Alan McManus recently closed the curtains on a commendable thirty-one year career as he exited the World Championship qualifiers and transitions into a commentary/punditry role. McManus has had a professional career which started in 1990, where he competed with the likes of Davis, Hendry, White, Doherty and the Class of ’92. Let’s take a look at some of his highlights.
Similar to most, McManus turned professional at quite a young age where things were a little different regarding going from amateur to pro. There were no PTC events where amateurs and pros would mix. Rather, there was a ticket system where the top amateurs would play the lowest ranked professionals for a place on the tour. McManus was offered the opportunity in 1990 where he beat Dennis Hughes 10-1 to grant his place on the tour.
Given the high level of competition he was faced with, McManus did well to establish a strong presence amidst the rankings. He was able to hold a Top 16 rank for fourteen consecutive years, from 1994-2006. McManus maintained a level of consistency particularly through the 1990s that was able to carry him deep into many of the tournaments that he entered.
McManus’s first ranking victory came in 1994 at the Dubai Classic; a fond memory for him which consisted of a lot of golf as well as his first ranking title. McManus was able to beat the likes of Griffiths, Bond, Hendry, and eventually Ebdon in what was a closely fought match at 6-6, until McManus was able to bag the final three frames. Not a bad trip abroad, eh?
However, most will probably remember 1994 for McManus’s monumental Masters triumph over defending (and unbeaten for five years) champion Hendry. During the middle of Hendry’s reign, McManus was able to take him all the way to a deciding frame and close off the match in one visit, as opposed to the usual scrappy deciders that we see a lot of nowadays. Possibly his greatest career highlight, McManus was able to pass through the strong competition that week and overcome what would’ve been his greatest test.
The second of McManus’s ranking trophies came a couple of years later in 1996 at the Thailand Open in yet another deciding frame finisher. Up against Ken Doherty, McManus felt that he played well despite only making one break over 50 and his opponent making seven. The most interesting thing about McManus’ three big wins was that he was the person to defeat the defending champions on each occasion (Hendry twice plus James Wattana).
In just his first few years as a professional, McManus was able to reach the semi-finals of the World Championship twice, in 1992 and 93. In 1992, McManus highlights his victory over defending champion John Parrott in the deciding frame, realising the Crucible Curse once more. It took the likes of White and Hendry to stop McManus in his semi-final tracks during these two years at the WSC.
However, for me, McManus’s most memorable WSC venture was in 2016 after coming through three rounds of qualifying and defeating fellow Scots, Maguire and Higgins as well as Ali Carter on his way to the semi-final. McManus had been out of the Top 16 for quite some time at this point and for a period didn’t even qualify for the WSC. Although, McManus showed all his class as he put on a valiant effort against Ding to reach what would be his last significant effort at a major title.
McManus’s knowledge and efforts on the table have prepared him well for the life of a commentator and analyst. McManus has already proven himself to be a fan favourite in the box with his insightful narration, and quips that could rival Ted Hastings from Line of Duty. McManus has turned the page on one chapter of his snooker career where he will continue to tell the story of the game from a different perspective.
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