John Virgo

John Virgo was born on March 4, 1946, in Salford, Lancashire, England. He became a professional snooker player in 1976. During his career, he secured four professional titles. A significant achievement was winning the 1979 UK Championship, a non-ranking event at that time, where he defeated Terry Griffiths despite a two-frame penalty. He also won the 1980 Bombay International and the 1984 Professional Snooker League. Virgo reached his highest ranking of world number 10 during the 1979–80 season. He was also a semi-finalist in the World Snooker Championship in 1979 and the British Open in 1986. Virgo retired from professional play in 1994.

Following his retirement from professional play, John Virgo developed a successful television career. From 1991 to 2002, he co-presented the snooker-based game show “Big Break” alongside Jim Davidson. On the show, he was known for his trick shots and comedic impressions, and his catchphrase “Pot as many balls as you can.” He subsequently became a snooker commentator for the BBC, where he is known for his phrase “Where’s the cue ball going?” In 2023, he was inducted into the World Snooker Tour Hall of Fame.

Throughout his career, Virgo has faced personal challenges, including a gambling addiction in the 1980s that led to the repossession of his house. He has since overcome this addiction and continues to be a prominent figure in snooker broadcasting, delighting fans with his commentary. He has also authored books, such as “Let Me Tell You About Alex” (2011) and “Amazing Snooker Trick Shots” (2012), and contributed to a web-based trick shot series for Liberty Games. He also released a trick shot app in 2014.