Gary Wilkinson

Gary Wilkinson (born 7 April 1966) is an English former professional snooker player. He was the runner-up of the 1991 British Open, and twice a quarter-finalist at the World Snooker Championship. He was ranked fifth in the world during the 1991/1992 season.

Career 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. At the 1989 UK Championship, he led John Parrott 7–0 and 8–1 in their Last 16 match before winning 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. 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.

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. His best runs were to the quarter-finals in 1991 and 1995. After dropping off the main tour, he played in the International Open Series whilst also working as a tournament assistant for World Snooker. Wilkinson captured one major title when he won the 1991 World Matchplay. 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 title and the £70,000 winner's cheque.

Performance and rankings timeline

Performance table legendLQ 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-finalsSF lost in the semi–finalsF lost in the finalW won the tournamentDNQ did not qualify for the tournamentA did not participate in the tournamentWD 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.

Career finals

Ranking finals: 1 Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final ScoreRunner-up 1. 1991 British Open Stephen Hendry 9–10

Non-ranking finals: 3 (2 titles) Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final ScoreWinner 1. 1988 WPBSA Invitational Event 1 Alex Higgins 5–4Winner 2. 1991 World Matchplay Steve Davis 18–11Runner-up 1. 1992 Scottish Masters Neal Foulds 8–10

Pro-am finals: 1 (1 title) Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final ScoreWinner 1. 1986 Watney's Open Andrew Shaw 3–1

Amateur finals: 2 (1 title) Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final ScoreWinner 1. 1985 WPBSA Pro Ticket Series Event 4 Jim Chambers 5–1Runner-up 1. 2007 PIOS Event 1 Simon Bedford 3–6