# Alain Robidoux

Alain Robidoux (born July 25, 1960) is a Canadian retired professional snooker player. Robidoux played on the sport's main tour from 1987 to 2004, and reached the final of the 1996 German Open, which he lost 7–9 to Ronnie O'Sullivan.

## Career

Robidoux was born on 25 July 1960 in Canada. He joined the professional snooker circuit in the 1987–88 snooker season as a "non-tournament" professional. This entitled him to play only in the World Championship. He amassed enough points in the 1988 World Championship qualifiers to finish in the top 128 players, which allowed him to join the tour full-time.
In September 1988, Robidoux became only the sixth player ever to record an officially ratified 147 maximum break, achieved in the qualifying rounds of the European Open. He won the Canadian Professional Championship by defeating Jim Wych 8–4 in the final. He reached the semi-finals of the Grand Prix in October 1988, where he won six consecutive frames from 1–8 down against Alex Higgins, but ultimately lost the match 7–9.
In the first round of the 1996 World Championship, Robidoux was beaten 3–10 by Ronnie O'Sullivan in a controversial match. Although predominantly right-handed, O'Sullivan played a number of shots with his left hand, and the behaviour was described by commentator John Virgo as O'Sullivan "taking the mick". The matter came to a head in the eleventh frame, when Robidoux was 2–8 down and he was declining to concede the frame, instead continuing to play for snookers despite a 43-point deficit with only the pink and black on the table. He refused to shake O'Sullivan's hand at the end of the match. In response, O'Sullivan claimed that he played better with his left hand than Robidoux could with his right. Realising that O'Sullivan was able to play equally well with both hands, Robidoux later apologised to him.
In the 1996–97 season, Robidoux reached the final of the 1996 German Open, but he lost 7–9 to O'Sullivan despite making a tournament-best 145 break. That same season, he progressed to the semi-finals of the 1997 World Snooker Championship, defeating Brian Morgan, Stefan Mazrocis and Lee Walker, before losing to eventual champion Ken Doherty. He finished the season 9th in the world rankings, which was to be his career-best ranking position. However he then endured a torrid 1997–98 season, losing all his matches and did not win a match again until the following season at the 1999 Welsh Open, where he reached the last 16.
He lost his professional status in 2004 after placing 102nd in the rankings. Robidoux blamed his decline on the destruction of his favourite cue, which he referred to as "the Eel". When he returned the cue to the man from whom he had bought it to have it mended, the man objected to Robidoux having fixed a sponsor's logo to the butt and smashed the cue to pieces. Several years later, Robidoux was asked whether the passage of time had eased his anger towards the cue maker; he responded "I want to kill him."

