Hats off for Tony!
Today marks the sixtieth birthday of Tony Meo. Meo was one of the most familiar faces of snooker in the 1980s and with others helped drive the popularity of the sport from the smoke filled snooker clubs to mainstream television. Tony started his snooker career in Tooting, South London, the sparring partner of Jimmy White who like White chose snooker over school. Meo was a gifted player and at the age of seventeen was the youngest player to make s maximum, 147 break. Turning professional in 1979, it wasn’t long before Tony was a leading light in the game, making his debut against Alex Higgins in the World Championship in 1980. Meo only narrowly lost his match against the Irish legend, losing 9-10.
In 1984, Tony reached the final of the Classic, facing his doubles partner, Steve Davis. This was a controversial final and was one of those moments in snooker history when the audience was put under the spotlight. Meo took the match to a deciding frame but with only the colours to pot, someone shouted a cheer of encouragement from the crowd and Tony missed. Davis went on to win the frame and match. In his winning speech, Steve Davis mentioned the incident, asking fir an alcohol ban for future tournaments to prevent anything similar incidents occurring again.
Tony was a great doubles player, winning four World Doubles titles. Paired with Steve Davis, he made this variant of snooker very popular amongst snooker fans and the tournaments were a regular part of the main tour throughout the 1980s. Sadly this form of snooker died its death after it was deemed unpopular by the authorities and was axed after dwindling ticket sales. It is however a format that is used in the World Cup and I have long campaigned for it to be brought back as many players believe it would be popular again as a ranking or non-ranking event on the tour.
Meo was one of those frustrating players who had the ability to win more than he did and never really made a major impact in any of the key events. He did however help lead the England team to a victorious win in the 1983 World Team Classic and his only ranking title came in the 1989 British Open when he beat Dean Reynolds, 13-6 after starting the tournament as a 200-1 outsider. In the same year, he reached the semi- final of the World Championship where he lost 16-7 to John Parrott.
Tony achievements are still worth praise, rising to his highest ranking of number ten in the world for an incredible two years between 1984-1986 and achieved 54 century breaks. Earning £621,126 in career earnings and taking one ranking and seven non-ranking titles, Meo was also part of Barry Hearn’s notorious Matchroom stable where Hearn promoted the likes of Steve Davis, Terry Griffiths, Willie Thorne and Dennis Taylor including the venture into music recording, releasing the single “Snooker Loopy”. about the game, recorded by Chas and Dave.
Like all players though, his time at the top had to end and the breakthrough of new players, Tony started to slip down the rankings, leading to his eventual retirement from the sport in 1997. Meo hasn’t really been seen since, choosing to hang up his and concentrate on other business ventures. He now runs a watch and jewellery shop in Hatton Garden in central London. Tony has shunned previous proposals to return to the sport, choosing instead to admire the game from a detached position. However he will always be remembered as a snooker pioneer and a name that is engraved in snooker fans’ memories. We salute you Tony and have a wonderful birthday from all us in the snooker family!
https://youtu.be/W1rmDn8trIE
In 1984, Tony reached the final of the Classic, facing his doubles partner, Steve Davis. This was a controversial final and was one of those moments in snooker history when the audience was put under the spotlight. Meo took the match to a deciding frame but with only the colours to pot, someone shouted a cheer of encouragement from the crowd and Tony missed. Davis went on to win the frame and match. In his winning speech, Steve Davis mentioned the incident, asking fir an alcohol ban for future tournaments to prevent anything similar incidents occurring again.
Tony was a great doubles player, winning four World Doubles titles. Paired with Steve Davis, he made this variant of snooker very popular amongst snooker fans and the tournaments were a regular part of the main tour throughout the 1980s. Sadly this form of snooker died its death after it was deemed unpopular by the authorities and was axed after dwindling ticket sales. It is however a format that is used in the World Cup and I have long campaigned for it to be brought back as many players believe it would be popular again as a ranking or non-ranking event on the tour.
Meo was one of those frustrating players who had the ability to win more than he did and never really made a major impact in any of the key events. He did however help lead the England team to a victorious win in the 1983 World Team Classic and his only ranking title came in the 1989 British Open when he beat Dean Reynolds, 13-6 after starting the tournament as a 200-1 outsider. In the same year, he reached the semi- final of the World Championship where he lost 16-7 to John Parrott.
Tony achievements are still worth praise, rising to his highest ranking of number ten in the world for an incredible two years between 1984-1986 and achieved 54 century breaks. Earning £621,126 in career earnings and taking one ranking and seven non-ranking titles, Meo was also part of Barry Hearn’s notorious Matchroom stable where Hearn promoted the likes of Steve Davis, Terry Griffiths, Willie Thorne and Dennis Taylor including the venture into music recording, releasing the single “Snooker Loopy”. about the game, recorded by Chas and Dave.
Like all players though, his time at the top had to end and the breakthrough of new players, Tony started to slip down the rankings, leading to his eventual retirement from the sport in 1997. Meo hasn’t really been seen since, choosing to hang up his and concentrate on other business ventures. He now runs a watch and jewellery shop in Hatton Garden in central London. Tony has shunned previous proposals to return to the sport, choosing instead to admire the game from a detached position. However he will always be remembered as a snooker pioneer and a name that is engraved in snooker fans’ memories. We salute you Tony and have a wonderful birthday from all us in the snooker family!
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