Tony Knowles was one of professional snooker’s most compelling figures of the 1980s — a world-class player who reached a peak ranking of number two in the world, won multiple professional titles, and became as famous for his flamboyant off-table lifestyle as his considerable talent at the baize. His net worth as of 2026 is estimated at approximately £1.5–2 million, built over a professional career that spanned from 1980 to 1997 and has continued via exhibitions and seniors snooker appearances.
| Full Name | Anthony Knowles |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 13 June 1955 |
| Age | 70 years old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Bolton, Lancashire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Professional Snooker Player (1980–1997), Seniors Tour Player |
| Net Worth | ~£1.5–2 Million (2026) |
| Peak Ranking | World Number 2 (1984/85 season) |
| Known For | World No. 2; 1982 International Open; shock 10–1 defeat of Steve Davis at 1982 Worlds; tabloid celebrity |
Early Life and Introduction to Snooker
Anthony Knowles was born on 13 June 1955 in Bolton, Lancashire. His introduction to snooker came through his father, Kevin, who ran the Tonge Moor Conservative Club in Bolton — where Tony spent hours at the tables from the age of nine. Growing up with immediate access to a snooker table proved formative, and Knowles developed rapidly into one of the most promising young players in the north of England.
He applied to become a professional player in 1980, turning professional at the age of 24. Unlike many players who struggled to adapt to the professional circuit, Knowles adapted quickly — his natural ability and competitive instinct making him a formidable opponent from the outset.
Professional Playing Career (1980–1997)
Tony Knowles turned professional in 1980 and quickly established himself as one of the most dangerous players on the circuit. The early 1980s were a golden era for snooker, with the sport enjoying a television boom driven by BBC2’s coverage and a new generation of exciting young players — of whom Knowles was among the most charismatic.
His most famous single performance came at the 1982 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. In the first round, he faced defending champion Steve Davis — already established as the sport’s dominant force — and demolished him 10–1. It remains one of the most stunning upsets in World Championship history. Despite the famous win, Knowles did not go on to win that year’s title, but the result announced him as a genuine contender at the highest level.
In 1982 he won the International Open and in 1983 he claimed the Professional Players Tournament — his two most significant title victories. He was a three-time semi-finalist at the World Snooker Championship (1983, 1985, 1986), but never progressed to the final. At his peak in the 1984/85 season, he achieved a world ranking of number two — behind only Steve Davis, then the dominant force in professional snooker.
Beyond his results, Knowles was known on tour for his striking appearance and flamboyant personality. He became a tabloid favourite in the 1980s, earning the nickname “The Playboy of Snooker” following a series of kiss-and-tell newspaper stories. While these controversies created tensions with the sport’s governing body, they also elevated his public profile considerably.
He won the 1984 Australian Masters and, as part of the England team with Steve Davis and Tony Meo, the 1983 World Team Classic. His career prize money spanned nearly two decades of professional play, from the early 1980s television boom through to his retirement after the 1996–97 season.
Net Worth and Income Sources
| Income Source | Estimated Amount | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Prize Money (1980–1997) | £400,000–£700,000 | Cumulative | 17 seasons on tour; titles include 1982 International Open, 1983 PPT; three World semi-finals |
| Exhibition Appearances | £50,000–£100,000/year (peak) | Annual (personal) | Major draw during 1980s TV snooker boom; touring exhibitions and after-dinner events |
| Media & Appearances | Significant (1980s) | Cumulative | Tabloid celebrity status; television appearances; his notoriety made him commercially attractive |
| Seniors Tour & Post-Retirement | £20,000–£50,000/year | Annual (personal) | Continued presence on WST Seniors circuit and exhibition circuit post-1997 |
| Estimated Net Worth | ~£1.5–2 Million (2026) | ||
Net Worth Over Time
Knowles’ earnings were front-loaded to the 1980s and early 1990s, when snooker was at the height of its UK television popularity and the prize funds available were the largest relative to the era’s general wages. His peak earning years came between 1982 and 1988, coinciding with his highest world rankings and tournament victories. Post-retirement earnings have come from the seniors circuit and exhibition appearances, maintaining his presence in the sport through to the 2020s.
