Former snooker star Tony Drago thinks fashionable gamers on the primary tour lack emotion, likening them to “robots” when there’s a chance to rejoice.
One in every of Malta’s biggest ever sportspeople, Drago was a current visitor on the favored YouTube channel of seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry.
The lately turned 59 year-old nonetheless possesses a deep love for the sport – taking part in repeatedly on the World Seniors Tour and watching tournaments on the professional circuit from residence.
However though the Twister recognises that the usual at the moment is excessive, he needs gamers would present extra character and character when the prospect to take action presents itself.
“In Malta now, they watch all of the snooker gamers,” Tony Drago mentioned on the Stephen Hendry Cue Suggestions YouTube channel.
“However they preserve saying to me, ‘that point with your self, Stephen [Hendry], Jimmy [White], we’ll by no means see once more. We used to have such an excellent time.’”
“So now they recognize the great snooker. [But] you already know me, I all the time say issues and I can’t maintain again. Right now, it’s like watching robots.
“They’re good, however once I was younger…even now, if I’m on a most in follow, once I get to 104 I’ll be getting nervous.
“Now, you see a child make a most on tv, and he goes…” Drago says earlier than going to his chair to imitate an expressionless celebration.
Who’s Tony Drago?
Tony Drago was a naturally gifted participant who memorably wore his coronary heart on his sleeve, and he continues to be vastly well-liked with supporters all around the globe.
First turning skilled in 1985, his lightning fast pace across the desk and an ethos to entertain instantly endeared him to followers of the sport.
Drago was an expert on the primary tour for greater than three many years, reaching a career-high world rating of quantity ten in 1998.
He gained a Strachan Problem minor rating occasion in 1993 and the Guangzhou Masters invitational in 1996, the place he beat Steve Davis within the remaining.
There have been a number of close to misses in tournaments, nonetheless, together with on the 1997 Worldwide Open when he made his solely look in a full rating occasion remaining.
Drago additionally suffered disappointment twice on residence soil when he completed runner-up at each the 1994 and 1996 editions of the Malta Grand Prix in entrance of his adoring followers.
Identified for an incredible capability to pot balls with out the necessity to depend on a lot time addressing the cue ball, Drago compiled a spectacular century break towards John Higgins on the 1996 UK Championship in simply three minutes and 31 seconds.
His nice pure expertise was not restricted to snooker, with nine-ball pool additionally being a frequent supply of success.
Drago was on two profitable European groups of the Mosconi Cup, together with in 2007 when he was chosen because the competitors’s Most Precious Participant.
In 2003, Drago gained the celebrated World Pool Masters, however snooker has all the time been his major ardour and he reached the semi-finals of the World Seniors Snooker Championship earlier this 12 months.
The slapping incident
One in every of Drago’s most notorious incidents, which occurred at a time when it turned simpler for clips to go viral on-line, transpired on the 2013 German Masters qualifiers.
At a vital second of a decent match with Alan McManus that was deep into the deciding body, he misinterpreted the rating and supplied his hand in concession.
After realising his mistake, the distraught Drago proceeded to aggressively slap himself repeatedly on the face.
Hendry, who Drago managed to beat thrice throughout his professional profession, didn’t shrink back from asking about it throughout their trustworthy chat.
“It wasn’t humorous,” Drago admitted. “What occurred is, I’m taking part in towards Alan McManus. They name him Angles.”
“I wanted two snookers, and I gave him the 2 best snookers on the planet to hit. I imply, who’s the worst participant on the planet to get out of snookers? Even you’ll have hit them, sorry Stephen.
“And he missed them each. It’s 4-4, and I mentioned, am I seeing stars right here or what occurred?
“Then I had a straightforward ball on the free ball, and I missed it. And I simply mentioned, effectively, that’s it. I’m not going to enter it, however I had plenty of issues off the desk.
“I don’t suppose simply the sport of snooker was going to make me do this.”
You possibly can watch the total episode of Tony Drago with Stephen Hendry on YouTube by clicking right here.
