Did you know? [11], At the 1980 UK Championship, Meo eliminated defending champion Virgo 91 before losing to Steve Davis in the quarter-finals. Snooker ace Tony Knowles attacked ex-partner after a row over a We had Italia 90 and that transformed things. The draw always provides plenty of intriguing match-ups and the potential for a star name to fall at the first hurdle. WebSnooker player Tony Knowles's professional Match results, Frame scores, centuries, prize money, statistics from season 2022-2023 - Snooker Database of Results & Statistics His application to the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association to become a professional player was twice turned down leading him to threaten them with legal action before being accepted at the third attempt. Three-times World Championship semi-finalist Knowles is bidding to rejoin the WST ranks at the age of 65. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused. I like being competitive, having something to play for," he said. Peter Stringfellow had a club called the Hippodrome and he used to have a champagne bar. WebIn April the legends went back to the crucible with the addition of Joe Johnson and Tony Knowles and then in May moved onto Ipswich and Hamm in Germany. The 'Ladies Man' from Bolton obviously hasnt lost his charm. It was a dark time.. Meo was a frame ahead at 43 and 54, with Foulds then taking the next two frames to lead for the first time in the match at 65. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. Discover Tony Knowles's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Amongst them,David Lilley the reigning Seniors World Champion will also be there, trying to regain his tour card. But when he started winning tournaments in the Seventies, he suddenly had the money to feed his love of booze, women and, later, drugs. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please In the final, he played Dean Reynolds, and won each of the first two sessions 52, thus leading 104 by the third session. He won the 1989 British Open by defeating Dean Reynolds 136 in the final, and was runner-up to Steve Davis at the 1984 Classic. Aged seventeen, Meo became the then-youngest person known to have made an unofficial maximum break of 147. In 1990 he signed off from snooker in spectacular style. [34] After retiring from snooker in 1997, Meo managed a wristwatch and jewellery store in Hatton Garden.[32][2]. In the 1990s, his success waned, and he dropped off the main tour in 1997. And I havent lost the thrill that comes with playing in tournaments.. Watch World Seniors Snooker Championship LIVE - BBC Sport He is currently single. World snooker: They've all gone to pot; Boozing, womanising, I couldnt believe that you could take this drug and it would straighten you up and you could start drinking again.. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. WebTony Knowles was born on 13 June 1955 in Bolton, Lancashire, England, UK. [3] At 17, Meo became the then-youngest person known to have made an unofficial maximum break of 147. He turned professional in 1979, and won the 1981 Australian Masters, 1983 Thailand Masters and 1985 Australian Masters. And he tried to get off with the nurses.. After snookers massive popularity in the Eighties, there was suddenly a little switch again. [13] Meo recorded his third win against Virgo in the season with a 106 win at the 1981 World Snooker Championship, making a break of 134 during the match. But Higgins would also get himself into fiery rows. It was a dark time.. [25], In the 198889 snooker season, he reached the quarter-finals of the 1988 International Open. Tony Knowles These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. In 1986, Meo was one of five players under Barry Hearn's management (along with Davis, Terry Griffiths, Willie Thorne and Dennis Taylor) who appeared on "Snooker Loopy", a hit single about the game recorded with Chas & Dave. [18] Meo also reached the semi-finals of the 1982 Masters. Snooker Did you know? He retired from professional play after the 199697 snooker season and became a wrist watch consultant. They had daughter Lauren the same year. Veteran Tony Knowles won the inaugural snooker 'Super 6s' tournament being trialled at the World Championship. He reached six World Championship finals including five in a row between 1990 and 1994 but lost them all. Did you know? Canadian Kirk Stevens, 64, admitted spending 250,000 on his cocaine addiction. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. At 65, he still loves the game and has regularly been competing on the WSS Tour. Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 68 years old? "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Facing reigning world champion Parrott in the final, Knowles fell 03 behind, but won three of the next four frames to trail 34 at the end of the first session. Parrott then won five consecutive frames in the next session to claim victory at 93. In the final, Meo led Neal Foulds 31, but the first session finished with the pair level at 33. At 68 years old, Tony Knowles height not available right now. Tony Knowles - IMDb Booze led to drugs. Suave Tony Knowles, who is also interviewed in the new documentary, was a pin-up known for enjoying the company of the opposite sex. Prior to that, youd be lucky to see a little column on snooker. 