Ive got a realistic chance this time because of the time I have put into practice, he said. Ive got to put a pair of glasses on to see your pretty face but Ive still got all the shots!. Non-snooker fans, may remember the Tony Knowles Suite from Peter Kays comedy series Phoenix Night,in honour of the player. 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. She was crying and went to the bathroom. Read about our approach to external linking. Former snooker star buys his second place in Bowness Meo won the next three frames for a 97 victory, finishing with a break of 94 in the 16th frame. Really quite bad and not surprised it got nowhere. He made a break of 147 in his 1988 Matchroom League match against Stephen Hendry, and won the 1990 International League. A FORMER top snooker player hopes to raise his game in the Lake District hospitality industry after buying a second hotel and restaurant. Facing Higgins, Meo was ahead after their first session, and at 98 was a frame away from winning before Higgins took the last two frames with breaks of 77 and 62 to claim victory. Did you know? Thats the problem. [12] The 1982 UK Championship was a repeat of 1981 in that he reached the semi-finals and lost to Griffiths, this time 79. I remember I had 35,000 in an account and I drained that on crack. A year later, spurred by Englands success at Italia 90, football begun the resurgence that led to its dominant position today. Use has doubled in the last five years, and with young people the numbers are even worse. Former snooker star buys his second place in Bowness I couldnt tell you the most outrageous thing I did! WebAnthony Christian Meo (born 4 October 1959) is a retired English snooker player. Gods Of Snooker, which can be caught up with on BBC iPlayer, has unique access to greats of the baize including Jimmy Whirlwind White, 60, who provides a shocking account of how players winnings fuelled indulgence. So instead The Bolton News looksback at the Knowles career, a real Bolton legend. "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.. World Championship: The greatest first-round shocks at the Lee's 12-year-ban, the longest ever handed down in the sport, will run until October 2024. 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. FOR decades, football fuelled youngsters imaginations by turning working-class boys into superstars., but in the 1980s snooker was the glamorous sport. 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. [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. Something went wrong, please try again later. 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. Editors' Code of Practice. Snooker Theres a kind of sadness when you think that way. Knowles will be competing in the three Q School events which offer 14 places on next seasons professional tour, starting today, Thursday. I always remember him arriving at the City Hall in Manchester. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? It took Bingham another 11 years to win his first ranking title, beating Mark Williams 9-8 in the final of the Australian Open. So he got all the girls round us and he was giving bottles of champagne away. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. [16][17] He lost 39 to Griffiths in the semi-finals at the 1981 UK Championship after eliminating both Higgins and Thorburn. Please report any comments that break our rules. His last attempt to qualify for the World Championship in 2009 saw him lose 10-9 against Tony Knowles. 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). Snooker Legends Three Lions hero Gary Lineker is among the talking heads on Gods Of Snooker. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. He reached the World Championship semi-finals on three occasions (in 1983, 1985 and 1986), but never the final. But Knowles established a 4-0 and then 8-1 lead as the. He followed her and in and ensuing row punched her on the right arm. The Seniors Tour has offered him playing opportunities as well as a renewed appetite for competition. The 59-year-old is famous for being the best player to have never won the World Championship, losing in six finals. 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. They had daughter Lauren the same year. He won four World Doubles Championship titles, partnering Davis, and the 1983 World Team Classic representing England alongside Davis and Tony Knowles. Magistrates listened to the call, in which screams and the sound of a mans voice could be heard. [3] He was a schoolfriend of Jimmy White at Ernest Bevin Comprehensive, and the pair regularly skipped school to play snooker together. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. Tony Knowles [3] At 17, Meo became the then-youngest person known to have made an unofficial maximum break of 147. Higgins threw his support behind his hellraiser heir Jimmy White. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? 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. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. 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. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. He went on to win the UK Junior Championship twice, in 1972 (against Matt Gibson) and in 1974. He went on to win the UK Junior Championship twice, in 1972 and in 1974, and continued to study graphic art. Tony Knowles (a) 4. The 56-year-old, of Bowness, aims to develop the venue along with his professional snooker career. Knowles began playing snooker at the age of 3 on the tables at the social club run by his father, Kevin. Its an issue that is sweeping the UK and, unless its tackled now, means a mental health crisis is imminent. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. His addiction started by drinking copiously to celebrate or commiserate after matches. Movies. He also reached the last four of the UK Championship and the Masters, climbing to number 17 in the world. 