sullivan 2–0 and 3–1, but went on to lose 6–4.[27] Woollaston was also beaten 6–2 by the five-time world champion in the third round of the UK Championship, and afterward described his own performance as embarrassing.[28] A week later he achieved the first maximum break of his career at the Lisbon Open in his last 128 match against Joe Steele, but lost 4–3 against Peter Ebdon in the next round.[29] Woollaston won group 6 of the Championship League by seeing off Ebdon 3–0 and progressed through to the semi-finals of the winners' group where he lost 3–2 to Mark Davis.

At the Welsh Open, Woollaston eliminated Thanawat Thirapongpaiboon, Mark Davis, Mark Allen and Ali Carter. He then won four consecutive frames in beating Gary Wilson 5–2 to face home favourite Mark Williams in the semi-finals.[30] Woollaston led 5–3 and missed multiple chances to wrap up the match in the next two frames allowing Williams to send it into a decider. He made a match-winning 60 break to play John Higgins - who had been the favourite player for Woollaston growing up – in his first ranking event final.[31] Higgins fluked a green that helped him edge the first session 5–3 which seemed to sway the whole match as he took all four frames played upon the resumption of play to win 9–3. Afterwards, Woollaston stated that he had never felt he belonged with the top players in the televised stages of ranking events until this week.[32] Woollaston came back from 67–0 down in the deciding frame of his first round Indian Open match to beat Yu Delu on a re-spotted black, and then lost 4–1 to Kyren Wilson in the second round.[33] His best season to date ended with a 10–6 loss to Robin Hull in World Championship qualifying. Woollaston's ranking of 32 in the world after the event was at that point the highest he had ever finished a season.[34]

2015/2016 season

Woollaston lost 4–1 in the semi-finals of the Riga Open to Tom Ford and reached the quarter-finals of the Haining Open, but was beaten 4–2 by Robert Milkins. Two deciding frame victories over Robbie Williams and Yu Delu saw him reach the third round of the International Championship.[35] After recovering from 5–2 down to Joe Perry, he almost won 6–5 for the third time in the week but this time lost the decider.[36] Woollaston was beaten 6–2 in third round of the UK Championship by Shaun Murphy. He reached the quarter-finals of the Welsh Open for the second year in a row, but was defeated 5–1 by Joe Perry. Another came at the PTC Finals with wins over Jimmy Robertson and Matthew Selt and, though he had multiple chances to win the last frame, he lost 4–3 to Murphy.[37] Woollaston lost 10–9 to Chris Wakelin in the first round of World Championship qualifying. He recorded a new career-high end of season world ranking of 27.[38]

2016/2017 season

At the World Open, Woollaston recorded 5–2 and 5–1 wins over Gary Wilson and Ding Junhui, and made a 135 to level his third round tie with Joe Perry at 4–4, but lost the deciding frame.[39] He got to the fourth round of the English Open by beating Cao Yupeng 4–1, Zhang Anda 4–3, and Ali Carter 4–2, and was defeated 4–3 by Liang Wenbo. Woollaston overcame Elliot Slessor 6–5 and Paul Davison 6–4 at the UK Championship, before losing 6–2 to John Higgins.[40] He recorded his first win over Neil Robertson by edging him out 5–4 in the first round of the German Masters and was then knocked out 5–2 by Barry Hawkins.[41] Woollaston also played in the second round of the China Open, but lost 5–4 to Hossein Vafaei.[42] His final-round qualifier match for the World Championship with Zhou Yuelong went to a deciding frame, which Woollaston lost.[43]

Personal life

Woollaston married his wife Tatiana Torchilo, a Belarusian snooker referee, in Pinsk in June 2011, following a ten-month romance.[44] On 8 November 2012, Ben and Tatiana celebrated the birth of their first baby, a son named Edward.[45]

