“That’s why I’m here.”
Tony Knowles
Introduction
I have been lucky enough to spend time with Tony Knowles several times. He is a true legend of the game, and what he doesn’t know about snooker is not worth knowing. I even rode in his BMW and had a lovely curry with him and Joe Johnson after a snooker exhibition. Tony was a dashing player, a man who turned quite a few ladies’ heads in his time and famously beat Steve Davis 10-1 in the first round of the 1982 World Championship. An under-19 snooker champion in 1972 and 1974, Tony won two professional titles, the 1982 International Open, beating David Taylor 9-6 in the final, and the 1983 Professional Players Tournament, beating Joe Johnson 9-8 in the final. He also won the non-ranking 1984 Australian Masters, defeating John Virgo 7-3 and was part of the England team with Steve Davis and Tony Meowho won the 1983 World Team Classic.
Vying for Glory
Now 68, this proud Boltonian is far from putting away his cue. His latest mission is to become the oldest player to qualify for a tour card on the main tour. The former professional who had his highest ranking of number two in the 1984/85 season and was a professional from 1980-1997 and 1998-2001 has taken up the challenge of working through Q School. It is a gruelling battle involving an army of amateurs and former professionals who all want a treasured tour card. They are few, and anyone who gets one is worth their weight in gold.
Tony has already rolled back the years by beating Jack Borwick 4-3 in the opening match of qualifying event two at Q School—an impressive start in Leicester over the Scottish 17-year-old snooker player. Tony admits that he struggles with the pace of these modern super-fine cloths but looked good winning the last three frames after a shaky start. It’s all about getting out of the mindset of how you used to play on the old tables of the 1970s and 1980s, being able to control the cue ball, and knowing where it will end up after a shot. It would be extraordinary if he achieved his dream 41 years after lifting his second-ranking title in 1983.
Tony next plays Martyn Taylor and needs to win six matches at Leicester’s Mattoli Arena in these best-of-seven frame encounters. Four tour cards are on offer for this qualifying event, two with Allan Taylor, Haydon Pinhey, Wang Yuchen and Artemijis Zizins already earning tour cards in event one. Sunny Akani and Kok Leong Lim have already secured places via the Asia and Oceania Q School in event one in Bangkok, with two more cards available in event two. Sadly since writing this piece, Tony lost 2-4 to Martyn Taylor.
