Former snooker sex symbol, 69, suffers major blow in bid to return to World Tour for the first time in 24 years

TONY KNOWLES’s hopes of joining the professional snooker ranks as an OAP potter suffered a major blow.

The Bolton cueist – who reached the Crucible World semi-finals on three occasions in the 1980s – was thumped 4-0 by William Lemons in round one of Event One.

Tony Knowles suffered a major blow in his quest to get back on the pro tourHeartthrob Tony Knowles was the lothario of snookerKnowles was notorious for selling his lurid tales of his sexual encounters to the papers

Knowles – who turns 70 next month – potted only 100 points across four frames as Lemons, 29, progressed with breaks of 50 and 54.

The Lancastrian, a two-time ranking tournament winner and an iconic figure from the sport’s past, last played on the World Snooker Tour circuit in 2001.

But the former world No.2 is not giving up on his dreams of playing alongside the likes of top stars , or

A sex icon on the baize in his pomp, Knowles still plays to a decent standard for his age.

But he will have to win six matches in a row in Event Two, which starts next Tuesday, if he is to be reunited with old drinking and smoking pal , 63, who has an invitational tour card for the next two seasons.

A notorious ladies’ man who was blessed with good looks, after leading a session against, Knowles once headed out to a nightclub before play resumed in the morning.

Quite brilliantly, he returned tothe following day and polished off the frames needed to finish off the job.

He sold countless stories on lurid sexual conquests, including an interview for £25,000 where he called himself the “hottest pot in snooker.’

Meanwhile, his conqueror Lemons now plays 14-year-old Moldovan Vladislav Gradinari in round two at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester.

Amateur ace – who has dreams of playing O’Sullivan at some point – progressed to round two when opponent Jai Platts did not turn up for their scheduled tie at 9am on Wednesday.

Hot shot snooker ace Knowles was a self-professed womaniser in the 80sHe’s a two-time ranking tournament winner