Born | 13 July 1963 |
---|---|
Sport country | England |
Nickname | |
Professional | 1983–2003 |
Highest ranking | 3 (1987/1988, 1988/1989) |
Tournament wins | |
Ranking | 1 |
Neal Foulds (born 13 July 1963) is an English former professional snooker player and six-time tournament winner, including the 1986 International Open, the 1988 Dubai Masters and the 1992 Scottish Masters, [3] as well as the invitational Pot Black in 1992. He was runner-up at the 1986 UK Championship and the 1987 British Open, and reached the semi-finals of three Masters tournaments and the 1987 World Championship. [3] After his retirement, Foulds became a commentator for the BBC and is currently part of the presenting team for ITV and Eurosport. [2]
The son of snooker professional Geoff Foulds, he began playing the game at the age of 11 and by the early 1980s was already one of the strongest players in his area. Following victory in the national under-19's Championship beating John Parrott in the final, Foulds then turned professional in 1983.
At the end of the season he qualified for the final stages of the World Championship at his first attempt. Even more impressively however, he then defeated twice-champion Alex Higgins 10–9 in the first round before going down 13–9 to Doug Mountjoy in the last 16, a run that saw him enter the rankings at number 30.
Foulds quickly climbed the rankings in the seasons that followed reaching no. 3 within four years. He won his first ranking tournament in 1986, the BCE International, beating Cliff Thorburn 12–9 in the final. In the same season he was runner-up to Steve Davis in the UK Championship, and he also reached the semi-finals of the 1987 World Championship, losing 16–9 to Joe Johnson. [4] Starting the following season in a career high position of number three, 1987/88 was not to be quite as successful, though another strong run to the quarter-finals in the 1988 World Snooker Championship before losing to Terry Griffiths ensured that he would retain his spot at third in the rankings. Foulds also won the 1988 Dubai Masters, beating Steve Davis in the final, though this event would not hold any ranking points until the following year.
From here however he started to struggle, dropping 17 places to 20th in the rankings and finding himself having to qualify for events the following season. Still, 1989/90 was to see a revival and despite a round one exit at the World Championship to Wayne Jones, he did enough to regain a place in the top 16 before moving up to number seven at the end of 1990/1. [5]
In 1992, Foulds was crowned the Scottish Masters champion and also won the 1992 edition of Pot Black, beating Nigel Bond, Jimmy White, and Gary Wilkinson en route to the final, where he beat James Wattana 252–176 on a points based final.
Though he was able to maintain a top 16 place until the end of the 1993/4 season, and a place on the tour until 2003, he played his final match as a Main Tour player on 13 January 2003 before retiring from competitive play aged 39.
Foulds made a brief reappearance as a player in November 2011 in the World Seniors (aged 48) before eventually losing to Dene O'Kane.
Foulds made 88 competitive century breaks in his career.
Since his retirement, Foulds has moved up to the commentary box for Eurosport, BBC, Sky Sports and he also co-hosts all ITV4 tournament coverage, interviewing players as well as commentating. In 2014, Foulds made a cameo as himself commentating on a fictional match at the climax of the snooker short film drama "Extended Rest".
Foulds is married and has a son and a daughter. [6] He supports Queens Park Rangers.
