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Ssb - the international eleven #6 (again)
So, it turns out that due to a small administrative error that was in no way my fault, there are actually 12 players in the international eleven.
Cynics may suggest that this is just a half-baked idea cooked up one afternoon that has now gone badly wrong.
Well, they would be entirely incorrect for reasons far too complicated to go into right now.
Suffice to say, we have a tie for sixth place...
ALAIN ROBIDOUX (Canada)
Years as professional: 1987-2004
Ranking titles: 0
Ranking finals: 1
Other titles: 1
Highest ranking: 9
Years in top 16: 6
Crucible appearances: 9
Robidoux is a cheerful French-Canadian who first rose to attention by making it on to the professional circuit despite not winning a match.
In the late 1980s, there were a number of ‘non-tournament’ WPBSA professionals who were on the ranking list but were unable to play in events outside the World Championship.
However, in 1988 Robidoux had two walkovers and the ranking points were enough to get him into the top 128.
He made the most of his chance, taking Steve Davis the distance in the last 32 of the International before reaching the semi-finals of the Grand Prix, where he recovered from 7-0 down to Alex Higgins before losing 9-7.
By 1990, he was in the top 16 and took over as Canadian no.1 after the Thorburn/Stevens/Werbeniuk era came to an end. With Thorburn and Bob Chaperon, he won the 1990 World Cup.
In 1996, he was involved in a verbal spat with Ronnie O’Sullivan after the then teenage star played left-handed against him at the Crucible.
It was out of character for Robidoux, who was renowned for being a laid back, friendly sort not given to controversy.
The pair had patched things up by the time of the German Open final later the same year, where Robidoux made a 143 break but lost 9-7.
Later that season he reached the World Championship semi-finals, losing out to Ken Doherty. Up to 9th in the world rankings, Robidoux was enjoying his best year as a professional.
But then disaster struck. His trusty cue was broken beyond repair and he failed to win a single match the following season.
As his form spiralled out of control, he entered into a spell of depression and headed home to Canada, missing seven successive tournaments.
He did return but was never the same again. Robidoux described losing the cue as “like losing my right arm.”
More...
Cynics may suggest that this is just a half-baked idea cooked up one afternoon that has now gone badly wrong.
Well, they would be entirely incorrect for reasons far too complicated to go into right now.
Suffice to say, we have a tie for sixth place...
ALAIN ROBIDOUX (Canada)
Years as professional: 1987-2004
Ranking titles: 0
Ranking finals: 1
Other titles: 1
Highest ranking: 9
Years in top 16: 6
Crucible appearances: 9
Robidoux is a cheerful French-Canadian who first rose to attention by making it on to the professional circuit despite not winning a match.
In the late 1980s, there were a number of ‘non-tournament’ WPBSA professionals who were on the ranking list but were unable to play in events outside the World Championship.
However, in 1988 Robidoux had two walkovers and the ranking points were enough to get him into the top 128.
He made the most of his chance, taking Steve Davis the distance in the last 32 of the International before reaching the semi-finals of the Grand Prix, where he recovered from 7-0 down to Alex Higgins before losing 9-7.
By 1990, he was in the top 16 and took over as Canadian no.1 after the Thorburn/Stevens/Werbeniuk era came to an end. With Thorburn and Bob Chaperon, he won the 1990 World Cup.
In 1996, he was involved in a verbal spat with Ronnie O’Sullivan after the then teenage star played left-handed against him at the Crucible.
It was out of character for Robidoux, who was renowned for being a laid back, friendly sort not given to controversy.
The pair had patched things up by the time of the German Open final later the same year, where Robidoux made a 143 break but lost 9-7.
Later that season he reached the World Championship semi-finals, losing out to Ken Doherty. Up to 9th in the world rankings, Robidoux was enjoying his best year as a professional.
But then disaster struck. His trusty cue was broken beyond repair and he failed to win a single match the following season.
As his form spiralled out of control, he entered into a spell of depression and headed home to Canada, missing seven successive tournaments.
He did return but was never the same again. Robidoux described losing the cue as “like losing my right arm.”
More...
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