Tony Knowles

Legendary snooker player Tony Knowles is remembered as one of the most beloved players of the 1980s. A staple of the tabloid press, Knowles maintained a ranking in the top 16 for almost ten years. Now retired, Knowles works as a snooker speaker and appears at specialist sports events across the UK. Particularly popular in the North of England, heralding originally from Bolton he speaks openly of his fanatic following of local football club, Bolton Wanderers.

Enjoying an impressive and successful career throughout the 1980’s Knowles shot to fame after beating defending champion Steve Davis in the first round of the 1982 World Championship. Prior to this Knowles had already established himself as a talented player by winning two Junior World Championships before the age of twenty.

After his impressive performance in the World Championships, Knowles went on the win the 1982 International Open and the 1983 Professional Players Tournament. Thanks to his talent, he was asked to represent England in the World Cup, again in 1983, achieving a winning result of the top spot and to complete of his run of awards, Knowles won the 1984 Australian Masters. His high-profile years at the top of his game secured Knowles an official world ranking of number two and key position in the sport. In the early 2000s, Knowles applied his experience and knowledge to a directorial role for the World Snooker.

Since his retirement in 2001, Knowles has remained prominent in the sport and often competes in exhibitions and the Seniors tour. Insisting on playing with an antique cue, he is a legend of the sport, who has an in-depth knowledge of its history and lucrative glory days.

Recalling his success in his after dinner speaker presentations Tony Knowles not only recounts his own experiences of tournaments and snooker events but also discusses playing and performance styles of his competitors. Additionally, he provides insight and predictions on contemporary snooker tournaments. A prolific sports speaker, Tony Knowles has appeared at snooker speaker events up and down the UK, tailoring his speech to broad corporate audiences as well as enthusiasts and snooker fans.