Do you want to know about a legendary snooker player? Read on to discover the amazing feat of Steve Davis – a six-time world champion and one of the most successful players in the sport’s history.
With his skill and competitive drive, he showed us all that anything is possible!
Former English Snooker Player Who Won Six World Titles
Players
Steve Davis OBE (born 22 August 1957) is a former professional English snooker player from Plumstead, London. He dominated the sport during the 1980s, when he won six World Snooker Championship titles, and was the first player to make an officially recognised maximum break in professional competition. He was the first player to win more than £1 million in prize money.
Davis turned professional in 1978 and soon showed his potential by reaching the final of the 1979 UK Championship at his first attempt. He made his world debut at the 1980 Masters, where he bowed out 5–6 to Cliff Thorburn despite leading 5–2 at one stage. His first major title win came a year later when he clinched his maiden World Championship crown. He went on to become one of snooker’s most successful players, eventually winning a total of 28 ranking tournaments which places him fourth on snooker’s all-time list behind Stephen Hendry (36), Ronnie O’Sullivan (34) and John Higgins (29).
Early Life
English snooker player Stephen Hendry was born on 13 January 1969 in South Queensferry, a town northwest of Edinburgh. He began his storied career at an early age, having been introduced to the game aged only five when his parents purchased a Snooker table for the family. By the time Hendry was ten years old he had already won three age-related Scotland national titles, and had served as ball boy for British professional player John Spencer’s 1978 English Professional championship win.
Hendry first qualified as a professional when he was 16 years old, in 1985. A few months later he became involved at the Sports Council of Great Britain and started competing in the Grand Prix circuit alongside fellow professionals Alex Higgins and Jimmy White. In 1987, Hendry won his first British title—the United Kingdom Championship—while still only 18 years old. He followed this up by defeating White in their semi-final match before beating Eddie Charlton to earn the trophy that December. With this impressive victory, Hendry became the youngest ever champion of a ranking tournament. This record earned him his first entry into the Guinness Book of World Records.
Amateur Career
Before turning professional, Stephen Hendry earned a reputation as an amateur snooker player of distinction. His first major success came at the Scottish Amateur Championship 17–20 April 1985, when he defeated Jim Meadowcroft 6–0 in the final. This victory immediately earned him a place on the World Snooker Tour. He then reached the last 64 stage of both the UK Championship and World Amateur Championship further enhancing his reputation.
Hendry’s first major final came at the 1986 Grand Prix when he finished runner-up to Jimmy White in a closely fought match decided by one frame between two 18 year olds. In 1987, however, it all changed as he won a slew of major titles that year to establish his reputation as one of snooker’s most consistent players and future world champion contender. He won consecutive English Amateur titles at 1983–84 and 1984–85 and then claimed the European Professional Players title (Hoare Investment), European Oh Boy! TV Masters professional event (Satellite), and – for good measure – he won 1989’s Pot Black Professional event—all before being crowned Europe’s number one player with victory in 1990’s Times/Circuit Player of Year event which produced £50,000 for his efforts against Darrell Pike 8–2 in the 15 frame showdown.
Overall, Stephen Hendry experienced incredible success over his five-year amateur career from 1985-1990 racing to six World titles before turning pro -The first coming at 1990’s Regal Masters when defeated Joe Johnson 10-4 for his 3rd straight tournament victory; and The second coming soon after at 1990’s Sports Network Classic where pocketed an extraordinary 11-5 result against Milton Harris; — effectively launching one of snooker’s most dominant careers on its way to six world titles that same year alone!
Professional Career
The professional career of Steve Davis, the former English snooker player who won six world titles, spanned nearly three decades. Davis first gained prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s with his success in several tournaments, culminating in winning his first World Championship title in 1981.
Following this major win, he returned to compete at the tournament when it was held again in 1983 and secured another victory. He experienced further successes in the late 1980s and early 1990s, becoming one of the most enduring rivals to fellow English snooker player Jimmy White. During this period he reclaimed another four world championship titles as well as numerous other major titles across various competitions before finally retiring from professional play in 2016 after over thirty years on tour.
World Titles
The former English snooker player Ray Reardon achieved impressive success in his professional career, winning six World Titles. As one of the most successful players in the history of the game, Ray won two titles consecutively during 1976 and 1977 and then again consecutively from 1984 to 1987. Across all tournaments, he held an impressive record of six world titles, eighteen major ranking events and spent seven years as number one ranked player between 1973 and 1981.
During this time Ray was also a leading figure in pushing for more TV coverage for snooker, creating further interest in the sport which would contribute to its rise in popularity throughout the 1980s. His world title wins included victories against Alex Higgins in 1977 and 1984, while losing his semi-finals match at the Crucible Theatre against Terry Griffiths in 1979.
Ray retired from professional snooker at 45 due to age but continued to be an ambassador for both UK Snooker and overseas events until 2017 when he passed away at the age of 85 following a long illness. He will always be remembered as a transformative figure both on-screen with is dynamic brand of play as well as being one of Britain’s most successful snooker players ever with his six world titles making him an enduring figure within English sporting history.
Post-Snooker Career
Following the end of his snooker career, the former English player continued to work in various roles related to the sport. He regularly appeared as a commentator for major tournaments and appeared in numerous documentaries about snooker.
The player also wrote several books about his experience as a professional sportsman and his time playing snooker. Additionally, he launched a charity that helped children from less privileged backgrounds learn how to play the game. In 2020, he was inducted into the World Snooker Hall of Fame in recognition of his achievements in the sport.
Legacy
Steve Davis is considered one of the most significant and successful professional snooker players of all time. He first broke onto the professional circuit in 1979 and he rose quickly to become one of the most dominant forces in world snooker. During his career, Steve achieved an unparalleled level of success, winning a total of six world titles and 27 major ranking events.
His impressive accomplishments earned him a number of accolades, including being voted World Snooker Player of the Year four times over a period spanning two decades. After retiring from competitive play in 2016, Steve’s legacy as one of the greatest players in history was cemented.
The impact that Steve Davis has had on snooker continues to be felt today. His popular approach to snooker enabled him to reach casual fans as well as dedicated players who admired his skillful technique and tactical prowess. He also became a pioneering figure for televised events, launching both his own eponymous show and becoming an esteemed pundit during major broadcast tournaments. The pioneering character created by Steve’s work turned snooker into one of Britain’s most popular televised sports and enabled it to thrive internationally with celebrities such as Will Smith playing regularly in competitions around the world.
Steve Davis OBE is considered one of the greatest snooker players of all time. He was inducted into the World Snooker Hall of Fame in 1998, and has won a total of 28 ranking titles throughout his career. His six world titles, three UK titles and seven Masters crowns were won from 1979 to 1997, making him the most successful professional player in the modern era. His supreme talent for potting earned him the nickname of The Nugget. He retired from professional play in 2016 due to declining physical health and advancing age, but he will still be remembered as an icon in a long line of legendary British snooker players.
