Snooker’s “Black Ball Final” to be Recreated Four Decades Later

The event described as “The greatest snooker match of all time” is set to be recreated in Stoke-on-Trent, commemorating the 40th anniversary of Dennis Taylor’s iconic victory over his long-standing rival, Steve Davis, to claim the world championship title. Taylor competed in the “Black Ball Final” in Sheffield in 1985. This match, broadcast on BBC 2, was watched by 19 million people and extended beyond midnight. This contest continues to be the highest-rated programme in the channel’s history, showcasing Taylor’s direct competition with Davis, a player who had previously secured the title on three occasions. Davis was the anticipated victor, having established a seven-frame lead. Nevertheless, Taylor, known for his distinctive “upside down” glasses, staged a remarkable recovery, potting the decisive black ball to secure the match. The event culminated in an iconic image for the sport: Taylor, still wearing his glasses, raising his cue above his head in triumph. Taylor is scheduled to perform at the Victoria Hall in Hanley as part of a tour, appearing alongside Steve Davis and host John Virgo. On the evening, the duo will recreate the classic match and engage in conversation with audience members. “John usually gets a couple of people out to do a few trick shots, then Steve and me play a couple of frames, then of course we re-enact that black ball final with the last few colours,” Taylor stated. Taylor added, “Steve’s very amusing about it as well, and the amazing thing about it is we re-enact that black ball final and I get to win every night.” Taylor explained that in the second half of the show, each person performs their “own little bit,” noting that Davis is “very funny” despite his earlier reputation for seriousness. Taylor continued, “He was very, very serious when he was playing, he was very focussed – but he’s so much fun. I love working with him.” He further stated, “The three of us interact with the audience and have a lot of fun.” Taylor observed that people still approach him to discuss the 1985 night and to take photographs, sometimes even turning their own glasses upside down. “It’s something that they all remember, they remember where they were when Steve and me were battling it out,” he remarked. He continued, “To keep nearly 19 million people up past midnight, watching a fella with ginger hair playing another fella with a big pair of upside down glasses, it’s amazing how it captured everybody’s imagination.” “Steve says he’ll remember that final more than the six that he won,” Taylor added. Taylor remarked that they were part of a “bit of snooker history,” though they were unaware at the time of the vast number of people tuning in. “If we’d ever thought there was that many people watching I don’t think we’d have been able to hold the cue,” he commented. He explained, “The audience kept building, and the BBC were cancelling programmes to stay with it, and it just built and built.” “The pressure on both of us was unbelievable, but we weren’t thinking, we were just concentrating on the game,” Taylor concluded. Information from BBC Stoke & Staffordshire is available on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. This content is copyrighted by BBC in 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites and provides information regarding its policy on external linking.