John Virgo (born 4 March 1946) is an English snooker commentator and former professional snooker player. Virgo won four professional titles, including the 1979 UK Championship, the 1980 Bombay International and the 1984 Professional Snooker League. A member of the sport's elite Top 16 for seven seasons, Virgo is also a former British Open and World Championship semi-finalist and was runner-up of the 1980 Champion of Champions and the 1984 Australian Masters.

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 (though this was not a ranking event at the time). 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 elite top 16 the following season.

Later career and retirement (1991–1995)

In 1993, Virgo 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 1994.

Television career

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 Higgins, Steve Davis and Ray Reardon. He repeated this act in further World Championships, usually after semi-finals that had ended earlier than expected. From 1991 to 2002, Virgo was co-presenter of the snooker-based TV game show Big Break with Jim Davidson. The 30-min show paired three contestants with three tour snooker players in a three-round format to win the contestants prizes. He coined his catchphrase "Pot as many balls as you can" when asked by Davidson to explain the first round rules. After that round, Virgo presented a "trick shot" segment, where the losing contestant would try to win a consolation prize by playing a snooker trick shot demonstrated by Virgo. He is now a TV snooker commentator, working primarily during the BBC's coverage of ranking events. During his commentary, Virgo is known for saying, "Where's the going?", if he sees the cue ball heading towards a pocket for a possible foul. On 27 April 2022, Virgo announced that he and his colleague Dennis Taylor had been axed by the BBC, and that the 2022–23 snooker season would be their last as commentators for the broadcaster. In late 2022, however, the BBC production team informed Virgo that he would in fact stay on for the "foreseeable future".

Other activities

Virgo's tribute book to 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 as himself in Nicholas Gleaves' debut radio play Sunk, in which he guides a young man in his dream of becoming a snooker champion to avoid a life of crime. This was broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Virgo 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.

Personal life

Virgo has two children, a son from his first marriage and a daughter from his second marriage. He separated from his first wife Avril, in 1991, after eight years together. In 2010, he married his second wife, Rosie.

Performance and rankings timeline

Career finals

Non-ranking finals: 6 (4 titles)

Pro-am finals: 1