In 1990 he signed off from snooker in spectacular style. He went on to win the UK Junior Championship twice, in 1972 (against Matt Gibson) and in 1974. I couldnt believe that you could take this drug and it would straighten you up and you could start drinking again.. Thats what crack did to you. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. He won the 15th frame by a single point after requiring two snookers, then added the next two frames to win 98. 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. Giving evidence from behind a screen she said: When I decided to take it, he lost it.. Comments have been closed on this article. Did you know? contact the editor here. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. Step forward James Cahill, whose 10-8 victory over O'Sullivan sent shockwaves through the sport. The former world number two has entered Q School for the first time in four years, having rekindled his enthusiasm for practice. White has been given an invitational tour card for the next two seasons on the World Snooker Tour. 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. Knowles will face Bradley Cowdroy in the opening round of the first of three events. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by After some particularly sordid revelations he was fined 5,000 by the governing body for "bringing the game into disrepute". Jimmy, whose speed and flair as a player earned him the nickname Whirlwind, was one of the sports most popular and gifted stars. He last played on the tour in 2001 and was unable to progress beyond the last 64 at his most recent attempt at Q School in 2017, but Knowles remains optimistic. [7] At the 1978 Canadian Open, he achieved the most notable win of his career to that point by eliminating Alex Higgins in the semi-final, and led 106 in the final against Cliff Thorburn before losing the match 1517. Rd 2. Editors' Code of Practice. Fined: Snooker ace Tony Knowles The pair had been in an on-and-off relationship since 2011. Cocaine use is reaching epidemic levels in Britain, with the UK branded the Coke capital of Europe. contact the editor here. One of the eras greats missing from the doc is Alex Hurricane Higgins. [5] The players later signed to be managed, alongside the leading London amateur Patsy Fagan, by Henry West. 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. 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. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. Booze led to drugs. Peter Stringfellow had a club called the Hippodrome and he used to have a champagne bar. Hendry would never win another world title. 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. One big inspiration for Knowles has been his good friend, fellow 80s legend Jimmy White, who still plays professionally. [2] He was nicknamed "The Cat" and "Meo, Meo". So why has he decided to enter Q School in the hope of becoming a professional on the tour again? Knowles, originally from Bolton, Lancs., splits his time between homes in Manchester and the Lake District. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please struck Davis, and the winner headed to a nightclub before coming back to complete an emphatic 10-1 win the following day. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Mazrocis lost 13-9 to the Canada's Alain Robidoux in the next round. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can 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. On occasions, the six-time world champ was booed by crowds for bored of his success. In the final, he played Dean Reynolds, and won each of the first two sessions 52, thus leading 104 by the third session. Perhaps his greatest moment was beating defending champion Steve Davis 10-1 in the first round in Sheffield in 1982. Sport doesnt go on for ever. Knowles, of Bowness-on-Winderemere, denied assault. He reached the final of the 1984 Lada Classic but lost in the deciding frame. He had a green suit on and hes got a couple of girls on his arms, real rocknroll.. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 13 June. Did you know? That knowledge remains very important and thats why you see a lot of the older players on the circuit still doing well. I couldnt tell you the most outrageous thing I did! [1] He began playing snooker at the age of 9 on the tables at the Tonge Moor Conservative Club, which was run by his father, Kevin. Three-times World Championship semi-finalist Knowles is bidding to rejoin the WST ranks at the age of 65. Suave Tony Knowles, who is also interviewed in the new documentary, was a pin-up known for enjoying the company of the opposite sex. And he tried to get off with the nurses.. A year later, spurred by Englands success at Italia 90, football begun the resurgence that led to its dominant position today. The court heard police were called but Knowles, 59, a three-times world championship semi-finalist in the 80s, refused to be arrested. Tony, now 67, posed with half-naked women in photoshoots alongside headlines like: Why girls call me the hottest pot in snooker.. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? 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. 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. He won four World Doubles Championship titles, partnering Davis, and the 1983 World Team Classic representing England alongside Davis and Tony Knowles. At 65, he still loves the game and has regularly been competing on the WSS Tour. 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. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, 1st Floor, Chartist Tower, Upper Dock Street, Newport, Wales, NP20 1DW Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. [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. 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. As Steve lost the final, decisive frame of 35 in a match that remains the games high-water mark, he was suddenly human again. He also reached the last four of the UK Championship and the Masters, climbing to number 17 in the world. White faces Tony Knowles, while Hendry plays Patsy Fagan in the last-16. Booze led to drugs. Something went wrong, please try again later. They had daughter Lauren the same year. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Use has doubled in the last five years, and with young people the numbers are even worse. Thats the bottom line about what Alex did. Tony is one of the many WSS players who will compete in Ponds Forge in the coming weeks. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Former world number two Tony Knowles believes he can still succeed on the professional tour after entering World Snooker's Q School. We have estimated 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. WebTony Knowles was born on 13 June 1955 in Bolton, Lancashire, England, UK. 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. 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. Anthony "Tony" Knowles (born 13 June 1955, in Bolton, Lancashire) is an English former professional snooker player. But even Davis lampooned as the Romford Robot due to his emotionless demeanour and conservative style of play enjoyed the trappings of fame. Comments have been closed on this article. Knowles began the 2011/12 season by entering PTC1. But Higgins cleaned up his act enough to win his second world title in 1982, a decade on from his first. They had daughter Lauren the same year. It was like the devils dandruff but crack is like sucking the devils d**k. Its evil. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, 1st Floor, Chartist Tower, Upper Dock Street, Newport, Wales, NP20 1DW Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. Discover Tony Knowles's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Before the tournament, he had been rated as a 2001 outsider to win. 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. 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. 