Tournament | 1983/ 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ranking [7] | [nb 1] | 30 | 23 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 14 | 25 | 28 | 21 | 30 | 34 | 40 | 73 | 71 | 78 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LG Cup [nb 2] | LQ | SF | 2R | SF | 1R | 3R | 2R | QF | 3R | QF | 3R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | LQ | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
British Open | NR | 2R | 2R | F | 3R | 3R | QF | 2R | 3R | 1R | 1R | 3R | 2R | 1R | QF | LQ | LQ | LQ | 1R | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UK Championship | NR | LQ | 3R | F | 1R | 2R | 2R | 3R | QF | 1R | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 3R | 1R | LQ | 1R | LQ | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Welsh Open | Tournament Not held | 3R | 3R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
European Open [nb 3] | Tournament Not held | 1R | QF | QF | 3R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | LQ | NH | LQ | Not held | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Irish Masters | Non-Ranking Event | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Scottish Open [nb 4] | A | 1R | SF | W | 2R | 2R | 3R | Not held | 1R | QF | 2R | 3R | 1R | 2R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Championship | 2R | 1R | 1R | SF | QF | 1R | QF | 2R | 2R | QF | 2R | LQ | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Scottish Masters | A | A | A | A | QF | NH | A | A | QF | W | QF | A | LQ | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Masters | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | SF | A | QF | SF | 1R | SF | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Premier League [nb 5] | A | Not Held | F | RR | RR | RR | RR | RR | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Canadian Masters | Not Held | Non-Ranking | LQ | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hong Kong Open [nb 6] | Non-Ranking Event | NH | QF | Tournament Not held | NR | NR | Tournament Not held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Classic | LQ | LQ | QF | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | SF | 2R | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Strachan Open | Tournament NH | 1R | MR | NR | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dubai Classic [nb 7] | Tournament Not Held | NR | A | 3R | 3R | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | 1R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
German Open | Tournament Not held | 1R | LQ | LQ | NR | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Malta Grand Prix | Tournament Not Held | Non-Ranking Event | LQ | NR | Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
China Open [nb 8] | Tournament Not Held | NR | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | NH | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thailand Masters [nb 9] | Non-Ranking Event | Not Held | 2R | QF | 2R | 1R | 2R | LQ | 1R | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | NR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former non-ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UK Championship | 1R | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
International Masters | RR | Ranking Tournament | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Malaysian Masters | NH | A | NH | QF | Tournament Not Held | A | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Carling Challenge | NH | A | A | A | SF | A | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tokyo Masters | Not Held | QF | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Canadian Masters | Not Held | A | A | SF | R | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dubai Masters | Tournament Not Held | W | Ranking Event | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Matchroom Professional Championship | Not Held | 1R | SF | SF | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Norwich Union Grand Prix | Tournament Not Held | RR | A | A | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
English Professional Championship | NH | 2R | F | 1R | F | SF | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
London Masters | Tournament Not Held | QF | A | A | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shoot-Out | Tournament Not Held | 4R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Masters | Tournament Not Held | 2R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thailand Masters | A | A | A | A | Not Held | Ranking | SF | Ranking Event | NR | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hong Kong Challenge [nb 10] | A | A | A | QF | QF | F | NH | A | 1R | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indian Challenge | Tournament Not Held | QF | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Matchplay | Tournament Not Held | A | A | 1R | 1R | A | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Belgian Challenge | Tournament Not Held | 1R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kent Classic [nb 11] | Not Held | QF | A | A | A | A | NH | 1R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
European Challenge | Tournament Not Held | QF | A | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Belgian Masters | Tournament Not Held | A | F | QF | Not Held | A | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Irish Masters | A | A | A | A | F | QF | A | A | 1R | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | R | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pot Black | A | QF | A | Tournament Not Held | QF | W | 1R | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pontins Professional | A | QF | QF | W | QF | A | A | W | F | QF | QF | QF | QF | SF | QF | A | A | Not Held |
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. |
Legend |
---|
UK Championship (0–1) |
Other (1–1) |
Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | 1. | 1986 | International Open | Cliff Thorburn | 12–9 |
Runner-up | 1. | 1986 | UK Championship | Steve Davis | 7–16 |
Runner-up | 2. | 1987 | British Open | Jimmy White | 9–13 |
Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 1. | 1986 | English Professional Championship | Tony Meo | 7–9 |
Winner | 1. | 1987 | Pontins Professional | Willie Thorne | 9–8 |
Runner-up | 2. | 1987 | Matchroom League | Steve Davis | Round-Robin |
Runner-up | 3. | 1988 | English Professional Championship (2) | Dean Reynolds | 5–9 |
Runner-up | 4. | 1988 | Irish Masters | Steve Davis | 4–9 |
Runner-up | 5. | 1988 | Hong Kong Masters | Jimmy White | 3–6 |
Winner | 2. | 1988 | Dubai Masters | Steve Davis | 5–4 |
Winner | 3. | 1991 | Pontins Professional (2) | Mike Hallett | 9–6 |
Runner-up | 6. | 1991 | Belgian Masters | Mike Hallett | 7–9 |
Runner-up | 7. | 1992 | Pontins Professional | Steve James | 8–9 |
Winner | 4. | 1992 | Scottish Masters | Gary Wilkinson | 10–8 |
Winner | 5. | 1992 | Pot Black | James Wattana | 252–176 points |
Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | 1. | 1983 | Warners Open | Danny Fowler | 4–0 [8] |
Winner | 2. | 1984 | Pontins Spring Open | Doug Mountjoy | 7–4 [9] [10] |
Runner-up | 1. | 1998 | Pontins Spring Open | James McGouran | 0–7 [9] [10] |
Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Team/partner | Opponent(s) in the final | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | 1. | 1988 | World Cup | England | Australia | 9–7 |
Winner | 2. | 1989 | World Cup (2) | England | Rest of the World | 9–8 |
Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | 1. | 1982 | British Under-19 Championship | John Parrott | 3–2 [11] |
Steve Davis is an English retired professional snooker player who is currently a commentator, DJ, electronic musician and author. He is best known for dominating professional snooker during the 1980s, when he reached eight World Snooker Championship finals in nine years, winning six world titles, and held the world number one ranking for seven consecutive seasons. He was runner-up to Dennis Taylor in one of snooker's most famous matches, the 1985 World Championship final, which ended in a dramatic black-ball conclusion that attracted 18.5 million viewers, still the largest British television audience for any broadcast after midnight and any broadcast on BBC Two.
Tony Drago is a Maltese former professional snooker and pool player.
Joe Johnson is an English former professional snooker player and snooker commentator for Eurosport. He became the British under-19 champion in 1971 as an amateur, defeating Tony Knowles in the final. After reaching the finals of the 1978 English Amateur Championship and the 1978 World Amateur Championship, Johnson turned professional in 1979. He reached his first ranking final at the 1983 Professional Players Tournament, and reached the semi-finals of the 1985 Classic.
Anthony Christian Meo is a retired English snooker player. He won the 1989 British Open by defeating Dean Reynolds 13–6 in the final, and was runner-up to Steve Davis at the 1984 Classic. He won four World Doubles Championship titles, partnering Davis, and the 1983 World Team Classic representing England alongside Davis and Tony Knowles.
Terence Martin Griffiths is a Welsh retired professional snooker player and current coach and pundit. After winning several amateur titles, including the Welsh Amateur Championship in 1975 and back-to-back English Amateur Championships in 1977 and 1978, Griffiths turned professional in June 1978 at the age of 30. In his second professional tournament, he qualified for the 1979 World Snooker Championship. He reached the final of the event where he defeated Dennis Taylor by 24 frames to 16. This was only the second time a qualifier had won the World Snooker Championship, after Alex Higgins in 1972; only Shaun Murphy in 2005 has since emulated the achievement. In 1988, Griffiths again reached the final of the competition. He was tied with Steve Davis, 8–8, but lost the match 11–18.
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William Joseph Thorne was an English professional snooker player. He won one ranking title, the 1985 Classic. He also reached the final of the 1985 UK Championship, losing 16–14 to Steve Davis after leading 13–8. He was noted for his break-building, and was among the first players to compile 100 century breaks. He earned the nickname "Mr Maximum". After retiring as a player, Thorne became a snooker commentator, primarily for the BBC.
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