Fergal O'Brien To Retire At End Of The Season

Well done Fergal. He will have a career in coaching and commentary.

If the World Cup comes back, will it be the first national team event this century where the Republic Of Ireland's team won't be Ken and Fergal?

Frees up a tour card next season as this is the first year of his current card.

A good solid career without hitting the heights, British Open champion, NI Trophy finalist, Masters finalist, world cup runner up and career high ranking of 9. 28 years in the top 64

The snooker tour will lose its sex appeal

Alex0paul wrote:The snooker tour will lose its sex appeal

Nonsense; we’ll still have Tom Ford

SnookerEd25 wrote:

Alex0paul wrote:The snooker tour will lose its sex appeal

Nonsense; we’ll still have Tom Ford

Does he look as good as Fergal in a gimp suit though?

Eurosport must of gave him the nod

LC wrote:Eurosport must of gave him the nod

He gave Neal Foulds some special favours to get the job.

Fergal's commentary isn't too bad

Slightly odd to go through the bother of QSchool, to then announce your retirement so early on

I thought this was his second year of his card? He hasn't pulled up any trees these past few seasons and hasn't even bothered entering many of the tournaments this season.

One last Crucible hurrah?

The_Abbott wrote:I thought this was his second year of his card? He hasn't pulled up any trees these past few seasons and hasn't even bothered entering many of the tournaments this season.

One last Crucible hurrah?

You are right, 2nd year. Wouldn't begrudge him a last hurrah but doesn't look likely on current form

SteveJJ wrote:Slightly odd to go through the bother of QSchool, to then announce your retirement so early on

Possible contract offer to commentary speeds his decision.

He's too sexy for the tour.

RunningSide wrote:

SteveJJ wrote:Slightly odd to go through the bother of QSchool, to then announce your retirement so early on

Possible contract offer to commentary speeds his decision.

Exactly. He previously said you'd know he'd retired when he was dead so obviously the offer from Eurosport was too good to refuse.

Minimum Break wrote:

RunningSide wrote:

SteveJJ wrote:Slightly odd to go through the bother of QSchool, to then announce your retirement so early on

Possible contract offer to commentary speeds his decision.

Exactly. He previously said you'd know he'd retired when he was dead so obviously the offer from Eurosport was too good to refuse.

I mean, good for him.

I mean, why slug it out in the qualifiers where he's getting paid pittance, if at all, if he can get a nicely paid commentary job?

No disrespect to Fergal, but he's at the end of his career now. I don't envision him having enough tournament runs to make staying on tour worth it. Might as well commentate, hadn't he? He doesn't seem that bad at it either.

Sad news. The snooker world will lose a lot of it's sexyness.

SnookerFan wrote:

Minimum Break wrote:

RunningSide wrote:

SteveJJ wrote:Slightly odd to go through the bother of QSchool, to then announce your retirement so early on

Possible contract offer to commentary speeds his decision.

Exactly. He previously said you'd know he'd retired when he was dead so obviously the offer from Eurosport was too good to refuse.

I mean, good for him.

I mean, why slug it out in the qualifiers where he's getting paid pittance, if at all, if he can get a nicely paid commentary job?

No disrespect to Fergal, but he's at the end of his career now. I don't envision him having enough tournament runs to make staying on tour worth it. Might as well commentate, hadn't he? He doesn't seem that bad at it either.

commentary won't be a full time job. but he is also doing coaching now.

Any idea who he's working with,fergal not known for attack style snooker, could be difficult to change modern players approach..

RunningSide wrote:Any idea who he's working with,fergal not known for attack style snooker, could be difficult to change modern players approach..

not aware of any pros as of yet. think mostly amateurs at the moment

Certainly would give amateurs good insights what's required to be on tour and a repeatable technique that works under pressure, good luck to him.

Fergal Session 1

How to lose multiple Judgement Days on the final black.