Tony Knowles
| Name | Date of Birth | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Tony Knowles | 13-06-1955 | United Kingdom |
Name : Tony Knowles
Highest Ranking : 2 (1984/1985)
Highest Break : 139
Century Breaks : 48
Anthony "Tony" Knowles (born 13 June 1955, in Bolton, Lancashire) is an English former professional snooker player. He was a three times semi-finalist in the World Professional Snooker Championship in the 1980s.
Career
Knowles began playing snooker at the age of 3 on the tables at the social club run by his father, Kevin. He went on to win the UK Junior Championship twice, in 1972 and in 1974, and continued to study graphic art. Knowles's application was twice turned down, leading him to threaten the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association 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.
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 1990/1991 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 began the 2011/12 season by entering PTC1. In 2017 he attempted to resume is pro career by entering the Q school to gain a place on the main world tour once again. Although only playing on the pro circuit on occasion in recent years Knowles is now the oldest active pro in the game of snooker.