Snooker icon Dene O’Kane dies after tragic accident at New Zealand home [Video]

Dene O’Kane, New Zealand’s greatest snooker player, has died aged 61 after an accident at his home in Waiheke.

The New Zealand Herald reports that O’Kane passed away in hospital on Tuesday after falling at his home earlier in the week.

The popular figure was the standard-bearer for New Zealand snooker during an immensely competitive time in snooker history, reaching the quarter-finals of the World Championship in 1987 and 1992.

He climbed a high as 18 in the world rankings and reached one ranking final over his career, narrowly losing 9-8 to Mike Hallett at the 1989 Hong Kong Open.

O’Kane went on to become a real estate agent in his retirement from the game, but was also chairman of cue sports club Massé, where Bernie Endres is secretary,

Endres said of O’Kane: ‘He was the greatest New Zealander to pick up a cue. Just a massive presence in cue sports.

‘I remember talking …