Omprakesh Bankelal Agrawal also known as either Omprakash Agarwal or Omprakash Agrawal (27 April 1955 – 15 May 1994), was an Indian professional

snooker Snooker (pronounced , ) is a cue sports, cue sport played on a Billiard table#Snooker and English billiards tables, rectangular table covered with a green cloth called baize, with six Billiard table#Pockets 2, pockets, one at each corner and o ...

player.

Career

Born in 1955, Agrawal played at the 1984 World Amateur Snooker Championship, where he won seven of nine matches to qualify in second place from his group, before defeating Dilwyn John of Wales and

Jon Wright Jon Wright is a Northern Irish writer and film director. Career He is known for directing the Irish monster movie ''Grabbers'' and the British low budget horror comedy '' Tormented'' starring Alex Pettyfer. He directed and co-wrote the scienc ...

of England to reach the final. There, he faced defending world champion

Terry Parsons Terence Parsons (19 June 1935 – 8 May 1999) was a former Welsh professional snooker player. He won five Welsh national snooker championship titles and an Amateur World Championship title during his professional career. He became a Welsh n ...

of Wales, winning the match 11–7 to become World Amateur champion. He also became the first snooker player outside the UK to win an amateur snooker world championship. This enabled Agrawal to compete on the sport's main tour for the 1985/1986 season. He won his first-ever professional match, beating Paul Watchorn 5–2 in the Matchroom Trophy, but lost by the same scoreline in the next round to

Danny Fowler Danny Fowler (born 30 July 1956 in Worksop) is an English former professional snooker player. Early life Danny Fowler was born on 30 July 1956 in Worksop. Fowler played snooker recreationally from the age of 15 to 20, but then stopped playing ...

. Agrawal followed this with victories over

Jim Rempe James Rempe (born November 4, 1947, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, US) is an American professional pocket billiards (pool) player, and was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America's Hall of Fame in 2002. Career Rempe began playing pool at th ...

and John Dunning in qualifying for the 1985 Grand Prix as he reached the last 64; at that stage, however, he was whitewashed 0–5 by the incumbent World Champion

Steve Davis Steve Davis (born 22 August 1957) is an English retired professional snooker player who is currently a Sports commentator, commentator, musician, DJ, and author. He is best known for dominating professional snooker during the 1980s, when he rea ...

. In the 1985 UK Championship, he was drawn against

Stephen Hendry Stephen Gordon Hendry (born 13 January 1969) is a Scottish professional snooker player who dominated the sport during the 1990s, becoming one of the most successful players in its history. After turning professional in 1985 at age 16, Hendry ...

in the first round, and despite having lost the first frame, compiled a break of 110 in defeating him 9–2. In the next round, he led Mario Morra 8–6, but could not prevent an 8–9 loss. Further defeats to

Graham Miles Graham Miles (11 May 1941 – 12 October 2014) was an English snooker player. Career Miles turned professional in 1971. He first gained recognition in 1974, when he reached the final of the World Championship. Although he lost 12–22 to Ray Re ...

in the British Open and

Steve Newbury Steve Newbury (born 21 April 1956) is a former Welsh professional snooker player from Neath. As an amateur, Newbury won the 1979 National Pairs Championship (with Cliff Wilson), and the 1980 Welsh Amateur Championship. At the 1980 World Amat ...

in the 1986 World Championship followed, but Agrawal's performances were sufficient for him to finish his first season ranked 89th. The 1986/1987 season brought poor form; he played in only the International Open, the Grand Prix, the UK Championship, the Classic and the British Open, losing his first match in each tournament. Agrawal resigned his professional status in 1987.

Death

Agrawal died of

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

in May 1994, aged 39.

Career finals

Amateur finals: 1 (1 title)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Agrawal, Omprakesh Indian snooker players 1955 births 1994 deaths Recipients of the Arjuna Award Sportspeople from Mumbai Deaths from cancer in India Recipients of the Padma Shri in sports