John Stephen Parrott MBE (born 11 May 1964) is an English former professional snooker player and television personality. He was a familiar face on the professional snooker circuit during the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, and remained within the top 16 of the world rankings for fourteen consecutive seasons.

John Parrott
MBE
Parrott in October 2008
Born (1964-05-11) 11 May 1964 (age 60)
Liverpool, England
Sport country England
Nickname
Professional1983–2010
Highest ranking2 (1989/90, 1992/931993/94)
Maximum breaks1
Century breaks221
Tournament wins
Ranking9
World Champion1991

He reached the final of the 1989 World Championship, where he lost 3–18 to Steve Davis, the heaviest defeat in a world championship final in modern times. He won the title two years later, defeating Jimmy White in the final of the 1991 World Championship. He repeated his win against White later the same year, to take the 1991 UK Championship title, becoming only the third player to win both championships in the same calendar year (after Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry); he is still one of only six players to have achieved this feat. He spent three seasons at number 2 in the world rankings (1989–90, 1992–93, 1993–94), and he is one of several players to have achieved more than 200 competitive centuries during his career, with 221.

Early life and career edit

John Parrott was born on 11 May 1964 at the Oxford Street Maternity Hospital, Liverpool.[2] He was a keen bowls player until the age of 12,[3] but then discovered snooker.[4] He lost in the final of the English Under-16s Championship in 1980,[citation needed] but won the 1981 Pontins Junior Championship. In 1982, he was Pontins Open Champion and Junior Pot Black Champion. He turned professional the following year after winning 14 tournaments in his last year as an amateur player.[5]

Professional career edit

Parrott turned professional in 1983 and he made his televised debut as a professional during the 1984 Classic in which he played Alex Higgins in the last 16 of the competition in front of a packed house at Warrington near his hometown of Liverpool. He caused a stir by winning the match 5–2. He then beat Tony Knowles in the next round before losing to Steve Davis in the semi-finals. By then, bookmakers had him tipped to be the World Snooker Champion within five years (it took him seven years). He took his first ranking title in the 1989 European Open, and defended his title in 1990.

Parrott spent 14 consecutive seasons in the top 16 of the snooker world rankings, 11 of them in the top 6.[3]

From 1984 to 2004 Parrott was ever-present at the World Championship, reaching at least the last 16 every year from 1984 to 1995,[3] but he failed to qualify in 2005.[6]

Following his 1991 victory he never again reached the semi-finals, but lost in the quarter-finals seven times between 1992 and 1999.

Overall, Parrott won a total of nine world ranking events, which as of November 2019 was 12th on the all-time list behind Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins, Mark Williams, Jimmy White, Mark Selby, Ding Junhui, Neil Robertson, Peter Ebdon and Judd Trump. Winning both the World Championship and UK Championship in 1991 made him one of only six players to have won snooker's two most prominent ranking titles in the same year.

Parrott also reached the final of the Masters three times in four years, but lost to Stephen Hendry on each occasion.

Parrott came through the qualifying event for the World Championship a record ten times. In 2007 he reached the last 16 of the World Championship for the first time in seven years, after victories over James Leadbetter, David Gray and Steve Davis (10–9, having led 6–1 and 9–6).[7]

A record ten of Parrott's World Championship matches went to a final-frame decider, seven of which he won. He was also the first player to conduct a "whitewash" in the Crucible World Championship final stages, when he defeated Eddie Charlton 10–0 in the first round of the 1992 tournament.[8] For 27 years, he held the record for being the only player ever to achieve this, until Shaun Murphy defeated China's Luo Honghao 10–0 in the first round of the 2019 World Championship.

On 4 August 2009 at the qualifiers for the 2009 Shanghai Masters he lost 0–5 against Michael White.

