# Gary Wilkinson (snooker player)

Gary Wilkinson (born 7 April 1966) is an English former professional snooker player.

## 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. One of his career highlights was at the 1989 UK Championship, where he led John Parrott 7–0 and 8–1 in their Last 16 match before falling over the line at 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. While fancied to potentially go far 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 in a surprisingly one-sided scoreline.
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, meaning that he has come through qualifying eight times. His best runs were to the quarter-finals in 1991 and 1995. After dropping off the main tour he played in the PIOS whilst also working as a tournament assistant for World Snooker. However, Wilkinson did capture one major title when he won the 1991 World Matchplay. During this peak moment of his career in December 1991, 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 1991 World Matchplay title and the £70,000 winner's cheque.

## Performance and rankings timeline

| Tournament | 1987/ 88 | 1988/ 89 | 1989/ 90 | 1990/ 91 | 1991/ 92 | 1991/ 92 | 1992/ 93 | 1993/ 94 | 1994/ 95 | 1995/ 96 | 1996/ 97 | 1997/ 98 | 1998/ 99 | 1999/ 00 | 2000/ 01 | 2001/ 02 | 2002/ 03 | 2003/ 04 | 2004/ 05 | 2005/ 06 |
| Ranking | | 45 | 39 | 19 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 17 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 29 | 34 | 37 | 46 | 44 | 56 | 78 |
| Ranking tournaments |||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand Prix | 3R | 2R | 2R | 3R | 2R | 2R | 2R | QF | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 3R | 2R | LQ | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ |
| UK Championship | 1R | 2R | SF | 3R | 2R | 2R | 3R | 1R | 2R | 3R | 2R | 3R | 1R | 1R | LQ | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ |
| Malta Cup | NH | 2R | LQ | 2R | 2R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | NH | LQ | Not Held | Not Held | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ |
| Welsh Open | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | QF | QF | 3R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ |
| China Open | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | NR | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | Not Held | Not Held | LQ | LQ |
| World Championship | LQ | 1R | 1R | QF | 1R | 1R | 2R | LQ | QF | 2R | 1R | LQ | LQ | 1R | LQ | LQ | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ |
| Non-ranking tournaments |||||||||||||||||||||
| Pot Black | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | QF | QF | SF | 1R | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | A |
| The Masters | A | A | A | WR | 1R | 1R | QF | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | A | A |
| Former ranking tournaments |||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Masters | NR | LQ | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| Hong Kong Open | NR | NH | SF | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | NR | NR | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| Classic | LQ | 1R | 3R | QF | 3R | 3R | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| Strachan Open | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | 2R | 2R | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| Dubai Classic | NH | NR | 2R | SF | 1R | 1R | 3R | LQ | 1R | 1R | 2R | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| German Masters | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | 1R | 1R | 2R | NR | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| Malta Grand Prix | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | 1R | NR | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| Thailand Masters | Not Held | Not Held | SF | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | LQ | QF | LQ | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | NR | Not Held | Not Held |
| Scottish Open | 1R | LQ | LQ | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | 1R | 3R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 2R | LQ | 2R | LQ | 1R | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held |
| British Open | 3R | 1R | 1R | F | 3R | 3R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 3R | 3R | 3R | 3R | 1R | 2R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | NH |
| Irish Masters | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | Non-Ranking Event | LQ | 1R | LQ | NH |
| Former non-ranking tournaments |||||||||||||||||||||
| English Professional Championship | 1R | SF | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| Shoot-Out | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | 2R | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| World Masters | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | 3R | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| London Masters | NH | A | A | QF | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| Thailand Masters | Not Held | Not Held | Ranking | Ranking | QF | QF | Ranking Event | Ranking Event | Ranking Event | Ranking Event | Ranking Event | Ranking Event | Ranking Event | Ranking Event | Ranking Event | Ranking Event | NR | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held |
| Hong Kong Challenge | A | A | NH | A | QF | QF | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| Indian Challenge | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | SF | SF | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| Belgian Challenge | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | QF | QF | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| European Challenge | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | SF | SF | A | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| Kent Classic | A | A | A | A | NH | NH | 1R | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| Scottish Masters | A | NH | A | A | SF | SF | F | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held |
| Belgian Masters | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | A | QF | QF | QF | Not Held | Not Held | A | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| World Matchplay | NH | A | A | QF | W | W | QF | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| Irish Masters | A | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | Ranking Event | Ranking Event | Ranking Event | NH |
| Pontins Professional | A | A | A | A | SF | SF | QF | SF | SF | A | A | A | A | A | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
| Malta Masters | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | QF | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held | Tournament Not Held |
Performance table legend :
| LQ | 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-finals |
| SF | lost in the semi–finals | F | lost in the final | W | won the tournament |
| DNQ | did not qualify for the tournament | A | did not participate in the tournament | WD | withdrew from the tournament |
| NH / Not Held | NH / Not Held | NH / Not Held | NH / Not Held | event was not held. |
| NR / Non-Ranking Event | NR / Non-Ranking Event | NR / Non-Ranking Event | NR / Non-Ranking Event | event is/was no longer a ranking event. |
| R / Ranking Event | R / Ranking Event | R / Ranking Event | R / Ranking Event | event is/was a ranking event. |
| MR / Minor-Ranking Event | MR / Minor-Ranking Event | MR / Minor-Ranking Event | MR / Minor-Ranking Event | event is/was a minor-ranking event. |
* ↑ From the 2010/2011 season it shows the ranking at the beginning of the season.
* ↑ New players on the Main Tour don't have a ranking.
* ↑ The event was also called the LG Cup (2001/2002–2003/2004)
* ↑ The event was also called the European Open (1988/1989–1996/1997 and 2001/2002–2003/2004) and Irish Open (1998/1999)
* ↑ The event was also called the China International (1997/1998–1998/1999)
* ↑ The event was also called the Australian Masters (1986/1987–1987/1988 and 1995/1996) and Australian Open (1994/1995)
* ↑ The event was also called the Dubai Masters (1988/1989), Thailand Classic (1995/1996) and Asian Classic (1996/1997)
* ↑ The event was also called the German Open (1995/1996–1997/1998)
* ↑ The event was also called the Asian Open (1989/1990–1992/1993) and Thailand Open (1993/1994–1996/1997)
* ↑ The event was also called the International Open (1987/1988–1989/1990 and 1992/1993–1996/1997) and Players Championship (2003/2004)

## Career finals
### Ranking finals: 1

| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
| Runner-up | 1. | 1991 | British Open | Stephen Hendry | 9–10 |

### Non-ranking finals: 3 (2 titles)

| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
| Winner | 1. | 1988 | WPBSA Invitational Event 1 | Alex Higgins | 5–4 |
| Winner | 2. | 1991 | World Matchplay | Steve Davis | 18–11 |
| Runner-up | 1. | 1992 | Scottish Masters | Neal Foulds | 8–10 |

### Pro-am finals: 1 (1 title)

| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
| Winner | 1. | 1986 | Watney's Open | Andrew Shaw | 3–1 |

### Amateur finals: 2 (1 title)

| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
| Winner | 1. | 1985 | WPBSA Pro Ticket Series Event 4 | Jim Chambers | 5–1 |
| Runner-up | 1. | 2007 | PIOS Event 1 | Simon Bedford | 3–6 |