Fergal Quinn looking to hit snooker jackpot after professional gambling career

Many snooker professionals have never worked outside of the game, but Northern Irishman Fergal Quinn had a very different career before taking to the baize full-time.

The 26-year-old turned professional last year after coming through Q School and had a typically testing first 12 months on tour.

There were good moments in there, with victories in high profile events like World Championship qualifying and the Saudi Arabia Masters, but Quinn will need a better season this time round to keep hold of his pro status.

Prize money for lower-ranked players is not substantial, with Quinn explaining he probably made a loss over his first season despite the £20,000 guarantee on the pro tour, but is in a position to do so thanks to his previous job.

‘I’ve moved over from Ireland to Sheffield to play at Victoria’s Academy,’ Quinn told Metro. ‘I have to rent an apartment here and obviously have bills, council tax, whatever. You’ve got the academy to pay for, then just living costs in general.

‘So I’ve probably lost a good chunk last year, but luckily enough I’m in a decent position where I was earning good money before I turned professional.’

Not many snooker players give up a more lucrative job to take on the best on the baize, but Quinn explains that is exactly what he has done.

‘I was a professional gambler,’ he said. ‘I was advising on American horse racing. I’ve never worked a day in my life!

‘I would be making a lot more money if I wasn’t on the tour, but I wanted to give myself a chance. Just try and focus on it and we’ll see. I don’t want to have any regrets. I just want to focus on snooker for now while the opportunities are there and give myself the best chance.’

Quinn was specifically involved in horse racing in the US, which meant an unusual lifestyle.

‘In my previous job I could have gone to sleep at 4am, woke up at 1-2pm and worked straight through to 4am again,’ he said. ‘It was mentally draining and it was very time consuming.

‘I had good joy from it when I was younger. It’s a lot harder now to be a professional gambler. A lot harder. They restrict you, limit your accounts, and make it almost impossible.’

With that career behind him and pursuing success on the snooker table, it is a very different way of life and work.

‘With the horse racing, I was used to doing my thing and within 30 minutes to an hour, I would know I’ve got the right horse. I know I’ve got loads of value and let’s see what happens,’ he explained.

‘With snooker, you put months and years worth of hard work in and you don’t see the results until further down the line.

‘So for my brain, it’s very different to what I’m used to. From that high adrenaline stuff to snooker, which is a lot more of a craft.’

Quinn’s first season as a pro has been a challenge, but he feels he has honed his craft and is ready to progress with experience under his belt.

‘Obviously it’s tough,’ he said. ‘You’re diving in at the deep end, competing against the best players in the world, but I feel like I’ve learned a lot.

‘I’ve learned just how much hard work it takes to feel at your best. Mentally, you take a lot of hits, don’t you? You take a lot of slaps and you have to just keep coming back for more and keep practicing through it all, regardless of how you feel. There’s a bigger picture and there’s huge opportunities, so you have to just keep going.

‘I plan to have a couple of people in my corner this season, I’m trying a couple of new things and just hopefully I can show my talents and let myself play because there is a lot of pressure on the tour.