Following his 6–10 defeat to young Chinese Zhang Anda in the 2010 World Championship Qualifiers, Parrott finished outside the top 64 in the end of season rankings and was not assured a place on the main tour for the 2010–11 season.[9] Later Parrott announced he was to retire from the professional game.[10]

Parrott played in the 2011 World Seniors Championship, where he lost in the semi-finals to Davis.[11]He also participated in the preliminary qualifying rounds of the 2012 World Snooker Championship for players who were members of the WPBSA but were not on the main tour, losing 0–5 to Patrick Wallace in Round 1.[12]

Television work edit

Parrott is a studio expert on snooker for BBC Sport, often in partnership with Steve Davis; he also delivers many of their playing tutorials and provides guidance for the viewers.[citation needed] From 1996 to 2002, he was one of the team captains on the BBC quiz show A Question of Sport, alongside footballer and pundit Ally McCoist.[13]

He is also a follower of horse racing and was involved in the BBC's horse racing coverage as part of the presenting team.[14][15]

Personal life edit

Parrott is an Everton supporter. He is the brother-in-law of former Everton player Duncan Ferguson.[16]

In 1996, Parrott was honoured with an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list, for charitable services in Merseyside.[17]

In 2008, he launched John Parrott Cue Sports, an online retailer selling snooker and pool cues and some snooker collectables.[18] This was re-branded John Parrott Sports in 2019.[19]

In 2010, it was announced that Parrott was to be the Honorary Patron of the British Crown Green Bowling Association (BCGBA).[20]

