Tony Drago makes fastest TV century in 3 minutes 33 seconds

Tony Drago knocks in a break of 103 in record time against John Higgins in the third round of the UK Championship in 1996.

[@ReverendJackson]

His brother ivan was a decent boxer as well. Talented family

[@simonwiddowson304]

If he dies, he dies

[@ReverendJackson]

I must break you..... (to the 15 reds)

[@buckbumble]

ReverendJackson haha!!!

[@sergioca5314]

😀

[@southpawboxing4265]

Drago definitely had Higgins on the ropes.

[@GodOfVictory501]

...meanwhile on the other table Peter Ebdon has yet to break off.

[@erling-mikal6606]

Agreed, lol :'D

[@davidmarchant9386]

He just finished chalking his cue

[@jamesbrittles3357]

Robot Lover Hahahaha

[@ibrahimsfitness1504]

Robot Lover lol

[@gurusiva1784]

He is still orbiting about the table.

[@AndrewWms]

Her: Hey you wanna come over? Drago: I can’t I’m playing John Higgins Her: My parents are out Drago: .......

[@dtrjones]

@@papafsb444 you mean 30 years? This was filmed in 1996.

[@davidcarter7337]

Funny thing is that when he got to her house he broke that record too in just under 3 mins then with the spare few seconds he took out the bins for her 😂

[@Sam-gw5pl]

@@davidcarter7337😆😆😆😆

[@spacedust2270]

It's amazing how many years we've heard Dennis Taylor commentary...fair play Mr Taylor

[@cbriggs1986]

Was watching an Alex Higgins match from ‘84 I think and John Virgo was on commentary. He’s been commentating since time immemorial

[@johnmc3862]

Stealing a living as a commentator.

[@VoiceOfThe]

Before Ronnie you had another entertainer of the game, the Maltese Falcon Tony Drago, for those younger unaware. He used to be fantastic to watch!

[@151bar151]

Peter Ebdon is able to think 3 minutes 33 seconds about one shot

[@LiamJLFoster]

Peter Ebdon takes that time just sitting down! He'd take 87 years to take one shot!

[@151bar151]

***** lol

[@manjago1070]

+151bar151 absolutely...LoL

[@WolfHeathen]

Not only that, he'd think about the most straight-forward shot as well.

[@hudsonsoul3259]

And then miss!lol

[@safeashouses211]

In the 1990 UK Championship, he won a best of 17 match 9-0 in 81 minutes, an average of 9 minutes per frame! A record which unsurprisingly still stands.

[@NathanMcCabe88]

Who was that against?

[@safeashouses211]

@@NathanMcCabe88 Joe O'Boye.

[@NathanMcCabe88]

@@safeashouses211 never even heard of him 😂

[@Matthew-bu7fg]

@@safeashouses211 oh boy he did well there

[@captmcneil]

Crazy. I saw Ronnie in the 2014 Masters, where he white washed Ricky Walden 6-0 in an hour, and thought that was unbeatable. Now I know better.

[@omegaman6494]

Tony Drago once played an exhibition at my old snooker club. I got to speak to him very briefly and i told him this was the best break i'd ever seen. He seemed to appreciate the compliment.

[@johnmc3862]

Tony Drago is the only player who could get down and take a shot in one movement.

[@jazzthief81]

I've been taping pretty much all televised snooker since 1996. When I saw other people posting old matches, I decided to start making captures from my library as well. There's plenty of memorable matches there :)

[@JefenomenoRules]

Pin your comment to the top man! Great stuff. Thanks.

[@Valdaur]

@@JefenomenoRules Pretty sure the pin feature wasn't available in 2007.

[@JefenomenoRules]

@@Valdaur Well, it is now. That's what I meant. I didn't say, "you should have". I said it in the present/future tense, hoping Lars might read it.

[@Valdaur]

​@@JefenomenoRules Ah, I see.

[@markmurray9247]

Well don e, seen them all neveriss snooker.me!! 80s, era and a half.

