inaccuracy or intrusion, then please I couldnt tell you the most outrageous thing I did! 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. Knowles became the pin-up boy of snooker in the early 1980s and the club in the early 2000s television comedy, Phoenix Nights, had a room called the 'Tony Knowles Suite' in his honour. But fans of the game will remember his legendary match against great Steve Davis in the eighties. He earned millions but blew six-figure sums on drugs and booze. Please report any comments that break our rules. People from all walks of life, from builders and labourers to celebrities like Jeremy McConnell who is backing our campaign have fallen foul of its lure. The controversy helped him become one of the games first real celebrities, with a profile on a par with musicians and movie stars. WebTony Knowles was born on 13 June 1955 in Bolton, Lancashire, England, UK. I have still got the knowledge of the game. 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. Three Lions hero Gary Lineker is among the talking heads on Gods Of Snooker. 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 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. He remained in the top 16 until the 1990/1991 season, peaking at no. We had Italia 90 and that transformed things. Booze led to drugs. But Knowles established a 4-0 and then 8-1 lead as the 'Crucible Curse' struck Davis, and the winner headed to a nightclub before coming back to complete an emphatic 10-1 win the following day. Gray's time at the tournament soon ended as he was thrashed 13-1 by Dominic Dale with a session to spare, scoring just 208 points in their last-16 meeting, a record low for a best-of-25 match. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. He was a complete loose cannon. There wont be any pool tables there though Ive managed to keep my interests quite separate and I think thats for the best.. But looking back, Steve, 65, doesnt think the money men then driving the game left a positive legacy. Weve lost some great personalities. Really quite bad and not surprised it got nowhere. Im not playing no more.. He retired from professional play after the 199697 snooker season and became a wrist watch consultant. Mr Knowles, an entrepreneur and three-times semi-finalist of the World Snooker Championships, revealed his intentions to The Westmorland Gazette ahead of the World Seniors competition. One of the eras greats missing from the doc is Alex Hurricane Higgins. View our online Press Pack. Meo acknowledged that "It wasn't very spectacular" and added that he felt that it was "the best tactical snooker" that he had ever player. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. APPLAUSE:56:54.:56:58. 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. My goal is to get back on to the tour and show what can be achieved at my age.. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Jimmy White playing in the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield in 1987, Hot shot snooker ace Tony Knowles in 1984, Alex Higgins drinks a pint of beer during his match at the World Championships in 1988, Alex Higgins and Jimmy White hold the trophy at the 1984 Hofmeister World Doubles Championship, Jimmy White and Alex Higgins at a party with Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, Alex Higgins and Oliver Reed pictured together in 1992 to record a new version of the 60's pop classic Wild Thing, White poses beside a new model Austin Montego in 1984, Tony Knowles with Alex Higgins, Kirk Stevens, and Jimmy White, An archway of snooker cues for Alex Higgins and his bride Lynn Avison, Mark Williams leaves Crucible stunned with snooker break shot that was almost banned, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). I have a table at home and Im using some of the practice methods I used many years ago, working on my long potting and cue action. -. It was a dark time.. Zhiwei Jin wins the World Seniors Championship Qualifier in Beijing, Alfie Burden credits WSS Tour for renewed motivation ahead ofQ-School, 2023 Seniors Crucible The line-up is nowcomplete, 2023 Seniors Crucible First roundSchedule, The Draw for the 2023 World Seniors Snooker Championship isout, 2023 Seniors Crucible news and GoldenTicket, Follow The WPBSA World Seniors Tour on WordPress.com. Gray's time at the tournament soon ended as he was thrashed 13-1 by Dominic Dale with a session to spare, scoring just 208 points in their last-16 meeting, a record low for a best-of-25 match. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. As a star of the 1980s, when snooker was in its glory days, Knowles was a household name. 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. contact the editor here. A staggering one in five 16-to-24-year-olds have taken cocaine in the last year. 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. [12] He reached the World Championship quarter-finals for the first time at the 1983 tournament, and finished the season by winning the 1983 Pontins Brean Sands tournament, with a 97 final victory against Silvino Francisco. 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. McLeod lost 13-3 to Stephen Maguire in the second round and was relegated from the main professional tour at the end of 2018-19, before regaining his place at Q School in 2020. Jimmy said: We were partying all the time. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? He said he had ambitious plans for them both. After one kiss-and-tell story claimed he enjoyed wearing womens underwear. Meo added the 12th frame, but Foulds moved ahead again by claiming the 13th. [15], At the start of the 198182 snooker season, Meo won the 1981 Australian Masters, a short-format competition that saw two groups each of four professional players play one-frame round-robin matches, with the group winners then playing the final over three frames. Tournament was a 5 player round-robin. Weve taken on several new staff and we want to transfer our management structure and the things weve learned to our new project. The three-part documentary, from Therouxs new company Mindhouse Productions, has rare access to giants of the game including Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, Dennis Taylor, Cliff Thorburn and Ray Reardon. Ive done it before and youre facing top players whove just dropped off the tour. He won four World Doubles Championship titles, partnering Davis, and the 1983 World Team Classic representing England alongside Davis and Tony Knowles. Knowles was one of snookers biggest stars of the 1980s, winning the International Open, Professional Players Tournament and Australian Masters. Thats the problem. Knowles dropped off the main tour but remained involved in the game, serving briefly as a WPBSA board member and continuing to attempt to qualify for the Crucible well into the new century. I had loads of drug dealers all over the place too. [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. FOR decades, football fuelled youngsters imaginations by turning working-class boys into superstars., but in the 1980s snooker was the glamorous sport. The year before O'Sullivan's first Crucible triumph he fell to a dramatic 10-9 defeat by 200-1 outsider David Gray. [3][4] When he was 15 (and White was 13), they were approached by "Dodgy" Bob Davis who arranged money matches for them and became their manager. He would turn up for matches wearing burgundy flairs and a matching fedora in stark contrast to the traditional black trousers, waistcoats and bow ties. [2] The highest ranking that he attained was tenth. Use has doubled in the last five years, and with young people the numbers are even worse. Still only 31, he was a heavy favourite for an eighth success in 2000 but nobody told debutant Stuart Bingham, who would win a world title of his own 15 years later. He has yet to make a second appearance at the Crucible. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. FOR decades, football fuelled youngsters imaginations by turning working-class boys into superstars., but in the 1980s snooker was the glamorous sport. 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. He became the UKs richest sportsman at the time and the first player to clinch a seven-figure sponsorship deal. Did you know? [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. I couldnt believe that you could take this drug and it would straighten you up and you could start drinking again.. Anthony Christian Meo was born on 4 October 1959 in Tooting, London,[1][2] and started playing snooker aged 13. But looking back, Steve, 65, doesnt think the money men then driving the game left a positive legacy. [25], In the 198889 snooker season, he reached the quarter-finals of the 1988 International Open. Peter Stringfellow had a club called the Hippodrome and he used to have a champagne bar. [12], In the 198384 snooker season, he won the 1983 Thailand Masters,[19] and was a semi-finalist at the 1983 Professional Players Tournament. Heard this for the first time in God's of Snooker. I remember I had 35,000 in an account and I drained that on crack. Aged seventeen, Meo became the then-youngest person known to have made an unofficial maximum break of 147.