Performance and rankings timeline edit

Tournament1983/
84
1984/
85
1985/
86
1986/
87
1987/
88
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
2006/
07
2007/
08
2008/
09
2009/
10
Ranking[21][nb 1][nb 2]2018171372342254466510221830312942393953
Ranking tournaments
Shanghai MastersTournament Not HeldLQALQ
Grand Prix[nb 3]2R2R1R2RSF2R3RQF1R2RSF1R1RSFQF2R2R2R2R1RSF1R1RLQLQ2RLQ
UK ChampionshipNR1R2RSFQFQF3RSFWFSFQF3RQF2RQF2R2R2R1R1RQF1R1RLQWDLQ
Welsh OpenTournament Not HeldSFQF2R1RFSFQF2R1R1RLQLQ2R3R1R1R1RLQLQ
China Open[nb 4]Tournament Not HeldNRQF1R2R1RNot HeldLQLQLQLQWDLQ
World Championship2RQF2R2R2RFSFWQFQFQFQF1RQFQFQF2R1R1R1R1RLQ1R2RLQLQLQ
Non-ranking tournaments
Premier League[nb 5]ANot HeldAAFRRARRSFFRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAA
The MastersAAAASFFFQFFQF1R1RQFQF1R1RSFQFAAAALQAAAA
Former ranking tournaments
Canadian MastersNot HeldNon-RankingQFTournament Not Held
Hong Kong Open[nb 6]Non-Ranking EventNH2RNot HeldNRTournament Not Held
ClassicSFLQ1RQFFQF3R2RQFTournament Not Held
Strachan OpenTournament Not HeldFTournament Not Held
Dubai Classic[nb 7]Tournament Not HeldNRSF2RWW2R1RW1RTournament Not Held
German Masters[nb 8]Tournament Not Held2R1RFNRTournament Not Held
Malta Grand PrixTournament Not HeldNon-Ranking EventQFNRTournament Not Held
Thailand Masters[nb 9]Non-Ranking EventNot HeldWDQF3RQF2R2RQFQFFSF1RSF1RNRNot HeldNRNot Held
Scottish Open[nb 10]ALQQF1R3R1RQFNot Held2RWSF1RQF2R3R1R3R2R1R3RTournament Not Held
British Open[nb 11]NR2R3R1RSFSF1R1R1R3R3RSFQF1RQFQF2R2R2R3R1R2RTournament Not Held
Irish MastersNon-Ranking EventLQLQLQNHNRNot Held
European Open[nb 12]Tournament Not HeldWW1RSF2RSFFWFNRSFNot HeldLQLQLQLQ1RLQNRNot Held
Northern Ireland TrophyTournament Not HeldNRLQ1RLQNH
Bahrain ChampionshipTournament Not HeldLQNH
Former non-ranking tournaments
UK Championship1RTournament Not Held
Canadian MastersNot HeldQFAARTournament Not Held
Hong Kong Open[nb 13]AASFAQFNHRNot HeldAATournament Not Held
Fosters Professional[nb 14]NHASFAASFTournament Not Held
Pontins ProfessionalAQFQFSFWQFAAAAAAAAAAATournament Not Held
English Professional ChampionshipNH2R2RQF2RFTournament Not Held
New Zealand MastersNHANot HeldAQFTournament Not Held
Norwich Union Grand PrixTournament Not HeldASFWTournament Not Held
World MastersTournament Not Held2RTournament Not Held
London MastersTournament Not HeldFFSFTournament Not Held
Thailand MastersARRAANot HeldSFRanking EventANot HeldANot Held
European ChallengeTournament Not HeldQFATournament Not Held
Hong Kong Challenge[nb 15]AQFAAAQFNHAQFTournament Not Held
Indian ChallengeTournament Not HeldFTournament Not Held
Belgian ChallengeTournament Not HeldQFTournament Not Held
Kent Classic[nb 16]Not HeldAWAAANHWTournament Not Held
Belgian MastersTournament Not HeldWSFFNot HeldATournament Not Held
World MatchplayTournament Not HeldFFQFQFQFTournament Not Held
Nescafe Extra ChallengeTournament Not HeldANHRRTournament Not Held
Pot BlackA1R1RTournament Not HeldQFSF1RTournament Not HeldAAANot Held
Malta Grand PrixTournament Not HeldWAAAARATournament Not Held
Red & White ChallengeTournament Not HeldFTournament Not Held
German Masters[nb 17]Tournament Not HeldRanking EventWTournament Not Held
Champions Cup[nb 18]Tournament Not HeldQFQFQFQF1RRRAATournament Not Held
Scottish MastersAAAQFANHSFQFQFQFQF1R1RSFSFQFQFAAATournament Not Held
Irish MastersAAAAASFQFFSFSFQFSF1RQFSF1RSFAARanking EventATournament Not Held
Performance Table Legend
LQlost in the qualifying draw#Rlost 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 Heldmeans an event was not held.
NR / Non-Ranking Eventmeans an event is/was no longer a ranking event.
R / Ranking Eventmeans an event is/was a ranking event.
MR / Minor-Ranking Eventmeans an event is/was a minor-ranking event.
PA / Pro-am Eventmeans an event is/was a pro-am event.
  1. ^ From the 2010/2011 season it shows the ranking at the beginning of the season.
  2. ^ New players on the Main Tour do not have a ranking.
  3. ^ The event run under different names as Professional Players Tournament (1983/1984) and the LG Cup (2001/2002–2003/2004)
  4. ^ The event run under different name as China International (1997/1998–1998/1999)
  5. ^ The event was also called the Professional Snooker League (1983/1984), Matchroom League (1986/1987-1991/1992) and European League (1992/1993-1996/1997
  6. ^ The event also ran as the Australian Masters (1983/1984–1987/1988 & 1995/1996)
  7. ^ The event ran under different names such as Thailand Classic (1995/1996) and Asian Classic (1996/1997)
  8. ^ The event run under different name as German Open (1995/1996–1997/1998)
  9. ^ The event ran under different names such as Asian Open (1989/1990 to 1992/1993) and Thailand Open (1993/1994 to 1996/1997).
  10. ^ The event ran under different names such as International Open (1983/1984 to 1984/1985, 1986/1987 to 1996/1997), Goya Matchroom Trophy (1985/1986) and Players Championship (2003/2004).
  11. ^ The event was also known as the International Masters (1983/1984).
  12. ^ The event ran under different names such as the Irish Open (1998/1999) and Malta Cup (2004/2005–2007/2008)
  13. ^ The event also ran as the Australian Masters (1983/1984–1987/1988 & 1995/1996)
  14. ^ The event also ran as the Carlsberg Challenge (1984/1985–1986/1987) and the Carling Challenge (1987/1988)
  15. ^ The event was also called the Hong Kong Masters (1983/1984–1988/1989)
  16. ^ The event was also called the Kent Cup (1986/1987–1987/1988 & 1989/1990–1990/1991)
  17. ^ The event run under different name as German Open (1995/1996–1997/1998)
  18. ^ The event ran under a different name as the Charity Challenge (1994/1995–1998/1999)

