Doing the Fandango

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Leo Fernandez was a former Irish professional player and spent his career on and off the main tour. With 34 century breaks to his name and a highest break of 140, this Irishman could definitely play. His best run of play was in 2003 Welsh Open when he reached the last 16 stage after beating the likes of Fergal O’Brien and Mark King.Sadly his main tour career was blighted by a testicular cancer diagnosis but thankfully he made a full recovery.A true trooper, he carried on playing while he was stillborn in the recovery stage.

In his early career he did win the 2003 English Open, beating Craig Butler 8-7 and


the English Amateur Championship in 2011, beating John Whitty in the final, 10-6 but this was sadly to be his only career win. Dogged with corruption charges in his latter career, he was suspended from the sport for 15 months. However this plucky character has managed to bounce back from this episode and in 2017 defeated Ding Junhui in the UK Championship, coming from 5-1 behind to defeat the two-time former UK Champion 6-5 at the York Barbican.

Leo has now taken up the challenge to compete on the Seniors tour and we look forward to seeing the flair of this once promising player, return to the baize. Fernandez comes from from a long line of players from the Republic of Ireland, a hotbed of snooker for so many years and a country that moulders battlers and champions. Hopefully Leo will shine in his second coming and show that someone can succeed when given a second chance.

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