Tom Ford
Name: Tom Ford
DOB: August 17th, 1983
Nationality: English
Turned Pro: 2000
Highest Ranking: #45 (2005/6)
Current Ranking: #49
Highest Break: 147 (2007 Grand Prix)
Career Highlights: 2005 Malta Cup Quarter Finalist, 2007 Grand Prix Last 16 & 147 against Steve Davis, 2007 Malta Cup Last 16
Career summary
A national champion at both under-15 and under-18 level, Tom was regarded as one of the most promising young players in the game for a number of years and turned professional in 2000.
His first few years as a pro were largely without note as he dropped off the main tour in 2003, but he bounced back at the first attempt with a number of strong performances on the Challenge Tour.
This time his performances would be much improved and he did enough to re-enter the rankings in 74th position for the 2004/5 season. Here he would do even better as at the Malta Cup he went on his best run to date. Starting in the first qualifying round he defeated Gary Wilson, Nick Walker, Dave Harold and Tony Drago to qualify for the TV stages in Malta. Once there he beat local hope Joe Grech 5-1 in the qualifying round before seeing off Chris Small and 1997 World Champion Ken Doherty to make his first quarter-final. Unfortunately once there he came up against an in-form Stephen Hendry who went on to win the event, but he had at least done enough to move up to 51st in the rankings.
Recent Years
Since then though things have been a bit of a struggle for Tom and despite a first career 147 at the 2007 Grand Prix against Steve Davis, he hasn’t really built on his Malta run in the three years since. As of February 2009 however he has started to work with leading coach Stephen Feeney and hopefully this will help him to get his career back on track during the 2009/10 season. While he can hardly be considered old at 25 years of age, on paper he should be approaching his best years now and showing more of that potential that he clearly possesses…