Career finals edit

Ranking finals: 18 (9 titles) edit

Legend
World Championship (1–1)
UK Championship (1–1)
Other (7–7)
OutcomeNo.YearChampionshipOpponent in the finalScore
Runner-up1.1988The Classic Steve Davis11–13
Winner1.1989European Open Terry Griffiths9–8
Runner-up2.1989World Snooker Championship Steve Davis3–18
Winner2.1990European Open (2) Stephen Hendry10–6
Winner3.1991World Snooker Championship Jimmy White18–11
Winner4.1991Dubai Classic Tony Knowles9–3
Winner5.1991UK Championship Jimmy White16–13
Runner-up3.1992Strachan Open James Wattana5–9
Winner6.1992Dubai Classic (2) Stephen Hendry9–8
Runner-up4.1992UK Championship Jimmy White9–16
Winner7.1994International Open James Wattana9–5
Runner-up5.1994European Open Stephen Hendry3–9
Winner8.1995Thailand Classic (3) Nigel Bond9–6
Runner-up6.1996Welsh Open Mark Williams3–9
Winner9.1996European Open (3) Peter Ebdon9–7
Runner-up7.1997European Open (2) John Higgins5–9
Runner-up8.1997German Open John Higgins4–9
Runner-up9.1998Thailand Masters Stephen Hendry6–9

Non-ranking finals: 22 (7 titles) edit

Non-ranking finals contested by John Parrott
OutcomeNo.YearChampionshipOpponent in the finalScore
Winner1.1988Kent Cup  Martin Clark (ENG)5–1
Winner2.1988Pontins Professional  Mike Hallett (ENG)9–1
Runner-up1.1988World Matchplay  Steve Davis (ENG)5–9
Runner-up2.1989The Masters  Stephen Hendry (SCO)6–9
Runner-up3.1989English Professional Championship  Mike Hallett (ENG)7–9
Runner-up4.1989Matchroom League  Steve Davis (ENG)Round-Robin
Runner-up5.1989London Masters  Stephen Hendry (SCO)2–4
Runner-up6.1989World Matchplay (2)  Jimmy White (ENG)9–18
Runner-up7.1990The Masters (2)  Stephen Hendry (SCO)4–9
Runner-up8.1990London Masters (2)  Stephen Hendry (SCO)2–4
Winner3.1990Belgian Masters  Jimmy White (ENG)9–6
Winner4.1990Norwich Union Grand Prix  Steve Davis (ENG)4–2
Runner-up9.1991Irish Masters  Steve Davis (ENG)5–9
Runner-up10.1991Indian Challenge  Stephen Hendry (SCO)5–9
Runner-up11.1992The Masters (3)  Stephen Hendry (SCO)4–9
Winner5.1992Kent Classic  Stephen Hendry (SCO)6–5
Runner-up12.1992Belgian Masters  James Wattana (THA)5–10
Runner-up13.1994European League (2)  Stephen Hendry (SCO)7–10
Winner6.1994Malta Grand Prix  Tony Drago (MLT)7–6
Runner-up14.1995Red & White Challenge  Nigel Bond (ENG)6–8
Winner7.1998German Masters  Mark Williams (WAL)6–4
Runner-up15.2017World Seniors Championship  Peter Lines (ENG)0–4

Team finals: 1 (1 title) edit

OutcomeNo.YearChampionshipTeamOpponent(s) in the finalScore
Winner1.2000Nations Cup  England  Wales6–4

Pro-am finals: 3 (2 titles) edit

Pro-am finals contested by John Parrott
OutcomeNo.YearChampionshipOpponent in the finalScoreRef.
Winner1.1982Pontins Spring Open  Ray Reardon (WAL)7–4[22]
Runner-up1.1985Pontins Spring Open  Jim Chambers (ENG)6–7[22]
Winner2.1986Pontins Spring Open (2)  Tony Putnam (ENG)7–6[22]

