Allison Fisher MBE (born 24 February 1968) is an English American professional pool and former professional snooker player. She is considered one of the greatest female snooker players & widely regarded as the greatest female pool player of all time.

Allison Fisher
MBE
Born (1968-02-24) 24 February 1968 (age 56)
Cheshunt, England
Sport country United States
NicknameThe Duchess of Doom[1]
Professional1985–1995 (snooker) 1995–present (pool)
Medal record
Women's Nine-ball
Representing  Great Britain
World Games
Gold medal – first place 2009 Kaohsiung Individual

Biography

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Fisher was born on 24 February 1968 in Cheshunt[2] and grew up in Tonbridge, Kent[3] and lived later in Peacehaven, East Sussex.[4] She started playing pool when she was 7. She won her first world title at the age of 17.[5] To date, she has won over 80 national titles and 11 world titles in total. Throughout the 1980s, she made various attempts to qualify for the main Men's snooker tour, which contained around 128 players at the time, but these attempts were unsuccessful. However, by 1991, the tour had changed considerably meaning all players had to do to become a 'professional' on the main tour was pay an entry fee. This meant over 500 players played in qualifying rounds for the ranking tournaments. Fisher reached round 4 of the qualifying rounds of the 1994 World Championship where she was beaten by Roger Garrett 10–4.[6][7] She was unable to progress into the higher reaches of the ranking lists and by 1997 she lost her professional status. Feeling that she did not receive the same respect as the male players, she moved to the United States to play on the WPBA Tour. On 18 March 2009, she endorsed the Delta-13 billiard rack and has her own signature series.

Fisher did not take long to make her mark in the world of pool, winning only the second tournament that she played in.[5] She has an unequalled record, winning over 60 WPBA titles as of 2024,[5] which includes 4 world 9-Ball championships. Since her move, she has also been the highest-earning player on a number of occasions, which takes into account male and female players. Matchroom sports invited her to play in the Matchroom snooker league, and she was also invited to play in the Mosconi Cup 1994, when Europe lost 16:12 against Team USA.

She was the top-ranked player on the Women's Professional Billiards Association (WPBA) circuit from September 1996 to June 2001, and again each year from 2002 to 2007.[2]

In 2009, Fisher was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame.[8]

Fisher was nicknamed "the Duchess of Doom" and gained a reputation similar[ambiguous] to that of the sixteen-time darts world champion Phil Taylor and snooker players Joe Davis, Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry in the 1930s and 80s–90s, respectively. Her greatest season was the 2000/2001 season when she won 8 consecutive major pro pool tournaments. In the 2005 season, Fisher was the highest earner, winning £111,000.[5]

In 2007, she was declared the female Player of the Year by all three of the major pool publications, Billiards Digest,[9] Pool & Billiard Magazine,[10] and InsidePOOL Magazine[11] (in each case with Shane Van Boening as her male co-recipient of the honor), and also ranked #1 in the P&B "Fans' Top 20 Favorite Players" poll for that year.[12] She has been the BD female Player of the Year for 11 of the 12 years spanning 1996–2007, including 6 in a row, 2002–2007.[9]

Fisher was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to sport.[13]

As of 2024, Fisher represents the United States of America.

Titles and achievements

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Snooker

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Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent Score Ref.
Winner 1 1985 Women's World Snooker Championship Stacey Hillyard 5–1 [14]
Winner 2 1986 Women's World Snooker Championship Sue LeMaich 5–0 [15]
Winner 3 1988 Women's World Snooker Championship Ann-Marie Farren 6–1 [16]
Winner 4 1989 Women's World Snooker Championship Ann-Marie Farren 6–5 [17]
Winner 5 1991 World Masters Women's Doubles with Stacey Hillyard Karen Corr / Ann-Marie Farren 5–2 [18]
Winner 6 1991 World Masters Mixed Doubles with Steve Davis Jimmy White / Caroline Walch 6–3 [18]
Winner 7 1991 World Mixed Doubles Championship with Steve Davis Stephen Hendry / Stacey Hillyard 5–4 [19]
Winner 8 1991 Haverhill Classic Kelly Fisher 3–0 [20]
Winner 9 1991 Women's World Snooker Championship Karen Corr 8–2 [15]
Winner 10 1993 Women's World Snooker Championship Stacey Hillyard 9–3 [21]
Winner 11 1994 Women's World Snooker Championship Stacey Hillyard 9–3 [22]
Winner 12 1994 Haverhill Classic Kelly Fisher 3–0 [23]
Winner 13 1994 Regal Masters Kelly Fisher 4–0 [24]
Winner 14 1994 Llanelli Classic Stacey Hillyard 4–2 [25]
Winner 15 1994 New Berkshire Classic Kim Shaw 3–0 [26]
Winner 16 1995 Bailey Homes Ladies Classic Karen Corr 4–1 [27]
Winner 17 1995 Regal Welsh Kim Shaw 4–1 [28]
Winner 18 1995 UK Ladies Championship Karen Corr 4–1 [29]

