View source for Cliff Wilson

{{short description|Welsh professional snooker player (1834–1994}}
{{good article}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox snooker player
|name              = Cliff Wilson
|image             = Cliff Wilson.jpg
|caption           =
|birth_date        = {{birth date|1934|5|10|df=y}}
|birth_place       = [[Tredegar, Wales|Tredegar]], [[Monmouthshire (historic)|Monmouthshire]]
|death_date        = {{death date|1994|5|21|df=y}} (aged 60)
|death_place       =
|Sport country     = {{WAL}}
|Professional      = 1979–1994
|High ranking      = 16 ([[Snooker world rankings 1988/1989|1988–89]])
|Official maximums =
|Best finish       = Quarter-final (x5)
}}

'''Clifford Wilson''' (10 May 1934 – 21 May 1994) was a [[Welsh people|Welsh]] professional [[snooker]] player who reached his highest [[Snooker world rankings|ranking]] of 16 in [[Snooker world rankings 1988/1989|1988–89]]. He was the 1978 [[IBSF World Snooker Championship|World Amateur Champion]] and won the [[1991 World Seniors Championship]]. He was a successful junior player, known for his fast attacking snooker and {{cuegloss|pot|potting}} ability, and won the British Under-19 Championship in 1951 and 1952. In the early 1950s both Wilson and future six-time [[World Snooker Championship|World Professional Champion]] [[Ray Reardon]] lived in [[Tredegar]], where they played a succession of money matches that attracted large enthusiastic crowds.

A combination of factors, including Reardon leaving Tredegar, led to Wilson virtually giving up the game from 1957 to 1972, but after being asked to take up a vacant place in a works team, he returned to playing and later became the 1978 World Amateur Champion, achieving his victory with an 11–5 win in the final against [[Joe Johnson (snooker player)|Joe Johnson]]. In 1979 Wilson turned professional, aged 45, and, still playing with an attacking style, reached several ranking tournament quarter-finals during his career. At the inaugural [[World Seniors Championship]] in 1991 he beat [[Eddie Charlton]] 5–4 in the final to take the title. He won the [[Welsh Amateur Championship (snooker)|Welsh Amateur Championship]] in 1956, 1977 and 1979, and was runner-up in the [[Welsh Professional Championship]] in [[1981 Welsh Professional Championship|1981]] and [[1984 Welsh Professional Championship|1984]]. He suffered from a number of health conditions, including poor eyesight, during his career, but continued to play professionally until his death in 1994, aged 60.

== Amateur years ==
Wilson was born on 10 May 1934 and grew up in [[Tredegar, Wales|Tredegar]], the same town as his friend and snooker rival [[Ray Reardon]].<ref name="Indy Obit" /><ref name="GOBIT">{{cite news |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=28 May 1994 |title=Cue for a happy life |work=The Guardian |page=30|via=ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Guardian and The Observer. Retrieved 28 September 2019.}}</ref> He learnt to play snooker in a steelworks club-room. Even as a teenager, Wilson was nearly sightless in his left eye.<ref name="DH52A">{{cite news |last=Williams |first=David |title=He pots Wales to top |work=Daily Herald |date=18 November 1952 |page=8}}</ref> In 1950, aged 16, Wilson was the reigning Welsh boys snooker champion and working as a storekeeper when he reached the final of the [[British Junior Snooker Championship|British under-19 Championship]], where he lost 2–3 to [[Rex Williams]].<ref name="LM50">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Snooker youths' bid for "double" |work=Leicester Daily Mercury |date=28 October 1950 |page=12}}</ref><ref name="BIRUD" /> In the same competition the following year, Wilson (now a steelworker) won the title, defeating [[Gary Owen (snooker player)|Gary Owen]] 3–2 in the final.<ref name="BIR51" /> In 1952 he beat Owen on his way to reaching the semi-final of the [[English Amateur Championship]], where, using a cue that had been repaired overnight and reduced in length by an inch, he lost to Charles Downey.<ref name="SA52">{{cite news |author=Fancy Butt |title=Denis loses amateur snooker title |work=Sports Argus |date=1 March 1952 |page=6}}</ref>

