Snooker’s greatest game – The Black Ball Final
Dennis Taylor defeated Steve Davis in a match still talked about today.
In one corner, all-conquering Steve Davis, the defending champion and three time winner.
In the other, the guy with the upside-down glasses.
The result was a world snooker final that would ring through the ages.
Dominant Davis
Taylor, a finalist in 1979, had beaten his own pair of ex-champions in Eddie Charlton and Cliff Thorburn en route, before hammering Tony Knowles 16-5 in the semi-finals to suggest he posed a threat to the reigning champion.
Davis establishes mighty lead
It proved to be a remarkable turning point, as Taylor stormed back to trail only 9-7 overnight, and had hauled the match level at 11-11 in the first session on the following day.
“No!”
Watched by a record post-midnight television audience of 18.5 million, Taylor missed the first chance, a double, before leaving Davis a relatively simple cut into the bottom pocket for the title.
“No!” gasped ‘Whispering’ Ted Lowe in the commentary box, as Davis proceeded to over-cut it. Taylor duly potted the black into the same pocket, and shook his cue above his head in celebration.
An enduring double-act
