John Virgo
Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox snooker player Template:For John Trevor Virgo (born 4 March 1946) is an English snooker commentator and former professional snooker player.
After turning professional in 1976, Virgo won four professional titles, including the 1979 UK Championship, the 1980 Bombay International and the 1984 Professional Snooker League. A member of the sport's elite Top 16 for seven seasons, Virgo is also a former British Open and World Championship semi-finalist and was runner-up at the 1980 Champion of Champions and the 1984 Australian Masters. Virgo retired from professional snooker in 1994.
Virgo has had a successful career working for the BBC, as a co-presenter of Big Break from 1991Template:Nbnd2002, and as a snooker commentator for the channel. He is a member of the World Snooker Tour Hall of Fame.
Snooker careerEdit
Early professional career (1973–1978)Edit
Virgo's first notable appearance in a major tournament was during the 1973 American Pool Tournament for The Indoor League where he lost in the semi-final. He turned professional in 1976,<ref name="WST">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> at a time when players such as Ray Reardon, John Spencer and Eddie Charlton were at the forefront of the sport. Although he had just turned 30 upon turning pro, Virgo was still among the youngest players on the circuit at the time. In 1977, he reached the semi-finals of the 1977 UK Championship losing to eventual winner Patsy Fagan by a single frame 8–9.
UK Champion and Top 10 player (1979–1990)Edit
Virgo's snooker-playing fortunes peaked in 1979 when he reached the semi-final of the World Championship, and went on to win the 1979 UK Championship (though this was not a ranking event at the time). En route to the final, he beat Tony Meo, Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor. He overcame the reigning world champion Terry Griffiths in the final, despite being controversially docked two frames because of a miscommunication regarding the start time of the next session of play.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He reached his highest ranking, world number 10, during the 1979–80 season.
In 1986, Virgo reached the semi-finals of the British Open, losing 4–9 to Willie Thorne. He ended the 1989–90 season as world number 14, but dropped out of the elite top 16 the following season.
Later career and retirement (1991–1995)Edit
In 1993, Virgo entered the qualifying stages of the Grand Prix and the UK Championship but failed to qualify for the main events, losing both times in round seven. Virgo retired from professional play in 1994.<ref name="WST" />
In 2023, Virgo became the 35th person to be inducted into the World Snooker Tour Hall of Fame.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Television careerEdit
As part of his exhibition performances, Virgo performed trick shots and comedic impressions of other snooker players.
From 1991 to 2002, Virgo was co-presenter of the snooker-based TV game show Big Break with Jim Davidson. The 30-min show paired three contestants with three tour snooker players in a three-round format to win the contestants prizes. He said his catchphrase "Pot as many balls as you can" when asked by Davidson to explain the first round rules. After that round, Virgo presented a "trick shot" segment, where the losing contestant would try to win a consolation prize by playing a snooker trick shot demonstrated by Virgo.
He is now a television snooker commentator, working primarily for the BBC. In commentary, Virgo is known for saying, "Where's the Template:Cuegloss going?", if he sees the cue ball heading towards a pocket for a possible foul.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On the Talking Snooker podcast in September 2021, Virgo announced that he and his colleague Dennis Taylor were to be axed by the BBC at the end of that season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was reported in April 2022 that their time with the BBC would be extended to take in the 2022-23 season,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but in late 2022 the BBC production team informed Virgo that he would stay on for the "foreseeable future".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Other activitiesEdit
Virgo's tribute book to Alex Higgins, Let Me Tell You About Alex, was published in February 2011 and described as "explosive".<ref name="Belfast Higgins">Template:Cite news</ref> In April 2012, his book Amazing Snooker Trick Shots was published.
In 2012, Virgo featured as himself in Nicholas Gleaves' debut radio play Sunk, in which he guides a young man in his dream of becoming a snooker champion to avoid a life of crime. This was broadcast on BBC Radio 4.<ref>Template:Cite episode</ref>
Virgo worked with a pool and snooker table company called Liberty Games to create a web-based series of trick shot videos known as the Trick Shot Academy.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2014, Virgo released a trick shot app, John Virgo's Snooker Trick Shots, available on Apple and Android devices.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Personal lifeEdit
Virgo has two children, a son and a daughter, from his second marriage. He separated from his first wife Avril, in 1991, after eight years together.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Performance and rankings timelineEdit
| Tournament | 1973/ 74 |
1974/ 75 |
1975/ 76 |
1976/ 77 |
1977/ 78 |
1978/ 79 |
1979/ 80 |
1980/ 81 |
1981/ 82 |
1982/ 83 |
1983/ 84 |
1984/ 85 |
1985/ 86 |
1986/ 87 |
1987/ 88 |
1988/ 89 |
1989/ 90 |
1990/ 91 |
1991/ 92 |
1992/ 93 |
1993/ 94 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking<ref name="Ranking history">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
