John Virgo
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John Virgo (born 3 March, 1946, in Salford, Greater Manchester,England) is an English ex-professional snooker player, commentator, and TV personality.
John Virgo turned professional in 1976. His fortunes peaked in 1979, when he reached the semi-final of the World Championship, and then went on to win the UK Championship (though this was not a ranking event at the time). He reached number 10 in the rankings the next season. This achievement is made all the more incredible as during the 1979 UK championship Virgo was controversially docked three frames after an alarm clock failed to go off and Virgo therefore overslept, turning in for the tournament late. This is a fact he likes to pepper his commentary with.
Virgo, as part of his exhibition performances, had long performed trick shots and comedy impressions of other snooker players. During the 1982 World Championship, after one semi-final had finished early, he performed some of his impressions, such as Alex Higgins, Terry Griffiths and Dennis Taylor.
Virgo retired from professional play in 1994. He is now a TV snooker commentator, and was co-presenter of the snooker-based TV game show Big Break with close to the knuckle tv comedian Jim Davidson. The feature Virgo in particular took hold of was the "Trick Shot" segment, where a competitor who had been ousted from the main quiz would try to copy a complicated snooker shot in order to win a prize (or if unsuccessful one of Virgo's comically hideous waistcoats, which were the source of much ribald banter). He also arranges snooker-based corporate events with Jimmy White.
Tournament wins
Other wins
- UK Championship (snooker) - 1979 (Did not become a ranking event until 1984)
External link
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