Career

Francisco turned professional in 1984, and reached the final stages of the World Snooker Championship

World Snooker Championship

The World Snooker Championship is the leading professional snooker tournament in terms of both prize money and ranking points. The first championship was held in 1927; since 1977, it has been played at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England...

 on five occasions: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992 and 1995. He reached the semifinals in two ranking events: the 1986 International Open

Players Championship (snooker)

The Players Championship was a professional snooker tournament. It is the most recent name of the ranking tournament held in Scotland every year. The tournament has had a bewildering number of name changes in its history. Until recently it was commonly known as the Scottish Open, and prior to that...

 and the 1987 Grand Prix.

Controversy

Francisco lost a first round match against Jimmy White

Jimmy White

James Warren "Jimmy" White MBE is an English professional snooker player. Nicknamed the "Whirlwind" and popularly referred to as the "People's Champion", White is a multiple World Championship finalist renowned for losing each of the six finals he contested.White's extensive list of achievements,...

 in the 1995 World Snooker Championship

World Snooker Championship 1995

The 1995 Embassy World Snooker Championship took place at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield between 14–30 April 1995.Stephen Hendry won his fifth world title beating Nigel Bond 18–9.-Notable moments:...

. Betting had been suspended on the match against the South African shortly before it began.

There were an unusual number of bets made that the scoreline would be 10–2 in favour of White, which was the eventual outcome. A World Snooker Association panel analysed the match and later banned Francisco for five years.