Record-breaking O’Brien seeking redemption After World Final defeat

Carlow’s leading snooker star, Colvin O’Brien has made history recently on the World Disability Billiards and Snooker (WDBS) Tour, becoming the first player ever to spend three years at the top of the World Rankings.

That is despite O’Brien’s recent defeat in the World Championships final in Thailand – his second consecutive loss at the WDBS Tour’s showpiece event.

The title was won by fellow Irishman, Dylan Rees, from Waterford, which made the loss all the harder for O’Brien to take he told The Nationalist.

“It's not a loss I took very easily, because I beat him (Rees) in the last three finals in the Ireland category. That includes beating him in the final of the Irish Disability Championships. I also won the Irish Amateur Championships 2026 - that wasn't the Disability Tour, that was the full Amateur Tour - and I beat him in the quarters of that.

“So going to Thailand to lose a final against him wasn't easy - and for a second year in a row, yeah, it was very tough.” 

O’Brien did at least enjoy his time in South-East Asia, saying, “I was nine days there. It was a group of four of us (from Ireland) from all different categories. I had a day off on a Saturday before playing the final on Sunday. So, I went out on a Saturday and strolled around Thailand and seen amazing things, you know. Got a tuk-tuk back to the venue and all that. Such a different world over there.” 

His three years at the top of the World Ranking have seen O’Brien deliver multiple victories. He had three major wins on the WDBS Tour in 2024, taking home the Belgian Open, the British Open and the UK Open before going on to successfully defend two of those titles, retaining the Belgian Open and the UK Open in 2025.

Suffering back-to-back World Championship Finals notwithstanding, 2026 has seen the Carlow man continue his success, capturing the Irish SBID Championship as well as the WDBS UK Hull Open.

O’Brien competes in Group 7 of the WDBS Tour – the category for players with visual disabilities – but he has also tasted success earlier this year away from the disability categories when he won the Irish Amateur Snooker Shootout.

There is no respite for the Carlow man who now sets his sights on Walsall, England, where he will compete for the 2026 WDBS Champion of Champions – a match that pits the World Number One – O’Brien – against the World Number Two – England’s Mike Gillespie.

O’Brien is brimming with confidence ahead of that encounter, saying, “I should beat the man (Gillespie) easily because I've beaten him a lot. I've beaten him 14 times – we’re 14-1 head-to-head – so, it should be a comfortable success for me.” He will be flying the flag for Carlow and Ireland again in September when O’Brien will travel to Sofia, with the European Championships taking place in the Bulgarian capital this autumn.

“I’m looking forward to a successful campaign,” he said. “I am a proud Carlow man and I’m thankful to all the people of Carlow for the support - especially my mam, Gillian who I love so much.” 

O’Brien was at pains to emphasise the role played by his “main sponsors” for the World Championships – Dunny’s Distribution, Carlow Coatings, PJ Nolan Heating and Plumbing, and Burgers Only – as well as “sponsors who have supported me in the past and must be acknowledged” - Carlow Florist, Dargan Tools, Klass Oil, Declan Byrne and Sons Timber, Newhaven Kitchens Martin Rice, Rory Healy Funeral Homes, Carpenters Bar and Lounge, Carlow Hearing, Pimento, The Pint Depot, Dereeen Inn Tullow, Anno Beauty Studio, Festool Builders, Barrow Valley Cleaning Products, Émile Pâtissier Direct and Carlow Engineering Suppliers.