The game really started in 1969 with Pot Black, but in 1970, along came Alex Higgins and the game took off. — John Virgo Alex Copy Share Image
I was born in March 1946, almost exactly 10 months after V-E Day, so I imagine my parents got carried away when… — John Virgo Born Copy Share Image
When the results weren't coming on the snooker table, I tried to supplement things by gambling on horses even more. — John Virgo Gambling Copy Share Image
I have never invested directly in stocks and shares. That's never been my type of speculation. — John Virgo Invested Copy Share Image
I don't mind cheese with a nice glass of port, but I prefer chocolate. — John Virgo Cheese Copy Share Image
I get the 'Daily Mirror,' purely and simply because they put the Racing Post prices in. — John Virgo Because Copy Share Image
Cricket had John Arlott, Wimbledon had Dan Maskell, we had Ted Lowe. He was great. — John Virgo Cricket Copy Share Image
You can't be giggling and joking when you miss a shot in the modern game - not like the way when Ray… — John Virgo Game Copy Share Image
When I started playing all the players were trying to sell the game of snooker. Nowadays the prize money is so great,… — John Virgo Game Copy Share Image
It's a different world now and as we see with footballers and everybody else, and the fall from grace of any sportsman,… — John Virgo Balancing act Copy Share Image
I grew up on a street that's similar to the ones you used to see in Coronation Street on TV. We had… — John Virgo Bedroom Copy Share Image
At the end of the day, life is a gamble, isn't it? A lot of it is sheer luck. — John Virgo End of the day Copy Share Image
When my father retired, all he did was twiddle his thumbs. I don't want to go down that road. As long as… — John Virgo Father Copy Share Image
I never sat any exams at school. Our family situation meant that as soon as I was able to go out and… — John Virgo Exams Copy Share Image
People often talk about George Best and Alex Higgins as two similar personalities... but the truth is that Best did not like… — John Virgo Best Copy Share Image
It took my parents years to save up for 'luxuries' like a fridge or a television, and we were always among the… — John Virgo Always Copy Share Image
The worst time was in 1985 when house prices crashed and interest rates went up to 14 percent. I was not winning… — John Virgo Big Copy Share Image
In 1983, I played in a new tournament called the Professional Snooker League. I won eight of my 11 matches, beating Alex… — John Virgo Matches Copy Share Image
The better players need to be out there in front of a big crowd, the TV cameras, with the adrenaline going. That… — John Virgo Adrenaline Copy Share Image
I remember that if you went down to the Crucible or other snooker tournaments it was all the snooker writers, and then… — John Virgo Game Copy Share Image
Particularly now with social media, you only need to turn round and someone will have a camera in your face and occasionally… — John Virgo Face Copy Share Image
I went through a period when I was addicted to gambling. It was a compulsion that I struggled to get to grips… — John Virgo Compulsion Copy Share Image
I was doing commentary for the BBC and had exhibition work but if you're not winning you are not earning as much.… — John Virgo Car Copy Share Image
