Snooker Champion was Compared to Ronnie O’Sullivan But Played Last Pro Match Aged 31

David Gray was once tipped to go to the very top in the world of snooker but after breaking onto the scene, he ultimately disappeared without reaching the expected heights.

At just 16 years of age, Gray became the youngest winning of the English amateur title in 1995 and was tipped to enjoy a glittering snooker career.

And just a year later, Gray went professional, making waves in snooker by beating Ronnie O’Sullivan in the first round of the World Championships in 2020.

However, he struggled in the following round, falling to a 13-1 loss to Dominic Dale, which was a low in a best-of-25 frame.

A young Gray beat iconic snooker players

Even so, Gray managed to beat a number of established snooker stars over the years, including Stephen Hendry and John Higgins.

Mark Selby was another to fall at Gray’s hand as the latter beat the former in the 2003 Scottish Open final. Gray was expected to go on to bigger and better things but his 2003 triumph was his first and only ranking title.

Gary came close to a second success in 2004, yet lost to Stephen Maguire in the UK Championship final and despite playing at the top of his game, he fell off the tour in 2010 following a poor set of results.

And then having failed to progress from Q School in 2011 and 2013, Gray then seemingly decided to hang up his cue for good.

'Completely above the standard for the age'

Snooker pundit Neal Foulds has previously reminisced about Gray and went as far as comparing him to some of the current greats in the world of snooker.

“I can think of three players who were completely outstanding at that age group, Judd Trump, Ronnie O’Sullivan and a lad called David Gray,” Foulds told The Sun.

“He was another one who was completely above the standard for the age. Unfortunately, David Gray doesn’t play anymore, disappeared from the scene.”

Having been dubbed ‘Casper’, Gray lived up to the nickname as he pulled a vanishing act and 12 years ago with his current whereabouts unknown.

Gray dropped off the snooker tour in 2010 (Image: Getty)

There was a worrying incident in 2009, where Gray was found unconscious and rushed to hospital while on holiday in Thailand.

Gray was discovered in a grove wearing only his underwear in a Thai holiday resort having blacked out after drinking with friends and woke to find himself in hospital.

By comparison, O’Sullivan, three years older than Gray, has enjoyed a scintillating snooker career having featured in 65 ranking finals, winning 41 of them after turning professional at the age of 16 back in 1992.