Snooker Career
Drago's highest snooker world rankings position was number ten (in 1998). He has reached two major finals – the Mita/Sky World Masters in 1991 (losing to Jimmy White), and the International Open in 1997 (his only ranking event final, and his first run past a quarter-final beaten by Stephen Hendry). He reached the quarter-finals of the World Championship in 1988. He has appeared in the tournament 11 times more, most recently in 2004/2005, with five further last sixteen runs. He lost to Matthew Stevens in three successive years – 8–13 in the last 16 in 1999, 2–10 in the 2000 first round, and 1–10 in the 2001 first round.
After failing to qualify for the 2004 World Championships, Drago entered a decline in snooker. He dropped out of the top 32 of the rankings a year later, and after losing to Issara Kachaiwong in his opening qualifier for the 2008 World Championship, he dropped off the tour.
In 2009 Drago won the EBSA International Open, which give him the chance to return for the 2009/2010 season. He reached the third qualifying round of the Shanghai Masters, Grand Prix and UK Championship. He then qualified for the Welsh Open, by defeating Simon Bedford (5–3), Peter Lines (5–2), Jimmy Michie (5–2) and Gerard Greene (5–2), where he played against Ryan Day in the first round, but he lost 4–5. In the China Open qualifying Drago defeated Lee Page (5–2), John Parrott (5–2), Anthony Hamilton (5–4) and Stephen Lee (5–2) to qualify for the televised stages of the China Open. As a result of such solid season, he got a place in the top 64 and finished 54th.
2010/2011 was again a good season for Drago, as he climbed 8 places to finish 46th in the rankings. However the 2011/12 season was much worse, with only 4 qualifying wins to Tony's name. His best results were reaching the last 32 of several of the PTC events. After unexpectedly losing 7-10 to amateur Justin Astley in the 2012 World Snooker Championship qualifiers, Drago finshed the season ranked 65th, not making it into the top 64 guaranteeing their place for the next season, however he was given a wildcard for the next season season as a European nomination along with young Luca Brecel.
Read more about this topic: Tony Drago
Famous quotes containing the word career:
“I doubt that I would have taken so many leaps in my own writing or been as clear about my feminist and political commitments if I had not been anointed as early as I was. Some major form of recognition seems to have to mark a woman’s career for her to be able to go out on a limb without having her credentials questioned.”
—Ruth Behar (b. 1956)