Performance and rankings timeline

Tournament2003/
04
2004/
05
2006/
07
2007/
08
2009/
10
2010/
11
2011/
12
2012/
13
2013/
14
2014/
15
2015/
16
2016/
17
2017/
18
2018/
19
2019/
20
2020/
21
2021/
22
2022/
23
2023/
24
2024/
25
Ranking[46] [47] [48] [49] 75726943334032272837394246424456
Ranking tournaments
Championship LeagueNot HeldNon-Ranking EventRRRR2R2R2R
Xi'an Grand PrixTournament Not HeldLQ
Saudi Arabia MastersTournament Not Held
English OpenTournament Not Held4R3R3R2R4R2R1RLQ
British OpenALQTournament Not Held1R3RLQ
Wuhan OpenTournament Not Held1R
Northern Ireland OpenTournament Not Held1R2R1R3R4R1R1RLQ
International ChampionshipTournament Not HeldLQ1R1R3RLQ1R1R2RNot HeldLQ
UK ChampionshipALQLQLQLQLQLQLQ1R3R3R3R2R2R3R1R4RLQ1R
Shoot OutTournament Not HeldNon-Ranking Event1R1R2RQF1R1R3R1R
Scottish Open[50] ATournament Not HeldMRNot Held2R2R2R2R2R3R1RLQ
German MastersTournament Not HeldLQLQLQ1RLQ2R2R1R1RLQLQLQLQ1R
Welsh OpenALQ2RLQLQLQLQLQ3RFQF1R3R2R3R2R3R1RLQ
World Open[51] ALQRRRRLQLQLQLQLQNot Held3R2R2R1RNot Held3R
World Grand PrixTournament Not HeldNR1RDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ1RDNQDNQ
Players Championship[52] Tournament Not HeldDNQ1RQF2RDNQQFDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ
Tour ChampionshipTournament Not HeldDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ
World ChampionshipLQLQLQLQLQLQLQ1RLQLQLQLQLQLQLQLQLQLQLQ
Non-ranking tournaments
The MastersLQALQLQLQAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Championship LeagueNot HeldAAAAAASFRRRRRRARRFAAAA
Former ranking tournaments
Irish MastersALQNRTournament Not Held
Northern Ireland TrophyNot HeldLQLQTournament Not Held
Wuxi Classic[53] Tournament Not HeldNon-Ranking EventLQ3R2RTournament Not Held
Australian Goldfields OpenTournament Not HeldLQLQ1RLQWRTournament Not Held
Shanghai MastersNot HeldLQLQLQLQLQLQLQLQ1R2RNon-RankingNot HeldNon-Ranking
Paul Hunter Classic[54] NHPro-am EventMinor-Ranking Event1RQF2RNRTournament Not Held
Indian OpenTournament Not HeldLQ2RNHLQ2R1RTournament Not Held
China OpenALQLQLQLQLQ1RLQLQLQ2R2R2RQFTournament Not Held
Riga Masters[55] Tournament Not HeldMinor-RankLQ1R1R2RTournament Not Held
China ChampionshipTournament Not HeldNR1RLQ1RTournament Not Held
WST Pro SeriesTournament Not Held2RTournament Not Held
Turkish MastersTournament Not Held1RNot Held
Gibraltar OpenTournament Not HeldMR3R1R3R4R2R4RNot Held
WST ClassicTournament Not Held2RNot Held
European Masters[56] ALQLQNRTournament Not Held1R3RLQLQ2RLQLQ3RNH
Former non-ranking tournaments
World Grand PrixTournament Not Held1RRanking Event
Shoot OutTournament Not HeldA1R2R2RQF3RRanking Event
Tournament Not HeldAANHAAAA2R2RAANot HeldLQNot Held
Performance Table Legend
LQlost in the qualifying draw
  1. R
lost in the early rounds of the tournament
(WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin)
QFlost in the quarter-finals
SFlost in the semi-finalsFlost in the finalWwon the tournament
DNQdid not qualify for the tournamentAdid not participate in the tournamentWDwithdrew 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.
PA / Pro-am Event means an event is/was a pro-am event.

Career finals

Pro-am finals: 3 (1 title)

OutcomeNo.YearChampionshipOpponent in the finalScore
Runner-up1.2006Baltic Cup Jamie Jones3–5[57]
Winner1.2006Pontins Pro-Am - Event 5 Dave Harold4–1[58]
Runner-up2.2008Paul Hunter English Open Xiao Guodong2–6[59]

Amateur finals: 5 (3 titles)

OutcomeNo.YearChampionshipOpponent in the finalScore
Winner1.2001English Under-14 Championship Alex Davies4–1[60]
Winner2.2002English Under-15 Championship Judd Trump5–1[61]
Runner-up1.2003English Amateur Championship Alex Davies7–8
Winner3.2006European Under-19 Championship 6–4
Runner-up2.2009PIOS – Event 8 Joe Jogia5–6

