Who are the Top Snooker Players from the North West of England?

Snooker, which originated in the 19th century, is a cue sport played on a table with six pockets. It is popular worldwide, especially in the UK where many top players hailed from, including those from the North West of England. The North West region of the UK is composed of five counties: Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Merseyside. These counties have produced exceptional snooker players throughout the years. Here are some of the top snooker players from the North West of England:

John Parrott

John Parrott is a former professional snooker player from Liverpool, Merseyside. He started playing snooker at a young age and was already a top player by his late teens. Parrott turned professional in 1983 and went on to win numerous titles, including the UK Championship in 1991 and the World Championship in 1991. Parrott reached the World Number 2 ranking in his career and was inducted into the Snooker Hall of Fame in 2009. He retired from professional snooker in 2010 but remained active in the sport as a commentator and pundit. Parrott is widely regarded as one of the greatest snooker players from the North West of England.

Stephen Maguire

Stephen Maguire is a professional snooker player from Glasgow, Scotland, but he spent a significant part of his life in Warrington, Cheshire. Maguire turned professional in 1998 and has won several titles, including the UK Championship in 2004 and the China Open in 2014. He has also reached the semi-finals of the World Championship twice, in 2007 and 2012. Maguire has been in the Top 16 of the world rankings for most of his career and has been ranked as high as World Number 2. He is known for his attacking style of play and has earned the nickname “On Fire” for his ability to score heavily.

Stuart Bingham

Stuart Bingham is a professional snooker player from Basildon, Essex, but he lived in Blackburn, Lancashire, during his teenage years. Bingham turned professional in 1995 and has won several titles, including the World Championship in 2015 and the English Open in 2018. He has also reached the final of the UK Championship twice, in 2014 and 2017. Bingham has been in the Top 16 of the world rankings since 2011 and has been ranked as high as World Number 2. He is known for his consistent and solid style of play and has earned the nickname “Ball-Run” for his ability to make big breaks.

Mark Selby

Mark Selby is a professional snooker player from Leicester, Leicestershire, but he has strong connections to the North West of England. Selby’s parents, Mark and Maria, are both from Preston, Lancashire, and Selby used to visit his grandparents in the area during his childhood. Selby turned professional in 1999 and has won numerous titles, including the World Championship three times (in 2014, 2016, and 2017), the UK Championship twice (in 2012 and 2016), and the Masters three times (in 2008, 2010, and 2013). Selby has been ranked as World Number 1 for several seasons and has won the most ranking titles among active players. He is known for his tactical and resilient style of play and has earned the nickname “The Jester from Leicester” for his humorous personality.

The North West of England has produced an impressive array of snooker players throughout the years, and these four players are just some of the most notable examples. Their achievements in the sport have brought pride and recognition to the region and inspire the next generation of young snooker players. Whether from Liverpool, Warrington, Blackburn, or Preston, these players have proven that talent and determination can make dreams come true.