Ben Hancorn Explained

Ben Hancorn
Birth Date:1982 5, df=yes
Professional:2020–2022
High Ranking:84 (August 2021)
Best Finish:Quarter-finals (2022 Gibraltar Open)

Ben Hancorn (born 24 May 1982) is an English former professional snooker player.[1]

Career

In 2008, Hancorn was the runner up in the English Amateur Championship, losing the final to David Grace.[2] Following this defeat Hancorn stopped playing snooker for a near 10-year hiatus before taking part again in the Challenge Tour.[3]

In February 2020, Hancorn overcame Rory McLeod 5–3 in the final of the English Amateur Championship at the Centaur Arena in Cheltenham.[4]

At the second event of the 2020 Q School at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, Hancorn beat the likes of Dean Reynolds and Chen Feilong, before seeing off Kuldesh Johal in the final round. With these wins Hancorn clinched a two-year Tour Card for the 2020–21 and 2021–22 snooker seasons.[5]

In October 2020 Hancorn beat both Sean Maddocks and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh at the English Open to clinch his first 2 professional victories, before losing against Welshman Jak Jones in the round of 32.[6] Hancorn was a surprise package at the 2021 WST Pro Series round robin first round with 6 consecutive victories, including a win against Ronnie O'Sullivan.[7]

In May 2023 Hancorn beat Peter Lines and Gerard Greene to reach the semi-final of the World Seniors Snooker Championship held at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. He was beaten at the semi-final stage by Alfie Burden.[8]

Performance and rankings timeline

Tournament2002/
03
2003/
04
2004/
05
2018/
19
2020/
21
2021/
22
2022/
23
Ranking[9] [10] [11] [12] 84
Ranking tournaments
Championship LeagueTournament Not HeldNRRRRRRR
European Masters[13] AAAA1RLQA
British OpenAAANot Held3RA
Northern Ireland OpenTournament Not HeldA1RLQA
UK ChampionshipAAAA1R1RA
Scottish Open[14] AANHA1R3RA
English OpenTournament Not HeldA3RLQA
World Grand PrixTournament Not HeldADNQDNQDNQ
Shoot OutTournament Not Held1R3R1RA
German MastersTournament Not HeldALQLQA
Welsh OpenAAAA1R1RA
Players ChampionshipTournament Not HeldDNQDNQDNQDNQ
Tour ChampionshipTournament Not HeldDNQDNQDNQDNQ
World ChampionshipLQLQLQALQLQA
Former ranking tournaments
Indian OpenTournament Not HeldLQTournament Not Held
WST Pro SeriesTournament Not Held2RNot Held
Turkish MastersTournament Not HeldLQNH
Gibraltar OpenTournament Not HeldA1RQFNH
Former non-ranking tournaments
Merseyside Professional ChampionshipA1R1RTournament Not Held
Performance Table Legend
LQlost in the qualifying draw
  1. R
lost in the early rounds of the tournament
(WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin)
QFlost in the quarter-finals
SFlost in the semi-finalsFlost in the finalWwon the tournament
DNQdid not qualify for the tournamentAdid not participate in the tournamentWDwithdrew from the tournament
NH / Not Held means an event was not held.
NR / Non-Ranking Event means an event is/was no longer a ranking event.
R / Ranking Event means an event is/was a ranking event.
MR / Minor-Ranking Event means an event is/was a minor-ranking event.

Career finals

Amateur finals: 3 (1 title)

OutcomeNo.YearChampionshipOpponent in the finalScore
Runner-up1.2008English Amateur Championship David Grace7–9
Runner-up2.2018Challenge Tour – Event 6 David Grace0–3
Winner1.2020English Amateur Championship Rory McLeod5–3

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ben Hancorn - Player Profile - Snooker. Eurosport UK. 2020-08-09. 2021-12-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20211213182516/https://www.eurosport.com/geoblocking.shtml. live.
  2. Web site: Hancorn Wins 100th English Amateur Snooker Championship. February 8, 2020. August 9, 2020. August 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200811214304/https://wpbsa.com/hancorn-wins-100th-english-amateur-snooker-championship/. live.
  3. Web site: Tournament success for Ben. Dave. Bickell. North Somerset Times. 2020-08-09. 2021-12-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20211213182527/https://www.northsomersettimes.co.uk/sport/ben-enjoys-success-at-snooker-tournament-4533176. live.
  4. Web site: Hancorn pots way to 100th English Amateur Championship crown. North Somerset Times. 2020-08-09. 2020-09-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20200919183017/https://www.northsomersettimes.co.uk/sport/hancorn-crowned-snooker-s-english-amateur-champion-1-6512094. live.
  5. Web site: Q School 2 (2020) - snooker.org. www.snooker.org. 2020-08-09. 2020-09-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20200918085349/http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=1027. live.
  6. Web site: Portishead snooker player Ben Hancorn wins first two professional matches | North Somerset Times . 2021-12-13 . 2021-12-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211213182528/https://www.northsomersettimes.co.uk/news/portishead-snooker-player-wins-first-two-professional-matches-6183170 . live .
  7. Web site: WST Pro Series snooker: 'Beating Ronnie key to glory' – World number 120 Hancorn stuns O'Sullivan . Eurosport . 15 March 2021. 2021-12-13.
  8. Web site: World Seniors Snooker Championship 2023: Stephen Hendry, Jimmy White & Ken Doherty among players. BBC Sport. May 7, 2023.
  9. Web site: Ranking History. Snooker.org. 6 February 2011. 14 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190514065952/http://www.snooker.org/rnk/history.asp. live.
  10. It shows the ranking at the beginning of the season.
  11. He was an amateur
  12. New players on the Main Tour don't have a ranking
  13. The event was called the European Open (2002/2003-2003/2004) and the Malta Cup (2004/2005)
  14. The event was called the Players Championship (2003/2004)