For 33 years, Fergal O’Brien has been respected by his peers and admired by fans as one of the sport’s hardest competitors. Last season, he decided that it was time to bring down the curtain on his fine career.
The popular Dubliner won the British Open in 1999, beating Anthony Hamilton 9-7 in the final. Two years later, he came so close the Masters crown, losing a dramatic deciding frame in a 10-9 reverse against Paul Hunter.
We caught up with O’Brien to discuss why he decided to call it a day and look back on his career…
Fergal, first of all congratulations on a brilliant career. Why have you come to the conclusion that now is the time to put away your cue?
“I’ve been very fortunate to do commentary for Eurosport this season. Long may that continue. The coaching has also been going very well. I want to push that more. I’d like to look into working with a professional. While I was still on the tour, that was obviously a non-runner. Playing snooker will always be the best thing ever, but the two next best things are commentary and coaching, so I’m very glad they’ve come along. Rather than trying to be a good player, I’m trying to be a great commentator or coach. The balance has changed.”
What do you think you can bring to the table from a coaching perspective and what is it about the commentary you enjoy the most?
“I’ve been a professional for 33 years on the tour and that level of experience or knowledge can be of use to any player - particularly younger and more inexperienced ones. Not even necessarily the playing side, although I can help on the technical and tactical stuff. More the day in and day out routine of being a professional snooker player. Life on tour and all that brings, the travelling, the preparation, the disappointments and the loneliness. Also dealing with success. I think I could help them go through that journey and it is something I’d be interested in pursuing.
“Commentary is similar to playing in terms of the routine. There is that level of preparation. I put a lot of work in to make sure I’m ready and my knowledge is up to date. There is also the excitement and interest with the match ahead. During the game you are constantly looking at the nuances and important shots. You require the same level of concentration as when you are playing. You aren’t casually viewing it like you would watching on TV. While commentating you are totally in the zone. That kind of energy I have for the game - commentary gives me an outlet for it. Hopefully my passion and interest for the game is obvious. Of course, when you are a player it is all in your hands. Now, for the first time ever, I’m working for somebody else. All I can do is prepare as well as I can and do my best.”
Shortly after you turned professional, you moved to Ilford in Essex where you based yourself in the early stages of your career. How important was the experience you gained there?
“I went from being the second-best player in Ireland to being probably the tenth best player in the club in Ilford. Ken Doherty and Ronnie O’Sullivan were playing there, as well as Chris Brooks - who has sadly died - and a lot of others. When I first went over, I was playing down the hall away from the main tables. Eventually you worked your way through and got games with the best guys. I loved it. A typical day would be winner stays on. If you lost a best of seven at 10am in the morning, you had to go down the hall and wait for your turn to get back on. If I hadn’t made that move to Ilford, things wouldn’t have worked out as they did.”
What are your memories of winning that British Open final against Anthony Hamilton back in 1999?
“I’d heard a lot about Anthony growing up. It seemed every month when you read Snooker Scene he’d won at least one pro-am. He’d beaten me a few times, but I think a couple of months before that match I beat him 9-8 at the UK Championship and that was important. I’m not sure I’d have had the belief to beat Anthony in a final if I hadn’t won that game. It was a good standard of play in the evening session and in the end I managed to pot the blue, pink and black in the last frame to win it.
“It was great, not just to win it, but to have my family there. I remember coming home and there were loads of people at the airport, which I didn’t know about. If I had I’d have been ready for it, but I just had the trophy in a carrier bag when I came out. I didn’t know so many would be there to meet me. It was magic and a brilliant moment.”
How important has competing at the Crucible been to you throughout your career?
“It is an amazing place. I don’t think the World Championship should ever move from the Crucible. It has all of the history and is an iconic venue. That atmosphere is built into the place from round one to the end. There is an extra special feeling there. The old saying is correct, when you are playing well it is the best place in the world and when you are playing badly it is the worst place in the world. Waiting to play at the Crucible is like waiting for Christmas Day. My love and appeal of the place has probably cost me in the qualifying. I’ve had some heartbreaking defeats, because I was trying so hard to get there. I have lost in the last qualifying round ten times”
Did those defeats play a factor during the deciding frame of your 10-9 win over David Gilbert in the final round of qualifying in 2017? At two hours, three minutes and 41 seconds it remains the longest in snooker history.
“I was totally engrossed in my own little world and I wasn’t conscious of Dave. Fear was my opponent. That fear of losing 10-9 again. That fear and dread of walking back to the hotel, getting into bed and feeling numb. At the time, I wasn’t thinking like that and I remember being delighted to win. Dave wasn’t happy when he was being interviewed and I can understand that. Getting up the next day and talking to people, my mood had changed as there was a lot of negativity about it, which again I can understand. I got Mark Selby in the draw, who was defending champion. That meant I had to play on the opening Saturday morning. I was knackered. By the time I played Mark I felt I was on fumes. I felt good out there, but I didn’t put in the performance I wanted.”
Is it going to be difficult to walk away from professional competition or have you now come to terms with your decision?
“I did a few interviews back in January and I was quite emotional talking about it, but as time has passed I have become at peace with it. I’ve obviously loved playing snooker as a professional. It has been the best thing in the world that I could possibly do. I think the transition or change has been softened. A couple of years ago I’d have been at a loss for what to do. The game has meant so much to me, but I have an outlet for my interest and passion for the game with commentary and coaching now. I’m at peace with what I’ve tried to do and the effort I’ve put in over the years. I’m looking forward to the next stage of my snooker journey.”