A surprising phone call from an old friend has reignited former professional snooker player Nick Pearce’s passion for the sport more than 50 years after he first picked up a cue.
Pearce, now 59 and hailing from Cheltenham, competed on the main snooker tour between 1992 and 2003. During his career, he achieved a world ranking high of 57 and made a notable run to the semi-finals of the 1996 International Open. Early in his journey, Pearce was a British junior championship finalist and featured on Junior Pot Black in 1983, where he faced seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry.
Beyond snooker, Pearce’s life has been diverse — he has worked as a fashion model and actor, with a role in the iconic series Doctor Who. On the professional snooker circuit, he recorded wins over top players such as Ronnie O’Sullivan. However, a drop in form combined with a back injury eventually cost him his place on the tour.
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Nick and his late father John once managed Gloucester’s Westgate club, fostering young talents like Robert Milkins and Jack Lisowski. Now, after taking two English Over-55s titles in 2024 and 2026, Pearce has his sights set on winning the European Over-55s Championship.
His return to competitive snooker was sparked by the emotional experience of clearing out his parents’ home. “I found all my old clippings and trophies — it felt like a calling to play again,” he recalls. After winning the Over-55s title in 2024, Pearce struggled to find regular practice facilities and paused once more.
That changed with a call from old friend Andy Dix, who invited Pearce to use a newly built snooker room at his house in Cheltenham. Finished in May 2026, the room enabled Pearce to regain his English title just nine days later.
Now practicing five hours a day and coaching Dix—who has recently made his first century break—Pearce feels revitalized. “Since Westgate closed in 2008, I didn’t have a proper place to play until Andy’s gesture. Even now, 50 years later, I keep learning and improving technically.”
His victories have earned Pearce further opportunities: he will captain England at the Home Internationals in Leeds in August and has been invited to compete in the inaugural European Over-55s Championship in Sofia, Bulgaria, in September.
However, the costs of competing are substantial. As a carer for his teenage son, Pearce has started a GoFundMe campaign to support his ambitions. “Competing internationally can cost several thousand pounds. I’m determined to keep going, but sponsorship is essential.”
Pearce has ambitions beyond veterans’ events too. Approaching his 60th birthday, he hopes to regain his peak form and possibly attempt a return to the professional circuit via Q School. “It might be a bit bonkers to get back on tour at 60, but I’ve always believed in myself and worked hard. Why not?”
Nick Pearce’s story is one of resilience, passion, and the enduring love of snooker—a sport that continues to inspire him decades after his first break.