Editing John Virgo

{{short description|English former professional snooker player, 1979 UK champion}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox snooker player
| name              = John Virgo
| image             = John Virgo crop.jpg
| caption           = Virgo in 2003
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1946|3|4}}
| birth_place       = [[County Borough of Salford|Salford]], Lancashire, England
| Sport country     = {{ENG}}
| Professional      = 1976–1994
| High ranking      = 10 ([[Snooker world rankings 1979/1980|1979/80]])
| Official maximums = 
| Best finish       = Semi-final (x4)
| Ranking wins      = 
}}
{{for|the British diplomat|John Virgoe}}
'''John Trevor Virgo''' (born 4 March 1946) is an English [[snooker]] [[sports commentator|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 [[1986 British Open|British Open]] and [[1979 World Snooker Championship|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 1991{{nbnd}}2002, and as a snooker commentator for the channel. He is a member of the [[World Snooker Tour awards|World Snooker Tour Hall of Fame]].

==Snooker career==
===Early professional career (1973–1978)===
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">{{cite web |title=John Virgo |url=https://wst.tv/players/john-virgo/ |website=wst.tv |access-date=18 March 2021 |archive-date=18 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118154702/https://wst.tv/players/john-virgo/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> at a time when players such as [[Ray Reardon]], [[John Spencer (snooker player)|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)===
Virgo's snooker-playing fortunes peaked in 1979 when he reached the semi-final of the [[1979 World Snooker Championship|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>{{cite web|url=http://www.surreylife.co.uk/people/celebrity-interviews/big_break_star_john_virgo_on_trick_shots_snooker_legends_and_his_cobham_home_1_3231591|title=Big Break star John Virgo on trick shots, snooker legends and his Cobham home|last=Wintle|first=Angela|date=11 January 2014|magazine=Surrey Life|access-date=11 March 2016|archive-date=12 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312064818/http://www.surreylife.co.uk/people/celebrity-interviews/big_break_star_john_virgo_on_trick_shots_snooker_legends_and_his_cobham_home_1_3231591|url-status=dead}}</ref> He reached his highest ranking, world number 10, during the [[1979–80 snooker season|1979–80 season]].

In 1986, Virgo reached the semi-finals of the [[1986 British Open|British Open]], losing 4–9 to [[Willie Thorne]]. He ended the [[1989–90 snooker season|1989–90 season]] as world number 14, but dropped out of the elite top 16 the following season.

===Later career and retirement (1991–1995)===
In 1993, Virgo entered the qualifying stages of the [[World Open (snooker)|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 awards|World Snooker Tour Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Popular commentator John Virgo added to World Snooker Tour Hall of Fame |url=https://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/news/popular-commentator-john-virgo-added-to-world-snooker-tour-hall-of-fame/209097 |website=Sporting Life |access-date=30 April 2025}}</ref>

==Television career==
As part of his exhibition performances, Virgo performed [[trick shot]]s 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 (comedian)|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 {{cuegloss|cue ball}} going?", if he sees the cue ball heading towards a pocket for a possible foul.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/john-lawless/john-virgo-snooker_b_7125768.html|title=Will the Real John Virgo Please Shut Up?|last=Lawless|first=John|date=27 April 2015|work=[[HuffPost]]|access-date=26 March 2019|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418033603/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/john-lawless/john-virgo-snooker_b_7125768.html|url-status=live}}</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>{{cite news |title=John Virgo expects next World Snooker Championship to be the last for him and Dennis Taylor |url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/09/20/john-virgo-expects-next-world-snooker-championship-to-be-last-for-him-and-dennis-taylor-15287651/ |orig-date=20 September 2021 |date=21 September 2021 |access-date=10 February 2025 |last=Haigh |first=Phil |work=[[Metro (British Newspaper)|Metro]]}}</ref> It was reported in April 2022 that their time with the BBC would be extended to take in the 2022-23 season,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/snooker/2022/04/27/john-virgo-interview-wasnt-everyones-cup-tea-jim-davidson-still/ | title=John Virgo exclusive interview: 'He wasn't everyone's cup of tea but Jim Davidson is still my mate' | newspaper=The Telegraph | date=27 April 2022 | last1=Bloom | first1=Ben }}</ref> but in late 2022 the BBC production team informed Virgo that he would stay on for the "foreseeable future".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/news/john-virgo-staying-on-bbc-commentary-for-the-world-snooker-championship-and-beyond/208368|title=John Virgo staying on BBC commentary for the World Snooker Championship and beyond|publisher=Sporting Life|date=30 March 2023|access-date=7 May 2023}}</ref>