Pool

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Year Tournament
1995 WPBA National Championship
1995 WPBA Orlando Classic
1996 WPA World 9-Ball Championship
1996 WPBA Honolulu Classic
1996 WPBA Los Angeles Classic
1996 WPBA Nashville Classic
1996 McDermott Eastern States 9-Ball
1996 WPBA National Championship
1996 WPBA New York Classic
1996 WPBA Orlando Classic
1996 All Japan Championship
1997 ESPN Ultimate 9-Ball Challenge
1997 WPA World 9-Ball Championship
1997 WPBA Detroit Classic
1997 WPBA Los Angeles Classic
1997 WPBA New York Classic
1997 Super Billiards Expo Players Championship
1997 WPBA Phoenix Classic
1997 WPBA Twin Cities Classic
1998 WPBA Olhausen Classic
1998 Tournament of Champions
1998 WPA World 9-Ball Championship
1998 WPBA Bay Area Classic
1998 WPBA Dallas Classic
1998 WPBA Detroit Classic
1998 WPBA National Championship
1998 Super Billiards Expo Players Championship
1998 WPBA San Diego Classic
1998 WPBA Twin Cities Classic
1998 European Pool Championship 9-Ball
1998 European Pool Championship 14.1
1999 ESPN Ultimate 9-Ball Challenge
1999 ESPN Ultimate Champions Shootout
1999 WPBA Arizona Classic
1999 WPBA Detroit Classic
1999 BCA Open 9-Ball Championship
1999 WPBA National Championship
1999 Super Billiards Expo Players Championship
1999 WPBA U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship
2000 Viking Cue 9-Ball Tour
2000 Long Fong Cup
2000 Tournament of Champions
2000 UCC Tokyo Pro 9-Ball Tournament
2000 WPBA California Classic
2000 WPBA National Championship
2000 WPBA Villa Park 9-Ball Challenge
2000 WPBA Virtual Pool 9-Ball Challenge
2000 BCA U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship
2001 WPA Amway Cup 9-Ball Open
2001 Tournament of Champions
2001 WPA World 9-Ball Championship
2002 WPA Amway Cup 9-Ball Open
2002 Tournament of Champions
2002 WPBA Midwest Classic
2002 WPBA Fall Classic
2002 WPBA Players Championship
2003 WPBA Delta Classic
2003 WPBA Midwest Classic
2003 WPBA National 9-Ball Championship
2003 WPBA San Diego Classic
2004 WPBA Delta Classic
2004 WPBA Midwest Classic
2004 WPBA San Diego Classic
2004 Tournament of Champions
2005 WPA Amway Cup 9-Ball Open
2005 WPBA BCA 9-Ball Championship
2005 WPBA Carolina Classic
2005 WPBA Great Lakes Classic
2005 WPBA Midwest Classic
2005 WPBA U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship
2006 WPBA National Championship[9]
2005 WPBA U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship
2006 WPBA Great Lakes Classic
2007 WPBA U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship[30]
2007 WPBA National Championship[9][30]
2007 Florida Classic[30]
2008 WPBA San Diego Classic
2008 WPBA Great Lakes Classic
2009 Super Billiards Expo Players Championship
2009 World Games Nine-ball Singles
2011 WPBA U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship
2011 Ultimate 10-Ball Championship
2011 Haining Cup 9-Ball
2012 WPBA U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship[31]
2013 Super Billiards Expo Players Championship
2016 WPBA Masters 9-Ball Championship
2016 Tournament of Champions
2018 WPBA Ho-Chunk Classic
2018 Kantuo Open 10-Ball Championship
2018 NAPT Summer 10-Ball Classic
2020 WPBA Ashton Twins Classic
2021 Texas Open 9-Ball Championship
2021 Diamond Open Scotch Doubles Invitational
2021 Diamond Open 9-Ball
2024 WPBA Iron City Invitational
2024 WPBA Palmetto Billiards Invitational

