O’Boye had three applications for professional status declined by the
World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association after his 1980
English Amateur Championship victory before they relented and he was accepted. In October 1985 he made his television debut at the
1985 Rothmans Grand Prix held at the Hexagon in Reading against
Jimmy White, losing 4-5 but with White winning the last three frames. Before the game O’Boye was unable to find his dress suit and was still undressed four minutes before play; White offered to lend him his spare, before it was eventually found. O’Boye reached the quarter-final at the
1987 International Open where he played
Stephen Hendry following wins against
Martin Clark,
Kirk Stevens and
Robby Foldvari. O’Boye would often practise at a snooker club in
Kings Cross along with
Peter Ebdon and
Tony Drago. Drago beat O’Boye 9-0 in 81 minutes at the
1990 UK Championship. O’Boye was said to have been a significant influence in terms of his break-building abilities on the likes of Drago and Ebdon, as well as
Jimmy White who was considered a drinking buddy of O’Boye and their escapades together "tended to involve an inordinate amount of alcohol" although O’Boye was later said to have remarked "I don’t regret anything. You’re only young once, and you can’t buy youth." O’Boye's behaviour at the
1990 Rothmans Grand Prix in Reading in October 1990 caused him to be banned from the
1991 Mercantile Credit Classic. Further charges of abusive behaviour towards sponsors and match officials during the 1990 UK Championship in Preston and the Benson and Hedges satellite tournament in Glasgow caused further suspensions to include the 1991 World Snooker Championships. ==References==