James Cahill (snooker player)
 Cahill at the2016 Paul Hunter Classic | |
| Born | 27 December 1995 Blackpool,England |
|---|---|
| Sport country |  England |
| Nickname | The Giant-killer[1] |
| Professional | 2013–2017, 2019–2021, 2022–2024 |
| Highestranking | 66 (July 2023)[2][3][4] |
| Best ranking finish | Last 16 (x3) |
James Cahill(born 27 December 1995) is an English former professionalsnookerplayer fromBlackpool.Cahill first turned professional in 2013, aged 17, after winning theEuropean Under 21 Championships,but returned to amateur status in 2017.
As an amateur, Cahill reached the main stage of the2019 World Snooker Championship,becoming the first amateur player ever to qualify for the event. At the tournament, he defeated world number oneRonnie O'Sullivan10–8 in their first round match. O'Sullivan was the second former world number one Cahill had defeated in the2018–19 snooker season,after his victory overMark Selbyat the2018 UK Championship.Cahill qualified for a new two-year tour card as the second highest ranked player on the one year list who was not in the top 64 in the world after the 2018–19 season. He rejoined the professional tour in June 2019, only to be relegated again in June 2021, and rejoin June 2022.
Career
[edit]Cahill was born on 27 December 1995 to Maria and Patrick Cahill.[5][6]Cahill was an amateur player until 2013, when he entered the2013 EBSA European Under-21 Snooker Championshipsas the fourteenth seed. At 17, he defeatedJoseph McLarenandRoss Muir4–3,Elliot Slessor4–1 andDarryl Hill5–1 in the semi-final to play sixteen year oldAshley Cartyin the final. The final, played as a best of 11framesmatch, saw CahillwhitewashCarty 6–0 to win the tournament. Having won the event, Cahill gained a two-year tour card for the2013–14and2014–15snooker seasons, allowing him to play in all professional tournaments.[7][8]
Professional career
[edit]
Cahill won just three matches during the 2013/2014 season, and ended his debut season on tour ranked world number 117.[9][10]He played in the main stages in the2013 UK Championshipand the2013 Welsh Open,but did not progress past the first round in either competition, losing toJoe Perry6–3, andKen Doherty4–0.[11]Cahill's second season saw him improve his results as he twice reached the last 32 in the minor-rankingEuropean Tourevents.[12]At 18 years old, he then went on his best run to date in a ranking event during the2014 UK Championship.He won comfortably in the first round, beating veteranMark King6–0 and then saw off formerWelsh OpenfinalistAndrew Higginson6–4.[13]Cahill faced world number threeDing Junhui,a player who had won five ranking titles the previous season, and raced into a 5–1 lead. Ding won three frames in a row and needed three snookers in the next frame, which he got when Cahill left afree ball.Cahill responded by taking the deciding frame to record the biggest victory of his career up to that point.[14]
In the last 16 of the championships, Cahill commented he couldn't "believe how badly [he] played" after his tournament ended with a 2–6 loss toMark Davis.[15]Cahill had a poor end to the season as he lost seven out of eight matches after this which would have relegated him from the tour as he finished 85th in the world rankings.[16]However, his performance in the European Tour events saw him finish high enough on the EuropeanOrder of Meritto retain his spot on the tour for the following two seasons.[12]In the2015–16 season,Cahill failed to win more than one match at an event, winning just five matches all year. He competed at the main stage of the2015 UK Championship,where he lost toAnthony McGill6–3. Appearing at the2016 Welsh Open,he won his first round match for the first time, defeatingXiao Guodong4–1, but then lost 1–4 toMark Davis.[17]Cahill finished the season 110th in the rankings.[18]
Cahill's2016–17 seasonwas a breakout year, where he appeared in many more main stage tournaments than any of his previous seasons. He appeared for the first time at both the2016 Riga Masters,losing 3–4 toZhao Xintong;[19]and then2016 World Openlosing toLiang Wenbo2–5.[20]Cahill progressed to the third round of the2016 Paul Hunter Classicby eliminatingKevin Vandevoort4–0 andRyan Day4–2. In the third round, he drew world number oneMark Selby.Despite being 1–3 behind, he made two breaks above 50 to come back to tie the match at 3–3, but lost the deciding frame.[21]The next event of the season saw him beaten 1–4 byJoe Swailin the second round of theEnglish Open,after beatingAdam Stefanow4–3 in the opening round.[22]
Following this, Cahill lost in the first round of five ranking events, including the UK Championship and Welsh Open. He did, however, defeatRobbie WilliamsandNoppon Saengkhambefore losing toKen Dohertyin the third round of the non-ranking one-frameSnooker Shoot-Outevent.[23]He finished the season losing in the opening round of qualification for the2017 World Snooker Championship,losing to Robbie Williams 1–10.[24]Having finished the season with a world ranking of 106, Cahill required a successful run in2017 Q Schoolto remain on the tour.[25]After exiting in the opening roundAndres Petrov2–4 of the first event, he fared better at the second event, defeating Jaspal Bamotra, James Silverwood, Alex Taubman andAshley Cartybut losing 2–4 toPaul Davisonto confirm his relegation from the tour.[26]
Amateur career and World Snooker Championship
[edit]Competing as an amateur, Cahill appeared in two professional events, at the2017 Snooker Shoot Out,where he defeatedRory McLeodbefore losing toGraeme Dott,and the2018 Gibraltar Openwhere he defeatedEden Sharav4–1, before losing to Noppon Saengkham 1–4.[27]Post-season, Cahill entered2018 Q School.He reached the fifth round of all three events. At the first event he lost toJordan Brown4–1, the second event, toJamie Cope3–4, andKuldesh Johal3–4 in the final event.[28][29]Having only reached the fifth round, he did not win a place back on tour for the next season, and returned to being an amateur player.[29]
Cahill played the season as an amateur player, but was allowed into the main stage of events through qualifying. Cahill defeatedLiang Wenboin qualifying to reach the2018 World Openmainstage, but was defeated 4–5 byAndrew Higginson.[30]At the dedicated Amateur qualifying event for the2018 Paul Hunter Classic,Cahill defeated Conor Caniff 4–1 and Charlie Walters 4–2 to reach the event.[31]However, Cahill lost in the first round once again toNiu Zhuang.[31]Competing at the2018 UK Championshipas an amateur, Cahill defeated world number oneMark Selby6–3 in the first round, allowing Selby just 79 points in the first three frames.[32][33]After the victory, Cahill commented "the standard wasn't amazing. But to beat the world number one, such a great player, is brilliant."[34]He then playedSunny Akaniin the second round, losing 5–6.[35]
At the2019 World Championship,Cahill was given a qualifyingwildcardspot by theWorld Professional Billiards and Snooker Association,despite being an amateur.[36]He playedAndrew Higginsonin the first round of qualifying, and led 7–0 and 8–2, before Higginson won 7 straight frames to lead 9–8. Cahill won the last two frames of the match to win 10–9 and progress to the second round of qualifying. He then defeatedMichael Holt10–7, to set up a final qualifying round match against fellow amateur playerMichael Judge.Cahill defeated Judge 10–6 to become the first amateur player to play at the main stages of the world championships at theCrucible Theatre.[37]
"I can take a lot of confidence from this. I've always felt that I belong on a big stage. When I was losing to guys in back rooms with no crowd, I always felt it would be different if I could get myself up there. A lot of the players haven't got the temperament to go out there and perform. It's not easy to perform. You've either got it or you haven't."
James Cahill on defeatingRonnie O'Sullivanat the World Championship.[38]
In the first round of the championship, Cahill drew world number one and five-time championRonnie O'Sullivan.Cahill led 5–4 after the first session of the match and won three of the four frames at the start of the next session to lead 8–5. O'Sullivan won the following three frames to tie the match at 8–8 before Cahill won the final two frames and the match 10–8.[39]After beating O'Sullivan, Cahill commented "I am over the moon, to beat the best player in the world and hold myself together on my Crucible debut."[40]The match was referred to as the "biggest shock in Crucible history" by theBBC,withmaster of ceremoniesRob Walkerintroducing him as "the giant killer" for having defeated two world number ones as an amateur.[41][42][43]
Following the victory, Cahill drew world number 15Stephen Maguirein the last 16, in a best of 25 frames match.[44] [45]Maguire won the first two frames, before Cahill tied the match at 2–2. Maguire won the next three frames to lead 5–2, before Cahill ended the first session 3–5 behind.[46]The pair finished the second session with two frames once again between them, after Cahill won 4 of the next 6 frames to tie the match at 7–7, but Maguire won the final two frames to lead 9–7.[47]Cahill tied the match at 11–11, and looked to lead for the first time at 12–11; however, during his break, Cahill fouled thepink ballwith his waistcoat, allowing Maguire to win the frame.[48]Cahill won frame 24, sending the match to a deciding frame.[49]Maguire, however, overcame in the decider.[49]
Due to his performances (as a Q School top-up entrant) in tournaments during the2018–19 season,Cahill secured a new two-year tour card for the2019–20and2020–21seasons.[37]He finished second on the one year ranking list of those not in the top 64 in the world rankings.[50] [51]Despite having reached the second round of the world championships, Cahill started the following season with no ranking points, not having achieved the results as a professional player.[49]However, he finished 90th in the world rankings after the 2020–21 season, and returned to being an amateur player in June 2021.[52]
Personal life
[edit]Cahill was born inBlackpool,England,to Maria and Patrick Cahill.[53]Both parents are former amateur snooker players, with Maria having been a highly ranked player in the 1980s.[53]The seven-time world championStephen Hendrywas formerly married to Maria's sister Mandy.[54]Maria runs a snooker club inPreston.[53]
Cahill received a one-year ban from driving after being found to be under the influence whilst driving inPerth, Scotland.[55]During qualification for the2019 World Snooker Championship,the snooker club run by his family was burgled. Despite money being stolen and items being destroyed, Cahill's cue was left undamaged.[55]
