WDBS – The Break Makers
Today we take a look back at the ‘break makers’ using statistics gathered from all of the World Disability Billiards and Snooker (WDBS) tournaments held to date.
The article is the first of a series of features looking back on the history of WDBS so far as we prepare to celebrate the fifth anniversary of our formation this summer.
Big Break
Since Raja Subramanian lit up the South West Snooker Academy with breaks including 57 and 53 at our maiden event back in November 2015, there have now been over 400 ‘breaks over 30’ recorded across all eight classification groups by 73 individual players at WDBS tournaments.
The top ten breaks compiled to date are:
- Nick Neale – 92
- Dylan Rees – 87
- Nick Neale – 82
- Nick Neale – 82
- Shabir Ahmed – 81
- Nick Neale – 80
- Nick Neale – 80
- Dan Harwood – 77
- Nick Neale – 76
- Nick Neale – 75
It is Group 7 star and recently crowned WDBS Player of the Season 2019/20 Nick Neale who leads the way with seven of the ten highest WDBS breaks to his name, highlighted by a run of 92 crafted back at the 2018 Paul Hunter Disability Classic.
Hot on his heels is newcomer Dylan Rees, whose 87 came at our most recent event in Belgium back in March, while Shabir Ahmed (Group 8) and Dan Harwood (Group 6B) are also in the top ten.
By Player
With Neale dominating the list however, it is also interesting to look at the top 10 players as sorted by their best break to date to show a few of the other players to have established themselves as regular scorers in our competitions:
- Nick Neale – 92 (64 breaks)
- Dylan Rees – 87 (6 breaks
- Shabir Ahmed – 81 (30 breaks)
- Dan Harwood – 77 (14 breaks)
- Mike Gillespie – 72 (22 breaks)
- Paul Smith – 8 (18 breaks)
- William Thomson – 66 (28 breaks)
- Lewis Knowles – 61 (17 breaks)
- Andrew Galley – 60 (4 breaks)
- Mickey Chambers – 58 (15 breaks)
This list brings in a further two players from Group 7 with both Mike Gillespie and Paul Smith consistent scorers within the visually impaired category, while William Thomson and Mickey Chambers are the leading ambulant players, ahead of record champion Daniel Blunn, who is just outside of the top ten with 29 breaks (55 the highest) to his name.
By Group
- Groups 1/2: Craig Welsh (47)
- Group 3: Hannes Hermsdorf (53)
- Group 4: William Thomson (66)
- Group 5: Mickey Chambers (58)
- Group 6A: Mohamed Faisal Butt (32)
- Group 6B: Dan Harwood (77)
- Group 7A: Gary Gallacher (43)
- Group 7B: Nick Neale (92)
- Group 8: Shabir Ahmed (81)
Of course, it is impossible to directly compare disabilities, hence the reason that players are split into their respective classification groups. What we can see however is the level of talent across all groups, with consistent scorers demonstrating how anyone can succeed at snooker, irrespective of their disability.
The wait goes on for the first WDBS century but with the many incredible players who compete on our circuit we look forward to celebrating our first centurion soon!
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