[@anurulhiraq2488]

now i know why they named the race as DRAG race

[@FordTransitvan]

Love it, so good to see someone entertain with pure quality at speed.

[@jacquelinebishop8465]

Had to come and watch after a comment from Dennis Taylor said that the time it took Mark Allen to take a shot against Selby , Tony drago put a 103 break in . 😂

[@solace16]

We know Tony Drago is fast but this is amazing.

[@paulguru1230]

nashrahsolace it's amazing how Higgins won this match 9-8

[@paulguru1230]

Monty Python, The Bonzo Dog Band and The Rutles only because Ronnie potted all blacks, Ronnie actually hit a century 2:04 against Graeme Dott in the world championship 2004 final.

[@jonnamechange6854]

@Paul Guru actually, in the 2004 final Ronnie only achieved one century, and it took him around 6½ minutes.

[@jobolmondom]

@@paulguru1230 Higgins is an amazing comeback player. His nerves stronger than Tony's and it is count a lot in a 17 frame game.

[@jobolmondom]

Yeah it is almost impossible performance. And don't even in a practice... I think this record will never be broken.

[@TheJohnCooper]

If anyone is interested, John Higgins went from being the little school boy to old man in the 2005/2006 season

[@heliumtrophy]

2003/4 is where the transformation is reaching the end point. It's funny, you could almost pinpoint what year it is with Higgins with the expanding waistline and receding hairline. Somebody should've told him hair gel was a mistake.

[@spencer6094]

Still smashing it an looks younger then 2005. Higgins is No2 behind Ronnie. But Tony Drago was my favourite man to watch

[@CCCoNeTiMe]

And a cheating fuck...

[@Billy.Nomates]

Cheating can do that

[@michaelmulhall5007]

@@spencer6094 Number two ever? You’re taken the piss there is a huge argument to say hendry is still the best ever let alone behind higgins for number 3

[@bloodfluke7530]

Drago has fuck all consistency and inner-strength when it comes to matches, but the man's flair and panache on the table is incredible. In my opinion, Tony Drago is snooker's equivalent of Matt Le Tissier... an utter genius with the ball (cue-ball), but has very little passion and heart when it comes to getting stuck-in and fighting back, and being diligent and determined. So much talent, yet so much waste. Drago may laugh it off, but I'm sure, deep down, beneath the bravado and smiles, he would've loved to have won more titles, and prize money, let alone, the World Championship... Always liked Drago.

[@tomdude75]

onepinkrose x yes he should have won more

[@MrHmg55]

Like Gael Monfils in tennis -- great talent, great showman, but the tournament wins are rarer than they ought to have been.

[@tomdude75]

MrHmg55 yep

[@koenpalstermans9180]

's made horrific blunders too though

[@TheJohnCooper]

onepinkrose x drago is a bit like gazza

[@souljahminusbeatsdeb]

That is just amazing. He makes it look like he's playing pool.

[@LiveBhangra]

This guy is fantastic to watch. He's so impatient that on one occasion during an interview, he unclipped his microphone and buggered off while the TV cameras were still rolling and Hazel was still asking him questions. He just couldn't be bothered...

[@ArtistFormerlyKnownAsShitlord]

I met him at a pool tournament in Cardiff about 10 years ago. Really down-to-Earth, nice dude, but his attention was going in about 20 different directions during the time it took for me to get his autograph and have a picture with him.

[@davidsanderson5918]

This is decades old but isn't it refreshing and exhilarating? It's more than just speed, there's flair and character. Confidence, attacking attitude and natural talent. When you got to a certain age and could look back with perspective, I realised that the greatest and the best, whether it's a player or a particular performance, is not simply about the end result, number of titles, etc. It's about moments, character and talent. I can't remember what Drago won, doesn't matter, but I'll remember him forever and more readily than most of the others.

[@samdepaepe6534]

it's so funny how Dennis Taylor says 'pretty quick century'

[@ebojfmdboojoh4023]

Yes I believe this century break still holds the record as being the quickest ever as of 2018

[@kevincronin6393]

Can't stand taylor as commentator..