References

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  1. ^ "Allison Fisher". AZBilliards. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b Hollar, Sherman (20 February 2019). "Allison Fisher". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  3. ^ "Allison takes title". Kent and Sussex Courier. 30 March 1990.
  4. ^ Allison Fisher Last seen: Taking on the guys in UK snooker dives Archived 25 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 25/4/21.
  5. ^ a b c d Buckley, Will (8 November 2009). "Allison Fisher beat the men at snooker, now she earns more than them playing pool". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  6. ^ "Head-to-Head: Roger Garrett Vs Allison Fisher". cuetracker.net. CueTracker. 8 September 2020. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  7. ^ Hayton, Eric; Dee, John (2004). The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History. Lowestoft: Rose Villa Publications. p. 418. ISBN 978-0954854904.
  8. ^ "Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame Inductees, 2002-2010". bca-pool.com. Billiard Congress of America. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  9. ^ a b c d e Leider, Nicholas (February 2008). "Fisher Shows Closing Speed". Billiards Digest. Vol. 30, no. 3. Chicago: Luby Publishing. pp. 54–55. ISSN 0164-761X.
  10. ^ Shank, Dale (February 2008). "Allison Fisher: 2007 'Player of the Year'". Pool & Billiard Magazine. Vol. 26, no. 2. Summerville, South Carolina: Sports Publications. pp. 18–20. ISSN 1049-2852.
  11. ^ Loria, Keith (February 2008). "InsidePOOL's 2007 Female Professional Player of the Year: Allison Fisher". InsidePool. Vol. VIII, no. 2. Kittanning, Pennsylvania: Spheragon Publishing. pp. 28–29. ISSN 1547-3511.
  12. ^ a b "The Survey Says...: Pool & Billiard Magazine's 22nd Annual Player and Fan Poll". Pool & Billiard Magazine. Vol. 26, no. 2. Summerville, South Carolina: Sports Publications. February 2008. p. 14. ISSN 1049-2852.
  13. ^ a b "No. 63571". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 2022. p. N28.
  14. ^ "For the record: snooker". The Times. London. 15 October 1985. p. 30.
  15. ^ a b "World Champions". womenssnooker.com. World Women's Snooker Collection. Archived from the original on 18 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  16. ^ "1988 World Women's Snooker Championship - Results". snookerscores.net. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  17. ^ "1989 World Women's Snooker Championship - Results". snookerscores.net. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  18. ^ a b "Mita / Sky World Masters". cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 28 February 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  19. ^ Syed, Matthew (7 December 1991). "Hallett advances after making a bad start – Snooker". The Times – via the Times Digital Archive. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  20. ^ "1994 Haverhill Classic - Results". snookerscores.net. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  21. ^ "1993 New Berkshire Classic – Knockout". snookerscores.net. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  22. ^ Yates, Phil (23 May 1994). "Fisher makes it seven". The Times. London. p. 22.
  23. ^ "1994 Haverhill Classic - Results". snookerscores.net. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  24. ^ "1994 Regal Masters - Results". snookerscores.net. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  25. ^ "1994 Llanelli Classic - Results". snookerscores.net. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  26. ^ "1994 New Berkshire Classic - Results". snookerscores.net. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  27. ^ "1995 Bailey Homes Ladies Classic - Results". snookerscores.net. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  28. ^ "1995 Regal Welsh - Results". snookerscores.net. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  29. ^ "1995 UK Ladies Championship - Results". snookerscores.net. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  30. ^ a b c "WPBA's Top 5". Billiards Digest. Vol. 30, no. 3. Chicago: Luby Publishing. February 2008. p. 55. ISSN 0164-761X.
  31. ^ Harris, Michael (11 June 2012). "WBPA: Fisher defeats Hofstatter for U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship". Tulsa World.
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