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. It usurped it. Weve lost some great personalities. Tony Knowles has relaunched The White House, in Bowness-on-Windermere, and plans to turn around its fortunes after the business went into 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. CrowdScience sets off on a space odyssey to find out Black Ops: A high-stakes yet hilarious covert operation that will infiltrate your screen soon, Money Box meets some remarkable 'kidpreneurs' who run their own enterprise, Sink into your pillow with the Shipping Forecast set to dreamy music. 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. I have still got the knowledge of the game. 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. 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.. Knowles will face Bradley Cowdroy in the opening round of the first of three events. 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. I knew all of them. The pair had been in an on-and-off relationship since 2011. After snookers massive popularity in the Eighties, there was suddenly a little switch again. He issued a public statement assuring the world he had no such fetish. When you don't even have a world ranking, beating the best player on the planet, the fans' favourite who is going for a sixth world title, seems a stretch of the imagination. [2], By 1981, Meo had married Denise,[33] and in 1991 they had their fourth child. Now, aged 65, hes been retired for 20 years and running a wine bar in the Lake District. Webchampion has been defeated by Tony Knowles in a superb exhibition of:56:51.:56:53. match snooker. He beat the defending champion by 10-1 on the first day of the World Championship. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. Anthony Christian Meo was born on 4 October 1959 in Tooting, London,[1][2] and started playing snooker aged 13. He was ranked among the top 16 for most of that decade and reached three Crucible semi-finals. He reached the final of the 1984 Lada Classic but lost in the deciding frame. But when he started winning tournaments in the Seventies, he suddenly had the money to feed his love of booze, women and, later, drugs. [12] In December 1983, Davis and Meo retained the World Doubles Championship. 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 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. Knowles began the 2011/12 season by entering PTC1. 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. Tony Knowless income source is mostly from being a successful Player. 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. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2022-2023. 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. Nerves can affect even the most experienced players when it comes to the first round of the World Championship at the Crucible Theatre. 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. A Gannett Company. Jimmy said: We were partying all the time. It usurped it. Knowles was one of snookers biggest stars of the 1980s, winning the International Open, Professional Players Tournament and Australian Masters. In a match between Jimmy and Steve Davis, whom Higgins viewed as dull, Higgins took his protege to aside and advised him: Shove the f***ing cue up the ginger c***s a***.. That didnt stop him becoming rich thanks to a game that took off with the growth of colour television in the Seventies. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. [6][20], The non-ranking 1984 Malaysian Masters was the only final that Meo reached in 198485 snooker season, but he retained his ranking of tenth for 198586. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Jimmy admitted that his habit affected his performance. Prior to that, youd be lucky to see a little column on snooker. A staggering one in five 16-to-24-year-olds have taken cocaine in the last year. It was like the devils dandruff but crack is like sucking the devils d**k. Its evil. Tony Knowles explains bid to return to pro snooker at 65 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. But looking back, Steve, 65, doesnt think the money men then driving the game left a positive legacy. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. He played snooker together with his schoolfriend Jimmy White as a teenager. In the latter, he defeated Davis 97 in the semi-finals, his first victory over Davis in their eleven professional matches against each other. Did you know? FOR every Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry, snooker also boasted others players who left their own small but indelible mark upon the sport. [34] After retiring from snooker in 1997, Meo managed a wristwatch and jewellery store in Hatton Garden.[32][2]. 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). Editors' Code of Practice. He won the British under-19 title in 1978, as well as other junior titles. He was critical of a change to the cloths on competition snooker tables in 1986, which led to the pack breaking open more easily. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. Ill be trying to win but Q School is gruelling. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. He said: Cocaine was absolutely everywhere. In the final, Meo led Neal Foulds 31, but the first session finished with the pair level at 33. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. WebTony Knowles was born on 13 June 1955 in Bolton, Lancashire, England, UK. Amongst them,David Lilley the reigning Seniors World Champion will also be there, trying to regain his tour card. APPLAUSE:56:54.:56:58. Tony, now 67, posed with 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 Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Tournament favourite Judd Trump tumbled out of the 2017 World Championship with a 10-8 defeat by world number 54 Rory McLeod. Snooker ace Tony Knowles attacked ex-partner after a row over a While Davis mounted a fightback to 8-7 down, Hicks held his nerve to pull off a famous victory. His good looks resulted in his relationship exploits featuring in the tabloid press. 