4 in the 1983/1984 world rankings. Before I knew where I was, Id see my best friend crawling around the floor trying to find little bits of rock and seeing someone who you trust with your life get a bit of a rock and hide it in his pocket. List of snooker players investigated for match-fixing One thing however is certain: snooker is in his blood. As runner-up in 1996, Peter Ebdon was expected to have few problems when he was paired with Stefan Mazrocis, who he had beaten 10-4 in their only other meeting. File photo dated 10-10-1982 of David taylor, 39 (left) from manchester shaking hands with his opponent in the Jameson Irish Whiskey International Open Snooker final, Tony knowles, 27, from bolton - the trophy stands on the table in front of them. [12] The 1982 UK Championship was a repeat of 1981 in that he reached the semi-finals and lost to Griffiths, this time 79. He was handcuffed, bundled into a police vehicle, taken to Kendal police station and detained overnight. The pair had been in an on-and-off relationship since 2011. [16][17] He lost 39 to Griffiths in the semi-finals at the 1981 UK Championship after eliminating both Higgins and Thorburn. He reached the final of the 1984 Lada Classic but lost in the deciding frame. Knowles, of Bowness-on-Winderemere, denied assault. He was a complete loose cannon. I couldnt tell you the most outrageous thing I did! Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. [10] He made his world championship debut at the 1980 World Snooker Championship, after progressing past Jimmy van Rensberg and Pat Houlihan (both 91) in qualifying. So he got all the girls round us and he was giving bottles of champagne away. He was a three times semi-finalist in the World Professional Snooker Championship in the 1980s. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. Fined: Snooker ace Tony Knowles The pair had been in an on-and-off relationship since 2011. Thats the bottom line about what Alex did. Gary says: You wouldnt ever imagine snooker would become as popular as football but it did. Non-snooker fans, may remember the Tony Knowles Suite from Peter Kays comedy series Phoenix Night,in honour of the player. Steve, another working-class London lad also nicknamed the Nugget for his ginger hair, said: I dont think the worlds a better place now because of it.. Higgins seemed to briefly calm down when he married his second wife, Lynn Avison, in 1980. Im not playing no more.. Davis arrived in Sheffield chasing Triple Crown glory having won the 1981 UK Championship and the Masters three months prior to the tournament. Thats why The Sun has launched its End Of The Line campaign, calling for more awareness around the drug. Before I knew where I was, Id see my best friend crawling around the floor trying to find little bits of rock and seeing someone who you trust with your life get a bit of a rock and hide it in his pocket. Ill be trying to win but Q School is gruelling. [23], The 1987 English Professional Championship saw him retain the title by defeating Les Dodd 95 in the final, but his ranking tournament performances in the 198687 snooker season meant he slipped from 11th to 20th place in the rankings, and his results in the following season saw him fall to 31st in the 1988/1989 rankings. On occasions, the six-time world champ was booed by crowds for bored of his success. But looking back, Steve, 65, doesnt think the money men then driving the game left a positive legacy. I had a blast. Reynolds reduced his deficit to 610, but Meo won the next three frames to claim victory at 136 and achieve his first ranking title victory. I always remember him arriving at the City Hall in Manchester. The event was also called the Dubai Masters (1988/1989), Dubai Classic (1989/901994/1995) and Thailand Classic (1995/1996), The event was also called the Professional Players Tournament (1982/831983/1984), The event was also called the Goya Matchroom Trophy (1985/1986), The event was also called the Thailand Masters (1983/19841986/1987 & 1991/1992) and the Asian Open (1989/19901992/1993), The event was also called the British Gold Cup (1979/1980), Yamaha Organs Trophy (1980/1981) and International Masters (1981/19821983/1984), The event was also called the Professional Snooker League (1983/1984) and the Matchroom League (1986/19871991/1992), The event was also called the Canadian Open (1978/19791980/1981), The event was also called the Australian Masters (1979/19801987/1988) and Australian Open (1994/1995). Knowles shot to prominence in 1982 when he defeated defending champion Steve Davis 101 in the first round of the World Championship, earning him overnight stardom in a period when the sport was reaching the peak of its popularity. WebTony Knowles was born on 13 June 1955 in Bolton, Lancashire, England, UK. The son of a coalman from Tooting, South London, Jimmy was typical of a generation of lads from humble origins inspired by seeing stars on TV. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. Suave Tony Knowles, who is also interviewed in the new documentary, was a pin-up known for enjoying the company of the opposite sex. Jimmy, whose speed and flair as a player earned him the nickname Whirlwind, was one of the sports most popular and gifted stars. Ive been practicing with him a bit and Ronnie OSullivan and its rekindled something in me because we have similar styles of play. Snooker legend: Alex Higgins, Jimmy White, Tony Knowles and John Virgo. [9] He eliminated David Taylor from the 1979 UK Championship 97, and then lost to the eventual champion John Virgo 69 in the following round. A 2021 BBC2 show, produced by documentary maker Louis Theroux, shows how snooker stars turned to sex, drugs and booze as they struggled to cope with their new-found fame and fortune. White has been given an invitational tour card for the next two seasons on the World Snooker Tour. [2] He was nicknamed "The Cat" and "Meo, Meo". Cocaine use is reaching epidemic levels in Britain, with the UK branded the Coke capital of Europe. Ramped-up TV coverage made it a dream ticket to fame and fortune, while footie was marred by hooliganism. When the event at Ponds Forge in Sheffield starts next week, hell line up against some 200 other players, all hoping