Robin Hull

Robin Hull
birthday	16th August 1974 (age 46)
place of birth	Helsinki
nationality	Finland
Nickname (s)	The Flying Finn, Roope
professional	1992–1996 / 97, 1998 / 99–2008, 2011/12, 2013–2019
Prize money	£ 409,049
Highest break	145 ( Grand Prix 1994, Q)
Century Breaks	166
Main tour successes
World championships	-
Ranking tournament victories	-
Minor tournament victories	-
World rankings
Highest WRL place	32 ( 03/04 )

Robin Hull (born August 16, 1974 in Helsinki ) is a Finnish snooker player . With six wins, Hull is the Finnish record champion in snooker.

Career

Beginnings

Hull took part in an amateur world championship for the first time in 1991 , where he was eliminated in the quarterfinals against the Belgian Patrick Delsemme. A year later he won the U21 World Cup for amateurs with 11: 7 against the Belgian, which he was able to secure a Main Tour place. Shortly afterwards he became Finnish amateur champion for the first time . He also took part in the amateur world championship , but he was eliminated in third place in the group stage.

Professional years 1992–1997

1993/94 season

At the beginning of the season, Hull lost 6-8 to Neil Mosley in the final of the European Snooker Championship .

Hull celebrated successes directly in the first tournaments. Due to the high number of professional players, which at times was over 600 players, unset players had to fight their way through numerous qualifying rounds. In the first ranked tournament of the season , Hull lost to Nick Dyson in the seventh of nine rounds . At the Grand Prix he made it into the main round, where he was eliminated by Jason Ferguson . In the qualifying tournament for the Masters he reached the third round, where he was eliminated by Mike Hallett . At the UK Championship he reached the fifth round of qualification, at the European Open only the third. After an opening defeat at the Welsh Open against Gerard Greene from Northern Ireland , he moved into the next main round at the International Open , where he was eliminated with 2: 5 against David Roe . After a defeat in the third qualifying round for the Thailand Masters , he reached the second round of the Strachan Challenge - a series of minor ranking tournaments - the round of 16, where he was defeated by Paul Davies from Welsh . At the end of the season he reached the fifth qualifying round at both the British Open and the World Snooker Championship . Hull finished the season at number 212 in the world.

1994/95 season

At the start of the season , Hull retired early in qualifying for the Dubai Classic and in the Grand Prix qualification . At the qualifying tournament for the Masters he lost in the quarterfinals to Rod Lawler 2-5 after defeating Paul Davies and Anthony Hamilton . At the UK Championship he was eliminated in the fifth qualifying round and after a third round defeat at the European Open in the penultimate qualifying round of the Welsh Open . After reaching the fourth qualifying round at the International Open , he lost in the third round at both the Thailand Open and the British Open . At the end of the season he reached the penultimate qualifying round for the World Snooker Championship , where he failed to Dave Finbow . In the world rankings, he placed 128th.

1995/96 season

After an opening defeat at the Thailand Classic , he was able to reach the second round of the qualifying tournament for the Masters at the beginning of the season . After an opening defeat at the Grand Prix , he reached the round of 128 at the UK Championship , where he was eliminated by Stephen O'Connor . After another initial defeat, this time at the German Open , he was able to reach the round of 128 at the Welsh Open , the International Open and the European Open , where Karl Burrows , Jim Chambers and Michael Judge were able to defeat him. At the Thailand Open he reached the round of 128 where he lost to Paul McPhilips . At the end of the season he lost his opening match in the sixth qualifying round at both the British Open and the World Snooker Championship , so that he deteriorated to 132nd place in the world rankings.

At the Malta Masters , an invitation tournament, he was eliminated after defeating Shokat Ali in the quarterfinals against Mark Davis .

1996/97 season

At the start of the season , Hull lost in the penultimate qualifying round for the Asian Classic against the later round of 16 Karl Burrows . After an opening defeat at the Benson & Hedges Championship, he reached the main round at the Grand Prix , where he lost 5-0 to Martin Clark . At the UK Championship and at the German Open he reached the round of 128, and at the Welsh Open he made it one round. After two more early losses, he won over Eugene Hughes , Chris Shade , Drew Henry , Jonathan Birch and Dene O'Kane at the Thailand Open , before meeting Kwok Ming Chan in the wildcard round. But Hull made his third entry into a main round of a ranking tournament with a 5-4 win. In the first main round he met Ronnie O'Sullivan , who knocked him 2: 5 out of the tournament. After two further defeats at the beginning of the season, he landed on world number 102 and thus lost his professional status.

