Gary Wilkinson (born 7 April 1966) is an English former professional snooker player.
Wilkinson turned professional in 1987. In 1988, he won the non-ranking WPBSA Invitation Event beating Alex Higgins 5âÂÂ4 in the final. He climbed the rankings to reach the no. 5 spot in the world within four seasons. One of his career highlights was at the 1989 UK Championship, where he led John Parrott 7âÂÂ0 and 8âÂÂ1 in their Last 16 match before falling over the line at 9âÂÂ6, then whitewashing Jimmy White 9âÂÂ0 in the quarter-finals, and then leading world number 1 Steve Davis 4âÂÂ0, 6âÂÂ2 and 8âÂÂ7 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 9âÂÂ8. 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 9âÂÂ10 to Stephen Hendry, losing the 1992 Scottish Masters final 8âÂÂ10 to Neal Foulds, as well as losing in four ranking semi-finals. While fancied to potentially go far at the 1991 World Championship, Wilkinson missed the chance of a 147 maximum break and a ã100,000 prize in his first round match against Doug Mountjoy after missing the final yellow off its spot, and eventually lost 3âÂÂ13 to Jimmy White in the quarter-finals in a surprisingly one-sided scoreline.
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, meaning that he has come through qualifying eight times. His best runs were to the quarter-finals in 1991 and 1995. After dropping off the main tour he played in the PIOS whilst also working as a tournament assistant for World Snooker. However, Wilkinson did capture one major title when he won the 1991 World Matchplay. During this peak moment of his career in December 1991, Wilkinson defeated Dean Reynolds 5âÂÂ1, world champion John Parrott 9âÂÂ8, Jimmy White 9âÂÂ6 and then beat Steve Davis 18âÂÂ11 in the final to win the 1991 World Matchplay title and the ã70,000 winner's cheque.