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 Tournament 1987/88 1988/89 1989/90 1990/911991/92 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 RankingFrom 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.4539195817222319171729343746445678 Ranking tournaments Grand PrixThe event was also called the LG Cup (2001/2002–2003/2004)3R2R2R3R2R2RQF1R1R2R1R3R2RLQ1R1RLQLQLQ UK Championship1R2RSF3R2R3R1R2R3R2R3R1R1RLQ1RLQLQLQLQ Malta CupThe event was also called the European Open (1988/1989–1996/1997 and 2001/2002–2003/2004) and Irish Open (1998/1999)NH2RLQ2R2R2R1R1RLQLQNHLQ Not HeldLQLQLQLQLQ Welsh Open Tournament Not HeldQF3R2R1R2R1R2R1R1RLQLQLQLQLQLQ China OpenThe event was also called the China International (1997/1998–1998/1999) Tournament Not HeldNRLQLQLQLQ Not HeldLQLQ World ChampionshipLQ1R1RQF1R2RLQQF2R1RLQLQ1RLQLQ1RLQLQLQ Non-ranking tournaments Pot Black Tournament Not HeldQFSF1R Tournament Not HeldA The MastersAAAWR1RQFLQLQLQLQLQLQLQLQLQLQLQAA Former ranking tournaments Canadian MastersNRLQ Tournament Not Held Hong Kong OpenThe event was also called the Australian Masters (1986/1987–1987/1988 and 1995/1996) and Australian Open (1994/1995)NRNHSF Tournament Not Held NR Tournament Not Held ClassicLQ1R3RQF3R Tournament Not Held Strachan Open Tournament Not Held2R Tournament Not Held Dubai ClassicThe event was also called the Dubai Masters (1988/1989), Thailand Classic (1995/1996) and Asian Classic (1996/1997)NHNR2RSF1R3RLQ1R1R2R Tournament Not Held German MastersThe event was also called the German Open (1995/1996–1997/1998) Tournament Not Held1R1R2RNR Tournament Not Held Malta Grand Prix Tournament Not Held Non-Ranking Event1RNR Tournament Not Held Thailand MastersThe event was also called the Asian Open (1989/1990–1992/1993) and Thailand Open (1993/1994–1996/1997) Not HeldSF1R1R1RLQQFLQ1R1RLQLQLQLQNR Not Held Scottish OpenThe event was also called the International Open (1987/1988–1989/1990 and 1992/1993–1996/1997) and Players Championship (2003/2004)1RLQLQ Not Held1R3R1R2R2R2R1R2RLQ2RLQ1R Not Held British Open3R1R1RF3R1R1R1R3R3R3R3R1R2R1RLQLQLQNH Irish Masters Non-Ranking EventLQ1RLQNH Former non-ranking tournaments 1RSF Tournament Not Held Shoot-Out Not Held2R Tournament Not Held World Masters Not Held3R Tournament Not Held London MastersNHAAQF Tournament Not Held Thailand Masters Not Held RankingQF Ranking EventNR Not Held Hong Kong ChallengeAANHAQF Tournament Not Held Indian Challenge Tournament Not HeldSF Tournament Not Held Belgian Challenge Tournament Not HeldQF Tournament Not Held European Challenge Tournament Not HeldSFSFA Tournament Not Held Kent ClassicAAAANH1R Tournament Not Held Scottish MastersANHAASFFAAAAAAAAAA Not Held Belgian Masters Not HeldAQFQF Not HeldA Tournament Not Held World MatchplayNHAAQFWQF Tournament Not Held Irish MastersAAAA1R1RAAAAAAAAA Ranking EventNH Pontins ProfessionalAAAASFQFSFSFAAAAA Tournament Not Held Malta Masters Tournament Not HeldQF Tournament Not Held

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

References