Amateur year 1997/98

At the beginning of the season, Hull tried to secure a Main Tour starting place via the WPBSA Qualifying School , but he failed. But he got this ticket at the European Championships in 1997 , where he was in the final by defeating David Lilley , Joe Grech and Graham Horne , which he won 7-3 against the Icelandic Kristján Helgason . In the same year Hull took part in the amateur world championship , where he was eliminated in the round of 16 against Raymon Fabrie . During 1998, Hull took part in several UK Tour events, but never got past the round of 16. Nevertheless, he was allowed to participate as an amateur in qualifying for the World Snooker Championship, where he lost to Oliver King in the third round . Hull also took part in the European Snooker Championship , but lost after surviving the group stage and defeating compatriot Kimmo Lang in the round of 16 against Björn Haneveer .

Professional years 1998 to 2008

First professional years

At the beginning of the season , Hull reached the main round at the Grand Prix , in which he was eliminated after defeating Dominic Dale against Gary Wilkinson . At the second event of the UK Tour and the Benson and Hedges Championship , he reached the quarterfinals, where he was eliminated by Alfie Burden and Dave Harold . In the latter tournament he was able to defeat three successful players from the past few years: Wayne Jones , Dean Reynolds and Darren Morgan . At the UK Championship he lost in the Overseas Qualifier against Phaitoon Phonbun from Thailand . After an early loss at the Irish Masters , he reached the final qualifying round at the Welsh and Scottish Open , losing to David Roe and Joe Swail , and the third-to-last qualifying round at the Thailand Masters (which is the same as in the previous two tournaments by a different system was). After several defeats in the beginning, Hull was able to move into the Overseas Qualifiers in the World Cup qualifiers , where he defeated the Canadian Tom Finstad 10-0. In the next round, the third to last qualifying round, he was defeated by the 1986 world champion, Joe Johnson , 7:10. On the world rankings, he immediately climbed to 101st, a new high for the Finn.

The next season was much worse, only at the Malta Grand Prix , he reached the main round, two more times he failed in the last qualifying round. On the world rankings he only lost one place.

In 2000 he moved to the semi-finals of the Amateur World Cup , where he was eliminated by Stephen Maguire . At the start of the 2000/01 season , he moved to the round of 64 at the Benson & Hedges Championship after two early losses , where he lost to Craig Harrison . At the UK Championship he reached the third-to-last qualifying round, where he was eliminated from the Northern Irishman Patrick Wallace . He also reached the same round at the Welsh Open and the Scottish Open , at the China Open and the Thailand Masters he even got one round further. At the Snooker World Championship he reached the fourth-last qualifying round, in which he was defeated by Ali Carter . In the world rankings, he finished the season in 86th place.

Stay in the top 50

Right at the start of the 2001/03 season , Hull reached the main round at the British Open , where he failed to Joe Swail . At the LG Cup he went straight to the next main round, this time he lost to Mark King 3: 5. After a 4-5 defeat by Lee Walker in the third-to-last qualifying round for the European Open , he reached the round of 16 at the UK Championship , where he lost 4-9 to Stephen Lee from England . After an opening defeat at the Welsh Open , he lost to Darren Morgan in the penultimate qualifying round for the China Open . At the Thailand Masters, local hero James Wattana lost in the last qualifying round. At the end of the season he defeated the Englishmen Craig Butler , Neal Foulds , Gary Ponting and Gary Wilkinson in qualifying for the Snooker World Championship , so that he moved into the very last qualifying round. There he met Steve Davis , who won six world championships in the 1980s. But Hull prevailed 10: 8 and was in the World Cup finals in the Crucible for the first time in his career . He met Graeme Dott from Scots in the first main round , to whom he was defeated with 6:10. On the world rankings, he climbed to 39th place.

After an early defeat at the Scottish Masters , Hull reached the first ranking tournament of the season - the LG Cup - the last qualifying round, in which he lost 4-5 to James Wattana. After a series of opening defeats, he defeated at the Welsh Open in qualifying Stuart Pettman and Chris Small and in the first two main rounds the Scots Graeme Dott and John Higgins . In the quarterfinals he met Mark Williams and lost 4-5 - Williams was to become the second player ever to win all the Triple Crown tournaments in one season. At the European Open he also reached the main round, where he lost directly to Paul Hunter . After two further defeats at the beginning, he lost in the final qualifying round for the snooker world championship against ex-world champion John Parrott . In the world rankings he reached his highest place, he improved by seven positions to 32nd place.

At the start of the 2003/04 season , Hull moved into the first main round of the LG Cup , where he was eliminated by Mark Williams. After three defeats in the final qualifying round, he reached the main round at the European Open after defeating Stuart Bingham , but he contracted a virus. This virus dragged on until the end of the season, so that Hull didn't play a single game. On the world rankings, he fell to 46th place.

