--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The game really started in 1969 with Pot…" description: "\"The game really started in 1969 with Pot Black, but in 1970, along came Alex Higgins and the game took off.\" — John Virgo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee2/john-virgo-23763_alex_the-game-really-started-in-1969-with-pot_1296106.jpg" --- # The game really started in 1969 with Pot Black, but in… ![“The game really started in 1969 with Pot Black, but in 1970, along came Alex Higgins and the game took off.” quote by John Virgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee2/john-virgo-23763_alex_the-game-really-started-in-1969-with-pot_1296106.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee2/john-virgo-23763_alex_the-game-really-started-in-1969-with-pot_1296106.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee2/john-virgo-23763_alex_the-game-really-started-in-1969-with-pot_1296106.jpg) > “The game really started in 1969 with Pot Black, but in 1970, along came Alex Higgins and the game took off.” [John Virgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-virgo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The sport gained popularity after televised matches and a charismatic player emerged. **In simple terms:** Snooker grew after TV and Alex Higgins. Key Takeaway Recognize media and personalities can boost a sport's fame. Themes sports history media influence personalities Mood informative nostalgic Type historical analytical When to use this quote - broadcast scheduling - marketing campaigns - player promotion - fan engagement Key Concepts cultural diffusion celebrity impact Questions to Reflect On - What role does media play in your favorite hobby? - How can a sport sustain interest without star players? A Different Perspective Reliance on media can make popularity fragile if coverage drops. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [1970 Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/1970-came-4239673/) [Alex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alex/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black 1970](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-1970-4239674/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Game Took](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game-took-1335114/) [Higgins Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higgins-game-4239671/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Started 1969](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-1969-4239672/) ## Related quotes > [When Paul Brown talked contract, the championship game was part of it. We took the championship game for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-graham/when-paul-brown-talked-contract-the-championship-game-was-part-of-it/) [Otto Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-graham/) > [Jon Gruden taught me the foundation of what I know about this game. Took me under his arm, taught me to see it from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mcvay/jon-gruden-taught-me-the-foundation-of-what-i-know-about-this-game/) [Sean McVay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mcvay/) > [As a player, I loved being tackled, whether it was in training or in a game. I took a full-blooded challenge as an invitation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scholes/as-a-player-i-loved-being-tackled-whether-it-was-in-training-or-in-a/) [Paul Scholes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scholes/) > [Being away from the game took a toll on my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefon-diggs/being-away-from-the-game-took-a-toll-on-my-heart/) [Stefon Diggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefon-diggs/) > [He read a lot. He used a lot of big words. I think maybe part of what got him into trouble was that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/he-read-a-lot-he-used-a-lot-of-big-words-i-think-maybe-part-of-what/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [“It’s not great. What kind of connection is this? A one-way hotline to Pervyville?” I took a step forward, on a roll now. “It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/it-s-not-great-what-kind-of-connection-is-this-a-one-way-hotline-to/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Welcome home, Soldier of Furnace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/welcome-home-soldier-of-furnace/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [You knew where you stood with Sir Alex Ferguson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scholes/you-knew-where-you-stood-with-sir-alex-ferguson/) [Paul Scholes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scholes/) > [ I remember having some problems with \[the Deus Ex theme\] when I first heard it and I was trying to figure out how to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-spector/i-remember-having-some-problems-with-the-deus-ex-theme-when-i-first/) [Warren Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-spector/) > [“I breathed in the memory of his lips, the softness of them, and how they felt tracing across my skin, leaving ripples of goosebumps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-alderson/i-breathed-in-the-memory-of-his-lips-the-softness-of-them-and-how/) [Sarah Alderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-alderson/) > [Alex: Rosie, I wanted you to be the first person to no that I’ve decided to become a heart surgeon! Rosie: Cool, does it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/alex-rosie-i-wanted-you-to-be-the-first-person-to-no-that-i-ve/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [“Something’s up,’ I say, handing the phone back. ‘Not necessarily,’ Jack says. ‘You think this is the first time Lila’s been hot-headed? Seriously, dude,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-alderson/something-s-up-i-say-handing-the-phone-back-not-necessarily-jack-says/) [Sarah Alderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-alderson/) > [I am actually working on The Neighbors sitcom. We are starting from scratch. I am also working on a comedy movie and a vampire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/i-am-actually-working-on-the-neighbors-sitcom-we-are-starting-from/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [“At least when I'm sleeping I can dream myself back to Alex, can dream myself into a different world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/at-least-when-i-m-sleeping-i-can-dream-myself-back-to-alex-can-dream/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“I may be the one leaving, but you’re the one giving up everything and walking away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loni-flowers/i-may-be-the-one-leaving-but-you-re-the-one-giving-up-everything-and/) [Loni Flowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loni-flowers/) ## More by John Virgo > [I don't like tea that's too sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-virgo/i-don-t-like-tea-that-s-too-sweet/) [John Virgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-virgo/) > [You can't be giggling and joking when you miss a shot in the modern game - not like the way when Ray Reardon used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-virgo/you-can-t-be-giggling-and-joking-when-you-miss-a-shot-in-the-modern/) [John Virgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-virgo/) > [I don't mind cheese with a nice glass of port, but I prefer chocolate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-virgo/i-don-t-mind-cheese-with-a-nice-glass-of-port-but-i-prefer-chocolate/) [John Virgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-virgo/) > [Cricket had John Arlott, Wimbledon had Dan Maskell, we had Ted Lowe. He was great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-virgo/cricket-had-john-arlott-wimbledon-had-dan-maskell-we-had-ted-lowe-he/) [John Virgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-virgo/) > [When I started playing all the players were trying to sell the game of snooker. Nowadays the prize money is so great, competing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-virgo/when-i-started-playing-all-the-players-were-trying-to-sell-the-game/) [John Virgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-virgo/) > [I was born in March 1946, almost exactly 10 months after V-E Day, so I imagine my parents got carried away when peace was declared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-virgo/i-was-born-in-march-1946-almost-exactly-10-months-after-v-e-day-so-i/) [John Virgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-virgo/) > [It's a different world now and as we see with footballers and everybody else, and the fall from grace of any sportsman, it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-virgo/it-s-a-different-world-now-and-as-we-see-with-footballers-and/) [John Virgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-virgo/) > [When the results weren't coming on the snooker table, I tried to supplement things by gambling on horses even more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-virgo/when-the-results-weren-t-coming-on-the-snooker-table-i-tried-to/) [John Virgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-virgo/) > [I grew up on a street that's similar to the ones you used to see in Coronation Street on TV. We had an outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-virgo/i-grew-up-on-a-street-that-s-similar-to-the-ones-you-used-to-see-in/) [John Virgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-virgo/) > [I get the 'Daily Mirror,' purely and simply because they put the Racing Post prices in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-virgo/i-get-the-daily-mirror-purely-and-simply-because-they-put-the-racing/) [John Virgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-virgo/) > [I have never invested directly in stocks and shares. That's never been my type of speculation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-virgo/i-have-never-invested-directly-in-stocks-and-shares-that-s-never-been/) [John Virgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-virgo/) > [The worst time was in 1985 when house prices crashed and interest rates went up to 14 percent. I was not winning on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-virgo/the-worst-time-was-in-1985-when-house-prices-crashed-and-interest/) [John Virgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-virgo/) > [Particularly now with social media, you only need to turn round and someone will have a camera in your face and occasionally someone will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-virgo/particularly-now-with-social-media-you-only-need-to-turn-round-and/) [John Virgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-virgo/) > [I remember that if you went down to the Crucible or other snooker tournaments it was all the snooker writers, and then all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-virgo/i-remember-that-if-you-went-down-to-the-crucible-or-other-snooker/) [John Virgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-virgo/) > [At the end of the day, life is a gamble, isn't it? A lot of it is sheer luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-virgo/at-the-end-of-the-day-life-is-a-gamble-isn-t-it-a-lot-of-it-is-sheer/) [John Virgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-virgo/) [Explore all 25 John Virgo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-virgo/) ## More Alex quotes > [“I may be the one leaving, but you’re the one giving up everything and walking away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loni-flowers/i-may-be-the-one-leaving-but-you-re-the-one-giving-up-everything-and/) [Loni Flowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loni-flowers/) > [“At least when I'm sleeping I can dream myself back to Alex, can dream myself into a different world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/at-least-when-i-m-sleeping-i-can-dream-myself-back-to-alex-can-dream/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [I am actually working on The Neighbors sitcom. We are starting from scratch. I am also working on a comedy movie and a vampire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/i-am-actually-working-on-the-neighbors-sitcom-we-are-starting-from/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [“Something’s up,’ I say, handing the phone back. ‘Not necessarily,’ Jack says. ‘You think this is the first time Lila’s been hot-headed? Seriously, dude,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-alderson/something-s-up-i-say-handing-the-phone-back-not-necessarily-jack-says/) [Sarah Alderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-alderson/) > [Alex: Rosie, I wanted you to be the first person to no that I’ve decided to become a heart surgeon! Rosie: Cool, does it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/alex-rosie-i-wanted-you-to-be-the-first-person-to-no-that-i-ve/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [“I breathed in the memory of his lips, the softness of them, and how they felt tracing across my skin, leaving ripples of goosebumps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-alderson/i-breathed-in-the-memory-of-his-lips-the-softness-of-them-and-how/) [Sarah Alderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-alderson/) > [ I remember having some problems with \[the Deus Ex theme\] when I first heard it and I was trying to figure out how to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-spector/i-remember-having-some-problems-with-the-deus-ex-theme-when-i-first/) [Warren Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-spector/) > [You knew where you stood with Sir Alex Ferguson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scholes/you-knew-where-you-stood-with-sir-alex-ferguson/) [Paul Scholes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scholes/) > [“Welcome home, Soldier of Furnace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/welcome-home-soldier-of-furnace/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [“It’s not great. What kind of connection is this? A one-way hotline to Pervyville?” I took a step forward, on a roll now. “It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/it-s-not-great-what-kind-of-connection-is-this-a-one-way-hotline-to/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [He read a lot. He used a lot of big words. I think maybe part of what got him into trouble was that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/he-read-a-lot-he-used-a-lot-of-big-words-i-think-maybe-part-of-what/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [Your name?"The movements of the man's mouth didn't quite match what he was saying, so seeing him speak was a bit like watching a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-horowitz/your-name-the-movements-of-the-man-s-mouth-didn-t-quite-match-what-he/) [Anthony Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-horowitz/) > [Dora appeared, placing Alex's coffee in front of him."Your girlfriend is a wonder, honey,"she siad to him, squeezing willows shoulder. Willow's smile turned strained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dora-appeared-placing-alex-s-coffee-in-front-of-him-your-girlfriend/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I do have high expectations for Alex Riley. He seems athletic, articulate and intelligent. Only time will tell how far he goes, but Riley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/i-do-have-high-expectations-for-alex-riley-he-seems-athletic/) [Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/) > [“I mean, contrary to popular belief, I'm actually not harboring a secret desire to grow up and become a bioterrorist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-norris/i-mean-contrary-to-popular-belief-i-m-actually-not-harboring-a-secret/) [Elizabeth Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-norris/) [Browse all 479 Alex quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alex/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The game really started in 1969 with Pot Black, but in 1970, along came Alex Higgins and the game took off.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Virgo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-virgo/the-game-really-started-in-1969-with-pot-black-but-in-1970-along-came/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alex" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-virgo/the-game-really-started-in-1969-with-pot-black-but-in-1970-along-came/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee2/john-virgo-23763_alex_the-game-really-started-in-1969-with-pot_1296106.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee2/john-virgo-23763_alex_the-game-really-started-in-1969-with-pot_1296106.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee2/john-virgo-23763_alex_the-game-really-started-in-1969-with-pot_1296106.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The game really started in 1969 with Pot Black, but in 1970, along came Alex Higgins and the game took off.” — John Virgo", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Virgo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-virgo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The game really started in 1969...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-virgo/the-game-really-started-in-1969-with-pot-black-but-in-1970-along-came/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-virgo/the-game-really-started-in-1969-with-pot-black-but-in-1970-along-came/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```