Snooker star Mike Dunn has announced his retirement from the game – ending a career spanning almost 30 years.

The former China Open semi-finalist announced his plans to move into snooker coaching on his Facebook profile page earlier this evening.

Dunn’s announcement comes just after he lost a third round World Championship qualifier to Martin O’Donnell 6-4 – a defeat which confirmed his relegation from the main tour.

His career highlights include making a remarkable run to the semi-finals of the China Open in 2014 – a run he previously told Snooker Chat was the “most satisfying in his entire playing career”.

His place on the main tour was hanging by a thread with just two tournaments to go – but a sensational and career best run to the semi-finals in Beijing kept his tour card safe. This included a surprise win over Mark Selby, who just a month later was to win the World Championship for the first time.

Mike Dunn. Picture by Monique Limbos

Two years earlier, Dunn made his first and only professional 147 in the 2012 German Masters.

A statement on his Facebook page said: “After 29 years as a professional snooker player, I’m going to retire from competitive snooker. The last few years have become too painful to practice and it is a great feeling that I will no longer be in pain so I’m very happy about it.

“I really have appreciated all the love and support over the years so thank you everyone.

“I am now a full time coach looking forward to working with associations and players around the world so get in touch if you need me.”

Snooker Chat would like to wish Mike Dunn all the best. Mike has supported the website from Day 1 helping him promote a snooker app project he was part of back in 2012.