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. I had loads of drug dealers all over the place too. The premises website is www.whitehousebowness.co.uk. She said he grabbed the laptop and threw it down before punching her arm and towering over her shouting abusive language. Apparently people used to bring him vodka and God knows what. He was a complete loose cannon. John Virgo, 77, as a player a contemporary of Higgins and later a respected commentator, says: It kept the game on the sports pages. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, 1st Floor, Chartist Tower, Upper Dock Street, Newport, Wales, NP20 1DW Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. Jimmy, whose speed and flair as a player earned him the nickname Whirlwind, was one of the sports most popular and gifted stars. At 68 years old, Tony Knowles height not available right now. But Higgins cleaned up his act enough to win his second world title in 1982, a decade on from his first. [6] The 1981 English Professional Championship saw Meo eliminate Virgo, Graham Miles and Willie Thorne to reach the final. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Former world number two Tony Knowles believes he can still succeed on the professional tour after entering World Snooker's Q School. Were looking at a way to develop it to complement the bar weve got next door, he said. 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 In the 1990s, his success waned, and he dropped off the main tour in 1997. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please 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. struck Davis, and the winner headed to a nightclub before coming back to complete an emphatic 10-1 win the following day. 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. 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. [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. The controversy helped him become one of the games first real celebrities, with a profile on a par with musicians and movie stars. Jimmy said: We were partying all the time. 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. They include Boltons own Tony Knowles, who made headlines in and out the Crucible Theatre during his colourful sporting career. [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. Knowles said: His love for the game is still second to none, despite the devastation of those finals. The colourful sporting life of snooker player Tony Knowles He turned professional in 1979, and won the 1981 Australian Masters, 1983 Thailand Masters and 1985 Australian Masters. He quickly became the Peoples Champion and claimed the games biggest prize, the World Championship, in 1972. He reached six World Championship finals including five in a row between 1990 and 1994 but lost them all. Comments have been closed on this article. 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. [5] The players later signed to be managed, alongside the leading London amateur Patsy Fagan, by Henry West. 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. I had loads of drug dealers all over the place too. So its down to getting a good draw and playing consistently.. And I havent lost the thrill that comes with playing in tournaments.. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. 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. 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. He was found guilty at a trial earlier this month. He is not dating anyone. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. He said: Cocaine was absolutely everywhere. 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. In a match between Jimmy and Steve Davis, whom Higgins viewed as dull, Higgins took his protege to aside and advised him: Shove the f***ing cue up the ginger c***s a***.. Editors' Code of Practice. 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. Knowles was fined 5,000 by the WPBSA for the expose, of which more would follow. 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. 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. Im not playing no more.. I like being competitive, having something to play for," he said. Cocaine had come into my life. As a result, he moved to no. He was also ordered to pay 120 victim surcharge and 625 costs. Meo did not finish in the top two places. Thats the bottom line about what Alex did. The adrenaline was flowing and I was nervous when I played Jimmy at the Crucible, perhaps because I expected too much. Sport doesnt go on for ever. Canadian Kirk Stevens, 64, admitted spending 250,000 on his cocaine addiction. Before the tournament, he had been rated as a 2001 outsider to win. I dont think I should be deprived of that sort of thing just because I play snooker.. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to Result: Lee Walker (Wal) 3-0 Tony I have been practising more than at any time in the last 20 years and I have really got the love of the game back. 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. He was involved in a directorial role for World Snooker in the early 2000s. I remember I had 35,000 in an account and I drained that on crack. 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. He says: We decided we wanted to clean him up, so we put him in this hospital this nursing home to dry him out. 3. contact the editor here. Hicks, then 21 and making his Crucible bow, scored heavily and enjoyed the better of the tactical exchanges to construct an 8-3 lead. Other big names playing include Ken Doherty, John Parrott, Dennis Taylor and Joe Booze led to drugs. 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. He has yet to make a second appearance at the Crucible. 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. 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' He became the UKs richest sportsman at the time and the first player to clinch a seven-figure sponsorship deal. 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. [27], Meo was a semi-finalist at the World Championship, losing 716 to John Parrott. 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 a staggering 18.5million viewers tuned in for the climax of his 1985 World Championship final against Dennis Taylor. 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.