Introduction
Dene O'Kane (24 February 1963 – 14 May 2024) was a New Zealand professional snooker player.
Career
O'Kane won the 1980 New Zealand Amateur Championship, and represented New Zealand at the 1982 IBSF World Snooker Championship, winning six of his nine group matches, but failing to qualify on frame difference. He turned professional in 1984.
In his first professional tournament, the 1984 International Open, he won four qualifying matches, 5–2 against Maurice Parkin, 5–1 against Eddie McLaughlin, 5–4 against Jack Fitzmaurice and 5–4 against Mike Hallett, before losing 3–5 to Willie Thorne. Also in his debut season, he reached the quarter-finals of the 1985 British Open, and progressing through the qualifying rounds with four wins and a walkover, reached the last 32 of the 1985 World Snooker Championship, losing 4–10 to David Taylor.
O'Kane reached the quarter-finals of the World Championships in 1987 and 1992. He reached the final stages (last 32 or better) of the World Snooker Championship six times, but never in consecutive years. He was the runner-up in the 1989 Hong Kong Open, losing 8–9 to Mike Hallett after leading 8–6.
O'Kane first reached the top 32 in the world rankings for the 1985/1986 season, returning three years later. In 1991/1992 he reached his career high position of 18. He remained in the top 32 until 1996/1997.
Having won £415,000 in prize money during his career, O'Kane started a career in real estate in 2007.
Death
O'Kane died after suffering a brain bleed–causing fall at his place of residence on 14 May 2024, aged 61.
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 | 1995/96 | 1996/97 | 1997/98 | 1998/99 | 1999/00 | 2000/01 | 2006/07 | 2008/09 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | 32 | 39 | 35 | 23 | 28 | 23 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 27 | 35 | 57 | 77 | 96 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ranking tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand Prix | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | 2R | 1R | 3R | 3R | 1R | 3R | 1R | 3R | 1R | LQ | 2R | LQ | LQ | A | A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UK Championship | LQ | 1R | 2R | 3R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 3R | 2R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 1R | LQ | WD | LQ | A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Malta Cup | Tournament Not Held | 1R | 2R | QF | 1R | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | NR | LQ | Not Held | LQ | NH | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Welsh Open | Tournament Not Held | 2R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 3R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| China Open | Tournament Not Held | NR | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Championship | 1R | LQ | QF | LQ | 1R | LQ | LQ | QF | LQ | 1R | LQ | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-ranking tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Six-red Snooker International | Tournament Not Held | 2R | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Masters | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | LQ | A | A | A | LQ | A | LQ | A | A | A | LQ | A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former ranking tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Masters | NH | Non-Ranking | LQ | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hong Kong Open | Non-Ranking Event | NH | F | Not Held | NR | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classic | LQ | 2R | LQ | LQ | 2R | QF | 3R | 1R | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Strachan Open | Tournament Not Held | 3R | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dubai Classic | Tournament Not Held | NR | 2R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | SF | LQ | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| German Open | Tournament Not Held | LQ | LQ | WD | NR | Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Malta Grand Prix | Tournament Not Held | Non-Ranking Event | LQ | NR | Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thailand Masters | Non-Ranking Event | Not Held | 2R | 2R | QF | 2R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | NR | NH | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scottish Open | 2R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 1R | Not Held | 2R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 3R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| British Open | QF | 1R | LQ | QF | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 3R | 2R | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former non-ranking tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New Zealand Masters | A | Not Held | QF | QF | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shoot-Out | Tournament Not Held | 2R | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hong Kong Open | A | A | A | 1R | NH | R | Not Held | SF | A | Tournament 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. | |||
| RV / Ranking & Variant Format Event | means an event is/was a ranking & variant format event. | |||
| MR / Minor-Ranking Event | means an event is/was a minor-ranking event. | |||
| PA / Pro-am Event | means an event is/was a pro-am event. | |||
| VF / Variant Format Event | means an event is/was a variant format event. | |||
Career finals
Ranking finals: 1
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runner-up | 1. | 1989 | Hong Kong Open | Mike Hallett | 8–9 |
Team finals: 1
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Team/partner | Opponent in the final | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runner-up | 1. | 1989 | World Cup | Rest of the World |  England | 8–9 |
Amateur finals: 12 (8 titles)
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1. | 1980 | New Zealand Amateur Championship | Peter Mischefski | 4–1 |
| Runner-up | 1. | 1981 | Junior Pot Black | Dean Reynolds | 79–151 |
| Winner | 2. | 2004 | World Amateur Championship – Masters | Eugene Hughes | 5–2 |
| Winner | 3. | 2005 | Australian Open Championship | Glen Wilkinson | 8–7 |
| Winner | 4. | 2005 | World Amateur Championship – Masters | Joe Delaney | 5–4 |
| Winner | 5. | 2006 | Oceania Championship | Aaron Mahoney | 6–5 |
| Runner-up | 2. | 2006 | Australian Open Championship | Steve Mifsud | 7–8 |
| Winner | 6. | 2007 | Oceania Championship | Daniel Haenga | 6–5 |
| Winner | 7. | 2008 | Australian Open Championship | Stuart Lawler | 6–2 |
| Winner | 8. | 2008 | World Amateur Championship – Masters | Geet Sethi | 5–1 |
| Runner-up | 3. | 2009 | World Amateur Championship – Masters | Darren Morgan | 0–6 |
| Runner-up | 4. | 2020 | Oceania 6-red Championship | Kurt Dunham | 3–5 |