Having been called up into the [[Royal Air Force]] for his [[national service]], Wilson was granted special leave to participate in the 1952 under-19 Championship. In the final he faced Owen again, this time winning 4–2.<ref name="PEO52" /><ref name="DH52">{{cite news |last=Williams |first=David |title=No happy birthday for young Tom |work=Daily Herald |date=28 October 1952 |page=6 }}</ref> A match report of Wilson's 3–1 semi-final win against Donald Scott in the ''Western Mail'' said that he played "spectacular snooker ... he had breaks of 20, 25, 30 and 41 all at tremendous speed."<ref name="WM52">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Champion in final again |work=Western Mail |date=1 November 1952 |page=12}}</ref> In 1954, Wilson was the youngest competitor in the English Amateur Championship and lost 9–11 to Geoff Thompson in the final.<ref name="LEP54">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Youngest player in snooker tourney |work=Lancashire Evening Post |date=19 March 1954 |page=12 }}</ref><ref name="BIREA">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Snooker |work=Birmingham Daily Gazette |date=31 March 1954 |page=6 }}</ref> He won the Welsh Amateur Championship in 1956.<ref name="WBSA">{{cite web |url=https://www.welshsnooker.com/welsh-championship-records |title=Welsh Championship Records |website=welshsnooker.com |publisher=Welsh Snooker (WBSA) |access-date=24 November 2019}}</ref> Snooker historian [[Clive Everton]] wrote of Wilson's early career that he was "a phenomenal potter: quick, instinctive fearless."<ref name="FARCE" /> {{rp|369}}

He played Reardon in a succession of money matches in Tredegar. In ''The Story of Billiards and Snooker'', Everton described Wilson as being an "even more remarkable talent"<ref name="SBS" />{{rp|80}} than Reardon, who would go on to win the [[World Snooker Championship]] six times between 1969 and 1978. Everton went on to describe their contests, when each would attract hundreds of supporting spectators, as "modern snooker's nearest equivalent to a bare knuckle prize fight."<ref name="SBS" />{{rp|80}} Everton then suggests that when Reardon moved away, "the edge went from Wilson's game." Wilson's father, who had supported his son's snooker career, died at around the time that Reardon moved away, and Wilson also started having problems with his eyesight.<ref name="SBS">{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=1979 |title=The History of Billiards and Snooker |publisher=Cassell |isbn=0304303739}}</ref>{{rp|80}} Apart from this, snooker's popularity was on the wane during the 1950s and it was extremely difficult to join the small, closed professional circuit. Wilson gave up snooker almost completely, and continued working at the steelworks at [[Llanwern]]. From 1957 to 1972 he was retired from snooker apart from participating in a few games in 1960, which included the televised "Snooker Foursomes" in which he partnered John Price.<ref name="Indy Obit">{{cite news|last=Hodgson|first=Guy|title=Obituary: Cliff Wilson|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-cliff-wilson-1438835.html|access-date=16 January 2013|newspaper=The Independent|date=27 May 1994}}</ref><ref name="SA60">{{cite news |last=Bate |first=Stan |title=Secrets of that TV clash |work=Sports Argus |date=19 November 1960 |page=3}}</ref><ref name="SBS" />

