John Virgo
John Virgo is an English former professional snooker player and more recently a snooker commentator and TV personality.
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, 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)
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. 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. 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 top 16 the following season.
Later career and retirement (1991–1995)
In 1993, he 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 1995.Career as exhibition player and TV commentator
As part of his exhibition performances, Virgo performed trick shots and comedic impressions of other snooker players. During the 1981 World Championship, he performed some of his impressions, including Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins, Steve Davis and Ray Reardon. He repeated this act in further World Championships, usually after semi-finals that had ended earlier than expected.He is now a TV snooker commentator, working primarily during the BBC's coverage of ranking events. From 1991 to 2002, Virgo was co-presenter of the snooker-based TV game show Big Break with Jim Davidson. During each show, Virgo participated in the "trick shots" segment, where a competitor who had been ousted from the main quiz would try to copy a complicated snooker shot performed by Virgo in order to win a prize.
Virgo is well known for shouting "Where's the going?" during his commentaries, whenever a shot is played in such a way that the cueball is in danger of going into one of the pockets. Virgo will also make the same familiar exclamation about one of the "coloured balls", if it is, or approaches very close to the pocket.
Other activities
Virgo's tribute book to the late Alex Higgins, Let Me Tell You About Alex, was published in February 2011 and described as "explosive". In April 2012, his book Amazing Snooker Trick Shots was published.In 2012, Virgo featured in Nicholas Gleaves' debut radio play Sunk who guides a young man in his dream of becoming a snooker champion while battling to avoid a life of crime. This was broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
Virgo has recently 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.
In 2014, Virgo released a trick shot app, John Virgo's Snooker Trick Shots, available on Apple and Android devices. It has Virgo performing 45 trick shots and contains diagrams and video clips for each. It also has Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins performing three trick shots including 'Higgins Goes Bananas'.
Virgo is currently embarking on a new venture, opening a new vegan café, Virgo's Vegan Cafe, in his home city of Salford, with help from fellow snooker player and friend Peter Ebdon.
Personal life
Virgo lives in Cobham, Surrey. He has two children, a son, Gary, from his first marriage, and a daughter, Brook Leah, from his second marriage. He separated from his second wife, Avril, in 1991, after eight years together. In 2009, he married Rosie Ries, then deputy managing director at John Blake Publishing.Virgo was once gunged on Noel's House Party. He is a fan of the football club Manchester United F.C. In 1996, he appeared as a celebrity contestant on the short-lived Saturday night BBC light entertainment show Full Swing, alongside John Lodge from The Moody Blues and former Arsenal goalkeeper Pat Jennings; he did not make the final.
Performance and rankings timeline
Career finals
Non-ranking finals: 6 (4 titles, 2 runners-up)
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
| Winner | 1. | 1979 | UK Championship |  Terry Griffiths | 14–13 |
| Winner | 2. | 1980 | Bombay International |  Cliff Thorburn | 13–7 |
| Winner | 3. | 1980 | Pontins Professional | Ray Reardon | 9–6 |
| Runner-up | 1. | 1980 | Champion of Champions | Doug Mountjoy | 8–10 |
| Winner | 4. | 1984 | Professional Snooker League |  Dennis Taylor | |
| Runner-up | 2. | 1984 | Australian Masters |  Tony Knowles | 3–7 |