Amateur finals: 8 (3 titles) edit

Amateur snooker finals contested by John Parrott
OutcomeNo.YearChampionshipOpponent in the finalScoreRef.
Runner-up1.1979British Under-16 Championship  Tony Pyle (ENG)2–3[23]
Runner-up2.1979Pontins Junior Championship  Dave Gilbert (ENG)1–3[24][25]
Runner-up3.1980British Under-16 Championship (2)  Terry Whitthread (ENG)1–3[26]
Winner1.1981Pontins Junior Championship  Don Tate (ENG)3–1[24][27]
Runner-up4.1982British Under-19 Championship  Neal Foulds (ENG)2–3[28]
Winner2.1982Junior Pot Black  John Keers (ENG)156–70[a][29]
Runner-up5.1983English Amateur Championship  Tony Jones (ENG)9–13[30]
Winner3.1983Junior Pot Black (2)  Steve Ventham (ENG)[a][29]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Final decided on aggregate score over two frames

References edit

Citations

  1. ^ a b "John Parrott". Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  2. ^ Morrison 1988, p. 81.
  3. ^ a b c "Player Profile: John Parrott". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 23 December 2002.
  4. ^ Williams & Gadsby 2005, p. 159.
  5. ^ Williams & Gadsby 2005, p. 159-160.
  6. ^ "Ding Denied". Eurosport. 15 March 2006. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  7. ^ "Parrott edges out colleague Davis". BBC Sport. 22 April 2007.
  8. ^ Hendon, David (9 November 2004). "Obituary: Eddie Charlton". The Independent. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  9. ^ Everton, Clive (4 March 2010). "Jimmy White out of snooker world championship after Ken Doherty defeat". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  10. ^ "Parrott could call it a day". Sky Sports. 4 March 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  11. ^ "Morgan Takes Senior Crown". World Snooker. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012.
  12. ^ "Brecel, Jones and Cao earn Crucible debuts". Snooker Scene. May 2012. p. 16.
  13. ^ "John Parrott to leave A Question of Sport". BBC. 27 May 2002.
  14. ^ BBC Press Office (29 March 2010). "2010 Grand National in HD – a first for UK horse racing".
  15. ^ Mukesh (17 January 2023). "John Parrott Net Worth 2023, Biography, Age, Height, Family, And More". ViralNewly. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  16. ^ "Why I love... Everton". BBC Sport. 13 March 2001. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  17. ^ "Supplement to the London Gazette, 15th June 1996 – Birthday honours 1996". The London Gazette. No. 54427. 14 June 1996. p. B22.
  18. ^ "John Parrott Cue Sports". johnparrottcuesports.com. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
  19. ^ "John Parrott Sports". johnparrottsports.com. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  20. ^ "Press Release – BCGBA welcome John Parrott MBE as honorary patron". BCGBA. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  21. ^ "Ranking History". Snooker.org. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  22. ^ a b c "Brief History of the Pontins Open and Professional". SnookerArchive.co.uk. 2008. Archived from the original on 28 February 2012.
  23. ^ "Off the cush". Daily Mirror. 5 April 1979. p. 26.
  24. ^ a b Morrison 1987, p. 100.
  25. ^ "Pontin's Roll of Honour". Global Snooker Centre. Archived from the original on 19 December 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  26. ^ "The weekend's sport in detail". The Guardian. London. 31 March 1980. p. 21.
  27. ^ "Parrott cues in on snooker glory". Liverpool Echo. 16 May 1981. p. 14.
  28. ^ "Sport in brief: snooker". The Guardian. London. 7 June 1982. p. 21.
  29. ^ a b Morrison 1987, p. 101.
  30. ^ Morrison 1987, p. 37.

Books

  • Hayton, Eric; Dee, John (2004). The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History. Lowestoft: Rose Villa Publications. ISBN 978-0-9548549-0-4.
  • Morrison, Ian (1987). The Hamlyn Encyclopedia of Snooker (Revised ed.). Twickenham: Hamlyn Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-600-55604-6.
  • Morrison, Ian (1988). Hamlyn Who's Who in Snooker. London: Hamlyn. ISBN 978-0-600-55713-5.
  • Williams, Luke; Gadsby, Paul (2005). Masters of the Baize. Edinburgh: Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-84018-872-1.

Further reading edit

  • Parrott, John (1991). Right on Cue : an Autobiography. London: Robson Books Ltd. ISBN 0-86051-778-0.

External links edit