Team finals: 1 (1 title)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WORLD RANKINGS After 2016 Ladbrokes Players Championship . https://web.archive.org/web/20160330150922/http://www.worldsnooker.com/rankings/ . dead . 30 March 2016 . . 30 March 2016.
  2. Web site: WORLD RANKINGS After 2016 BAIC Motors China Open . https://web.archive.org/web/20160413053328/http://www.worldsnooker.com/rankings/ . dead . 13 April 2016 . World Snooker . 13 April 2016.
  3. Web site: WORLD RANKINGS After 2017 F66.com German Masters . https://web.archive.org/web/20170207134628/http://www.worldsnooker.com/rankings/ . dead . 7 February 2017 . World Snooker . 7 February 2017.
  4. Web site: Ben Woollaston – Season 2003/2004 . 5 January 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120527152253/http://www.cuetracker.net/pages/players.php?ID=54 . 27 May 2012.
  5. Web site: Woollaston Wins First Pro Title at PTC3 . . 21 August 2011 . 25 February 2012.
  6. Web site: PTC 8 . WWW Snooker . 10 January 2012.
  7. Web site: PTC Order of Merit after PTC12 . WPBSA . 29 December 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131210225922/http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/ae/98/0,,13165~170158,00.pdf . 10 December 2013 .
  8. Web site: 2012 China Open Results . Snooker Database . 25 February 2012 . 1 August 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120801131002/http://www.snookerdatabase.co.uk/EventResults.aspx?EventKey=302 . dead .
  9. News: China Open scores and schedule. BBC Sport.
  10. Web site: Ben Woollaston 2011/2012 . Snooker.rog . 12 May 2012.
  11. Web site: Official World Ranking List for the 2012/2013 Season . 12 May 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120522154016/http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/1d/b0/0,,13165~176157,00.pdf . 22 May 2012 .
  12. Web site: Ben Woollaston 2012/2013 . Snooker.org . 17 April 2013.
  13. Web site: Order of Merit 2012/2013 . Snooker.org . 17 April 2013 . 28 April 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130428072211/http://snooker.org/res/index.asp?template=10 . dead .
  14. Web site: Maflin And Woollaston Keep Runs Going . World Snooker . 17 April 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203123902/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0%2C%2C13165~3110849%2C00.html . 3 December 2013.
  15. Web site: Cool Kurt into Last Four . World Snooker . 17 April 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130320025630/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0%2C%2C13165~3112085%2C00.html . 20 March 2013.
  16. Web site: Betfair World Championship . Snooker.org . 17 April 2013.
  17. Web site: Quartet of Debutants Through To Crucible . World Snooker . 17 April 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130418033737/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0%2C%2C13165~3143160%2C00.html . 18 April 2013.
  18. Web site: Captain Sets Up Rocket Clash . World Snooker . 23 April 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130427004440/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0%2C%2C13165~3155126%2C00.html . 27 April 2013.
  19. Web site: Official World Snooker Ranking List For The 2013/2014 Season . World Snooker . 28 May 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130611202605/http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/49/bc/0%2C%2C13165~179273%2C00.pdf . 11 June 2013.
  20. Web site: Ben Woollaston 2013/2014 . Snooker.org . 5 May 2014.
  21. Web site: Maguire and Higgins flawless as Ding scrapes through . . 5 May 2014.
  22. Web site: Selby Beats O'Sullivan in Antwerp Thriller . 17 November 2013 . World Snooker . 5 May 2014.
  23. Web site: European Order of Merit 2013/2014 . Snooker.org . 5 May 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140408124026/http://snooker.org/res/index.asp?template=10&season=2013 . 8 April 2014.
  24. Web site: Defending champion Ding stunned in opening round . ESPN (UK) . 5 May 2014.
  25. Web site: Higgins to meet 'unstoppable' Fu in Preston last eight . ESPN (UK) . 5 May 2014.
  26. Web site: Ben Woollaston 2014/2015 . Snooker.org . 22 February 2015.
  27. Web site: O'Sullivan Battles To Beat Woollaston . 26 October 2014 . World Snooker . 22 February 2015.
  28. News: Ben Woollaston 'embarrassed' by UK Ronnie O'Sullivan defeat . . 23 February 2015.
