One of the sport’s most respected and popular figures, former World Champion and three-time World Masters winner Phil Harrison has been a permanent fixture within the very top echelons of 8-ball pool for over 25 years.

Evergreen Harrison was obsessed with cuesports from an early age and honed his baize skills on a table at his parents’ farm. At 17-years-old he was representing his county of Cambridgeshire and would later achieve his dream of qualifying for England, with whom he won several major international team honours during one of the sport’s golden and toughest eras.

He would soon claim his maiden UK Tour title, the first of approximately 20 such equivalent career accolades. Silverware in the first half of his career was frequent – including the 1999 China Classic out in the Far East that had 15 million viewers – but the world championship continued to elude him and proved to be a source of frustration having lost in the semi-finals on four occasions.

That was until 2009, though, when he defeated Adam Davis in the last four and then Michael Hill 11-7 in the Blackpool showpiece to lift the trophy for the first time at the age of 35.

Harrison has since reached the final a further three times, and although he hasn’t yet added to that particular tally, he does possess a 100% record in World Masters finals, winning it on three occasions in 2014, 2016 and 2019. His 10-9 final triumph over Davis in the latter saw him overtake two-time winners Chris Melling and Hill as the most decorated champion in the prestigious event’s history.

During its inaugural season in 2018, Harrison produced perhaps his greatest achievement by winning back-to-back event titles on the Supreme Pool Series that saw the best players in the world from both World Rules and Blackball Rules compete.

He defeated Liam Dunster 11-8 in the final of event two’s Strachan Cup before doing a double with the Supreme Masters only a few weeks later. The manner of his victory in the latter was remarkable. Having lost in the opening round, Harrison needed to win ten consecutive matches, culminating in an 11-10 final win over Hill – break dishing in the decider to cap off one of the sport’s all-time great spectacles.

These recent victories are testament to Harrison’s longevity in the sport and proof that he isn’t slowing down just yet. Whilst others have occasionally drifted away from the English 8-Ball scene, he has remained with it and still has the same competitiveness and desire to succeed.

Phil 'The Farmer' Harrison Facebook Page

Best UPG Tournament Results

Professional Series: 1x Event Finalist (2021 Event 4)
Professional Cup: Last 32 (2021)
Champions League: Last 8 Groups Phase (2020/21)
Professional Grand Slam: Joint 33rd (2022)
Masters: Winner (2021)
Champion of Champions: N/A
Pairs Cup: Semi-Finalist (2021/22)

Harrison has already enjoyed title success on the Ultimate Pool scene.

He defeated a string of world-class opponents on his way to claiming the 2021 Apply Mortgages Ultimate Pool Masters crown and a £10,000 payday in front of the live television cameras.

Harrison eliminated Greg Batten, Marc Farnsworth, Rob Chilton, Jordan Shepherd, Josh Kane and then Simon Fitzsimmons in a memorable final that he won via an enthralling 6-reds shootout.

That final climax saw Harrison win the 'Champagne Moment of the Year' for the 2021 season in the Ultimate Pool awards.

The inaugural Professional Series was a mixed bag for Harrison - as he unexpectedly finished outside the elite top 16 - although he did reach the final of Event 4 where he lost to the in-form Shane Thompson.

'The Farmer' made the last eight of the Champions League in 2021, and alongside fellow all-time great Michael Hill made the semi-finals of the 2021/22 Pairs Cup.