Maltese professional snooker and pool player nicknamed 'The Tornado' for his exceptionally fast playing style, later a World Pool Masters champion.
Born in Valletta, Malta, on 22 September 1965, Tony Drago turned professional in 1985 and quickly became one of the circuit's most distinctive characters, renowned for playing at an extraordinary pace that earned him the nickname 'The Tornado'. He reached a career-high ranking of world number 10 in 1998/99 and qualified for the Masters on five occasions. Drago's two professional titles came at the 1993 Strachan Challenge and the 1996 Guangzhou Masters, and he reached the final of his home tournament, the Malta Grand Prix, on two occasions, losing both to John Parrott. He set several speed records during his career, including the fastest-ever best-of-nine-frames match, defeating Sean Lanigan in just 34 minutes in 1993, and a century break compiled in 210 seconds against John Higgins at the 1995 UK Championship. Alongside snooker, Drago built a highly successful career in pool, winning the World Pool Masters in 2003 and helping Europe win the Mosconi Cup in both 2007 and 2008, earning Most Valuable Player honours in the 2007 edition in Las Vegas. Drago continued competing in snooker into the 2010s and remains a celebrated figure in Maltese sport, credited with raising the profile of cue sports on the island.
Exceptionally fast playing style and later success as a professional pool player
How They Played
Extremely fast, attacking potter
Lasting Impact
Malta's most celebrated cue sports player, successful in both snooker and pool