In 1972 he started playing again when a friend asked him to take a vacant place in a works team in the Newport League. Within two years of starting to play again, he was selected for the Wales team for the 1973–74 Home International series, losing 1–2 against D. Lenehan of Ireland and beating W. McKerron of Scotland 2–1. He was selected again in 1976–77 for the match against Ireland, beating J. Clusker 2–1. In 1977–78 Wales won the series, although Wilson lost two of his three matches, including a 1–2 defeat by 1972 and 1974 [[IBSF World Snooker Championship|World Amateur Champion]] [[Ray Edmonds]]. In the 1978 series Wilson won three of his four matches, including a 3–0 win over the captain of the England team [[Mike Hallett]].<ref name="BH1">{{cite book |editor=Clive Everton |date=1984 |title=Benson and Hedges Snooker Year |location=London|publisher=Virgin Books |isbn=0863690513 |pages=111122|edition=First }}</ref><ref name="87HALE" />{{rp|298–299}}<ref name="WHOWHO" />{{rp|43}} In 1977, he won his second Welsh amateur championship, following his earlier win in 1956, beating Dai Thomas 8–1 in the final.<ref name="WHOWHO">{{cite book |last=Morrison |first=Ian |date=1988 |title=Hamlyn Who's Who in Snooker  |location=London |publisher=Hamlyn|isbn=0600557138 }}</ref>{{rp|125}}<ref name="HAMLYN">{{cite book |last=Morrison |first=Ian |date=1987 |title=The Hamlyn Encyclopedia of Snooker |location=Twickenham |publisher=Hamlyn Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-60055604-6|page=155}}</ref><ref name="FARCE" />{{rp|370–371}}

As Welsh Champion, Wilson qualified for the 1978 World Amateur Championship in Malta. He was the only player in the three groups of the [[round-robin tournament|round-robin]] stage to win all of their matches, and then beat Maltese player [[Joe Grech (snooker player)|Joe Grech]] 5–4 in the quarter-finals. Wilson built a 4–0 lead in front of a 4,000 strong audience that, according to Everton, started to deliberately distract him, as Grech levelled at 4–4 and led 37–0 in the deciding frame. Wilson eventually won the frame, and remained in the pressroom with Everton, guarded by police, until the audience left. He beat [[Kirk Stevens]] 8–2 in the semi-final and then [[Joe Johnson (snooker player)|Joe Johnson]] 11–5 in the final to take the title.<ref name="FARCE">{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=2012 |title=Black farce and cue ball wizards |publisher=Mainstream |location=Edinburgh |isbn=9781780575681}}</ref>{{rp|368–372}}<ref name="87HALE">{{cite book |last=Hale |first=Janice |date=1987 |title=Rothmans Snooker Yearbook 1987–88  |location=Aylesbury |publisher=Queen Anne Press |isbn=0356146901 }}</ref>{{rp|300}}

Following his world amateur championship win, Wilson was invited to participate in the [[1979 Masters (snooker)|1979 Masters]]. He would have been the first amateur to play in the Masters, but withdrew due to a threatened boycott by professional players.<ref name="HO78">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Boycott of Wembley world snooker is averted |work=Harrow Observer |date=22 December 1978 |page=28}}</ref> He lost 5–8 in the southern area final of the English Amateur Championship to [[Jimmy White]] after leading 4–2.<ref name="M79">{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Terry |title=Jimmy's fluke is right on cue |work=Daily Mirror |date=22 March 1979 |page=27 }}</ref> 1979 also saw him win the Welsh Amateur Championship for the third time, defeating Geoff Thomas 8–5 in the final; and take the National Pairs championship title with [[Steve Newbury]].<ref name="HAMLYN" />

== Professional career ==
Wilson turned professional in 1979 at the age of 45, and won his first match, 9–7 against [[John Pulman]] in the [[1979 UK Championship]], before losing 4–9 to [[Terry Griffiths]] in the following round.<ref name="87HALE" />{{rp|195–197}}<ref name="Indy Obit" /> In his debut World Snooker Championship in [[1980 World Snooker Championship|1980]], he beat [[Frank Jonik]] 9–7 in qualifying and lost 6–10 to [[Doug Mountjoy]] in the first round. In the [[1980–81 snooker season|1980–81 season]], he reached the final of the [[1981 Welsh Professional Championship]], losing 6–9 to Reardon. He beat [[Roy Andrewartha]] and [[Eddie Sinclair]], both 9–4, in qualifying for the [[1981 World Snooker Championship]] and then was beaten 6–10 by [[David Taylor (snooker player)|David Taylor]] in the first round. In [[1981–82 snooker season|1981–82]] he again lost in the first round of the world championship, 5–10 to [[Eddie Charlton]].<ref name="CUESPORT">{{cite book |last1=Hayton |first1=Eric |last2=Dee |first2=John |date=2004 |title=The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History |publisher=Rose Villa Publications|isbn=978-0954854904 |pages=1028–1030}}</ref> Wilson was the runner-up at the [[Pontins Open#Pontins Spring Open|Pontins Spring Open]] in consecutive years, losing 3–7 to [[Willie Thorne]] in 1980 and 2–7 to [[John Hargreaves (snooker player)|John Hargreaves]] in 1981.<ref name="web.archive.org" /><ref name="FACTS">{{cite book |last=Morrison|first=Ian |date=1989 |title=Snooker: records, facts and champions |publisher=Guinness Superlatives Ltd |isbn=0851123643 |page=90}}</ref>

