Introduction
Jack McLaughlin (born 29 January 1959) is a Northern Irish former professional snooker and billiards player. McLaughlin is most notable for winning the 1988 Irish Professional Championship.
Career
McLaughlin turned professional in 1985 at the age of 26 after being Northern Ireland Amateur Champion in 1983 and 1984. McLaughlin's most notable moment came in the 1988 Irish Professional Championship in Antrim when he was the surprise winner of the tournament. After defeating Pascal Burke, Paul Watchorn and Joe O'Boye, he faced 1985 World Snooker Champion Dennis Taylor in the final. Despite being a huge underdog, McLaughlin won the match 9-4 to become the first winner other than Taylor or Alex Higgins in sixteen years. The following season he came close to defending his title, but lost 7-9 to Higgins.
Outside of this win, McLaughlin's best ranking finish as a professional was reaching the quarter-final of the 1989 Dubai Classic where he was defeated 5-1 by Danny Fowler.
McLaughlin left the professional game in 1995. After continuing to play amateur snooker he took up billiards in 2011, most notably reaching the final of the UK Seniors event in 2014.
Now working as a prison governor, he plays golf in his spare time as a leisure pursuit with his wife Lynne.
Performance and rankings timeline
| Tournament | 1984/85 | 1985/86 | 1986/87 | 1987/88 | 1988/89 | 1989/90 | 1990/91 | 1991/92 | 1992/93 | 1993/94 | 1994/95 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | 69 | 71 | 50 | 64 | 58 | 49 | 49 | 54 | 58 | 77 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dubai Classic | Tournament Not Held | NR | QF | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand Prix | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 3R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UK Championship | 1R | 1R | 1R | LQ | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | 1R | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| European Open | Tournament Not Held | 1R | 1R | 2R | 2R | LQ | LQ | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Welsh Open | Tournament Not Held | LQ | 1R | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International Open | LQ | LQ | 1R | LQ | 1R | 1R | Not Held | LQ | 1R | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thailand Open | Non-Ranking Event | Not Held | 1R | 3R | LQ | 1R | LQ | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| British Open | LQ | 1R | 2R | LQ | LQ | LQ | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Championship | WD | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Masters | A | A | A | A | A | A | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Masters | Tournament Not Held | LQ | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hong Kong Open | Tournament Not Held | 1R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classic | LQ | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 2R | Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Strachan Open | Tournament Not Held | 1R | Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former non-ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Irish Masters | Tournament Not Held | 1R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shoot-Out | Tournament Not Held | 1R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Masters | Tournament Not Held | LQ | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Irish Professional Championship | LQ | QF | 1R | W | F | Not Held | QF | QF | Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Performance table legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LQ | lost in the qualifying draw | #R | lost in the early rounds of the tournament (WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin) |
QF | lost in the quarter-finals |
| SF | lost in the semi–finals | F | lost in the final | W | won the tournament |
| DNQ | did not qualify for the tournament | A | did not participate in the tournament | WD | withdrew from the tournament |
| NH / Not Held | means an event was not held. | |||
| NR / Non-Ranking Event | means an event is/was no longer a ranking event. | |||
| R / Ranking Event | means an event is/was a ranking event. | |||
| MR / Minor-Ranking Event | means an event is/was a minor-ranking event. | |||
Career finals
Non-ranking finals: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1. | 1988 | Irish Professional Championship | Dennis Taylor | 9–4 |
| Runner-up | 1. | 1989 | Irish Professional Championship | Alex Higgins | 7–9 |
Amateur finals: 2 (2 titles)
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1. | 1983 | Northern Ireland Amateur Championship | John McIntyre | 10–4 |
| Winner | 2. | 1984 | Northern Ireland Amateur Championship | Harry Morgan | 10–3 |