| Born | 7 April 1966 Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, England |
|---|---|
| Sport country |  England |
| Professional | 1987–2006 |
| Highest ranking | 5 (1991/1992) |
| Best ranking finish | Runner-up (x1) |
Gary Wilkinson (born 7 April 1966) is an English former professional snooker player.
Wilkinson turned professional in 1987. In 1988, he won the non-ranking WPBSA Invitation Event beating Alex Higgins 5–4 in the final. He climbed the rankings to reach the no. 5 spot in the world within four seasons. [1] One of his career highlights was at the 1989 UK Championship, where he led John Parrott 7–0 and 8–1 in their Last 16 match before falling over the line at 9–6, then whitewashing Jimmy White 9–0 in the quarter-finals, and then leading world number 1 Steve Davis 4–0, 6–2 and 8–7 in the semi-finals, before Wilkinson misread the score thinking that Davis didn't need snookers and went for a risky shot. It proved costly as Davis came back to get the snookers he needed, win that frame and then the deciding frame as Davis won 9–8. Wilkinson failed to sustain his late 1980s and early 1990s results and has never won a ranking tournament, losing in the final of the 1991 British Open 9–10 to Stephen Hendry, losing the 1992 Scottish Masters final 8–10 to Neal Foulds, as well as losing in four ranking semi-finals. While fancied to potentially go far at the 1991 World Championship, Wilkinson missed the chance of a 147 maximum break and a £100,000 prize in his first round match against Doug Mountjoy after missing the final yellow off its spot, and eventually lost 3–13 to Jimmy White in the quarter-finals in a surprisingly one-sided scoreline.
Wilkinson spent a decade in the top 32, but without reaching a ranking semi-final after 1992. He has made ten appearances in the World Championship, meaning that he has come through qualifying eight times. His best runs were to the quarter-finals in 1991 and 1995. After dropping off the main tour he played in the PIOS whilst also working as a tournament assistant for World Snooker. However, Wilkinson did capture one major title when he won the 1991 World Matchplay. During this peak moment of his career in December 1991, Wilkinson defeated Dean Reynolds 5–1, world champion John Parrott 9–8, Jimmy White 9–6 and then beat Steve Davis 18–11 in the final to win the 1991 World Matchplay title and the £70,000 winner's cheque. [2]
| Tournament | 1987/ 88 | 1988/ 89 | 1989/ 90 | 1990/ 91 | 1991/ 92 | 1992/ 93 | 1993/ 94 | 1994/ 95 | 1995/ 96 | 1996/ 97 | 1997/ 98 | 1998/ 99 | 1999/ 00 | 2000/ 01 | 2001/ 02 | 2002/ 03 | 2003/ 04 | 2004/ 05 | 2005/ 06 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking [3] [nb 1] | [nb 2] | 45 | 39 | 19 | 5 | 8 | 17 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 29 | 34 | 37 | 46 | 44 | 56 | 78 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand Prix [nb 3] | 3R | 2R | 2R | 3R | 2R | 2R | QF | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 3R | 2R | LQ | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UK Championship | 1R | 2R | SF | 3R | 2R | 3R | 1R | 2R | 3R | 2R | 3R | 1R | 1R | LQ | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Malta Cup [nb 4] | NH | 2R | LQ | 2R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | NH | LQ | Not Held | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Welsh Open | Tournament Not Held | QF | 3R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| China Open [nb 5] | Tournament Not Held | NR | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | Not Held | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Championship | LQ | 1R | 1R | QF | 1R | 2R | LQ | QF | 2R | 1R | LQ | LQ | 1R | LQ | LQ | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pot Black | Tournament Not Held | QF | SF | 1R | Tournament Not Held | A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Masters | A | A | A | WR | 1R | QF | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | A | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Masters | NR | LQ | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hong Kong Open [nb 6] | NR | NH | SF | Tournament Not Held | NR | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classic | LQ | 1R | 3R | QF | 3R | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Strachan Open | Tournament Not Held | 2R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dubai Classic [nb 7] | NH | NR | 2R | SF | 1R | 3R | LQ | 1R | 1R | 2R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| German Masters [nb 8] | Tournament Not Held | 1R | 1R | 2R | NR | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Malta Grand Prix | Tournament Not Held | Non-Ranking Event | 1R | NR | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thailand Masters [nb 9] | Not Held | SF | 1R | 1R | 1R | LQ | QF | LQ | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | NR | Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scottish Open [nb 10] | 1R | LQ | LQ | Not Held | 1R | 3R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 2R | LQ | 2R | LQ | 1R | Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| British Open | 3R | 1R | 1R | F | 3R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 3R | 3R | 3R | 3R | 1R | 2R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | NH | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Irish Masters | Non-Ranking Event | LQ | 1R | LQ | NH | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former non-ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| English Professional Championship | 1R | SF | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shoot-Out | Not Held | 2R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Masters | Not Held | 3R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| London Masters | NH | A | A | QF | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thailand Masters | Not Held | Ranking | QF | Ranking Event | NR | Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hong Kong Challenge | A | A | NH | A | QF | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indian Challenge | Tournament Not Held | SF | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Belgian Challenge | Tournament Not Held | QF | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| European Challenge | Tournament Not Held | SF | SF | A | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kent Classic | A | A | A | A | NH | 1R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scottish Masters | A | NH | A | A | SF | F | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Belgian Masters | Not Held | A | QF | QF | Not Held | A | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Matchplay | NH | A | A | QF | W | QF | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Irish Masters | A | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | Ranking Event | NH | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pontins Professional | A | A | A | A | SF | QF | SF | SF | A | A | A | A | A | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Malta Masters | Tournament Not Held | QF | Tournament 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 | event was not held. | |||