With wins over Johnson, Mountjoy and White, Wilson reached his first [[snooker world rankings|ranking]] tournament quarter-final at the [[1982 International Open]], losing 4–5 to the eventual champion [[Tony Knowles (snooker player)|Tony Knowles]]. He next reached a ranking quarter final at the [[1985 Grand Prix (snooker)|1985 Grand Prix]], with further losing quarter-final appearances at the [[1986 International Open]], [[1987 Classic (snooker)|1987 classic]], and [[1989 International Open]].<ref name="87HALE" />{{rp|205–206}}<ref name="CUESPORT" />

He broke into the top sixteen of the world rankings for one season, [[Snooker world rankings 1988/1989|1988/89]], ranked 16th.<ref name="FARCE" />{{rp|372}}<ref name="KOBY">{{cite book |last=Kobylecky |first=John |date=2019 |title=The Complete International Directory of Snooker Players – 1927 to 2018 |publisher=Kobyhadrian Books |pages=264–265 |isbn=978-0993143311 }}</ref> This ranking entitled him to a place at the [[1989 Masters (snooker)|1989 Masters]], where he came back from 0-2 down to level at 2–2 against reigning World Champion and defending Masters Champion [[Steve Davis]] before Davis went on to win 5–2.<ref name="TIMESHW">{{cite news |last=Acteson |first=Steve |title=Hendry is a winner once more – Snooker |work=The Times |location=London |date=23 January 1989}}</ref>

He later went on to win the first [[World Seniors Championship]] in [[1991 World Seniors Championship|1991]], beating Charlton 5–4 in the final after earlier victories over Mountjoy and Griffiths. Charlton had led 4–2 and needed only to pot the {{cuegloss|blue ball|blue}} and {{cuegloss|pink ball|pink}} for the match, but Wilson took three frames in a row to win his first professional title at the age of 57 and collect £16,000, his highest prize winnings.<ref name="SEN">{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=How Cliff Wilson became king of the golden oldies  |magazine=Snooker Scene |pages=17–19 |publisher=Everton's News Agency |issue=November 1991}}</ref><ref name="TOBIT" /><ref name="TIMESFW">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=First for Wilson |work=The Times |location=London |page=37 |date=23 September 1991 |via=The Times Digital Archive. Retrieved 20 May 2020.}}</ref>

He recorded wins over a number of prominent players as a professional. In January 1992 he beat [[Ken Doherty]] 5–2 in the [[1992 Welsh Open (snooker)|1992 Welsh Open]] before losing 1–5 to [[Darren Morgan]]. Later that year he played a young [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]] in the [[1992 UK Championship]], winning 9–8. Both Doherty and O'Sullivan won the respective tournaments the following year.<ref name="FARCE" /><ref name="Indy Obit" /><ref name="TOBIT">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Obituary: Cliff Wilson |work=The Times |location=London |page=10 |date=24 May 1994 |via=The Times Digital Archive. Retrieved 24 November 2019.}}</ref> The highest break of his career was 136 at the [[1989 Grand Prix (snooker)|1989 Grand Prix]].<ref name="TURNERCW" /><ref name="CUESPORT" />

