Jamie Burnett
Name: Jamie Burnett
DOB: September 16th, 1975
Nationality: Scottish
Turned Pro: 1992
Highest Ranking: #40 (2009/10)
Current Ranking: #40
Highest Break: 148 (2004 UK Championship)
Career Highlights: Becoming the only player to make a break over 147 in a professional match, 1997 German Open and 1998 Grand Prix Quarter Finalist
Place in history
Whatever else Jamie goes on to achieve in his career, his place in the record books is secure following his 2004 UK Championship qualifier against Leo Fernandez when he made a historic break of 148. Becoming the first man to record a break higher than 147 in professional competition, Jamie was able to do this by taking advantage of a free ball early in the frame, taking the brown as an extra red and then clearing with 15 reds, 12 blacks, two pinks and a blue for a moment of magic.
Early career
A reasonably strong amateur career brought Jamie victories in the 1990 UK under-16’s Championship, the Scottish under-16 Championship and the 1992 Scottish Amateur Championship which led to him taking the decision to pursue a professional career in the game.
His first few seasons were not spectacular however, with his best result coming at the 1994 B&H Championship where he won the event to qualify for the prestigious Masters tournament at Wembley.
Peak and subsequent years
A couple of years later however, things started to pick up as he qualified for the final stages of the World Championship for the first time, and he reached three ranking event quarter-finals in quick succession, highlighted by two wins over Stephen Hendry. These results were enough to move Jamie up into the top 32 of the rankings for two seasons, peaking at number 27 in the 1999-2000 season, his best ranking to date.
Since then though, Jamie has never really taken his career to the next level, finding himself going backwards in the rankings and not making a quarter-final for over ten years. Despite this though, his last couple of seasons have been a bit better, moving back into the top 48 and he is still managing to compete on a tour which has never seen a higher standard.
2008/9
The 2008/9 season was to be a mixed one for Jamie as while he had his most consistent season in years, reaching the last 32 of four ranking events and moving up to a career high ranking of 40th, his season was only ever going to be remembered for one incident.
Drawn against close friend and practice partner Stephen Maguire at the UK Championship, there were strong rumours in the days leading up to the match that the outcome would be a 9-3 scoreline in favour of Maguire and unfortunately enough that is what transpired as towards the end of the match Jamie began to miss some a couple of rather simple shots to at least get another frame on the board. Both players involved have strenuously denied any wrongdoing and an investigation is at the time of writing still ongoing.
Credit to Jamie though because with all of the controversy thrown up by this match, he could have been forgiven for suffering a loss of form between that and the end of the season, but instead he kept up his good form and notably managed to qualify for the World Championship, thirteen years after he first managed it. Typically though he drew none other than Maguire for a second time and succumbed to a 10-5 defeat.
Tournament Victories:
Non-Ranking Event wins (1)
| Event | Year |
| Benson & Hedges Championship | 1994 |
