{{short description|Scottish snooker player}} {{about|the snooker player|sports writer|John Lardner (sports writer)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} {{Use British English|date=January 2018}} {{Blacklisted-links|1= *http://www.cuetracker.net/pages/tournaments.php?ID=313 *:''Triggered by <code>\bcuetracker\.net\b</code> on the local blacklist'' *https://web.archive.org/web/20140502221930/http://www.cuetracker.net/pages/tournaments.php?ID=313 *:''Triggered by <code>\bcuetracker\.net\b</code> on the local blacklist''|bot=Cyberbot II|invisible=false}} {{Infobox snooker player | name = John Lardner | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth-date and age|10 May 1972}} | birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland | Sport country = {{SCO}} | Professional = 1991–2001 | High ranking = 67 (2000/2001) | Official maximums = | Best finish = Last 16 (x1) }}
'''John Lardner''' (born 10 May 1972 in Glasgow, Scotland) is a former professional snooker player. His best performance came in the 1999 World Snooker Championship, where he reached the last 32. He reached a peak world ranking of 67th in 2000–01.
==Early life== Lardner was born in Glasgow in 1973. He left school early to spend time practising snooker, confident that he could become a professional player.<ref name=Highbeam>{{cite news|title=Lardner cues up his big break|work=Scotland on Sunday|date=19 April 1999|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-18587064.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105180128/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-18587064.html |archive-date=5 November 2012 }} </ref> In 1988 Lardner won the Star of the Future award at a competition in Prestatyn.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4zNAAAAAIBAJ&pg=4689,2249714&dq=john-lardner+snooker&hl=en|title=Why 147 is not enough to make the break|work=The Herald|location=Glasgow|date=8 June 1988}}</ref>
==Professional career== Lardner turned professional in 1991.<ref name=Highbeam /> In the 1993–94 season, he reached the final of the Benson & Hedges Championship, losing 6–9 to Ronnie O'Sullivan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/masqual.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155348/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/masqual.html|archivedate=16 February 2012|last=Turner|first=Chris|title=Benson & Hedges Championship|publisher=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive|accessdate=11 March 2011}}</ref>
In 1999, at the age of 26, Lardner reached the first round of the World Snooker Championship by defeating Neal Foulds, Quinten Hann and Martin Clark in the qualifying rounds.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/snooker-decline-fall-or-hiccup-1088086.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220613/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/snooker-decline-fall-or-hiccup-1088086.html |archive-date=13 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Snooker: Decline, fall of hiccup?|last=Everton|first=Clive|authorlink=Clive Everton|work=The Independent|date=18 April 1999}}</ref> In his first round match against world number 9 Stephen Lee, Lardner trailed 3–9 before recovering to lose only 7–10. Despite the defeat, he described the Crucible Theatre as "the best place I've ever played snooker".<ref>{{cite news|title=Rookie John's debut dream snuffed out|work=Daily Record|location=Glasgow|date=23 April 1999}} Available online at the [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/SNOOKER%3A+Rookie+John's+debut+dream+snuffed+out.-a060424191 Free Online Library]</ref>
The following season, Lardner climbed to position 72 in the world rankings, and reached the first round of the UK Championship, losing to David Gray.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/a-gray-day-as-lardner-goes-out-1.262405|title=A Gray day as Lardner goes out|work=The Herald|location=Glasgow|date=15 November 1999}}</ref> He also achieved his best ranking tournament finish by reaching the last 16 of the Thailand Masters in March 2000, beating Fergal O'Brien in the last 32 before being defeated by Ken Doherty.<ref>[http://www.cuetracker.net/pages/tournaments.php?ID=313 2000 Thailand Masters] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502221930/http://www.cuetracker.net/pages/tournaments.php?ID=313 |date=2014-05-02 }} ''cuetracker.net''</ref> However, he was defeated in the qualifying rounds of the World Championship to Icelandic player Kristján Helgason.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/kristjan-close-to-joining-lions-723246.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220613/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/kristjan-close-to-joining-lions-723246.html |archive-date=13 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|last=Everton|first=Clive|title=Kristjan close to joining lions|work=The Independent|date=19 March 2000}}</ref> His world ranking climbed to 67 for the 2000/2001 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/doherty-battles-back-to-sign-off-with-a-victory-1.220498|title=Doherty battles back to sign off with a victory|work=The Herald|location=Glasgow|date=31 August 2000}}</ref>
==Tournament Wins== ===Non-Ranking Wins: (1)=== * WPBSA Minor Tour - Event 3 – 1995
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{portal|Cue sports}} * {{snooker.org player}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lardner, John}} Category:Scottish snooker players Category:Living people Category:1973 births Category:Snooker players from Glasgow