[@mark.lawrence]

lol.

[@johnward374]

@@kevincronin6393 At least he doesn't tell how every shot should be played, like Virgo does.

[@chornby789]

@@kevincronin6393 lol give up. The greatest

[@PhilippinesUntold76]

Tony was allways full throttle, never preserved the tyres, so to speak. But what a potter, a joy to watch.

[@AlonsoRules]

who's here after Mark Selby took 6 minutes to play a shot

[@user-gz4ko6ob8i]

I watched that in live.. And I tried to convince myself that this is something that you can't see a lot. So I waited for fully 6 min watching Selby walking around the table.

[@TheJohnCooperShow]

Ironically I am!!

[@Seanmcdhuibhne]

Cliff Thorburn did it in three weeks.

[@Jackie-ji2sj]

😂😂😂

[@thechessstick]

Some of the best cue ball control I have ever seen. He was "in the zone".

[@nigelhart3897]

"That" is how to make something look very easy. A talented guy in so many ways, but something was just missing which stopped him becoming a great of the game. Credit where it's due though, a talented guy and a delight to watch.

[@captainhindsight8604]

Tony’s issue was the difference between his best and worst is probably the largest of any player on the main tour in recent times

[@foolsreflection]

I respect this kind of play far more than people who grind out matches. Better to be king for one day than boringly consistent for a lifetime.Drago, a real human being and real character of the game, not to mention inspirational.

[@makienxhemmiktar]

well said!

[@ResevoirGod]

James Byrne In sport competitions it really isnt better to be "king for a day"

[@simonleroy9576]

You Sir are an idiot. Plain and simple. Selby plays the game how it is meant to be played. Quick players play the way the like but stop expecting everyone to do so and the whole game to change. If you can't deal with that, keep watching Ronnie's shots comilations for the rest of your life and zip it.

[@paulparry3697]

@@simonleroy9576 who wrote the book saying snooker should be played like selby you knob how many world titles has he got you prick bet your highest break is 12

[@underneonloneliness2]

Agree. These are the players that people watch on youtube. Quick players will always get more attention

[@LKeet6]

tony drago! great player. remember as a kid him v jimmy, and you're in for a treat! great man, great player, should've actually won things rather than just entertained us, but being a great entertainer is also a sporting achievement.

[@LKeet6]

hello me! I'm back!

[@marcglenwright2185]

@@LKeet6 haha 😂 great comment after 13 years away

[@propjoe1060]

Tony was a better player than his results suggest. One of the most naturally talented players of that era.

[@furat.]

who's back here after watching Ronnie today?

[@TomSmall]

Haha that was awesome, John higgins looks so young!

[@koenpalstermans9180]

a piglet

[@taotoo2]

Before he started roasting them for breakfast

[@hodor6159]

Koen Palstermans I just spat my coffee thanks

[@danielrocheleau5204]

If it was 1996, Higgins would have been 21 years old.

[@iseeolly9959]

He was still to young to even consider throwing a match !

[@a.tanner8524]

If only Drago could have played consistently like that and controlled his emotions, there’s no doubt he could have been a multiple world champion. Knocking in balls so effortlessly like that and keeping position shows that he had an incredible natural talent. What he wasn’t so good at was keeping a cool head under pressure and coming from behind to win matches. A real shame.

[@sladjanivkovic2]

Lol dude let's not overreact, he never won any ranking title.

[@jagaloon216]

@@sladjanivkovic2 OP never said he did. You are the one over reacting.

[@grahamphillips8593]

He was a unique character with a unique style. Not enough of his ilk in the game today.

[@a.tanner8524]

@@grahamphillips8593 Yes, true. He was certainly a great entertainer when in form.

[@benfinesilver2250]

Compare the talent of Drago and say Terry Griffiths. Griffiths was consistently top 10. Drago’s best ever ranking was 10th and he was usually 20-30th in the world in his day. In 1996 Griffiths was ranked 6th, Drago 14th. I don’t think anyone would says that Terry Griffiths had more potential than Tony Drago. He simply was not good enough at matchplay and he threw frames away with his temperament and careless shot selection combined.

