Allison Fisher

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
Nickname	The Duchess of Doom[1]
Professional	1985–1995 (snooker) 1995–present (pool)
Medal record Women's Nine-ball Representing  Great Britain World Games 2009 Kaohsiung Individual

Biography

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 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

Snooker

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

Year	Tournament
1995	WPBA National 9-Ball Classic
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 9-Ball 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	WPBA Philadelphia Players Championship
1997	WPBA Phoenix Classic
1997	WPBA Twin Cities Classic
1998	ESPN Ultimate Shootout
1998	Tournament of Champions
1998	WPA World 9-Ball Championship
1998	WPBA Bay Area Classic
1998	WPBA Dallas Classic
1998	WPBA National Championship
1998	WPBA Philadelphia 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	Billiard Congress of America Pro Open
1999	ESPN Ultimate 9-Ball Challenge
1999	ESPN Ultimate Shootout
1999	WPBA Arizona Classic
1999	WPBA Detroit Classic
1999	WPBA National Championship
1999	WPBA Players Championship
1999	WPBA U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship
2000	Long Fong Cup
2000	Tournament of Champions
2000	UCC World 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 World Open
2001	Tournament of Champions
2001	WPA World 9-Ball Championship
2002	WPA Amway Cup 9-Ball World Open
2002	Tournament of Champions
2002	WPBA Midwest 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 World 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 Classic Tour National Nine-ball Champion[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 Classic Tour National Nine-ball 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

• A record 60 WPBA titles
• Billiards Digest Player of the Year 1996-2000, 2002-2007^[9]
• Billiards Digest Player of the Decade 1990–1999, 2000-2010
• 1999 Billiards Digest 9th Greatest Living Player of the Century
• 2007 Pool & Billiard Magazine Fans #1 Favorite Player^[12]
• 2009 Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame
• 2016 WPBA Hall of Fame
• 2022 World Women's Snooker Hall of Fame
• 2022 Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).^[13]

References

1. "Allison Fisher". AZBilliards. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
2. 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. 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. 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. "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. "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. "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. "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. "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.

External links

• Official site
• Allison Fisher on "Xtreme Pressbox" podcast by Inside Pool Magazine
• Official Delta-13 site