Silvino Francisco
Encyclopedia
Silvino Francisco is a retired South Africa
n professional snooker
player.
Francisco comes from a snooker-playing family. His brother Mannie and nephew Peter both played at a high level, Mannie having been a runner-up in the World Amateur Billiards Championship on several occasions, and Peter having risen to the world ranking of number 14.
Francisco won the 1985 British Open
, beating Kirk Stevens
12–9. Afterwards, he accused Stevens of playing under the influence of drugs, and was fined and penalised ranking points. When Stevens admitted a drugs problem, the penalty was reversed.
He was involved in another scandal after the 1989 Masters final. After losing 5–1 to Terry Griffiths
, it was discovered that there had been heavy betting on that exact score. Francisco was arrested, but later released without charge. Gambling problems followed, to the extent of being declared bankrupt in 1996 due to income tax arrears, having split up from his second wife who claimed his £350,000 house, and having to pay maintenance for his 4 children. He later took to working evenings in a friend's fish and chip shop for extra cash.
Worse was to come. In 1997, he was arrested for smuggling cannabis
, and served three years in prison.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n professional snooker
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
player.
Francisco comes from a snooker-playing family. His brother Mannie and nephew Peter both played at a high level, Mannie having been a runner-up in the World Amateur Billiards Championship on several occasions, and Peter having risen to the world ranking of number 14.
Francisco won the 1985 British Open
British Open (snooker)
The British Open was a professional snooker tournament. It was a ranking tournament from 1985. The tournament has not been held since the 2004/2005 season....
, beating Kirk Stevens
Kirk Stevens
Kirk Stevens is a Canadian professional snooker player.Stevens started playing young, achieving his first aged just 12. He turned professional aged 20, and reached the semi-finals of the World Championship aged 21...
12–9. Afterwards, he accused Stevens of playing under the influence of drugs, and was fined and penalised ranking points. When Stevens admitted a drugs problem, the penalty was reversed.
He was involved in another scandal after the 1989 Masters final. After losing 5–1 to Terry Griffiths
Terry Griffiths
Terrence "Terry" Griffiths OBE is a retired Welsh snooker player and current snooker coach and pundit. He won the World Championship in 1979 at the first attempt, and reached the 1988 final. He also won the Masters in 1980 and the UK Championship in 1982, making him one of seven players to have...
, it was discovered that there had been heavy betting on that exact score. Francisco was arrested, but later released without charge. Gambling problems followed, to the extent of being declared bankrupt in 1996 due to income tax arrears, having split up from his second wife who claimed his £350,000 house, and having to pay maintenance for his 4 children. He later took to working evenings in a friend's fish and chip shop for extra cash.
Worse was to come. In 1997, he was arrested for smuggling cannabis
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
, and served three years in prison.