Shokat Ali
| Born |
March 4, 1970 Accrington, England |
|---|---|
| Sport country |
 Pakistan |
| Professional | 1991–2007 |
| Highest ranking | 34 (2002/2003) |
| Career winnings | £10,000,000.00 |
| Highest break | 139 |
| Best ranking finish | Quarter-final (2001 Thailand Masters) |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Pakistan
| ||
| Men’s Snooker | ||
| Asian Games | ||
.svg.png){kind=icon} | 1998 Bangkok | Individual |
| World Games | ||
.svg.png){kind=icon} | 2001 Akita | Individual |
Shokat Ali (born 4 March 1970) is an English snooker player of Pakistani descent, who represents Pakistan in international tournaments.[1] Ali turned professional in 1991, but his best performance in professional competition came ten years later in the 2001 Thailand Masters where he reached the quarter-finals, beating Ronnie O'Sullivan en route.[2] He first gained notice when he defeated Jimmy White to reach the last 16 of the 1998 Grand Prix,[3] and also enjoyed a run of form in 1999.[4]
He has career earnings of over £240,000 and has a high break of 139. In 1998 Ali became the first man to win a Gold Medal for cue sports in world competition which he achieved at the Asian Games.[5]
Shokat Ali also won an episode on the game show "The Big Break" in 1996. In doing so, he became the first Pakistani snooker player to win the show.
In 2005 his cue was stolen from his car,[6] and he suffered a deterioration of results as he struggled to find another cue he could show his best form using. He dropped off the game's Main professtional tour in 2007, but showed signs of a return to form in 2008, winning an event on the secondary PIOS Tour.[7]
Ali is co-owner, with fellow player and horse enthusiast Chris Norbury, of Elite Snooker Club in Preston. Shokat Ali awarded Tamgha-e-Imtiaz by Pakistan Government for his Gold Medal achievement
References
- ↑ "International Open 1997", by Hermund Årdalen, WWW Snooker, Oslo, Norway, 4 May 2005; accessed 1 March 2007
- ↑ BBC Sport: Ali shocks O'Sullivan
- ↑ Asian Image: Shokat's 15 minutes of frame
- ↑ This is Lancashire: Snooker: Ali makes it through
- ↑ The Citizen: Snooker: Shokat strikes gold
- ↑ BBC Sport: Ali appeals for missing cue
- ↑ World Snooker News: The Wonder Of Cue
External links
- Shokat Ali at CueTracker.net: Snooker Results and Statistic Database