Hicks, then 21 and making his Crucible bow, scored heavily and enjoyed the better of the tactical exchanges to construct an 8-3 lead. Did you know? snooker 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. On occasions, the six-time world champ was booed by crowds for bored of his success. [3] He won a second Warners Open title in 1979, 52 against White in the final. In the final, he played Dean Reynolds, and won each of the first two sessions 52, thus leading 104 by the third session. 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 himself as the hottest pot in snooker. 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. -. He has yet to make a second appearance at the Crucible. Please report any comments that break our rules. 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. Hicks beat Willie Thorne and Peter Ebdon before losing 16-11 to Nigel Bond in the semi-finals. Cocaine use is reaching epidemic levels in Britain, with the UK branded the Coke capital of Europe. contact the editor here. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. But everything comes full circle andyou saw at the World Championship this year a very controlled style of play from the likes of Mark Selby and Stuart Bingham. 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. 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. A FORMER top snooker player hopes to raise his game in the Lake District hospitality industry after buying a second hotel and restaurant. His good looks resulted in his relationship exploits featuring in the tabloid press. Knowles will be competing in the three Q School events which offer 14 places on next seasons professional tour, starting today, Thursday. [18] Meo also reached the semi-finals of the 1982 Masters. It was like the devils dandruff but crack is like sucking the devils d**k. Its evil. Please report any comments that break our rules. Cahill almost knocked out another seed in the second round but was beaten 13-12 by Stephen Maguire. Life is far calmer now for the former world number two, who won two ranking titles in his career. Did you know? It usurped it. I had a blast. Jimmy White v Tony Knowles - World Seniors Snooker Championship 2021 - LIVE Watch Along 3,642 views Streamed live on May 7, 2021 32 Dislike Share Save Steve Davis v Tony Knowles, 1982 Snooker: World Championship Cahill almost knocked out another seed in the second round but was beaten 13-12 by Stephen Maguire. Tournament was a 5 player round-robin. This page was last edited on 16 April 2023, at 00:36. [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. He was also ordered to pay 120 victim surcharge and 625 costs. 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. Did you know? The potter from Bolton was one of the main cast in the soap-opera decade that followed, with the sport featuring as much in the front pages of newspapers as it did on the back. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 13 June. 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. Thats why The Sun has launched its End Of The Line campaign, calling for more awareness around the drug. The Northern Irish hellraiser and double world champ died in 2010 of throat cancer aged 61. But even Davis lampooned as the Romford Robot due to his emotionless demeanour and conservative style of play enjoyed the trappings of fame. Ill be trying to win but Q School is gruelling. 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. It took Bingham another 11 years to win his first ranking title, beating Mark Williams 9-8 in the final of the Australian Open. WebAlex Higgins, Jimmy White, Tony Knowles & Kirk Stevens attempted their own Snooker Loopy song. FOR decades, football fuelled youngsters imaginations by turning working-class boys into superstars., but in the 1980s snooker was the glamorous sport. A staggering one in five 16-to-24-year-olds have taken cocaine in the last year. [3] At the 1979 Canadian Open he was seeded into the last 16, where he lost 79 to Jim Wych. I may have lost 3-0 but I felt I hadnt made many mistakes, Jimmy just punished my bad shots. But looking back, Steve, 65, doesnt think the money men then driving the game left a positive legacy. More than 200 players will compete at Ponds Forge in Sheffield. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. And after sealing a famous victory with a fine clearance of 53, the clearly stunned Blackpool potter said: "I tried to be professional, commit to my own game and not get too carried away. In the final, Meo led Neal Foulds 31, but the first session finished with the pair level at 33. Tony Knowles is most famous at the table for inflicting the Crucible curse on Steve Davis in 1982. Knowles admitted one count of resisting a constable in the execution of his duty. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to Alex, a friend of hard-living actor Oliver Reed, once said: I like all the things a fella likes, including my wine, women and song. Aged seventeen, Meo became the then-youngest person known to have made an unofficial maximum break of 147. They had separated in the summer of last year while Knowles was undergoing treatment for throat cancer. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. I couldnt believe that you could take this drug and it would straighten you up and you could start drinking again.. 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. At 68 years old, Tony Knowles height not available right now. [3] At 17, Meo became the then-youngest person known to have made an unofficial maximum break of 147. Magistrates listened to the call, in which screams and the sound of a mans voice could be heard. In a match where he was never behind until the the final frame, the 'Rocket' recorded breaks of 136, 123, 115, 102 and 101, as well as three half centuries, but still lost. As Steve lost the final, decisive frame of 35 in a match that remains the games high-water mark, he was suddenly human again. [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. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. 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. I knew all of them. 