Tony Knowles (snooker player)

Infobox Snooker player
Name = Tony Knowles


Caption =
Born = birth date and age|1955|6|13|df=y
Birthplace = Bolton, Lancashire, England
Died =
Deathplace =
Nationality = flagicon|England English
Nickname =
Professional = 1980–
High ranking = #2 (1984-5)
Current rank =
Prize money =
High break = 139Clarifyme|date=March 2008
Best finish =
Ranking wins =
Other wins = 1982 (Jameson International)
Semi-Final (1983)

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

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 gameFixPOV|date=July 2007 — 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.Fact|date=July 2007

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 million hearts, on and off the table".Holy Mary - "A million and one" and blows him a kiss.