John Parrott

John Parrott MBE (born 11 May 1964) is an English professional snooker player.

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He won the Embassy World Snooker Championship in 1991, defeating Jimmy White in the final. Two years earlier he had lost 18-3 to Steve Davis, the heaviest final defeat in modern times. He repeated his win over White to add the UK Championship title later that year. In 1991 he achived his first highest break.

Parrott encountered success at a young age. He was Junior Pot Black champion in 1981 and 1982, World Amateur Champion in 1983, and turned professional the following year. From 1984-2004 he was ever-present at the World Championship, but he failed to qualify in 2005. Overall, Parrott has won a total of nine world ranking events, which is seventh on the all-time list behind Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins, Mark Williams and Jimmy White. Also, his 1991 triumphs in the World Championship and UK Championship make him one of only five players to win both of snooker's two most prominent ranking titles in the same year. Parrott also boasts 14 consecutive seasons in the top 16 of the snooker world rankings (the top 16 being the sacred number, as only those players qualify for tournaments automatically, with others having to play preliminary rounds to qualify).

A record nine of John's Crucible matches have gone to a final-frame decider - he has won 6 of these. Parrott is well known for being a sore loser blaming his defeats on bad luck but nevertheless his scouse wit has made him a popular television personality. He is a studio expert on snooker for the BBC, often partnered with Steve Davis, and also does much of their tutorial and playing guidance. He was one of the team captains on A Question Of Sport.

In 1996 he was honoured with an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.