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. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. And he tried to get off with the nurses.. Davis went on to win the frame and match. Tony Knowles in February 1984 (Picture: Eric Whitehead) Ive got to put a pair of glasses on to see your pretty face but Ive still got all the shots! The 'Ladies Man' Ramped-up TV coverage made it a dream ticket to fame and fortune, while footie was marred by hooliganism. He reached six World Championship finals including five in a row between 1990 and 1994 but lost them all. Fittingly, the man who dominated the game in its golden era won his sixth and final world title in 1989. Architects are currently in discussion with Mr Knowles about potential expansion plans for the building and its surrounding gardens. He said he had ambitious plans for them both. Davis built a lead of 38 points, but Meo recovered to 12 points behind with a break of 26. I had a blast. I dont think I should be deprived of that sort of thing just because I play snooker.. He is currently single. I remember I had 35,000 in an account and I drained that on crack. [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. One thing however is certain: snooker is in his blood. He reached the World Championship semi-finals on three occasions (in 1983, 1985 and 1986), but never the final. A staggering one in five 16-to-24-year-olds have taken cocaine in the last year. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. After bombing out of the World Championships in the first round he hit a press officer then stormed into a news He had a green suit on and hes got a couple of girls on his arms, real rocknroll.. [12], In the 198384 snooker season, he won the 1983 Thailand Masters,[19] and was a semi-finalist at the 1983 Professional Players Tournament. Apparently people used to bring him vodka and God knows what. Higgins threw his support behind his hellraiser heir Jimmy White. 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. I may have lost 3-0 but I felt I hadnt made many mistakes, Jimmy just punished my bad shots. But Higgins would also get himself into fiery rows. Movies. A Gannett Company. They include Boltons own Tony Knowles, who made headlines in and out the Crucible Theatre during his colourful sporting career. 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. Three Lions hero Gary Lineker is among the talking heads on Gods Of Snooker. The Seniors Tour has offered him playing opportunities as well as a renewed appetite for competition. Davis won the 16th frame with a break of 84 to force a deciding frame. Standing. Please report any comments that break our rules. He won two ranking events the 1982 International Open and 1983 Professional Players Tournament and was ranked as high as number 2 in the World. 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. But a staggering 18.5million viewers tuned in for the climax of his 1985 World Championship final against Dennis Taylor. 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. Tony, now 67, posed with [3] Meo took the British under-19 title in 1978 with a 31 victory against defending champion Ian Williamson in the final. My goal is to get back on to the tour and show what can be achieved at my age.. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. He is not dating anyone. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Meo added the 12th frame, but Foulds moved ahead again by claiming the 13th. The Match Of The Day presenter is a huge snooker fan and recalls how the sports fortunes switched following the football World Cup in 1990. Knowles won two ranking titles, reached the World Championship semi-finals three times, and briefly peaked at number two in the world rankings. Jimmy admitted that his habit affected his performance. Tony Knowless income source is mostly from being a successful Player. Weve taken on several new staff and we want to transfer our management structure and the things weve learned to our new project. We will update Tony Knowles's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible. [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. The world number 92 compiled eight half century breaks to end Hendry's dominance at the Crucible, with the Scot sat shaking his head in disbelief. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. [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. There wont be any pool tables there though Ive managed to keep my interests quite separate and I think thats for the best.. 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. [2], By 1981, Meo had married Denise,[33] and in 1991 they had their fourth child. Thats the problem. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to It really boomed in the Eighties, with some matches gaining viewing figures that would compete with footballs biggest games. Apparently people used to bring him vodka and God knows what. The recent BBC documentary Gods of Snooker reminded us of how the mullet-haired pin-up, aged 26, burst onto the scene by sensationally thrashing defending champion Steve Davis 10-1 in the opening match of the 1982 World Championship. 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. The year before O'Sullivan's first Crucible triumph he fell to a dramatic 10-9 defeat by 200-1 outsider David Gray. 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. But when he started winning tournaments in the Seventies, he suddenly had the money to feed his love of booze, women and, later, drugs. Gary says: You wouldnt ever imagine snooker would become as popular as football but it did. [16][17] He lost 39 to Griffiths in the semi-finals at the 1981 UK Championship after eliminating both Higgins and Thorburn. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Jimmy and Alex werent alone in their extreme behaviour. He says: We decided we wanted to clean him up, so we put him in this hospital this nursing home to dry him out. Hicks, then 21 and making his Crucible bow, scored heavily and enjoyed the better of the tactical exchanges to construct an 8-3 lead. 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. We had Italia 90 and that transformed things. Ill be trying to win but Q School is gruelling. Non-snooker fans, may remember the Tony Knowles Suite from Peter Kays comedy series Phoenix Night,in honour of the player. They had separated in the summer of last year while Knowles was undergoing treatment for throat cancer. Theres a kind of sadness when you think that way. Snooker started to get slightly less interesting and football kind of re-emerged. That didnt stop him becoming rich thanks to a game that took off with the growth of colour television in the Seventies. Away from the table he caused controversy with tabloid exposs, being pictured with topless women and was once fined 5,000 by the WPBSA for bringing snooker into disrepute. 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). But fans of the game will remember his legendary match against great Steve Davis in the eighties. 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. He followed up his strong performance in the World Championship by winning the 1982 International Open against David Taylor, and a year later was victorious in the 1983 Professional Players Tournament and reached the semi-finals of the World Championship, leading Cliff Thorburn 1513 before losing 1516, with Thorburn getting a very fortunate fluke on one of the colours in the deciding frame. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's 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. Thats what crack did to you. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to I couldnt believe that you could take this drug and it would straighten you up and you could start drinking again.. Mazrocis lost 13-9 to the Canada's Alain Robidoux in the next round. Snooker changed in my era when the balls and cloth changed. He played snooker together with his schoolfriend Jimmy White as a teenager.