Tony Knowles (snooker)

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Tony Knowles
Born	June 13, 1955 (1955-06-13) (age 52), Bolton, Lancashire, England
Nationality	English
Professional	1980 - Present
Highest ranking	#2 (1984-5)
Highest break	139[clarify]
Tournament wins
Non-ranking	1982 (Jameson International)

Anthony (Tony) Knowles (born on 13 June 1955, in Bolton, Lancashire) is an English professional snooker player.

[edit] Career

The middle of three brothers, Knowles began playing snooker at the age of 9 on the tables at the social club run by his late father, Kevin. He went onto become UK Junior Champion in 1973 and continued to study graphic art while applying for instatement as a professional player. 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, and heartthrob status, in a period when the sport was reaching the peak of its popularity.

He also won 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. As a result, he moved to no. 4 in the 1983/1984 world rankings. He remained in the top 16 until the 1989/1990 season, peaking at no. 2 (eclipsed only by Davis).

Knowles, with his youthful look and stylish haircut, was one of very few players to bring sex appeal to the game^{[neutrality disputed]} — something he tried to capitalise on in 1983 by writing of his exploits in the UK tabloid newspaper, The Sun, at a time when this sort of publicity was still shunned, and he was subsequently charged with bringing the game into disrepute.^{[citation needed]}

In the 1990s, his success waned, though he continues to play professionally.

One of the suites in the rebuilt Phoenix Club was named after Knowles in Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights

Potter - "The great TK, he broke a 1000 hearts, on and off the table". Holy Mary - "1001" and blows him a kiss.