<ref group="nb" name="AMA">He was an amateur.</ref> | <ref group="nb" name="AMA"/> | <ref group="nb" name="AMA"/> | <ref group="nb">New players on the Main Tour do not have a ranking.</ref> | 18 | 19 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 19 | 14 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 31 | 49 | 72 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dubai Classic<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Dubai Masters (1988/1989)</ref> | Tournament Not Held | NR | 3R | 1R | 1R | LQ | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand Prix<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Professional Players Tournament (1982/83–1983/84)</ref> | Tournament Not Held | SF | 2R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UK Championship | Tournament Not Held | Non-Ranking Event | LQ | 2R | 2R | 2R | QF | 1R | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| European Open | Tournament Not Held | 3R | 2R | 2R | 2R | LQ | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Welsh Open | Tournament Not Held | 2R | LQ | WD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International Open<ref group="nb" name="auto">The event was also called the Goya Matchroom Trophy (1985/1986)</ref> | Tournament Not Held | NR | SF | 1R | 2R | 2R | 2R | QF | 2R | 1R | Not Held | 1R | WD | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thailand Open<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Asian Open (1989/1990–1992/1993)</ref> | Tournament Not Held | Non-Ranking Event | Not Held | 3R | 2R | 1R | LQ | A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| British Open<ref group="nb" name="auto1">The event was also called the British Gold Cup (1979/1980), Yamaha Organs Trophy (1980/1981) and International Masters (1981/1982–1983/1984)</ref> | Tournament Not Held | Non-Ranking Event | 2R | SF | QF | 2R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | LQ | WD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Championship | A | A | A | 1R | LQ | SF | 2R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | LQ | LQ | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Masters | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | 1R | 1R | A | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | A | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Irish Masters<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament (1974/1975–1976/1977)</ref> | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pontins Professional | A | A | A | A | A | A | W | QF | QF | A | A | QF | A | QF | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| European League<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Professional Snooker League (1983/1984) and the Matchroom League (1986/1987 to 1991/1992)</ref> | Tournament Not Held | W | Not Held | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Masters<ref group="nb" name="auto2">The event was also called the Canadian Open (1974/1975–1980/1981)</ref> | Not Held | Non-Ranking Event | Tournament Not Held | Non-Ranking | 2R | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hong Kong Open<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Australian Masters (1979/1980–1987/1988 & 1995/1996) and Australian Open (1994/1995)</ref> | Tournament Not Held | Non-Ranking Event | NH | 3R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classic | Tournament Not Held | Non-Ranking Event | 1R | QF | 2R | 2R | 3R | 3R | 3R | 1R | 3R | Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Strachan Open | Tournament Not Held | 1R | MR | NR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former non-ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Norwich Union Open | 1R | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Club Masters | Not Held | QF | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Masters<ref group="nb" name="auto2"/> | NH | QF | A | SF | A | A | A | A | Tournament Not Held | A | A | A | R | Tournament Not Held] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tolly Cobbold Classic | Tournament Not Held | A | SF | A | A | A | A | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bombay International | Tournament Not Held | A | W | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Champion of Champions | Tournament Not Held | A | NH | F | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International Open<ref group="nb" name="auto"/> | Tournament Not Held | QF | Ranking Event | Not Held | Ranking | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classic | Tournament Not Held | SF | A | A | 1R | Ranking Event | Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pontins Brean Sands | Tournament Not Held | SF | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UK Championship | Tournament Not Held | SF | QF | W | 2R | 1R | QF | 1R | Ranking Event | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| British Open<ref group="nb" name="auto1"/> | Tournament Not Held | RR | RR | 2R | LQ | RR | Ranking Event | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New Zealand Masters | Tournament Not Held | 1R | Not Held | A | A | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Template:Nowrap | Tournament Not Held | A | A | A | A | A | F | QF | A | A | NH | R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Template:Nowrap | Tournament Not Held | 2R | Not Held | QF | QF | 2R | 2R | 1R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Norwich Union Grand Prix | Tournament Not Held | A | QF | A | Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Seniors Championship | Tournament Not Held | 1R | Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Performance Table Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LQ | lost in the qualifying draw | #R | lost in the early rounds of the tournament (WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin) |
QF | lost in the quarter-finals |
| SF | lost in the semi-finals | F | lost in the final | W | won the tournament |
| DNQ | did not qualify for the tournament | A | did not participate in the tournament | WD | withdrew from the tournament |
| NH / Not Held | means an event was not held. | |||
| NR / Non-Ranking Event | means an event is/was no longer a ranking event. | |||
| R / Ranking Event | means an event is/was a ranking event. | |||
Career finalsEdit
Non-ranking finals: 6 (4 titles)Edit
| Legend |
|---|
| UK Championship (1–0) |
| Other (3–2) |
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1. | 1979 | UK Championship | Template:Flagicon Terry Griffiths | 14–13 |
| Winner | 2. | 1980 | Bombay International | Template:Flagicon Cliff Thorburn | 13–7 |
| Winner | 3. | 1980 | Pontins Professional | Template:Flagicon Ray Reardon | 9–6 |
| Runner-up | 1. | 1980 | Champion of Champions | Template:Flagicon Doug Mountjoy | 8–10 |
| Winner | 4. | 1984 | Professional Snooker League | Template:Flagicon Dennis Taylor | Template:Nowrap |
| Runner-up | 2. | 1984 | Australian Masters | Template:Flagicon Tony Knowles | 3–7 |
Pro-am finals: 1Edit
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runner-up | 1. | 1975 | Pontins Spring Open | Template:Flagicon Ray Reardon | 1–7<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |