World Snooker Championship star announces retirement after falling off the tour
World Snooker Championship star announces retirement after falling off the tour
Anthony Hamilton, who won the German Masters in 2017 and was a former World Championship quarter-finalist, has retired from snooker after 34 years as a professional
Anthony Hamilton has called time on his professional career
(Image: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire )
Anthony Hamilton, once a practice partner of Ronnie O'Sullivan, has announced his retirement after a run of 34 years on the World Snooker Tour.
Turning pro in 1991, just a year before O'Sullivan himself hit the professional scene, Hamilton has now brought down the curtain on his top-level career. The 'Sheriff of Pottingham' never quite lived up to what many believed was his full potential.
Nonetheless, his career highlights include triumphing at the German Masters in 2017, where he bested Ali Carter in the final for his maiden ranking title. His record also boasts four appearances in the quarter-finals of the World Championship.
The Nottingham native had already been contemplating retirement prior to bowing out of qualifying for the 2025 World Championship, which consequently led to the loss of his tour card.
Reflecting on his experiences at Q-School, where he failed in his bid to regain his card, he said: "It felt strange playing there, knowing that these could be your last couple of matches. But I'm not going to miss it because the last few years have not been that enjoyable."
However, he remains fond of the sport, adding: "I probably love it again now more than I used to. I appreciate it more. I watch it more now than I used to. I love it more and I love players now because I know what they're about.
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Hamilton admits it is a relief to retire
(Image: Getty )
"During my prime, I didn't really focus on snooker; my interests lay elsewhere in life. Now, as an older man, I've rediscovered my love for the sport and enjoy watching it again. I'm eager to see what the future holds."
O'Sullivan once praised Hamilton, describing him as "phenomenal" and a "great practice partner". In 2021, the Rocket said: "He was phenomenal, still is, just goes ton, ton, ton, ton. It's good for you to play someone like that because it rubs off on you. He was a great practice partner.
"He's won the German and had a very good career. It's a compliment, but with his game he should have won more really because he's a very heavy scorer. That's why he's still competing, because of his scoring power.
"Plays the right shots, plays the right game, plays in the right spirit. A bit like [Anthony] McGill maybe, plays the game nicely, good cue action, everything's nice. When he does bring his best form, he's like that every day in practice.
O'Sullivan rated his practice partner very highly
(Image: Getty )
"If he could bring that regularly to the match table, he'd have won multiple titles. I don't know why he hasn't because he's got bottle, he's got everything. It's a strange one. Some players you look at and think they're too good not to have won more. He's definitely one of those."
Meanwhile, O'Sullivan, 49, looks set to play on following his comeback at the World Championship, where he made the semi-finals despite complaining of chronic cue issues. How often fans will see the Rocket next season remains to be seen after he missed virtually half of last season.
Speaking following his Crucible defeat to eventual champion Zhao Xintong, he announced plans to quit the UK for the Middle East. He said: "I'll still try and play snooker but I don't know what the future looks like for me really.
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"I'm moving away soon so I'll just see how it goes. There's a lot of more important things in life to worry about than a game of snooker."
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