[@mitjakragelj5954]

Like a boss.

[@balboasbomber]

This is sensational, Tony Drago was a beast

[@kmarxse]

Wonderful, finally a clip of Drago at his best!

[@paul93lad]

gotta admit that this was a joy to watch.. cheers uploader for the piece of magic

[@TerrellReece]

Who else is here after watching Ronnie nearly break his record last night? Both unbelievable!

[@sharpvidtube]

I've watched this lots of times, but back again today. Wish we had Alex Higgins doing it in under 3 minutes kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJqVq5tvrMd-mdk

[@andypearce768]

@@sharpvidtube to be fair that doesn't show Higgins doing it in under 3

[@brianswanson4921]

Me haha

[@sharpvidtube]

@@andypearce768 That's why I said wish we had it😂

[@spencer6094]

Unbelievable breaks but Ronnie O'Sullivan is just the Greatest. Unbelievable. God Mode type. Maybe might even be God's own son.

[@gaywest4298]

Great player in his day. Fantastic to watch. 👍

[@nuntana2]

Yep, and still knocking around on the snooker and pool circuits. Believe he was in the top 10 at one point.

[@Deltone0121]

nuntana2 yep, he was 7th at one point

[@kubahassa8867]

This break actually takes 3:27 counting from Tony's first shot to the moment last black disappears. Mark Selby once took nearly twice as long over a single shot

[@heliumtrophy]

And we know who has more world championships - speed isn't always king!

[@kubahassa8867]

@@heliumtrophy yes, that's right. As much as people don't like Selby (I used to too until I knew about his mental problems), everyone has to admit he is one of the game's greats. Tony could be too, but he had shite all consistency

[@1alph1]

i was a massive fan of tony, a really good player who got on with the game which is what i like to see.

[@3mileisland516]

Incredible! Such flow 🤩

[@AJsVIEW]

like a motherfuckin BOSS!!!!!

[@makienxhemmiktar]

What a joy to watch this. One for the ages.

[@lllfffccc05]

Class mr drago! Glad he put his talents towards bringing this years mosconi cup home at last! he was awesome!

[@iseeolly9959]

actually watched this a few times now....and this could well be the best bit of snooker I have ever seen......have you ever seen somebody so in control of their sport?

[@mmcau]

great clip! keep them coming!

[@PaulBrownclk-me]

He was great to watch :)

[@lingolarker9318]

What a demonstration of Drago’s natural talent and flair. Can’t have been many more talented in the history of the game. O’Sullivan missed this record by just 3 seconds today😆. Pity that Drago didn’t have the winner’s mentality.

[@scottblackett5417]

What ever he hits, he destroys!! 🥊🥊

[@arkleegan282]

What an amazing player he was back then ..magical stuff

[@dontbewoke]

If safety was banned in snooker , this guy wouldve been a multiple world champ

[@paulhatcher8450]

Drago is underrated

[@restlessforacurevids]

By the time Drago is done with the century Peter Ebdon is still thinking about his first shot

[@Bloxdio_God]

When he's on form Drago is a delight to watch.

[@DemonAsh40]

I said to Tony last night how much I like his game and that I love watching this. He really appreciated it, nice guy :)

[@philipfoley982]

Is that a fib

[@paulmairs259]

Absolutely stunning. 3 mins 33 seconds for a century (under the cameras) is unreal...

[@clivethereddevil3178]

the actual century took less than 3 minutes.

[@carparkcampers8407]

Delightful to watch 🥰

[@Nixter1974007]

Loved watching Tony Drago play. He took some beatings and don't think he won very much but what an entertainer. Brilliant.

[@tonymarshall4164]

Barely sets himself up, no walking into the shot. A great talent but let himself down with his temperament.

[@GaryMcCaffrey]

Everyone walks into the shot now but not everyone did back in the day.

[@drinkwater319]

Tony is very emotional and hard on himself. The game against Angles McManus comes to mind.....TD missed an easy shot and disgusted with himself held his hand out to AM, a bemused AM shook hands but Tony immediately regretted the impulse. The ref asked TD if he’d resigned the match, Angles attitude was “ well I’ll take it if he’s offered it” and it was game over. There then followed a furious TD slapping his own head ( should’ve slapped Angles) All the players know he’s impulsive and AM should have carried on when he saw TD didn’t mean it. He was more than happy to accept the match, it was a close run thing. I think the incident is here on YT

[@shaiprigoda2140]

@@drinkwater319 You can search "Tony Drago slaps himself"

[@themadsnookerchannel2752]

great to watch!!!

[@isaacjackson3801]

3:25 by my count. Just like Ronnie's famous 5:20 break was actually 5:08.

[@mabbrey]

sublime

[@katweasle1]

Respect.

[@Abnsdllnnlosnfd]

Warp speed Mr. Sulu!

[@paddyt4043]

What a show man

[@yenorleahcim]

simply perfect

[@nathanpidwell3728]

Lovely to watch

[@flaviusconstantius9702]

When you feel a diarrhoea attack coming and you have to get the frame over quickly.

[@flobbingdonkey]

I think next to Ronnie Tony Drago is the games most naturally gifted player. He is the only person who could have challenged ronnie for the fastest maximum. A once in a generation talent. And a great character to boot. I loved his interview after his match with Peter Ebdon when he quite hilariously told everyone that Peter Ebdon had diarrhea which is why he was playing so slow and always leaving the arena.

[@topneorej]

flobbingdonkey To me Drago is even more talented than Ronnie, but not as much a winner, unfortunately.

[@Henman5]

He is too emotional and doesn't like safety exchanges and playing with the rest. Also, with that short backswing it's easier to put a quick one and butcher the ball while under pressure. But he is an incredible talent, no doubt about that, one of the best potters I've ever seen. Love his pool matches as well. :)

[@koenpalstermans9180]

Peter Ebdon won the world championship though.

[@hodor6159]

Personally I'd say Jimmy White is 2nd to Ronnie on talent

[@davidmarchant9386]

Err joe Davis, Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis , Jimmy White. Drago far down the list even Hunter was well above Tony

[@iseeolly9959]

The Maltese Bullet ! My family loved watching him!

[@AndyB1286]

"Tony Drago, absoutely delighted with himself..." Drago: I'm bored, where's the exit?

[@paulsimonini899]

I played Tony many years ago in the local Poala Club in Malta. He was still young and I was a lot younger, I won both games but he gave me 50 start each time. Later on in life I managed to play him again some weeks later, he gave me 50 yet again, I broke went for a piddle and found the table clear. Now that's a faasaaat clearance. (It was a short piddle!!!) Tony has always been fast which most likelyis the reason why he was not as sucessful as other... but blow me, what a pool player!!

[@shaymayo6]

fantastic stuff. this year in the seniors he did something similar

[@Charlie_Crown]

Tony lost this match after being 6-0 up, Higgins won 8 on the trot before Drago managed to claw two back to level it, Higgins winning the final frame. Remember thinking at the time this is going to be Drago's path, play stunning snooker, for parts of a match, but no ability to knuckle down when needs be, even Judd Trump knew he couldn't keep playing like that and achieve. Drago, very entertaining, but was mostly frustrating, he plays pool in America now, I believe

[@johnmc3862]

Spot on.

[@dennisdusing7847]

Thank you that was great

[@atiqpolo5127]

What a confidence brilliant finish

[@ahsai103]

A joy to watch. Can't see that ever being matched... people today just don't play snooker this way.

[@owencampbell8799]

Unbelievable. Makes the rocket look slow and brecel look stationary

[@mabbrey]

great stuff wish he could still do it

[@JohnWilliams-ew1oh]

Brilliant

[@BFinesilver2]

Tony Drago was far more talented than his career record shows. He just did not have the right mindset to win tournaments...He let his emotions get to him.