His popular exhibition matches were advertised with the phrase "You've never seen anything like it!"<ref name="FARCE" />{{rp|372}} He was known as a fast, attacking, player<ref name="KARNEHM" /><ref name="TOBIT" /> and has been described as an "outstanding potter" both by Everton and by snooker writer Ian Morrison.<ref name="WHOWHO" />{{rp|123}}<ref name="GUINNESS" />{{rp|40}}  In 1953, a ''Sports Argus'' match report described Wilson as having "lived up to his reputation as the finest potter in the country, one ball being hardly in the pocket before the next one was following it in."<ref name="SA53">{{cite news |author=Fancy Butt |title=Adams out to turn tables on Jack Fitzmaurice |work=Sports Argus |date=31 January 1953 |page=2 }}</ref> Wilson's obituary in ''[[The Times]]'' noted that in the 1950s he was seen as a "phenomenal talent" and played an attacking game that was unlike the defensive approach generally prevalent at the time,<ref name="TOBIT" /> and ''[[Eurosport]]'s'' Desmond Kane included him in a 2020 list of the ten "greatest long potters".<ref name="EUROSP">{{cite web |url=https://www.eurosport.co.uk/snooker/world-championship/2019-2020/snooker-news-all-time-top-10-who-are-snooker-s-greatest-long-potters-featuring-trump-o-sullivan_sto7717624/story.shtml |title=All-time top 10: Who are snooker's greatest long potters? |last=Kane |first=Desmond |date=2 April 2020 |website=eurosport.co.uk |publisher=Eurosport |access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref> [[Jack Karnehm]] in 1981 wrote that Wilson was "probably the hardest hitter of a ball on earth. His high-speed accurate potting has to be seen to be believed" and added "it is said that the last time he played a safety shot was in 1959 and that was by mistake."<ref name="KARNEHM" />

==Personal life==
He was married to Valerie Wilson, and had four sons, including twins.<ref name="KARNEHM">{{cite book |last=Karnehm |first=Jack |date=1981 |title=World snooker |publisher=Pelham |isbn=0720713285|pages=117–118}}</ref> Towards the end of his life, Wilson suffered from a number of health problems with his back, knee and heart, eventually developing an inoperable disease of the liver and pancreas that led to his death.<ref name="TURNERCW" /> He continued to play professionally, recording a [[century break]] in the 1994 International Open in January 1994.

Wilson died on 21 May 1994, aged 60.<ref name="TOBIT" /><ref name="TURNERCW">{{cite web |last=Turner |first=Chris |title=Player Profile: Cliff Wilson |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Players/WilsonC.html |access-date=31 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331002654/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Players/WilsonC.html |archive-date=31 March 2016  }}</ref>