==Other activities==
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">{{cite news|title=John Virgo: My life in the eye of Hurricane Higgins|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/john-virgo-my-life-in-the-eye-of-hurricane-higgins-15067267.html|access-date=17 December 2012|newspaper=The Belfast Telegraph|date=29 January 2011|archive-date=2 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202163329/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/john-virgo-my-life-in-the-eye-of-hurricane-higgins-15067267.html|url-status=dead}}</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>{{Cite episode |title=Sunk |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01nxh1r |access-date=28 May 2023 |series=Drama on 4 |series-link=Drama (BBC Radio 4) |first=Nicholas |last=Gleaves |network=BBC |station=Radio 4 |date=19 November 2012}}</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>{{cite web |url=http://www.libertygames.co.uk/trick-shot-academy/ |title=Trick Shot Academy |publisher=[[Liberty Games]] |access-date=7 October 2011 |archive-date=6 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006200120/http://www.libertygames.co.uk/trick-shot-academy/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2014, Virgo released a trick shot app, ''John Virgo's Snooker Trick Shots'', available on Apple and Android devices.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://presswire.com/content/2992/john-virgos-snooker-trickshot-app|title=John Virgo's Snooker trickshot App|date=8 April 2014|website=Presswire|access-date=28 May 2023}}</ref>

==Personal life==
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>{{cite news|last=Cassidy|first=Denis|title=I'M BIG BROKE; Ex-wife's fury as snooker ace Virgo cuts payments.|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/I%27M+BIG+BROKE%3B+Ex-wife%27s+fury+as+snooker+ace+Virgo+cuts+payments.-a0109548051|access-date=17 December 2012|newspaper=The People|date=2 November 2003|archive-date=4 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104005427/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/I%27M+BIG+BROKE%3B+Ex-wife%27s+fury+as+snooker+ace+Virgo+cuts+payments.-a0109548051|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Performance and rankings timeline==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;"
! Tournament
! [[1973–74 snooker season|1973/<br/>74]]
! [[1974–75 snooker season|1974/<br/>75]]
! [[1975–76 snooker season|1975/<br/>76]]
! [[1976–77 snooker season|1976/<br/>77]]
! [[1977–78 snooker season|1977/<br/>78]]
! [[1978–79 snooker season|1978/<br/>79]]
! [[1979–80 snooker season|1979/<br/>80]]
! [[1980–81 snooker season|1980/<br/>81]]
! [[1981–82 snooker season|1981/<br/>82]]
! [[1982–83 snooker season|1982/<br/>83]]
! [[1983–84 snooker season|1983/<br/>84]]
! [[1984–85 snooker season|1984/<br/>85]]
! [[1985–86 snooker season|1985/<br/>86]]
! [[1986–87 snooker season|1986/<br/>87]] 
! [[1987–88 snooker season|1987/<br/>88]] 
! [[1988–89 snooker season|1988/<br/>89]] 
! [[1989–90 snooker season|1989/<br/>90]] 
! [[1990–91 snooker season|1990/<br/>91]]
! [[1991–92 snooker season|1991/<br/>92]]
! [[1992–93 snooker season|1992/<br/>93]]
! [[1993–94 snooker season|1993/<br/>94]]
|-
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Snooker world rankings|Ranking]]<ref name="Ranking history">{{cite web|title=Ranking History|url=http://www.snooker.org/rnk/history.asp|website=snooker.org|access-date=7 November 2017|archive-date=19 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219070820/http://www.snooker.org/Rnk/history.asp|url-status=live}}</ref>
| align="center" |<ref group="nb" name="AMA">He was an amateur.</ref>
| align="center" |<ref group="nb" name="AMA"/>
| align="center" |<ref group="nb" name="AMA"/>
| align="center" |<ref group="nb">New players on the Main Tour do not have a ranking.</ref>
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1977/1978|18]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1978/1979|19]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1979/1980|10]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1980/1981|12]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1981/1982|13]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1982/1983|19]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1983/1984|14]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1984/1985|18]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1985/1986|19]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1986/1987|19]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1987/1988|19]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1988/1989|15]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1989/1990|13]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1990/1991|14]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1991/1992|31]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1992/1993|49]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1993/1994|72]]
|-
| colspan="50" | '''Ranking tournaments'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Dubai Classic]]<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Dubai Masters (1988/1989)</ref>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="15"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NR
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 Dubai Classic|3R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1990 Dubai Classic|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1991 Dubai Classic|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[World Open (snooker)|Grand Prix]]<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Professional Players Tournament (1982/83–1983/84)</ref>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1982 Professional Players Tournament|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1983 Professional Players Tournament|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1984 Grand Prix (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1985 Grand Prix (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1986 Grand Prix (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1987 Grand Prix (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1988 Grand Prix (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 Grand Prix (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1990 Grand Prix (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1991 Grand Prix (snooker)|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[UK Championship]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="7"|Non-Ranking Event
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1985 UK Championship (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1986 UK Championship (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1987 UK Championship (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1988 UK Championship (snooker)|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 UK Championship (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1990 UK Championship (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1991 UK Championship (snooker)|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[European Open (snooker)|European Open]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="15"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 European Open (snooker)|3R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1990 European Open (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1991 European Open (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1992 European Open (snooker)|2R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Welsh Open (snooker)|Welsh Open]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="18"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1992 Welsh Open (snooker)|2R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|WD
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Scottish Open (snooker)|International Open]]<ref group="nb" name="auto">The event was also called the Goya Matchroom Trophy (1985/1986)</ref>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="8"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NR
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1982 International Open|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1983 International Open|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1984 International Open|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1985 Matchroom Trophy|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1986 International Open|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1987 International Open|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1988 International Open|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 International Open|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1993 International Open|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|WD
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Thailand Masters|Thailand Open]]<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Asian Open (1989/1990–1992/1993)</ref>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="10"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|Non-Ranking Event
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 Asian Open|3R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1990 Asian Open|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1992 Asian Open|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[British Open (snooker)|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>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5"|Non-Ranking Event
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1985 British Open|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1986 British Open|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1987 British Open|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1988 British Open|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 British Open|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1990 British Open|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1991 British Open|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1992 British Open|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|WD
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[World Snooker Championship|World Championship]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1977 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1979 World Snooker Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1980 World Snooker Championship|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1981 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1982 World Snooker Championship|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1983 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1984 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1985 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1986 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1987 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1988 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 World Snooker Championship|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1990 World Snooker Championship|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1991 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
|-
| colspan="50" | '''Non-ranking tournaments'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Masters (snooker)|The Masters]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1980 Masters (snooker)|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1983 Masters (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1984 Masters (snooker)|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 Masters (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1990 Masters (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1991 Masters (snooker)|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Irish Masters]]<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament (1974/1975–1976/1977)</ref>
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1981 Irish Masters|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Pontins Professional]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1980 Pontins Professional|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1981 Pontins Professional|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1982 Pontins Professional|QF]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1985 Pontins Professional|QF]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1987 Pontins Professional|QF]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Premier League Snooker|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>
| colspan="10" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#00ff00;"|[[1984 Professional Snooker League|'''W''']]
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
|-
| colspan="50" | '''Former ranking tournaments'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Canadian Masters (snooker)|Canadian Masters]]<ref group="nb" name="auto2">The event was also called the Canadian Open (1974/1975–1980/1981)</ref>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6"|Non-Ranking Event
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3"|Non-Ranking
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1988 Canadian Masters|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="30"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Australian Goldfields Open|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>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9"|Non-Ranking Event
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NH
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 Hong Kong Open|3R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Classic (snooker)|Classic]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|Non-Ranking Event
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1984 Classic (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1985 Classic (snooker)|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1986 Classic (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1987 Classic (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1988 Classic (snooker)|3R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 Classic (snooker)|3R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1990 Classic (snooker)|3R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1991 Classic (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1992 Classic (snooker)|3R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Strachan Open]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="18"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1992 Strachan Open|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|MR
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NR
|-
| colspan="50" | '''Former non-ranking tournaments'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Norwich Union Open]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1973 Norwich Union Open|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="30"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1976 Canadian Club Masters|Canadian Club Masters]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1976 Canadian Club Masters|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="30"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Canadian Masters (snooker)|Canadian Masters]]<ref group="nb" name="auto2"/>
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NH
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1974 Canadian Open|QF]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1976 Canadian Open|SF]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|R
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="30"|Tournament Not Held]
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Tolly Cobbold Classic]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1980 Tolly Cobbold Classic|SF]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="30"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Bombay International]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1980 Bombay International|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="30"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Champion of Champions (snooker)|Champion of Champions]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NH
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1980 Champion of Champions|F]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="30"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Scottish Open (snooker)|International Open]]<ref group="nb" name="auto"/>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="8"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1981 International Open|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="8"|Ranking Event
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Ranking
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Classic (snooker)|Classic]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1980 Classic (1979/1980)|SF]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1983 Classic (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9"|Ranking Event
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1983 Pontins Brean Sands|Pontins Brean Sands]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1983 Pontins Brean Sands|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="30"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[UK Championship]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1977 UK Championship (snooker)|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1978 UK Championship (snooker)|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1979 UK Championship (snooker)|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1980 UK Championship (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1981 UK Championship (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1982 UK Championship (snooker)|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1983 UK Championship (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="30"|Ranking Event
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[British Open (snooker)|British Open]]<ref group="nb" name="auto1"/>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1980 British Gold Cup|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1981 Yamaha Organs Trophy|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1982 International Masters|2R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1984 International Masters|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="30"|Ranking Event
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[New Zealand Masters (snooker)|New Zealand Masters]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="11"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1984 New Zealand Masters|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3"|Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="30"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | {{nowrap|[[Australian Goldfields Open|Australian Masters]]<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Hong Kong Open (1989/1990) and Australian Open (1994/1995)</ref>}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1984 Australian Masters|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1985 Australian Masters|QF]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NH
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|R
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | {{nowrap|[[English Professional Championship]]}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="7"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1981 English Professional Championship|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3"|Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1985 English Professional Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1986 English Professional Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1987 English Professional Championship|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1988 English Professional Championship|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 English Professional Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="30"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Norwich Union Grand Prix]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="15"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1989 Norwich Union Grand Prix|QF]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5"|Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[World Seniors Championship]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="18"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1991 World Seniors Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:78%;"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! colspan="6"|Performance Table Legend
|-
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|LQ
| lost in the qualifying draw
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|#R
| lost in the early rounds of the tournament<br />(WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin)
| align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
| lost in the quarter-finals
|-
| align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
| lost in the semi-finals
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
| lost in the final
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
| won the tournament
|-
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|DNQ
| did not qualify for the tournament
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|A
| did not participate in the tournament
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|WD
| withdrew from the tournament
|}
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%"
|-
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|NH / Not Held || means an event was not held.
|-
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|NR / Non-Ranking Event || means an event is/was no longer a ranking event.
|-
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|R / Ranking Event || means an event is/was a ranking event.
|}
{{reflist|group=nb}}