Establishment in the top 55

After two opening defeats at the beginning of the 2004/05 season , Hull lost in the final qualifying round for the UK Championship 7-9 against Mark King . Also at the Welsh Open and the Malta Cup he was eliminated in this round, first against Ian McCulloch , then against Robert Milkins . At the Irish Masters he reached the main round for the first time of the season, but he was eliminated directly by Stephen Hendry . At the end of the season he lost two more times in opening games, in the World Cup qualification even despite a 129 break with 9:10 against Paul Wykes . In the world rankings he fell out of the top 50, he landed in 55th place. At the end of the season, he won the Finnish championship for the second time, defeating Risto Värynen 5: 4 in the final .

After he was eliminated in the first ranking tournament of the 2005/06 season in the round of 64, he reached the round of 16 at the Masters qualifying event , where he was eliminated by Stuart Bingham . At the UK Championship he lost in the second qualifying round to 18-year-old Chinese Ding Junhui , who surprisingly defeated Steve Davis in the final of the tournament after his China Open victory the previous season . After qualifying, Hull was able to win Steve Davis and Barry Hawkins at the Malta Cup , so that he was in the quarter-finals of a ranking tournament for the second time in his career. There he was defeated by the Scots Graeme Dott , who was to become world champion just under three months later. After two opening defeats, Hull reached the penultimate qualifying round for the World Snooker Championship , where he lost to Mark Davis . On the world rankings, he improved four places.

The 2006/07 season began for Hull with an opening defeat and participation in the Grand Prix , where he was eliminated after qualifying in the group stage with three wins from five games. At the UK Championship he defeated Jeff Cundy , Jimmy White and Nigel Bond in qualifying and Neil Robertson in the main round , before being eliminated in the round of 16 against Graeme Dott. After several initial defeats, he reached the penultimate qualifying round at the China Open , in which he was eliminated by Drew Henry . On February 27, 2007, Hull should play in qualifying against Mark Joyce , but on medical advice, he gave up without a fight. The doctors had diagnosed him with an irregular heartbeat. His condition is said to have been so bad that he could not walk straight. In the world rankings he fell back to 55th place.

The following season , Hull returned with two opening defeats and one elimination from qualifying for the Grand Prix . At the Northern Ireland Trophy he lost in the penultimate qualifying round to David Gray . It should be his last professional match of the season: After he had to give up his qualifying match for the snooker world championship , he announced a week later that he would retire from professional snooker. The reason for this he cited persistent health problems caused by the virus infection in 2003, the numerous trips and the pressure to perform.

Amateur years until 2011

In 2011 he won the Finnish championship for the third time, this time by beating Antti Mannila 4-0. The following year he was eliminated in the round of 32. In 2011 he made his comeback on the professional tour via the Q School in the first of three qualifying tournaments . In the group final he defeated David Gilbert 4: 3.

Professional year 2011/12

In his first professional season since 2007/08, Hull only took part in a few tournaments. At the Players Tour Championship , he lost all of his opening games, in ranked tournaments he reached the round of the last 80 three times. In 94th place on the rankings, Hull left the professional tour again out.

Amateur year 2012/13

In May, Hull won the Finnish Snooker Championship by beating Kimmo Lang 5-0 . As an amateur, Hull took part in qualifying for the World Cup, where he was eliminated directly by Paul Wykes . In June 2013, Hull won the European Championship with a 7-2 victory over Gareth Allen , so he got a ticket for the Main Tour again for the following season.

Professional years from 2013

2013/14 season

In the 2013-14 season , Hull lost numerous opening games. At the 6-Red World Championship he was defeated by the Englishman Stuart Bingham after surviving the group stage in the round of 32 . Until the World Snooker Championship he could only win two games (without the 6 Red World Championship). But in qualifying, Hull defeated Tony Drago , Tian Pengfei , Ian Burns and in the decisive qualifying round Peter Ebdon , so that he was in the World Cup finals for the second time in his career. There he lost directly to Ronnie O'Sullivan , who lost to Mark Selby in the final . On the world rankings, he placed 95th.

In 2014, Hull won the Finnish Snooker Championship for the second time in a row. He defeated Kimmo Lang 5-4 .

2014/15 season

Right at the beginning of the season , Hull reached the quarterfinals of the Wuxi Classics , where he was eliminated by Joe Perry . After several early defeats, he reached the second round of the UK Championship , where he lost to Shaun Murphy . At the China Open he reached the round of 16, where Kurt Maflin defeated him. At the end of the season, Hull moved for the second time in a row in the main round of the World Snooker Championship , where he was eliminated by Shaun Murphy. As a result, he saved himself on the snooker world rankings on the safe 61st place.

