Eugene Hughes (snooker player)

Eugene Hughes
Born	4 November 1955 (age 69); Dún Laoghaire, Ireland
Sport country	Ireland
Professional	1981–1997
Highest ranking	20 (1986/1987)
Best ranking finish	Semi-final (x2)

Eugene Hughes (born 4 November 1955 in Dún Laoghaire) is an Irish former professional snooker player. In 1985, 1986 and 1987 he was a member of the successful all-Irish team in the World Cup, alongside Alex Higgins and Dennis Taylor.

Career

Hughes was born on 4 November 1955 in Dún Laoghaire.^[1] He won the national under-19 English billiards and snooker titles in 1975, and later won the senior national titles four times in each discipline. He recorded a new championship record break at the 1980 World Amateur Snooker Championship. He turned professional in 1981.^[1]

He reached his highest professional world ranking of 20 in the Snooker world rankings 1986/1987.^[2] In 1985, 1986 and 1987 he was a member of the successful all-Irish team in the World Cup, alongside Alex Higgins and Dennis Taylor.^[3] He reached two ranking semi-finals: the 1984 International Open and the 1986 International Open.^[1] He qualified for the World Championship five times, including three successive years from 1985 to 1987, reaching the second round in 1986, beating David Taylor at the Crucible and losing to reigning champion Joe Johnson 9–10 in 1987.^[4] He reached (and lost) six Irish Professional Championship semi-finals between 1982 and 1989.^[5]

Hughes ended the 1996–97 snooker season ranked 169th, which meant he lost his status as a professional, as only the top 64 players qualified.^[6] He remained active in billiards, winning the Irish title for the eighth time in 2009.^[7]

Career finals

Team finals: 3 (3 titles)

Career team final details are shown below.^[8]

Outcome	No.	Year	Championship	Team/partner	Opponent(s) in the final	Score
Winner	1.	1985	World Cup	Ireland	England	9–7
Winner	2.	1986	World Cup (2)	Ireland	Canada	9–7
Winner	3.	1987	World Cup (3)	Ireland	Canada	9–2

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Morrison, Ian (1988). Hamlyn Who's Who in Snooker. London: Hamlyn. ISBN 9780600557135.
^ Kobylecky, John (2019). The Complete International Directory of Snooker Players – 1927 to 2018. Kobyhadrian Books. p. 115. ISBN 9780993143311.
^ Turner, Chris. "World Cup, World Team Classic, Nations Cup". cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
^ "1987: Davis' revenge on Johnson". BBC Sport. 7 April 2004. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
^ "Euro Player Profile: Eugene Hughes (Republic of Ireland)". European Billiards & Snooker Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2008.
^ "WPBSA world rankings 1996–97". Snooker Scene. June 1997. pp. 28–30.
^ "Senior Billiards Champions Roll of Honour". Snooker and Billiards Ireland. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
^ Morrison, Ian (1989). Snooker: records, facts and champions. Enfield: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. pp. 98–99. ISBN 9780851123646.