==Career finals==
===Non-ranking finals: 6 (4 titles)===
{| class="wikitable"
! Legend
|- style="background:#dfe2e9;"
| [[UK Championship]] (1–0)
|- bgcolor=
| Other (3–2)
|}
{| class="sortable wikitable"
!width="80"| Outcome
!width="20"| No.
!width="50"| Year
!style="width:250px;"| Championship
!style="width:200px;"| Opponent in the final
!style="width:50px;"| Score
|-style="background:#dfe2e9;"
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner 
| 1. 
| [[1979 UK Championship (snooker)|1979]]
| [[UK Championship]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Terry Griffiths]]
| align="center"|14–13
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner 
| 2. 
| [[1980 Bombay International|1980]]
| [[Bombay International]]
| {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Cliff Thorburn]]
| align="center"|13–7
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner 
| 3. 
| [[1980 Pontins Professional|1980]]
| [[Pontins Professional]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Ray Reardon]]
| align="center"|9–6
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up 
| 1. 
| [[1980 Champion of Champions|1980]] 
| [[Champion of Champions (snooker)|Champion of Champions]] 
| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Doug Mountjoy]]
| align="center"|8–10
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner 
| 4. 
| [[1984 Professional Snooker League|1984]]
| [[Premier League Snooker|Professional Snooker League]]
| {{flagicon|NIR}} [[Dennis Taylor]]
| align="center"|{{nowrap|Round-Robin}}
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up 
| 2. 
| [[1984 Australian Masters|1984]]
| [[Australian Goldfields Open|Australian Masters]] 
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Tony Knowles (snooker player)|Tony Knowles]]
| align="center"|3–7
|}

===Pro-am finals: 1 ===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
!width="80"| Outcome
!width="20"| No.
!width="50"| Year
!style="width:250px;"| Championship
!style="width:200px;"| Opponent in the final
!style="width:50px;"| Score
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up 
| 1. 
| 1975 
| [[Pontins Open#Pontins Spring Open|Pontins Spring Open]] 
| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Ray Reardon]]
| align="center"|1–7<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/pontins.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228200841/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/pontins.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 February 2012|title=Pontins events|date=28 February 2012}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|John Virgo}}
*[http://www.johnvirgotrickshotapp.com/ Official Site with Links to JV's FREE App, Twitter & Facebook]
*http://www.worldsnooker.com/players/john-virgo/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010125958/http://www.worldsnooker.com/players/john-virgo/ |date=10 October 2016 }}

{{UK Championship winners}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Virgo, John}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:BBC sports presenters and reporters]]
[[Category:English game show hosts]]
[[Category:English snooker players]]<!--For role as pro. player.-->
[[Category:English television presenters]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Salford]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Cobham, Surrey]]
[[Category:Snooker commentators]]
<!--For role as commentator.-->
[[Category:Trick shot artists]]
[[Category:UK champions (snooker)]]