Personal Life
Tony Knowles’ personal life became a significant part of his public identity during the 1980s. A series of tabloid stories about his romantic exploits made him one of the most written-about sporting figures of the decade — part of a wider phenomenon in which snooker players became crossover celebrities during the sport’s television golden age. While the stories occasionally created problems with the snooker authorities, they also cemented his status as one of the sport’s most recognisable personalities.
After retiring from professional play following the 1996–97 season, Knowles moved into business and remained active in the snooker world through exhibition matches and seniors events. He has reflected in interviews on a career that promised even more in terms of titles — his 1982 World Championship upset of Steve Davis and three semi-final appearances representing unfulfilled potential at the sport’s highest level.
Awards and Recognition
While Knowles never won a World Snooker Championship, his contributions to the sport’s 1980s popularity and his status as a world number two rank him among the significant players of his era. His destruction of Steve Davis 10–1 at the 1982 World Championship remains one of the most-discussed upsets in the Crucible’s history. He continued to compete on the World Seniors Snooker Tour into the 2020s, demonstrating the longevity of his connection to the sport.
Little-Known Facts
- Knowles started playing snooker at age nine on the tables at the Tonge Moor Conservative Club in Bolton — where his father was the club steward.
- His 10–1 defeat of Steve Davis at the 1982 World Championship is still cited as one of the biggest upsets in Crucible history. Davis had been world champion and the dominant player of the era.
- He reached world ranking number two in the 1984/85 season — the highest he ever achieved, kept off the top spot only by Steve Davis’s decade-long dominance.
- Knowles was as famous in the 1980s for his tabloid celebrity status as for his snooker — his flamboyant lifestyle made him one of the sport’s crossover media figures during its television golden age.
- After retiring from the main tour in 1997, he remained active in exhibitions and the WST Seniors circuit well into his 60s — a testament to his enduring love for the game.
What is Tony Knowles’ net worth in 2026?
Tony Knowles’ net worth is estimated at approximately £1.5–2 million as of 2026. His wealth was built through his 17-year professional snooker career (1980–1997), which included titles at the 1982 International Open and the 1983 Professional Players Tournament, plus extensive exhibition and media income during the 1980s television snooker boom. He has continued earning through the WST Seniors circuit and exhibition appearances after retirement.
What titles did Tony Knowles win during his snooker career?
Tony Knowles’ professional title wins include the 1982 International Open, the 1983 Professional Players Tournament, the 1984 Australian Masters, and the 1983 World Team Classic as part of the England team alongside Steve Davis and Tony Meo. He was a three-time semi-finalist at the World Snooker Championship (1983, 1985, 1986) but never reached the final.
What was Tony Knowles’ highest world ranking?
Tony Knowles reached a peak world ranking of number two in the 1984/85 snooker season — making him the second-best player on the planet at that time, behind only Steve Davis. His ranking reflected consistent deep runs in major tournaments across the early and mid-1980s, a period when professional snooker was at the height of its British television popularity.
How did Tony Knowles beat Steve Davis 10-1 at the 1982 Worlds?
At the 1982 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, Tony Knowles produced one of the most stunning performances in the tournament’s history — defeating defending champion Steve Davis 10–1 in the first round. It remains one of the most celebrated upsets in Crucible history. Despite the win, Knowles did not go on to take the title that year.
Is Tony Knowles still playing snooker?
Tony Knowles retired from the main professional tour after the 1996–97 season but has remained active in snooker through the World Seniors Snooker Tour and exhibition appearances. He has competed regularly in seniors events into the 2020s and has participated in nostalgia-themed broadcasts and retrospectives celebrating the 1980s snooker era.