2015/16 season

After a miserable start to the season , Hull reached the round of 32 at the UK Championship , where he was eliminated by Luca Brecel . After reaching the round of 64 at the German Masters , Hull started the winning streak of his life: In the Shoot-Out - an invitation tournament with special rules - he defeated Craig Steadman , Judd Trump , Ian Burns , Ryan Day and in the semifinals Mark Williams , so he stood in his first final on the Snooker Main Tour . He met Luca Brecel, but Hull won 50:36. At the Welsh Open and the China Open , he reached the first main round both times, where he was eliminated both times. At the Snooker World Championship he lost in the second of three qualifying rounds against Dechawat Poomjaneg . On the world rankings he improved by two places, so that he remained on the Main Tour for another year.

Season 2016/17

After a series of early defeats at the start of the season , Hull reached the second main round of the European Masters , in which he lost to Tom Ford . With his tournament victory last season, Hull was able to participate in the Champion of Champions , where he was eliminated in the round of 16 against Ronnie O'Sullivan . At the Northern Ireland Open he reached the round of 32, in which he was defeated by Mark Allen . The same round reached Hull at the Scottish Open , where he was eliminated by Marco Fu . The Finn celebrated his greatest success at the German Masters in Berlin's Tempodrom , where he defeated Luca Brecel and Matthew Stevens in the qualification . In the first main round he defeated the Englishman Jimmy White in a close match 5: 4, so that he made it to the second round. There he was subject to the Welsh Ryan Day . In the Welsh Open , Hull reached the round of 32, losing 4-0 to Stuart Carrington . After two more early defeats, he was eliminated in the first qualifying round for the snooker world championship , he lost to multiple women’s world champion Reanne Evans . On the world rankings he fell from the top 64 to 69th place, but he was able to qualify for two more years via the one-year world rankings.

Season 2017/18

At the start of the season , Hull reached the round of 32 at the Riga Masters , where he lost to Ken Doherty . After a series of opening defeats, Hull reached the main round at the International Championship with a 6-2 win over Zhou Yuelong , where he was eliminated directly by Jimmy Robertson . At the Northern Ireland Open he reached the round of 32, where he lost to Ryan Day . After another series of early defeats, he defeated the Chinese Cao Yupeng 10: 7 in the first qualifying round for the World Snooker Championship , then he was defeated by the Englishman Andrew Higginson . At the end of the season, he finished 99th on the snooker world rankings.

In the first half of 2018, Hull won the Finnish Snooker Championship for the sixth time, defeating Antti Tolvanen in the final .

Season 2018/19

At the start of the season , Hull reached the main round at the Riga Masters , where he was eliminated by Scott Donaldson . Shortly thereafter, he reached the main round of the Indian Open , but the tournament was postponed. After a series of opening defeats, he defeated Northern Irish Jordan Brown and Chinese Tian Pengfei at the Northern Ireland Open before losing to Ryan Day in the round of 32 .

successes

output	year	competition	Final opponent	Result
Amateur tournaments
winner	1992	IBSF U21 World Snooker Championship	Patrick Delsemme	11: 7
winner	1992	Finnish Snooker Championship	Jyri Virtanen	5-0
Second	1993	EBSA European Snookere Championship	Neil Mosley	6: 8
winner	1997	EBSA European Snookere Championship	Kristjan Helgason	7: 3
winner	2005	Finnish Snooker Championship	Risto Värynen	5: 4
winner	2011	Finnish Snooker Championship	Antti Mannila	4-0
winner	2011/1	Q School	David Gilbert	4: 3
winner	2013	Finnish Snooker Championship	Kimmo Lang	5-0
winner	2013	EBSA European Snookere Championship	Gareth Allen	7: 2
winner	2014	Finnish Snooker Championship	Kimmo Lang	5: 4
winner	2018	Finnish Snooker Championship	Antti Tolvanen	4: 1
Professional tournaments
winner	2016	Snooker shoot-out	Luca Brecel	1: 0 (50:36)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c} Robin Hull. In: worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards & Snooker Association , January 11, 2015, accessed July 26, 2015 . 
2. ↑ ^{a b c d} Career-total Statistics for Robin Hull. Professional. In: CueTracker Snooker Results & Statistics Database. Ron Florax, accessed September 14, 2019 . 
3. ↑ Centuries by Robin Hull in Season 1994-1995. In: CueTracker Snooker Results & Statistics Database. Ron Florax, accessed July 26, 2015 . 
4. ↑ Snooker Info - 100Centuries (as of September 10, 2019)
5. ↑ Snooker: Contenders wait on O'Sullivan's shoulder The Independent
6. ^ ^{A b} Hull withdraws after health scare. BBC Sport , February 27, 2007, accessed November 15, 2018 .  
7. ↑ Ailing Hull quits snooker circuit. BBC Sport , January 14, 2008, accessed November 16, 2018 .  
8. ↑ Q School - Hull returns to the main tour eurosport.yahoo.com

Web links

Commons : Robin Hull  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files

• Profile on Global Snooker ( Memento from November 20, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
• Robin Hull in the snooker Database (English)
• Profile on snooker.org