  29. Web site: Woollaston Joins 147 Club . worldsnooker.com . . 12 December 2014 . 12 December 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141217025058/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0%2C%2C13165~4361682%2C00.html . 17 December 2014.
  30. Web site: Welsh Open: Luca Brecel and Ben Woollaston reach semi-finals in Cardiff . . 22 February 2015.
  31. Web site: Woollaston Shocks Williams To Reach Final . World Snooker . 22 February 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150222180720/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0%2C%2C13165~4507320%2C00.html . 22 February 2015.
  32. Web site: Higgins – Prince of Wales . 22 February 2015 . World Snooker . 22 February 2015.
  33. News: Jones puts out fancied Wenbo in Indian Open Snooker . The Times of India. 21 April 2015.
  34. Web site: World Rankings After 2015 World Championship . World Snooker . 8 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150507001308/http://www.worldsnooker.com/rankings/ . 7 May 2015.
  35. Web site: Ben Woollaston 2015/2016 . Snooker.org . 7 April 2016.
  36. Web site: Higgins Stuns Murphy in Last 16 . 28 October 2015 . World Snooker . 7 April 2016.
  37. Web site: Murphy and Allen into Semi . 25 March 2016 . World Snooker . 7 April 2016.
  38. Web site: Historic Seedings After 2016 World Championship . Snooker.org . 24 September 2016.
  39. Web site: Joe Perry 5–4 Ben Woollaston . World Snooker . 13 April 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170409105638/http://livescores.worldsnookerdata.com/Matches/Result/13900/442773 . 9 April 2017.
  40. Web site: There's more to come from me, says Ben Woollaston after UK Championship snooker win . . 13 April 2017 .
  41. Web site: Leicester's Ben Woollaston claims scalp of former world champion at German Masters . Leicester Mercury . 13 April 2017 .
  42. Web site: Ben Woollaston 2016/2017 . Snooker.org . 13 April 2017.
  43. Web site: O'Brien Wins Record Two-Hour Frame . 12 April 2017 . World Snooker . 13 April 2017.
  44. Web site: Pretty in Pinsk . . 23 June 2011.
  45. Web site: New Arrival for the Woollastons . . 9 November 2012.
  46. Web site: Ranking History . Snooker.org . 6 February 2011.
  47. From the 2010/2011 season it shows the ranking at the beginning of the season
  48. He was an amateur
  49. New players don't have a ranking
  50. The event was called the Players Championship (2003/2004)
  51. The event was called the LG Cup (2003/2004) and the Grand Prix (2004/2005, 2006/2007–2007/2008 and 2009/2010)
  52. The event was called the Players Tour Championship Grand Final (2010/2011–2015/2016)
  53. The event was called the Jiangsu Classic (2009/2010)
  54. The event was called the Grand Prix Fürth (2004/2005) and the Fürth German Open (2006/2007)
  55. The event was called the Riga Open (2014/2015–2015/2016)
  56. The event was called the European Open (2003/2004) Malta Cup (2004/2005 and 2006/2007–2007/2008)
  57. Web site: 2006 Baltic Cup. Global Snooker Centre. https://web.archive.org/web/20070109142453/http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/EBSA/05-6/06Baltic-draw.htm . 9 January 2007.
  58. Web site: 2006 Pontins Pro-Am – Event 5. Global Snooker Centre. https://web.archive.org/web/20070312182444/http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Pontins/06-7/06Pro-Am-5.htm. 12 March 2007. 6 February 2021. live.
  59. Web site: Other Non-Ranking and Invitation Events. https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155703/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/misc4.html#EngOpen. dead. 16 February 2012. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. 3 January 2018.
  60. Web site: English Under 14 Final . worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 29 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20030415212400/http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/EASB_finals/articleshow.asp?articleID=163&category=19. 15 April 2003.
  61. Web site: Country Page - England. Global Snooker Centre. 29 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20081004174708/http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk:80/files/Countries/country_england.htm. 4 October 2008.
  62. Web site: Northern Snooker Centre Eden World Ladies Snooker and Billiards Championships 2014 . wlbsa.com . World Ladies Billiards & Snooker Association . 18 April 2014 . 18 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140419013733/http://www.wlbsa.com/Eden-Worlds2014mixeddoublesresults.html . 19 April 2014 . dead.