Fergal O'Brien to bring curtain down on 30-year career

Fergal O'Brien will retire from professional snooker at the end of the current season, ending a career which has spanned over 30 years.

The former British Open winner and 2001 Masters finalist has decided to move into other aspects of the game including media work and coaching.

O'Brien was relegated from the professional tour last year but quickly regained his status in Q School.

However he has opted to move away from the World Snooker Tour, at least on the table.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport, he said: "I’m initially sad at the thought of not playing anymore because obviously I’ve been a professional for 33 years. It's been my life.

"I could be on my own playing, you know, happy as anything, just playing. So obviously I'll still be playing, but obviously not the same amount or the same intensity. I will miss that.

"I always loved practice as well. It never felt like a hardship or making sacrifices for it. I always really enjoyed it, but obviously back in the day I was here for a 10am start playing five, six hours.

"That's probably another little challenge as well. The routine won't be as set. It was early to bed up early at the club practicing.

"Obviously I have had some success. I would have liked more, of course, but I think ultimately for me, you know, without sounding too corny, the journey is the reward. I always wanted to play snooker.

"I loved playing snooker and even the bad days and the disappointments were still, in some ways fulfilling. You're still alive. You still felt something.

"I loved playing. I didn't want to do anything else. But as I said, I'm fortunate now that I do have other options still in snooker. That's going to soften the blow."

O’Brien has already spent time coaching young players and is looking to broaden