The snooker star was essential to rising the game in Scotland.
Jim Donnelly was a trailblazer for Scottish snooker (Picture: Getty)
Snooker icon Jim Donnelly has handed away aged 79. Donnelly was a trailblazer for Scottish snooker, changing into the first-ever Scot to play on the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
Donnelly gained the Scottish Newbie Championship in 1978 and turned skilled three years later. Wins over Matt Gibson and Eddie Sinclair in 1982 noticed him earn a spot on the World Championship, the place he confronted six-time champion Ray Reardon within the opening spherical.
Reardon gained the competition 10-5 in the long run and ultimately reached the ultimate, the place he misplaced to Alex Higgins in an 18-15 traditional. Donnelly went on to make up a part of the Scotland staff that took half within the World Crew Basic in 1982, defeating Northern Eire 4-1 through the group stage.
The Scottish icon would later accomplice Stephen Hendry throughout certainly one of their World Cup campaigns, with Donnelly’s greatest outcome at a world rating occasion coming on the 1983 Worldwide Open. He reached the last-16, having recorded wins over Cliff Wilson and David Taylor.
Donnelly reached the ultimate of the Scottish Skilled Championship in 1987, however misplaced 10-7 to Hendry. He retired from the skilled circuit in 1997, however remained within the sport as a coach.
“My dad took me and my brother down. Yeah, unhappy day. He ran little teaching programs for the younger boys, confirmed us maintain a cue and play off the cushion, issues like that. It’s actually unhappy, my ideas exit to his household, and associates. Unhappy loss.”
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