==Performance and rankings timeline==
{| class="wikitable"  style="font-size:85%;"
! Tournament
! [[1979–80 snooker season|1979/<br />80]]
! [[1980–81 snooker season|1980/<br />81]]
! [[1981–82 snooker season|1981/<br />82]]
! [[1982–83 snooker season|1982/<br />83]]
! [[1983–84 snooker season|1983/<br />84]]
! [[1984–85 snooker season|1984/<br />85]]
! [[1985–86 snooker season|1985/<br />86]]
! [[1986–87 snooker season|1986/<br />87]]
! [[1987–88 snooker season|1987/<br />88]]
! [[1988–89 snooker season|1988/<br />89]]
! [[1989–90 snooker season|1989/<br />90]]
! [[1990–91 snooker season|1990/<br />91]]
! [[1991–92 snooker season|1991/<br />92]]
! [[1992–93 snooker season|1992/<br />93]]
! [[1993–94 snooker season|1993/<br />94]]
|-
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Snooker world rankings|Ranking]]<ref name="Ranking history">{{cite web|title=Ranking History|url=http://www.snooker.org/rnk/history.asp|publisher=Snooker.org|access-date=5 December 2017}}</ref>
| align="center" |<ref group="nb">He was an amateur.</ref>
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1980/1981|UR]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1981/1982|23]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1982/1983|26]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1983/1984|20]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1984/1985|23]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1985/1986|22]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1986/1987|23]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1987/1988|17]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1988/1989|16]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1989/1990|18]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1990/1991|28]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1991/1992|32]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1992/1993|33]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1993/1994|47]]
|-
| colspan="50" | '''Ranking tournaments'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Dubai Classic]]<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Dubai Masters (1988/1989)</ref>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NR
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 Dubai Classic|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1990 Dubai Classic|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1991 Dubai Classic|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[World Open (snooker)|Grand Prix]]<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Professional Players Tournament (1982/93–1983/1984)</ref>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3"|Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1982 Professional Players Tournament|3R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1983 Professional Players Tournament|3R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1984 Grand Prix (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1985 Grand Prix (snooker)|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1986 Grand Prix (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1987 Grand Prix (snooker)|3R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1988 Grand Prix (snooker)|3R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 Grand Prix (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1990 Grand Prix (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1991 Grand Prix (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1992 Grand Prix (snooker)|2R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[UK Championship]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5"|Non-Ranking Event
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1984 UK Championship (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1985 UK Championship (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1986 UK Championship (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1987 UK Championship (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1988 UK Championship (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 UK Championship (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1990 UK Championship (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1991 UK Championship (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1992 UK Championship (snooker)|3R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1993 UK Championship (snooker)|1R]]
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[European Open (snooker)|European Open]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 European Open (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1990 European Open (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1991 European Open (snooker)|3R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1992 European Open (snooker)|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Welsh Open (snooker)|Welsh Open]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="12"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1992 Welsh Open (snooker)|3R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Scottish Open (snooker)|International Open]]<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Goya Matchroom Trophy (1985/1986)</ref>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NR
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1982 International Open|QF]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1985 Matchroom Trophy|3R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1986 International Open|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1987 International Open|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1988 International Open|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1989 International Open|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1993 International Open|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1994 International Open|1R]]
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Thailand Masters|Thailand Open]]<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Thailand Masters (1983/1984–1986/1987) and Asian Open (1989/1990–1992/1993)</ref>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|Non-Ranking Event
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 Asian Open|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1990 Asian Open|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1992 Asian Open|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[British Open (snooker)|British Open]]<ref group="nb">The event was also called the British Gold Cup (1979/1980), Yamaha Organs Trophy (1980/1981) and International Masters (1981/1982–1983/1984)</ref>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5"|Non-Ranking Event
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1985 British Open|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1986 British Open|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1987 British Open|3R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1988 British Open|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 British Open|3R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1990 British Open|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1991 British Open|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1992 British Open|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[World Snooker Championship|World Championship]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1980 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1981 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1982 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1983 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1986 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1988 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1990 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
|-
| colspan="50" | '''Non-ranking tournaments'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Masters (snooker)|The Masters]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 Masters (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|WD
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Pontins Professional]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1981 Pontins Professional|SF]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1984 Pontins Professional|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1985 Pontins Professional|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1986 Pontins Professional|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1987 Pontins Professional|QF]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1989 Pontins Professional|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1990 Pontins Professional|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1991 Pontins Professional|QF]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
|-
| colspan="50" | '''Former ranking tournaments'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Canadian Masters (snooker)|Canadian Masters]]<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Canadian Open (1979/1980–1980/1981)</ref>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|NR
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3"|Non-Ranking
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1988 Canadian Masters|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Hong Kong Open (snooker)|Hong Kong Open]]<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Australian Masters (1979/1980–1987/1988)</ref>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9"|Non-Ranking
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NH
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|WD
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Classic (snooker)|Classic]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|Non-Ranking Event
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1984 Classic (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1985 Classic (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1986 Classic (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1987 Classic (snooker)|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1988 Classic (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 Classic (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1990 Classic (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1991 Classic (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1992 Classic (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Strachan Open]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="12"|Non-Ranking Event
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1992 Strachan Open|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
|-
| colspan="50" | '''Former non-ranking tournaments'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Scottish Open (snooker)|International Open]]<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Goya Matchroom Trophy (1985/1986)</ref>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="8"|Ranking Event
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Ranking
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Classic (snooker)|Classic]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1983 Classic (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="20"|Ranking Event
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1983 Pontins Brean Sands|Pontins Brean Sands]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3"|Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1983 Pontins Brean Sands|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="20"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[British Open (snooker)|British Open]]<ref group="nb">The event was also called the British Gold Cup (1979/1980), Yamaha Organs Trophy (1980/1981) and International Masters (1981/1982–1983/1984)</ref>
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1983 International Masters|RR]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="20"|Ranking Event
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Snooker Shoot-Out|Shoot-Out]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="11"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1990 Shoot-Out|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3"|Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | {{nowrap|[[Welsh Professional Championship]]}}
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1980 Welsh Professional Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1981 Welsh Professional Championship|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1982 Welsh Professional Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1983 Welsh Professional Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1984 Welsh Professional Championship|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1985 Welsh Professional Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1986 Welsh Professional Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1987 Welsh Professional Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1988 Welsh Professional Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1989 Welsh Professional Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1990 Welsh Professional Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1991 Welsh Professional Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3"|Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[World Seniors Championship]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="12"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1991 World Seniors Championship|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:78%;"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! colspan="6"|Performance Table Legend
|-
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|LQ
| lost in the qualifying draw
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|#R
| lost in the early rounds of the tournament<br />(WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin)
| align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
| lost in the quarter-finals
|-
| align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
| lost in the semi-finals
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
| lost in the final
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
| won the tournament
|-
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|DNQ
| did not qualify for the tournament
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|A
| did not participate in the tournament
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|WD
| withdrew from the tournament
|}
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%"
|-
|  style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|NH / Not Held || means an event was not held.
|-
|  style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|NR / Non-Ranking Event || means an event is/was no longer a ranking event.
|-
|  style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|R / Ranking Event || means an event is/was a ranking event.
|}
{{reflist|group=nb}}