| NR / Non-Ranking Event | event is/was no longer a ranking event. | |||
| R / Ranking Event | event is/was a ranking event. | |||
| MR / Minor-Ranking Event | event is/was a minor-ranking event. | |||
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
| Runner-up | 1. | 1991 | British Open |  Stephen Hendry | 9–10 |
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
| Winner | 1. | 1988 | WPBSA Invitational Event 1 |  Alex Higgins | 5–4 |
| Winner | 2. | 1991 | World Matchplay | Steve Davis | 18–11 |
| Runner-up | 1. | 1992 | Scottish Masters | Neal Foulds | 8–10 |
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
| Winner | 1. | 1986 | Watney's Open | Andrew Shaw | 3–1 |
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
| Winner | 1. | 1985 | WPBSA Pro Ticket Series Event 4 | Jim Chambers | 5–1 |
| Runner-up | 1. | 2007 | PIOS Event 1 | Simon Bedford | 3–6 |
Doug Mountjoy was a Welsh snooker player from Tir-y-Berth, Gelligaer, Wales. He was a member of the professional snooker circuit from the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, and remained within the top 16 of the world rankings for 11 consecutive years. He began his professional snooker career by taking the 1977 Masters, which he entered as a reserve player. He won both the 1978 UK Championship and the 1979 Irish Masters. Mountjoy reached the final of the 1981 World Snooker Championship where he was defeated by Steve Davis. He was also runner-up at the 1985 Masters losing to Cliff Thorburn, but by 1988 he had dropped out of the top 16.
The Scottish Open is a ranking professional snooker tournament held in the United Kingdom. The tournament had many name changes in its history, as the tournament was formerly called International Open, Matchroom Trophy and Players Championship. Apart from a hiatus in the 1990/1991 and 1991/1992 seasons, the tournament remained a ranking event until 2003/2004. In the 2012/2013 season the tournament was added back to the calendar as part of the Players Tour Championship minor-ranking series.
The Thailand Masters was a professional snooker tournament. Previously known as Asian Open and Thailand Open, it was a ranking tournament from 1989/90 to 2001/02. An event called the Thailand Masters also formed part of the World Series in 1991/92, with Steve Davis beating Stephen Hendry 6–3. The final champion was Marco Fu.
Mike Hallett is an English former professional snooker player and commentator. He won the 1989 Hong Kong Open.
The 1995 UK Championship was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place at the Guild Hall in Preston, England. The event started on 17 November 1995 and the televised stages were shown on the BBC between 25 November and 3 December 1995.
The 1998 UK Championship was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place at the Bournemouth International Centre in Bournemouth, England. The event started on 16 November 1998 and the televised stages were shown on BBC between 21 and 29 November 1998.
The 1992 Masters was a professional non-ranking snooker tournament that took place between 2 and 9 February 1992 at the Wembley Conference Centre in London, England.
The 1992–93 snooker season was a series of snooker tournaments played between August 1992 and May 1993. The following table outlines the results for ranking, minor-ranking and the invitational events.
The 1994–95 snooker season was a series of snooker tournaments played between August 1994 and May 1995. The following table outlines the results for ranking events and the invitational events.
The 1995–96 snooker season was a series of snooker tournaments played between August 1995 and May 1996. The following table outlines the results for the ranking and the invitational events.
The 1983–84 snooker season was a series of snooker tournaments played between 4 July 1983 and 19 May 1984. The following table outlines the results for the ranking and the invitational events.
The 1985–86 snooker season was a series of snooker tournaments played between July 1985 and May 1986. The following table outlines the results for ranking events and the invitational events.
The 1988–89 snooker season was a series of snooker tournaments played between July 1988 and May 1989. The following table outlines the results for the ranking and invitational events.
The 1986–87 snooker season was a series of snooker tournaments played between July 1986 and May 1987. The following table outlines the results for the ranking and invitational events.
The 1987–88 snooker season was a series of snooker tournaments played between 29 June 1987 and 15 May 1988. The following table outlines the results for the ranking and invitational events.
The 1989–90 snooker season was a series of snooker tournaments played between July 1989 and May 1990. The following table outlines the results for ranking and the invitational events.
The 1991–92 snooker season was a series of snooker tournaments played between 30 May 1991 and 31 May 1992. The following table outlines the results for ranking and the invitational events.
The 1990–91 snooker season was a series of snooker tournaments played between August 1990 and May 1991. The following table outlines the results for ranking and the invitational events.
The 1980–81 snooker season was a series of snooker tournaments played between 18 June 1980 and 16 May 1981. The following table outlines the results for the ranking and the invitational events.
The 1978–79 snooker season was a series of snooker tournaments played between August 1978 and June 1979. The following table outlines the results for the ranking and the invitational events.