[@michaeljenkins7024]

Drago was the most talented crap sportsman I think I've ever seen.

[@PointNemo9]

Crap?

[@michaeljenkins7024]

@@PointNemo9 Yeah. He seemed to be as talented as just about any of his rivals, but, for whatever reason, he couldn't truly compete with them.

[@Box0rz]

It's the nerves. He could never control his nerves, and sometimes straight up raged in the match.

[@michaeljenkins7024]

@@Box0rz Yeah, it must have been something along those lines. The talent is obvious.

[@parksyist]

Too quick for his own goof at times too

[@chanter-vu2ex]

His head-hitting episode against Alan McManus was even more entertaining😂

[@fauntleeeeroy]

Higgins before the pie n chips addiction kicked in

[@kevincronin6393]

Brilliant stuff

[@shaunigothictv1003]

Drago was Batshit crazy. He threatened to set himself on fire in a restaurant in London when the chef refused to serve him a steak well done. There is a retired snooker player on KZbin who gave a video interview about the time he went out for a meal with Drago. He said that Drago was a nice guy but he was completely batshit crazy. . Apparently, Drago poured Vodka on his left forearm in front of the waitor and threatened to set his left forearm on fire with a disposable lighter because the chef refused to cook his steak well done. Drago was asked to leave and he refused so the police were called. He was ejected from the restaurant by the police without incident but his friend was allowed to remain. The next day the manager came back at 8:30am to open up the restaurant and found Drago with a broom, bucket of water soapy, and sponges washing the windows of the restaurant. The manager challenged Drago and when Drago turned round he had the word SORRY scrawled in big Black letters across his forehead with a Black felt tip pen. Apparently Drago had got the hot water from a petrol station down the road and brought his own bucket and sponges from his house. He also brought a hard broom and dustpan and brush which he used to sweep the entire forecourt and paving slabs of the adjacenct building aswell as the actual restaurant itself. He had washed all the windows of the restaurant and swept the entire forecourt of the adjacent building aswell. There is a retired snooker player on KZbin who gave a video interview about the incident. He mentions how he popped back into the restaurant a few days later and the bewildered manager took him to one side and told him about the entire bizzare incident! The manager recalled in detail how bizarre Drago looked with the word SORRY scrawled across his forehead whilst he finished up cleaning the outside of the restaurant. Drago was a certified mental case.

[@TheJohnCooperShow]

John Higgins went from little schoolboy to old man with nothing imbetween. If you want the exact turning point it was 2005

[@UXB-p5u]

Wonderful natural talent.

[@user-wf2wi5wc2k]

Peter Ebdon would still be chalking his cue to miss the first red.

[@leebarker5520]

Drago in beast mode 😈😈

[@fad2679]

This is the definition of free flowing

[@theavenger3363]

Amazing

[@herr_pouya]

John Higgins was so young

[@russianbear6384]

We all were

[@greglinski2208]

@Pouya Vagefi I know. I also found it astounding that he hasn't been a grown man his entire life. It's almost as if he was once a child, but of course that's a ridiculous idea.

[@liamkelly254]

P.S. Big Ton is a legend - had the pleasure of meeting him several times in Malta and he's great; funny and a very nice guy...dont retire ton!

[@charliehmi76]

Ah I used to enjoy watching Tony Drago. I remember thinking the only thing slowing him down sometimes was waiting for the ref to replace the colours.

[@markvickers2607]

Loved to watch him. But you just knew his speed would be his undoing. He used to attempt some unfathomable shots but a mesmerising player 😁👍

[@adrianpilcher703]

Who came here after Ronnie missed the record by 3 seconds?

[@Leonmpj]

Meanwhile, Peter Ebdon has just finished chalking his cue.

[@NaqashMunir]

You will never find the audience in KZbin comments because they actually enjoyed the moment being there already!

[@DaveSimmo80]

pleasure to watch

[@emmadan9162]

a very talented player, surprised he didn't achieve more.