Matt Gibson Explained

Matt Gibson
Birth Date:7 May 1953
Professional:1981–1994
High Ranking:50

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.

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. His first match in the World Snooker Championship resulted in a 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. Gibson reached the final of the 1986 Scottish Professional Championship, losing 5–10 to Stephen Hendry after eliminating Eddie Sinclair and John Rea. 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. The highest ranking that he achieved during his career was 50th.

Career Finals

Amateur

OutcomeNo.YearChampionshipOpponent in the finalScore
Runner-up 1.1972British Junior ChampionshipTony Knowles
Winner 1.1980Scottish Amateur ChampionshipRonnie Millar
Professional
OutcomeNo.YearChampionshipOpponent in the finalScore
Runner-up 1.1981Scottish Professional ChampionshipIan Black7–11
Runner-up 2.1986Scottish Professional ChampionshipStephen Hendry5–10

Notes and References

  1. Book: Hayton . Eric . Dee . John . 2004 . The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History . Rose Villa Publications . Lowestoft . 978-0954854904 . 449–451.
  2. Book: Everton, Clive . 1979 . The History of Billiards and Snooker . Cassell . London. 185 . 0304303739.
  3. Book: Everton, Clive . 1981 . The Guinness Book of Snooker . Guinness Superlatives Ltd . Enfield . 0851122302 . 122.
  4. Book: Everton, Clive . 1985 . Snooker: The Records . Guinness Superlatives Ltd . Enfield . 0851124488 . 150.
  5. News: Sport in brief: Snooker . The Guardian . London . 18 April 1981 . 22.
  6. Book: Kobylecky, John . 2019 . The Complete International Directory of Snooker Players – 1927 to 2018 . Kobyhadrian Books . 83 . 978-0993143311 .
  7. Web site: Matt Gibson . snookerdatabase.co.uk . 13 November 2020 . 4 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201104190547/https://www.snookerdatabase.co.uk/PlayerDetails.aspx?playerKey=1302 . live .
  8. News: Friskin . Sydney . 20 March 1987. Davis has Gibson in a whirl . The Times . London . 40 .
  9. Official world rankings . . Everton's News Agency . June 1993 . 18–20.