to land one of 14 golden tickets to the pro circuit. Hicks beat Willie Thorne and Peter Ebdon before losing 16-11 to Nigel Bond in the semi-finals. Davis won the 16th frame with a break of 84 to force a deciding frame. WebAlex Higgins, Jimmy White, Tony Knowles & Kirk Stevens attempted their own Snooker Loopy song. Weve lost some great personalities. In 2009, Knowles won the inaugural Snooker Super 6s tournament at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. After some particularly sordid revelations he was fined 5,000 by the governing body for "bringing the game into disrepute". Hicks, then 21 and making his Crucible bow, scored heavily and enjoyed the better of the tactical exchanges to construct an 8-3 lead. John Virgo, 77, as a player a contemporary of Higgins and later a respected commentator, says: It kept the game on the sports pages. Tony, now 67, posed with half-naked women in photoshoots alongside headlines like: Why girls call me the hottest pot in snooker.. Leading 8-1 after the first session of his first round match against defending champion Steve Davis in 1982, Knowles headed for a nightclub until the early hours. Thats why The Sun has launched its End Of The Line campaign, calling for more awareness around the drug. Suave Tony Knowles, who is also interviewed in the new documentary, was a pin-up known for enjoying the company of the opposite sex. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. But a staggering 18.5million viewers tuned in for the climax of his 1985 World Championship final against Dennis Taylor. I am not really sure what to say.". Tony, now 67, posed with Thats what crack did to you. I had a blast. Tony Knowless income source is mostly from being a successful Player. WebTony Knowles was born on 13 June, 1955 in Bolton, United Kingdom, is an English snooker player. He earned millions but blew six-figure sums on drugs and booze. Suave Tony Knowles, who is also interviewed in the new documentary, was a pin-up known for enjoying the company of the opposite sex. Weve taken on several new staff and we want to transfer our management structure and the things weve learned to our new project. Meo only needed to clear the colours to win the title, but missed potting the yellow ball after being distracted by a shout of "Come on, Tony" from a spectator. He had a green suit on and hes got a couple of girls on his arms, real rocknroll.. He had a green suit on and hes got a couple of girls on his arms, real rocknroll.. Having won seven world titles during the 1990s, few would have believed that Stephen Hendry's time at the top of the sport was approaching an end. [2], By 1981, Meo had married Denise,[33] and in 1991 they had their fourth child. In 1986, Meo was one of five players under Hearn's management (along with Davis, Griffiths, Thorne and Dennis Taylor) who appeared on "Snooker Loopy", a hit single about the game recorded with Chas & Dave. But Higgins cleaned up his act enough to win his second world title in 1982, a decade on from his first. Its an issue that is sweeping the UK and, unless its tackled now, means a mental health crisis is imminent. Rd 2. I remember I had 35,000 in an account and I drained that on crack. A staggering one in five 16-to-24-year-olds have taken cocaine in the last year. Knowles won two ranking titles, reached the World Championship semi-finals three times, and briefly peaked at number two in the world rankings. The adrenaline was flowing and I was nervous when I played Jimmy at the Crucible, perhaps because I expected too much. Heard this for the first time in God's of Snooker. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Former player Rex Williams, 89, then chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, says of Higgins: He could cause a riot in 30 seconds. I knew all of them. I may have lost 3-0 but I felt I hadnt made many mistakes, Jimmy just punished my bad shots. Did you know? [12] In December 1983, Davis and Meo retained the World Doubles Championship. He became the UKs richest sportsman at the time and the first player to clinch a seven-figure sponsorship deal. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. I played ok against Jimmy White in the recent World Seniors Championship and it made me want to test out what Im doing in other tournaments, to find out whether Im good enough now to win matches said Knowles. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? In the second session, Davis took the first four frames, compiling six breaks of 35 or more. He was critical of a change to the cloths on competition snooker tables in 1986, which led to the pack breaking open more easily. Jimmy admitted that his habit affected his performance. [32], In 1982, Meo signed up to be managed by Barry Hearn, Davis's manager. That didnt stop him becoming rich thanks to a game that took off with the growth of colour television in the Seventies. That didnt stop him becoming rich thanks to a game that took off with the growth of colour television in the Seventies. He reached six World Championship finals including five in a row between 1990 and 1994 but lost them all. Tony Knowles has relaunched The White House, in Bowness-on-Windermere, and plans to turn around its fortunes after the business went into administration earlier this year. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. Knowles will be competing in the three Q School events which offer 14 places on next seasons professional tour, starting today, Thursday. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. So, how much is Tony Knowles worth at the age of 68 years old? If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to He is the oldest in the draw. What I need is more matches against other players on the Star tables, if I can get that under my belt then my consistency will improve, Ill cut out the mistakes and the break-building will come back. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, 1st Floor, Chartist Tower, Upper Dock Street, Newport, Wales, NP20 1DW Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. Editors' Code of Practice. Knowles was one of snookers biggest stars of the 1980s, winning the International Open, Professional Players Tournament and Australian Masters. On occasions, the six-time world champ was booed by crowds for bored of his success. He was involved in a directorial role for World Snooker in the early 2000s. They had separated in the summer of last year while Knowles was undergoing treatment for throat cancer. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. White faces Tony Knowles, while Hendry plays Patsy Fagan in the last-16. But in 1990, the troubled star quit the game, telling the world in a press conference: You can shove your snooker up your jacksie. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. So instead The Bolton News looksback at the Knowles career, a real Bolton legend. Tony, now 67, posed with half-naked women in photoshoots alongside headlines like: Why girls call me the hottest pot in snooker.. Step forward James Cahill, whose 10-8 victory over O'Sullivan sent shockwaves through the sport. His last attempt to qualify for the World Championship in 2009 saw him lose 10-9 against Tony Knowles. , money, salary, income, and assets. My business is well looked after and Im coming up to my pension," he said. Tony Knowles (a) 4. The working-class lad from Belfast was always a rebel. Veteran Tony Knowles believes he has a realistic chance of making it through Q School and achieving his ambition of regaining a place on the World Snooker He won the British under-19 title in 1978, as well as other junior titles. It really boomed in the Eighties, with some matches gaining viewing figures that would compete with footballs biggest games. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, 1st Floor, Chartist Tower, Upper Dock Street, Newport, Wales, NP20 1DW Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. His addiction started by drinking copiously to celebrate or commiserate after matches. [28][29] However, in the following years, he failed to reach as far as the quarter-finals in any ranking tournament, and his ranking fell one place to 15th, then out of the top 32. That knowledge remains very important and thats why you see a lot of the older players on the circuit still doing well. Snooker started to get slightly less interesting and football kind of re-emerged. But fans of the game will remember his legendary match against great Steve Davis in the eighties. Tony Knowles created one of the great stop sets in Crucible history:56:59.:57:02. and he went onto prove it was in fluke either. Ive done it before and youre facing top players whove just dropped off the tour. It took Bingham another 11 years to win his first ranking title, beating Mark Williams 9-8 in the final of the Australian Open. Jimmy admitted that his habit affected his performance. Knowles, originally from Bolton, Lancs., splits his time between homes in Manchester and the Lake District. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. World Seniors Snooker Head Office: World Seniors Snooker, 75 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2NT, Welsh Winners on Opening Night of World Seniors Championship, Wins in Sheffield for White and Figueiredo. FOR every Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry, snooker also boasted others players who left their own small but indelible mark upon the sport. Knowles retired to run a hotel in the Lake District. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to He reached the semi-finals of the World Championship on three occasions, coming within a frame of the final in 1983, losing a decider to Canadas Cliff Thorburn. She was crying and went to the bathroom. But Higgins was also volatile, often having bust-ups with officials, fellow players and even spectators. Meo claimed the next four frames, to require just one more frame at 87, having recovered from more than 40 points behind in both the 12th and 15th frames. We didnt really take any notice of what was going on at the time, we just got on and played snooker, enjoying the razzmatazz of the Crucible," Knowles said. Meanwhile, the pressure is on Mr Knowles to bring his new business venture to the standard of Churchills Wine Bar, in Bowness, which he has extended and developed over the past 20 years. Snooker Legends He said he had ambitious plans for them both. Peter Stringfellow had a club called the Hippodrome and he used to have a champagne bar. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Jimmy said: We were partying all the time. Mazrocis lost 13-9 to the Canada's Alain Robidoux in the next round. Tony is one of the many WSS players who will compete in Ponds Forge in the coming weeks. Tony Knowles We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. I could barely stand up at the end. As defending champion the 'Nugget' was the overwhelming favourite to advance against Tony Knowles, whose only other Crucible appearance in 1981 had ended in defeat by Graham Miles. But he is best remembered for a series of lurid tabloid exclusives, not least the story he sold for 25,000 prior to the 1984 Championships, in which he described He remained in the top 16 until the 1990/1991 season, peaking at no. The former world number two has entered Q School for the first time in four years, having rekindled his enthusiasm for practice. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. It took Bingham another 11 years to win his first ranking title, beating Mark Williams 9-8 in the final of the Australian Open.