Performance and rankings timeline
[edit]| Tournament | 2013/ 14 |
2014/ 15 |
2015/ 16 |
2016/ 17 |
2017/ 18 |
2018/ 19 |
2019/ 20 |
2020/ 21 |
2021/ 22 |
2022/ 23 |
2023/ 24 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking[18][nb 1] | [nb 2] | 117 | [nb 3] | 110 | [nb 4] | [nb 4] | [nb 2] | 82 | [nb 4] | [nb 5] | 71 | ||||||||||||
| Ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championship League | Non-Ranking Event | RR | RR | RR | 2R | ||||||||||||||||||
| European Masters | Tournament Not Held | LQ | A | LQ | LQ | 2R | WD | 1R | 1R | ||||||||||||||
| British Open | Tournament Not Held | 1R | LQ | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||
| English Open | Tournament Not Held | 2R | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | WD | LQ | 1R | ||||||||||||||
| Wuhan Open | Tournament Not Held | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern Ireland Open | Tournament Not Held | 1R | A | 1R | 1R | 2R | 2R | LQ | 1R | ||||||||||||||
| International Championship | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | A | A | LQ | Tournament Not Held | LQ | ||||||||||||||
| UK Championship | 1R | 4R | 1R | 1R | A | 2R | 2R | 1R | A | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||
| Shoot Out | Non-Ranking Event | 3R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | ||||||||||||||
| Scottish Open | Tournament Not Held | 1R | A | 2R | 2R | 1R | LQ | LQ | 1R | ||||||||||||||
| World Grand Prix | NH | NR | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | ||||||||||||
| German Masters | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | A | LQ | LQ | LQ | A | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||
| Welsh Open | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | A | 3R | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||
| Players Championship[nb 6] | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | ||||||||||||
| World Open | LQ | Not Held | 1R | A | 1R | LQ | Tournament Not Held | LQ | |||||||||||||||
| Tour Championship | Tournament Not Held | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||
| World Championship | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | A | 2R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||
| Former ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wuxi Classic | LQ | LQ | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Australian Goldfields Open | LQ | LQ | LQ | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||
| Shanghai Masters | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | A | Non-Ranking | Tournament Not Held | NR | |||||||||||||||
| Paul Hunter Classic | Minor-Ranking Event | 3R | WD | 1R | NR | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||
| Indian Open | LQ | LQ | NH | LQ | A | 3R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||
| China Open | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | A | LQ | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||
| Riga Masters[nb 7] | NH | Minor-Ranking | 1R | A | LQ | 1R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||
| China Championship | Tournament Not Held | NR | A | A | LQ | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||
| WST Pro Series | Tournament Not Held | 2R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Turkish Masters | Tournament Not Held | LQ | Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Gibraltar Open | Not Held | MR | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | Not Held | ||||||||||||||
| WST Classic | Tournament Not Held | 4R | NH | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Former non-ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Six-red World Championship | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | LQ | NH | ||||||||||||
| Performance Table Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LQ | 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-finals |
| SF | lost in the semi-finals | F | lost in the final | W | won the tournament |
| DNQ | did not qualify for the tournament | A | did not participate in the tournament | WD | 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. | |||
- ^From the 2010/2011 season it shows the ranking at the beginning of the season.
- ^abNew players on the Main Tour do not have a ranking
- ^Players qualified through European Tour Order of Merit started the season without prize money ranking points
- ^abcHe was an amateur
- ^Players qualified through Q School started the season without ranking points
- ^The event was called the Players Championship Grand Final (2013/2014–2015/2016)
- ^The event was called the Riga Open (2014/2015–2015/2016)
Career finals
[edit]Amateur finals: 1 (1 title)
[edit]| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1. | 2013 | European Under-21 Snooker Championship | Ashley Carty
|
6–0 | [56] |
References
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biggest shock in Crucible history
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Maria
- ^"Seven-time champion Hendry misses out on Worlds".BBC Sport.Retrieved8 April2023.
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External links
[edit]