## Performance and rankings timeline

| Tournament | 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 | 2001/ 02 | 2002/ 03 | 2003/ 04 |
| Ranking | | 102 | 35 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 32 | 20 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 36 | 49 | 78 | 77 | 91 |
| Ranking tournaments ||||||||||||||||||
| World Open | A | SF | 3R | 3R | 3R | 2R | 2R | 2R | 3R | QF | 1R | 1R | WD | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ |
| British Open | A | 2R | 3R | QF | QF | 1R | 2R | 3R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ |
| UK Championship | A | 1R | QF | 2R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 2R | QF | 1R | 1R | WD | LQ | 1R | LQ | 1R |
| Welsh Open | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | 1R | 3R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 3R | 1R | 3R | WD | LQ | LQ | LQ | WD |
| European Open | NH | 3R | 2R | 1R | QF | 2R | LQ | 1R | LQ | 2R | NH | 1R | Not Held | Not Held | LQ | LQ | LQ |
| Irish Masters | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | LQ | WD |
| Players Championship | A | 2R | SF | Not held | Not held | 1R | 1R | 3R | SF | 1R | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | WD |
| World Championship | LQ | LQ | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | LQ | 1R | 1R | SF | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ |
| Non-ranking tournaments ||||||||||||||||||
| The Masters | A | A | A | WR | QF | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | A | A | A | A |
| Former ranking tournaments ||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Masters | NR | LQ | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| Hong Kong Open | NR | NH | 2R | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | NR | NR | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| Classic | A | LQ | LQ | 2R | 3R | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| Strachan Open | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | 2R | MR | NR | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| Dubai Classic | NH | NR | 2R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | QF | 1R | 2R | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| German Masters | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | LQ | F | 1R | NR | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| China Open | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | NR | 1R | WD | LQ | LQ | Not Held | Not Held |
| Thailand Masters | Not Held | Not Held | LQ | 1R | QF | 1R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 2R | WD | LQ | LQ | NR | NH |
| Former non-ranking tournaments ||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Professional Championship | A | W | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| World Masters | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | 2R | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| Nescafe Extra Challenge | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | RR | NH | A | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| Pontins Professional | A | A | A | A | QF | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| European Challenge | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | QF | A | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| World Matchplay | NH | A | A | A | A | 1R | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| Pot Black | A | A | A | A | A | QF | A | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| Charity Challenge | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held |
| Malta Grand Prix | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | A | A | SF | QF | A | R | A | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held |
| Scottish Masters | A | NH | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | NH |
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 | NH / Not Held | NH / Not Held | NH / Not Held | means an event was not held. |
| NR / Non-Ranking Event | NR / Non-Ranking Event | NR / Non-Ranking Event | NR / Non-Ranking Event | means an event is/was no longer a ranking event. |
| R / Ranking Event | R / Ranking Event | R / Ranking Event | R / Ranking Event | means an event is/was a ranking event. |
| MR / Minor-Ranking Event | MR / Minor-Ranking Event | MR / Minor-Ranking Event | MR / Minor-Ranking Event | means an event is/was a minor-ranking event. |
* ↑ New players on the Main Tour do not have a ranking.
* ↑ The event ran under different names such as Grand Prix (1987/1988 to 2000/2001) and LG Cup (2001/2002 to 2003/2004).
* ↑ The event ran under different names such as European Open (1988/1989 to 1996/1997 and 2001/2002 to 2003/2004) and Irish Open (1998/1999).
* ↑ The event ran under different names such as International Open (1987/1988 to 1996/1997).
* ↑ The event ran under different names as Australian Masters (1987/1988 and 1995/1996) and Australian Open (1994/1995).
* ↑ The event run under different names as Dubai Masters (1988/1989), Thailand Classic (1995/1996) and Asian Classic (1996/1997)
* ↑ The event ran under different name as German Open (1995/1996 to 1997/1998).
* ↑ The event ran under different names as China International (1997/1998 and 1998/1999)
* ↑ The event ran under different names such as Asian Open (1989/1990 to 1992/1993) and Thailand Open (1993/1994 to 1996/1997).

## Career finals
### Ranking finals: 1

| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
| Runner-up | 1. | 1996 | German Open | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 7–9 |

### Non-ranking finals: 1 (1 title)

| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
| Winner | 1. | 1988 | Canadian Professional Championship | Jim Wych | 8–4 |

### Team finals: 1 (1 title)

| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Team/partner | Opponent(s) in the final | Score |
| Winner | 1. | 1990 | World Cup | Canada | Northern Ireland | 9–5 |

### Amateur finals: 7 (7 titles)

| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
| Winner | 1. | 1983 | Canadian Amateur Championship | Tom Finstad | 9–3 |
| Winner | 2. | 1985 | Canadian Amateur Championship (2) | Michael Sobala | 9–6 |
| Winner | 3. | 1987 | Canadian Amateur Championship (3) | Jeff White | 7–1 |
| Winner | 4. | 2003 | Canadian Amateur Championship (4) | Cliff Thorburn | 6–2 |
| Winner | 5. | 2004 | Canadian Amateur Championship (5) | Tom Finstad | 6–2 |
| Winner | 6. | 2006 | Canadian Amateur Championship (6) | John White | 6–2 |
| Winner | 7. | 2009 | Canadian Amateur Championship (7) | John White | 6–1 |