By Elliott West
Introduction
The 1984 Senator Windows Professional Snooker League was held at multiple locations and played from 11th November 1983 to 14th April 1984. Played in a group, round robin format and non-ranking, the tournament was won by John Virgo after he topped the league table. Kirk Stevens withdrew during the event, leaving some matches unplayed. Due to financial issues, the tournament was not played again until the format was revived again by Matchroom Sports.
The Tournament
The top four qualified for the play-offs. If points were level then most draws, then most frames won determined their positions. If two players had an identical record then the result in their match determined their positions. If that ended 4–4 then the player who got to four first was higher. Stevens did not complete his matches and was therefore ranked last.
Results
- Tony Knowles 7–3 Bill Werbeniuk
- John Spencer 5–5 Jimmy White
- Eddie Charlton 5–5 Bill Werbeniuk
- Tony Knowles 6–4 David Taylor
- John Spencer 6–4 Kirk Stevens
- Bill Werbeniuk 6–4 David Taylor
- Eddie Charlton 6–4 Doug Mountjoy
- Ray Reardon 5–5 John Spencer
- Ray Reardon 5–5 David Taylor
- Dennis Taylor 6–4 Doug Mountjoy
- John Virgo 6–4 David Taylor
- Jimmy White 6–4 Kirk Stevens
- Dennis Taylor 8–2 Eddie Charlton
- Eddie Charlton 6–4 Ray Reardon
- Eddie Charlton 7–3 John Spencer
- Alex Higgins 5–5 Tony Knowles
- Alex Higgins 6–4 Doug Mountjoy
- Tony Knowles 5–5 Ray Reardon
- Tony Knowles 5–5 Dennis Taylor
- Doug Mountjoy 5–5 Ray Reardon
- Doug Mountjoy 7–3 Kirk Stevens
- John Spencer 6–4 Alex Higgins
- John Spencer 7–3 Bill Werbeniuk
- John Spencer 8–2 Doug Mountjoy
- Kirk Stevens 6–4 Tony Knowles
- Kirk Stevens 6–4 Alex Higgins
- David Taylor 6–4 John Spencer
- Dennis Taylor 6–4 Bill Werbeniuk
- Dennis Taylor 7–3 David Taylor
- John Virgo 6–4 Alex Higgins
- John Virgo 6–4 Jimmy White
- John Virgo 6–4 Ray Reardon
- John Virgo 6–4 Kirk Stevens
- Bill Werbeniuk 6–4 Jimmy White
- Jimmy White 6–4 David Taylor
- Eddie Charlton 6–4 Jimmy White
- Eddie Charlton 6–4 David Taylor
- Eddie Charlton 7–3 John Virgo
- Eddie Charlton 8–2 Tony Knowles
- Alex Higgins 5–5 David Taylor
- Doug Mountjoy 7–3 Bill Werbeniuk
- Doug Mountjoy 9–1 David Taylor
- John Spencer 5–5 John Virgo
- Dennis Taylor 8–2 Kirk Stevens
- John Virgo 6–4 Dennis Taylor
- John Virgo 8–2 Bill Werbeniuk
- Jimmy White 6–4 Ray Reardon
- Jimmy White 6–4 Alex Higgins
- Alex Higgins 6–4 Dennis Taylor
- Alex Higgins 7–3 Bill Werbeniuk
- Tony Knowles 5–5 Jimmy White
- Doug Mountjoy 7–3 Jimmy White
- Doug Mountjoy 7–3 Tony Knowles
- Dennis Taylor 7–3 John Spencer
- Alex Higgins 5–5 Ray Reardon
- Alex Higgins 7–3 Eddie Charlton
- Tony Knowles 6–4 John Spencer
- Doug Mountjoy 5–5 John Virgo
- Ray Reardon 6–4 Bill Werbeniuk
- Kirk Stevens *–* Eddie Charlton
- Kirk Stevens *–* Ray Reardon
- Kirk Stevens *–* David Taylor
- Kirk Stevens *–* Bill Werbeniuk
- Dennis Taylor 7–3 Jimmy White
- Dennis Taylor 7–3 Ray Reardon
- John Virgo 6–4 Tony Knowles
This was John Virgo’s best performance and victory since winning the Coral UK Championship and the Bombay International in 1979. Ranked 14 at the time, Virgo was sinking down the rankings due to having a very lean season. His highest ranking had been in 1979, when he was seeded 11. This triumph was the boost he needed, winning all his first five matches 6-4 in this twelve man round robin to top the table. However it didn’t help him at the World Championship that year where he was beaten 10-9 by Willie Thorne in the first round.
Summary
John Virgo’s win in this tournament was a proud moment despite there being no prize money on offer. However Virgo, like so many players of this time, didn’t reach his true potential. Aside from the 1979 Championship, there were only a splattering of titles. All, including the UK Championship, were non-ranking events and so these victories failed to give him any much needed ranking points. A school report would have been worded, “a good performer but could do better”. However his knowledge of the game is immense and has led to a long and illustrious career as a snooker commentator.