==Career finals==
===Non-ranking finals: 3 (1 title)===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
!width="80"| Outcome
!width="20"| No.
!width="50"| Year
!width="250"| Championship
!width="200"| Opponent in the final
!width="100"| Score
!width="20"| Ref.
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 1.
| [[1981 Welsh Professional Championship|1981]]
| {{nowrap|[[Welsh Professional Championship]]}}
| {{flagathlete|[[Ray Reardon]]|WAL}}
| 6–9
|<ref name="87HALE" />
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 2.
| [[1984 Welsh Professional Championship|1984]]
| {{nowrap|[[Welsh Professional Championship]]}} <small>(2)</small>
| {{flagathlete|[[Doug Mountjoy]]|WAL}}
| 3–9
|<ref name="87HALE" />
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Winner
| 1.
| [[1991 World Seniors Championship|1991]]
| {{nowrap|[[World Seniors Championship]]}}
| {{flagathlete|[[Eddie Charlton]]|AUS}}
| 5–4
|<ref name="SEN" />
|}

===Pro-am finals: 4 (1 title)===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
!width="80"| Outcome
!width="20"| No.
!width="50"| Year
!width="250"| Championship
!width="200"| Opponent in the final
!width="100"| Score
!width="20"| Ref.
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Winner
| 1.
| 1976
| [[Pontins Open#Pontins Autumn Open|Pontins Autumn Open]]
| {{flagathlete|[[Paul Medati]]|ENG}}
| 7–4
|<ref name="HAMLYNP">{{cite book |last=Morrison |first=Ian |date=1987 |title=The Hamlyn Encyclopedia of Snooker |location=Twickenham |publisher=Hamlyn Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-60055604-6|page=100}}</ref>
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 1.
| 1980
| [[Pontins Open#Pontins Spring Open|Pontins Spring Open]]
| {{flagathlete|[[Willie Thorne]]|ENG}}
| 3–7
|<ref name="web.archive.org">{{cite web |last=Turner |first=Chris |title=Pontins Open, Pontins Professional, Pontins World Pro-Am Series |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/pontins.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228200841/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/pontins.html |archive-date=28 February 2012 |access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref>
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 2.
| 1981
| [[Pontins Open#Pontins Spring Open|Pontins Spring Open]] <small>(2)</small>
| {{flagathlete|[[John Hargreaves (snooker player)|John Hargreaves]]|ENG}}
| 2–7
|<ref name="web.archive.org"/>
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 3.
| 1981
| William Younger Open
| {{flagathlete|[[Joe Johnson (snooker player)|Joe Johnson]]|ENG}}
| 7–8
|<ref>{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=1981 |title=The Guinness Book of Snooker |publisher=Guinness Superlatives Ltd |location=Enfield |isbn=0851122302 |page=160}}</ref>
|}

