Tony Knowles (snooker player)
Encyclopedia
Anthony Knowles (born on 13 June 1955, in Bolton
, Lancashire) is an English
professional snooker
player. He was a three times semi-finalist in the World Professional Snooker Championship
in the 1980s.
with legal action before being accepted at the third attempt.
Knowles shot to prominence in 1982 when he defeated defending champion Steve Davis
10–1 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. His good looks resulted in his relationship exploits featuring in the tabloid press. After some particularly sordid revelations he was fined £5000 by the governing body for "bringing the game into disrepute".
He followed up his strong performance in the World Championship by winning the Jameson International in 1982 against David Taylor
, and a year later was victorious in the Professional Players Tournament
and reached the semi-finals of the World Championship, leading Cliff Thorburn 15–13 before losing 15–16. As a result, he moved to no. 4 in the 1983/1984 world rankings
.
He remained in the top 16 until the 1989/1990 season
, peaking at no. 2 (eclipsed only by Davis). He reached the World Championship semi-finals on three occasions (in 1983
, 1985
and 1986
), but never the final.
In the 1990s, his success waned, and he dropped off the Main Tour in 1997. He was critical of a change to the cloths on competition snooker tables in 1986, which led to the pack breaking open more easily. He was involved in a directorial role for World Snooker in the early 2000s. He enters the qualifying event for the World Championship
most years and managed to defeat tour professional Stefan Mazrocis
in the first qualifying round in 2009.
In 2009, Knowles won the inaugural Snooker Super 6s tournament at the Crucible Theatre
in Sheffield
.
Knowles has begun the 2011/12 season by entering PTC1
He supports Bolton Wanderers F.C.
. One of the suites in the rebuilt Phoenix Club was named after Knowles in Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights
.
Knowles now owns and runs Churchills Wine Bar in the village of Bowness-on-Windermere
in the Lake District
.
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
, Lancashire) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
professional snooker
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
player. He was a three times semi-finalist in the World Professional Snooker Championship
World Snooker Championship
The World Snooker Championship is the leading professional snooker tournament in terms of both prize money and ranking points. The first championship was held in 1927; since 1977, it has been played at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England...
in the 1980s.
Career
The middle of three brothers, Knowles began playing snooker at the age of 9 on the tables at the social club run by his late father, Kevin. He went on to win the UK Junior Championship twice, in 1972 and in 1974, and continued to study graphic art while applying for instatement as a professional player. Knowles's application was twice turned down, leading him to threaten the World Professional Billiards and Snooker AssociationWorld Professional Billiards and Snooker Association
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, often abbreviated to the WPBSA, founded in 1968 and based in Bristol, England, United Kingdom is the governing body of professional snooker and English billiards...
with legal action before being accepted at the third attempt.
Knowles shot to prominence in 1982 when he defeated defending champion Steve Davis
Steve Davis
Steve Davis, OBE is an English professional snooker player. He has won more professional titles in the sport than any other player, including six World Championships during the 1980s, when he was the world number one for seven years and became the sport's first millionaire...
10–1 in the first round of the World Championship
World Snooker Championship
The World Snooker Championship is the leading professional snooker tournament in terms of both prize money and ranking points. The first championship was held in 1927; since 1977, it has been played at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England...
, earning him overnight stardom in a period when the sport was reaching the peak of its popularity. His good looks resulted in his relationship exploits featuring in the tabloid press. After some particularly sordid revelations he was fined £5000 by the governing body for "bringing the game into disrepute".
He followed up his strong performance in the World Championship by winning the Jameson International in 1982 against David Taylor
David Taylor (snooker player)
David Taylor is a semi-retired English professional snooker player. He won the World and English Amateur Championships in 1968, before the success of those wins encouraged him to turn professional. Although an excellent player, Taylor never quite reached the very top of the game...