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. White faces Tony Knowles, while Hendry plays Patsy Fagan in the last-16. He earned millions but blew six-figure sums on drugs and booze. Peter Stringfellow had a club called the Hippodrome and he used to have a champagne bar. One thing however is certain: snooker is in his blood. Sport doesnt go on for ever. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Editors' Code of Practice. He won the British under-19 title in 1978, as well as other junior titles. He reached the World Championship semi-finals on three occasions (in 1983, 1985 and 1986), but never the final. John Virgo, 77, as a player a contemporary of Higgins and later a respected commentator, says: It kept the game on the sports pages. The working-class lad from Belfast was always a rebel. Thats what crack did to you. "Im actually at the point now where I can go and play snooker and enjoy it. [12] In December 1983, Davis and Meo retained the World Doubles Championship. As a star of the 1980s, when snooker was in its glory days, Knowles was a household name. , money, salary, income, and assets. Snooker: Cheeky, loyal, funny, honest: Paul Hunter remembered Please report any comments that break our rules. Editors' Code of Practice. Ive been practicing with him a bit and Ronnie OSullivan and its rekindled something in me because we have similar styles of play. [2], By 1981, Meo had married Denise,[33] and in 1991 they had their fourth child. The adrenaline was flowing and I was nervous when I played Jimmy at the Crucible, perhaps because I expected too much. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. But looking back, Steve, 65, doesnt think the money men then driving the game left a positive legacy. Tony Knowles | WSS | Seniors Snooker He was a three times semi-finalist in the World Professional Snooker Championship in the 1980s. Tony, now 67, posed with He said: Cocaine was absolutely everywhere. I tried smoking it and got completely addicted. Knowles said: His love for the game is still second to none, despite the devastation of those finals. 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. He followed her and in and ensuing row punched her on the right arm. 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. He ordered her out of the flat. But when he started winning tournaments in the Seventies, he suddenly had the money to feed his love of booze, women and, later, drugs. White has been given an invitational tour card for the next two seasons on the World Snooker Tour. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. Knowles was one of snookers biggest stars of the 1980s, winning the International Open, Professional Players Tournament and Australian Masters. Meo added the 12th frame, but Foulds moved ahead again by claiming the 13th. World snooker: They've all gone to pot; Boozing, womanising, Snooker legend: Alex Higgins, Jimmy White, Tony Knowles and John Virgo. A staggering one in five 16-to-24-year-olds have taken cocaine in the last year. We went to Australia once and after I left, apparently the police came round in the early hours of the morning because hed pulled a gun on two girls in a bedroom.. As Steve lost the final, decisive frame of 35 in a match that remains the games high-water mark, he was suddenly human again. The 59-year-old is famous for being the best player to have never won the World Championship, losing in six finals. Apparently people used to bring him vodka and God knows what. 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. Tony Knowles But Higgins would also get himself into fiery rows. While Davis mounted a fightback to 8-7 down, Hicks held his nerve to pull off a famous victory. WebTony Knowles was born on 13 June, 1955 in Bolton, United Kingdom, is an English snooker player. 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. [18] The following month, they faced each other in the final of the Lada Classic. Anthony Christian Meo (born 4 October 1959) is a retired English snooker player. Davis arrived in Sheffield chasing Triple Crown glory having won the 1981 UK Championship and the Masters three months prior to the tournament. It is hoped the shorter format, which has the same number of colours as the regular game but just six reds, will boost the popularity of the sport. [6], Meo defeated White in the final to win the 1977 Pontins Junior title as well as taking the Warners Pro-Am title by winning against professional Doug Mountjoy 54 in the final. On occasions, the six-time world champ was booed by crowds for bored of his success. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can Tony Knowles first turned professional in 1980, just at a time when snooker was experiencing its first major boom in popularity. Three-times World Championship semi-finalist Knowles is bidding to rejoin the WST ranks at the age of 65. Jimmy and Alex werent alone in their extreme behaviour. MASTERS HOPE: Tony Knowles takes on Jimmy White in Peterborough. "Ive been practicing, I can still play all the shots, I have the experience to find my way around the table and although my eyesights not what it used to be, I have been knocking in a lot of long balls in recently.. Upon his return to the Crucible the following morning, the 26-year-olc duly polished off the two frames required to cause one of the sports biggest upsets, and his reputation as a mullet-haired lothario was born. After one kiss-and-tell story claimed he enjoyed wearing womens underwear. He will give it his best shot. At the 1989 British Open he eliminated Colin Roscoe 53, then the defending champion Hendry and Peter Francisco, each by the same scoreline. Davis went on to win the frame and match. Tony Knowles (a) 4. We have estimated Tony Knowles in February 1984 (Picture: Eric Whitehead). Davis won the 16th frame with a break of 84 to force a deciding frame. [2] The highest ranking that he attained was tenth. He said he had ambitious plans for them both. But Higgins would also get himself into fiery rows. He was involved in a directorial role for World Snooker in the early 2000s. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. He is not dating anyone. 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. Weve taken on several new staff and we want to transfer our management structure and the things weve learned to our new project. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. [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. 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. Perhaps his greatest moment was beating defending champion Steve Davis 10-1 in the first round in Sheffield in 1982. "Wed turn up and thered be two or three hundred people at the stage door, trying to get in.. Heard this for the first time in God's of Snooker. And he tried to get off with the nurses.. The year before O'Sullivan's first Crucible triumph he fell to a dramatic 10-9 defeat by 200-1 outsider David Gray. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? Jimmy and Alex werent alone in their extreme behaviour. Amongst them,David Lilley the reigning Seniors World Champion will also be there, trying to regain his tour card. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2022-2023. Cocaine use can cause mental health problems such as anxiety and paranoia, while doctors have linked the rise in cheap, potent coke to an increase in suicide rates. But fans of the game will remember his legendary match against great Steve Davis in the eighties. The controversy helped him become one of the games first real celebrities, with a profile on a par with musicians and movie stars. Knowles won two ranking titles, reached the World Championship semi-finals three times, and briefly peaked at number two in the world rankings. Higgins seemed to briefly calm down when he married his second wife, Lynn Avison, in 1980. Two-time ranking event winner Tony Knowles perhaps remains best known for causing one of the greatest upsets in Crucible history when he defeated Steve Davis 10-1 in the opening round of the 1982 World Championship. As a result, he moved to no. Jimmy admitted that his habit affected his performance. At 65, he still loves the game and has regularly been competing on the WSS Tour. 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. 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. From 8-5 behind O'Sullivan rallied and made breaks of 104 and 89 on his way to levelling the contest. Tony, now 67, posed with half-naked women in photoshoots alongside headlines like: Why girls call me the hottest pot in snooker.. Sport doesnt go on for ever. Snooker star Tony Knowles has been fined 5,000 for a prolonged assault on an ex-partner. Apparently people used to bring him vodka and God knows what. Thats why The Sun has launched its End Of The Line campaign, calling for more awareness around the drug. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Gary says: You wouldnt ever imagine snooker would become as popular as football but it did. A year later, spurred by Englands success at Italia 90, football begun the resurgence that led to its dominant position today. McLeod, a 46-year-old, 1,000-1 outsider, trailed 4-0 but fought back to seal what he called "the biggest win of his career" in a match that was extended because of slow play. I dont think I should be deprived of that sort of thing just because I play snooker.. Tony Knowles Watch World Seniors Snooker Championship LIVE - BBC Sport [26] In the post-match speeches, Reynolds complained that he had been "totally bored" by Meo's cautious style of play. He is the oldest in the draw. After some particularly sordid revelations he was fined 5,000 by the governing body for "bringing the game into disrepute". After bombing out of the World Championships in the first round he hit a press officer then stormed into a news It usurped it. In 1990 he signed off from snooker in spectacular style. He quickly became the Peoples Champion and claimed the games biggest prize, the World Championship, in 1972. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. Snooker started to get slightly less interesting and football kind of re-emerged. He won the 1989 British Open by defeating Dean Reynolds 136 in the final, and was runner-up I am not really sure what to say.". 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). FOR decades, football fuelled youngsters imaginations by turning working-class boys into superstars., but in the 1980s snooker was the glamorous sport. Hendry would never win another world title. Meo won the next three frames for a 97 victory, finishing with a break of 94 in the 16th frame. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. How the sport of snooker turned working class lads into cocaine The event was also called the Hong Kong Open (1989/1990) and Australian Open (1994/1995), The event was also called the Dubai Classic (1989/901994/1995), Thailand Classic (1995/1996), and Asian Classic (1996/1997), "Premier/Matchroom League, Matchroom Championship League", "1982 Tolly Cobbold Classic Results Grid", "Other Non-Ranking and Invitational Events", "1987 Matchroom Professional Championship Results", Brief History of Major Events in Australia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tony_Meo&oldid=1150040680, Sportspeople from the London Borough of Wandsworth, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, lost in the early rounds of the tournament. He turned professional in 1979, and won the 1981 Australian Masters, 1983 Thailand Masters and 1985 Australian Masters. 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). In the semi-final against Mike Hallett, Meo was two frames behind with three to play at 68. Now, aged 65, hes been retired for 20 years and running a wine bar in the Lake District. From Bolton, Tony rose to a career-high ranking of number two during the 1984/5 season, courtesy in part to his victories at both the 1982 International Open and 1983 Professional Players Tournament. 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. I couldnt tell you the most outrageous thing I did! But Mazrocis, a 250-1 outsider, said he had "a few" beers to help him relax and he turned the tables with a 10-3 win. 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. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? In the 1990s, his success waned, and he dropped off the main tour in 1997. Im not playing no more.. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Anthony Christian Meo was born on 4 October 1959 in Tooting, London,[1][2] and started playing snooker aged 13.
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