David Gilbert

Best ranking performance: Runner-up

Career highlights

2007: Plays at the Crucible for the first time and takes a 5-1 lead over Stephen Hendry, only to lose 10-7.
2011: Comes within one match of quitting snooker, but after being relegated from the pro tour and losing in the final round of the first two Q school events, he wins his card back in the third and last event. Otherwise he could now have been working for his father’s farming company.
2012: Wins a match at the Crucible for the first time, beating Martin Gould, before losing to Neil Robertson.
2015: Reaches the final of a ranking event for the first time at the International Championship in China but John Higgins denies him the trophy.
2018: Makes the final of the Yushan World Open, but loses a close battle against Mark Williams 10-9.
2019: Reaches his third ranking final, losing 9-7 to Kyren Wilson at the German Masters. Makes snooker’s 147th maximum break. Climbs into the top 16 for the first time. Enjoys a fine run to the semi-finals of the World Championship, knocking out Joe Perry, Mark Williams and Kyren Wilson, before losing an epic battle against John Higgins 17-16. Ranking event runner-up for the fourth time at the English Open, losing 9-1 to Mark Selby.
2020: Beats Mark Allen and Stephen Maguire to reach the semi-finals on his Masters debut at Alexandra Palace, losing to eventual tournament winner Stuart Bingham in the last four.