Matt Gibson

Matt Gibson
Born (1953-05-07) 7 May 1953 (age 71)
Sport country Scotland
Professional1981–1994
Highest ranking50

Matt Gibson (born 7 May 1953) is a Scottish former professional snooker player.[1]

Career

Gibson was runner-up to Tony Knowles in the 1972 British Junior Championship,[2] and defeated Ronnie Millar to win the 1980 Scottish Amateur Championship.[3] He represented Scotland at the 1980 IBSF World Snooker Championship, finishing fourth in his seven-player qualifying group after winning three matches.[4]

He was accepted as a professional by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association in 1981.[5] He reached the final of his first event as a professional, the 1981 Scottish Professional Championship by defeating Bert Demarco 5–3 and Jim Donnelly 6–4. He lost the final 7–11 to Ian Black.[1]

In the 1981–82 snooker season, he reached the third qualifying round of the 1981 International Open with 5–3 wins over both Sid Hood and Maurice Parkin, before being eliminated 3–5 by John Dunning.[1] His first match in the World Snooker Championship resulted in a deciding frame defeat, 8–9 to Donnelly in the 1981 tournament.[6]

His best performance in a ranking event was at the 1984 World Snooker Championship, where he reached the last 48,[7] where be defeated Gino Rigitano 10–7 and Mick Fisher, both 10–7, before being knocked out 3–10 by Joe Johnson.[1] Gibson reached the final of the 1986 Scottish Professional Championship, losing 5–10 to Stephen Hendry after eliminating Eddie Sinclair and John Rea.[1] He was included in the Scotland team for the 1987 World Cup, losing 0–2 against Steve Davis as his team lost 1–5 in the first round.[8]

Gibson started the 1993–94 snooker season as 161st in the rankings,[9] and despite winning several matches, did not compete professionally again after the end of the season.[1] The highest ranking that he achieved during his career was 50th.[1]

Career Finals

Amateur

Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Runner-up 1. 1972 British Junior Championship Tony Knowles
Winner 1. 1980 Scottish Amateur Championship Ronnie Millar

Professional

Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Runner-up 1. 1981 Scottish Professional Championship Ian Black 7–11
Runner-up 2. 1986 Scottish Professional Championship Stephen Hendry 5–10

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Hayton, Eric; Dee, John (2004). The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History. Lowestoft: Rose Villa Publications. pp. 449–451. ISBN 978-0954854904.
  2. ^ Everton, Clive (1979). The History of Billiards and Snooker. London: Cassell. p. 185. ISBN 0304303739.
  3. ^ Everton, Clive (1981). The Guinness Book of Snooker. Enfield: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 122. ISBN 0851122302.
  4. ^ Everton, Clive (1985). Snooker: The Records. Enfield: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 150. ISBN 0851124488.
  5. ^ "Sport in brief: Snooker". The Guardian. London. 18 April 1981. p. 22.
  6. ^ Kobylecky, John (2019). The Complete International Directory of Snooker Players – 1927 to 2018. Kobyhadrian Books. p. 83. ISBN 978-0993143311.
  7. ^ "Matt Gibson". snookerdatabase.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  8. ^ Friskin, Sydney (20 March 1987). "Davis has Gibson in a whirl". The Times. London. p. 40.
  9. ^ "Official world rankings". Snooker Scene. Everton's News Agency. June 1993. pp. 18–20.