Name: Paul Davies
DOB: June 22nd, 1970
Nationality: Welsh
Turned Pro: 1991
Highest Ranking: #35 (1990-8, 2006/7)
Highest Break: 147 (1992 DDO Masters)
Career Highlights: 1991 Dubai Duty Free Classic Semi-finalist, 1993 Asian Open semi-finalist, 1997 Regal Welsh Open quarter-finalist
.
Career summary
An ever-present on the main tour since 1991, Paul’s best results came in his first few seasons as he reached two semi-finals at the 1991 Dubai Classic and the 1993 Asian Open, helping him to move up into the world’s top 40.
Since then though, highlights have been few and far between as he has failed to get this far again in a ranking event and his ranking has hovered around the 60 mark for most of the time. He did come close to making a début at the B&H Masters in 1997 when he reached the final of the qualifying tournament but was denied by Andy Hicks who won 9-6.
Recent form
Approaching his 40’s, Paul had a couple of decent runs during the last couple of seasons, qualifying for both the TV stages of both the Grand Prix and the UK Championship in 2007, losing out 9-5 to Shaun Murphy in the latter.
2008/9
The 2008/9 season was a solid enough one for Paul as he consolidated his place on the main tour, though he did lose four of his eight opening round matches which prevented him from really challenging for a top 48 spot.
The highlight of his season came at his home tournament, the Welsh Open, when he defeated Patrick Wallace, Jimmy Michie and notably Barry Hawkins to qualify for the TV stages. Once there though he was taught something of a lesson by world number 4 Mark Selby who dealt him a 5-0 whitewash.
He did however continue to perform well at the World Championship qualifiers, defeating Lewis Roberts and Jimmy Michie again to move into the last 48. Though he fell to Jamie Cope in the final round, he had at least improved his one-year-ranking significantly.
2009/10
The following season however was a tough one for Paul as he headed into the season-ending World Championship having won just one match all season and needing to defeat Joe Jogia in order to retain his place on the tour. Thankfully for Paul he was able to do so, though a dramatic 10-9 defeat to Alan McManus in a match that progressed until around 1:20am prevented him from making any further progress.
Just clinging on to his tour spot in 64th place, with a one-year ranking of 72nd, Paul would need a much improved campaign in 2010/11 if he was to maintain his professional status for another season.
2010/11
Unfortunately however that improvement did not come for Paul as he won just two matches, the first during the World Open qualifiers and the second against fellow struggler Patrick Einsle during the UK Championship qualifiers.
Following his round two defeat against Matt Couch however, Paul chose not to enter any of the remaining events during the 2010/11 season and so finished the campaign down in 96th place, confirming his relegation from the tour.