===Amateur finals: 8 (6 titles)===
<ref name="SBS" />{{rp|185}}<!--Note - seem to be a year out, e.g. says Wilson won in 1952 and 1953. Maybe the timing in the season changed in later years?--->
{| class="sortable wikitable"
!width="80"| Outcome
!width="20"| No.
!width="50"| Year
!width="250"| Championship
!width="200"| Opponent in the final
!width="100"| Score
!width="20"| Ref.
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 1.
| 1950
| [[British Junior Snooker Championship|{{nowrap|British Under-19 Championship}}]]
| {{flagathlete|[[Rex Williams]]|ENG}}
| 2–3
|<ref name="BIRUD">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Unique double for Williams |work=Birmingham Daily Gazette |date=30 October 1950 |page=2 }}</ref>
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Winner
| 1.
| 1951
| [[British Junior Snooker Championship|{{nowrap|British Under-19 Championship}}]]
| {{flagathlete|[[Marcus Owen]]|WAL}}
| 3–2
|<ref name="BIR51">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=17-year-old is youth snooker champion |work=Birmingham Daily Gazette |date=29 October 1951 |page=2}}</ref>
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Winner
| 2.
| 1952
| [[British Junior Snooker Championship|{{nowrap|British Under-19 Championship}}]] <small>(2)</small>
| {{flagathlete|[[Marcus Owen]]|WAL}}
| 4–2
|<ref name="PEO52">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Round-up |work=The People |date=2 November 1952 |page=12 }}</ref>
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 1.
| 1954
| {{nowrap|[[English Amateur Championship]]}}
| {{flagathlete|[[Geoff Thompson (snooker player)|Geoff Thompson]]|ENG}}
| 9–11
|<ref name="GUINNESS">{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=1985 |title=Guinness Snooker – The Records |publisher=Guinness Superlatives Ltd |isbn=0851124488 }}</ref>{{rp|122}}
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Winner
| 1.
| 1956
| {{nowrap|[[Welsh Amateur Championship (snooker)|Welsh Amateur Championship]]}}
| {{flagathlete|V. Wilkins|WAL}}
| Unknown
|<ref name="WBSA" />
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Winner
| 2.
| 1977
| {{nowrap|[[Welsh Amateur Championship (snooker)|Welsh Amateur Championship]]}} <small>(2)</small>
| {{flagathlete|Dai Thomas|WAL}}
| 8–1
|<ref name="WBSA" />
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Winner
| 3.
| 1978
| {{nowrap|[[IBSF World Snooker Championship|World Amateur Championship]]}}
| {{flagathlete|[[Joe Johnson (snooker player)|Joe Johnson]]|ENG}}
| 11–5
|<ref name="TOBIT" />
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Winner
| 4.
| 1979
| {{nowrap|[[Welsh Amateur Championship (snooker)|Welsh Amateur Championship]]}} <small>(3)</small>
| {{flagathlete|Geoff Thomas|WAL}}
| 8–5
|<ref name="WBSA" />
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Cliff}}
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:1994 deaths]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Tredegar]]
[[Category:Welsh snooker players]]
[[Category:World Seniors Championship champions]]