, and a year later was victorious in the Professional Players Tournament
Grand Prix (snooker)
The World Open is a professional ranking snooker tournament. It has previously been known as the Professional Players Tournament, the LG Cup and the Grand Prix. During 2006 and 2007, it was played in a unique round-robin format, more similar to association football and rugby tournaments than the...
and reached the semi-finals of the World Championship, leading Cliff Thorburn 15–13 before losing 15–16. As a result, he moved to no. 4 in the 1983/1984 world rankings
Snooker world rankings 1983/1984
Snooker world rankings 1983/1984: The professional world rankings for the top 32 snooker players in the 1983/1984 season are listed below.-References:...
.
He remained in the top 16 until the 1989/1990 season
Snooker world rankings 1989/1990
Snooker world rankings 1989/1990: The professional world rankings for the top 32 snooker players in the 1989/1990 season are listed below.-References:...
, peaking at no. 2 (eclipsed only by Davis). He reached the World Championship semi-finals on three occasions (in 1983
World Snooker Championship 1983
The 1983 Embassy World Snooker Championship took place at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield between 16 April – 2 May 1983.-Notable moments:* The 1983 championship is remembered for the first-ever 147 maximum break at a World Snooker Championship. Canada's Cliff Thorburn achieved it at the start of...
, 1985
World Snooker Championship 1985
The 1985 Embassy World Snooker Championship professional ranking snooker tournament took place at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield between 12 and 28 April 1985....
and 1986
World Snooker Championship 1986
The 1986 Embassy World Snooker Championship took place at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield between 19 April – 5 May 1986.- Notable moments :* Joe Johnson was a 150–1 outsider at the start of the championship...
), but never the final.
In the 1990s, his success waned, and he dropped off the Main Tour in 1997. He was critical of a change to the cloths on competition snooker tables in 1986, which led to the pack breaking open more easily. He was involved in a directorial role for World Snooker in the early 2000s. He enters the qualifying event for the World Championship
World Snooker Championship
The World Snooker Championship is the leading professional snooker tournament in terms of both prize money and ranking points. The first championship was held in 1927; since 1977, it has been played at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England...
most years and managed to defeat tour professional Stefan Mazrocis
Stefan Mazrocis
Stefan Mazrocis is an international standard Dutch amateur snooker player. He was born of Latvian/English parentage, spent his early snooker years of snooker in Leicester, England honing his snooker skills. He has recorded three maximum breaks in a single day...
in the first qualifying round in 2009.
In 2009, Knowles won the inaugural Snooker Super 6s tournament at the Crucible Theatre
Crucible Theatre
The Crucible Theatre is a theatre built in 1971 and located in the city centre of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. As well as theatrical performances, it is home to the most important event in professional snooker, the World Snooker Championship....
in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
.
Knowles has begun the 2011/12 season by entering PTC1
He supports Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
. One of the suites in the rebuilt Phoenix Club was named after Knowles in Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights
Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights
Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights was a BAFTA-nominated English sitcom about The Phoenix Club, a working men's club in the northern English town of Farnworth, Greater Manchester. The show was written by Neil Fitzmaurice, Peter Kay and Dave Spikey, produced by Goodnight Vienna Productions and Ovation...
.
Knowles now owns and runs Churchills Wine Bar in the village of Bowness-on-Windermere
Bowness-on-Windermere
Bowness-on-Windermere is a town in South Lakeland, Cumbria, England. Due its position on the banks of Windermere the town has become a tourist honeypot. Although their mutual growth has caused them to become one large settlement, the town is distinct from the town of Windermere as the two still...
in the Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
.
Ranking wins (2)
- Jameson InternationalPlayers Championship (snooker)The Players Championship was a professional snooker tournament. It is the most recent name of the ranking tournament held in Scotland every year. The tournament has had a bewildering number of name changes in its history. Until recently it was commonly known as the Scottish Open, and prior to that...
: 1982 - Professional Players TournamentGrand Prix (snooker)The World Open is a professional ranking snooker tournament. It has previously been known as the Professional Players Tournament, the LG Cup and the Grand Prix. During 2006 and 2007, it was played in a unique round-robin format, more similar to association football and rugby tournaments than the...
: 1983