Cliff Thorburn facts for kids
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Thorburn in 2010
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| Born | 16 January 1948 Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
|---|---|
| Sport country |  Canada |
| Professional | 1972–1996 |
| Highest ranking | 1 (1981/82) |
| Tournament wins | |
| Ranking | 2 |
| World Champion | 1980 |
Clifford Charles Devlin Thorburn CM (born 16 January 1948) is a Canadian retired professional snooker player.
Contents
Early life
Thorburn was born on 16 January 1948 in Victoria, British Columbia. His parents separated when he was eighteen months old. He was abandoned by his mother, and after spending about two years in an orphanage during a custody dispute, was raised by his father and his paternal grandmother. He was told that his mother had died, but, aged twenty, learnt that she was still alive.
He played pool and lacrosse in his youth, and set a one-game scoring record of ten goals in the Greater Victoria Minor Lacrosse Association "midget division" in 1958. He left school at the age of 16, and travelled across Canada playing pool and snooker money matches, taking jobs as a dishwasher and working on a garbage truck to help earn money for his stakes. In 1968 he entered his first tournaments, and won the Toronto City Championship. He spent time with Fred Davis and Rex Williams when they toured Canada in 1970, and afterwards became a resident professional at the House of Champions club in Toronto.
In July 1970, he reportedly made a maximum break of 147 in a non-competitive game against Fred Hardwick. He made six century breaks in winning the North American Amateur Championship in 1971, equalling the record, jointly held by Joe Davis and George Chenier, for most century breaks in a single tournament.
Professional career
Nicknamed "The Grinder" because of his slow, determined style of play, Thorburn won the World Snooker Championship in 1980, defeating Alex Higgins 18–16 in the final. He is generally recognised as the sport's first world champion from outside the United Kingdom—since Australian Horace Lindrum's 1952 title is usually disregarded—and he remains the only world champion from the Americas. He was runner-up in two other world championships, losing 21–25 to John Spencer in the 1977 final and 6–18 to Steve Davis in the 1983 final. At the 1983 tournament, Thorburn became the first player to make a maximum break in a World Championship match, achieving the feat in his second-round encounter with Terry Griffiths.
Ranked world number one during the 1981–82 season, Thorburn was the first non-British player to top the snooker world rankings. He won the invitational Masters in 1983, 1985, and 1986, making him the first player to win the tournament three times and the first to retain the title. He retired from the main professional tour in 1996. Inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Snooker Hall of Fame in 2014, he competed later in his career in Snooker Legends events and on the World Seniors Tour, winning the 2018 Seniors Masters at the Crucible Theatre at age 70. He retired from competitive snooker after the 2022 UK Seniors Championship.
Personal life
Thorburn is the father of one son and one daughter. Following his World Championship victory, he bought a house in England with the intention of spending more time in Britain. Thorburn was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1984. He was added to the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 1995, and inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
His instruction book, Cliff Thorburn's Snooker Skills, was published in 1987 by Hamlyn, and his autobiography, Playing for Keeps, co-written with Everton, was published by Partridge Press in the same year. Thorburn is the head coach for cue sports at the Canadian Billiards and Snooker Association, director of coaching and an ambassador for the Pan American Billiards & Snooker Association, and a member of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association International Expert Coaching Advisory Panel.
Performance and rankings timeline
| Tournament | 1972/ 73 |
1973/ 74 |
1974/ 75 |
1975/ 76 |
1976/ 77 |
1977/ 78 |
1978/ 79 |
1979/ 80 |
1980/ 81 |
1981/ 82 |
1982/ 83 |
1983/ 84 |
1984/ 85 |
1985/ 86 |
1986/ 87 |
1987/ 88 |
1988/ 89 |
1989/ 90 |
1990/ 91 |
1991/ 92 |
1992/ 93 |
1993/ 94 |
1994/ 95 |
1995/ 96 |
Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | No ranking system | 13 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 18 | 36 | 36 | 41 | 54 | 41 | ||||
| Ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thailand Classic | Tournament not held | NR | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||||||
| Grand Prix | Tournament not held | 3R | QF | F | SF | 1R | 2R | A | 2R | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | 1R | LQ | ||||||||||
| UK Championship | Non-ranking event | SF | 3R | QF | QF | QF | 2R | WD | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||
| German Open | Tournament not held | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Welsh Open | Tournament not held | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||
| International Open | Tournament not held | NR | 2R | F | 1R | W | F | F | A | 1R | Not held | LQ | 2R | 1R | LQ | ||||||||||
| European Open | Tournament not held | QF | 1R | SF | 2R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||||||
| Thailand Open | Tournament not held | Non-ranking event | Not held | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | 1R | SF | WD | |||||||||||||||
| British Open | Tournament not held | Non-ranking event | 3R | 3R | SF | SF | 3R | 1R | 1R | 1R | LQ | 1R | LQ | LQ | |||||||||||
| World Championship | NR | 1R | QF | 1R | F | QF | 1R | W | SF | 1R | F | QF | QF | SF | 1R | SF | 1R | QF | LQ | LQ | LQ | 1R | LQ | LQ | |
| Non-ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Australian Masters | Tournament not held | A | A | A | RR | W | 1R | A | A | QF | NH | R | Tournament not held | A | A | ||||||||||
| Scottish Masters | Tournament not held | F | A | SF | QF | W | W | SF | NH | QF | A | A | A | A | A | A | |||||||||
| The Masters | Not held | 1R | 1R | A | F | QF | QF | SF | QF | W | 1R | W | W | SF | QF | QF | 1R | A | LQ | A | A | A | A | ||
| Irish Masters | Not held | A | A | A | A | A | RR | SF | QF | A | QF | QF | SF | QF | QF | 1R | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | A | ||
| European League | Tournament not held | A | Not held | RR | RR | RR | RR | A | A | A | A | A | A | ||||||||||||
| Pontins Professional | NH | SF | SF | A | SF | RR | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | |
| Former ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Masters | Not held | Non-ranking event | Tournament not held | Non-ranking event | QF | Tournament not held | |||||||||||||||||||
| Hong Kong Open | Tournament not held | Non-ranking event | NH | LQ | Tournament not held | NR | |||||||||||||||||||
| Classic | Tournament not held | Non-ranking event | 1R | F | F | 2R | 2R | SF | 2R | 1R | 2R | Tournament not held | |||||||||||||
| Strachan Open | Tournament not held | QF | MR | NR | Not held | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Former non-ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Championship | 2R | Ranking event | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Masters | Not held | W | Tournament not held | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Norwich Union Open | NH | QF | SF | Tournament not held | |||||||||||||||||||||
| World Matchplay Championship | Tournament not held | 1R | Tournament not held | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Holsten Lager International | Tournament not held | QF | Tournament not held | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Limosin International | Tournament not held | SF | Tournament not held | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bombay International | Tournament not held | RR | F | Tournament not held | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Pontins Camber Sands | Tournament not held | QF | Tournament not held | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Champion of Champions | Tournament not held | A | NH | RR | Tournament not held | ||||||||||||||||||||
| International Open | Tournament not held | 2R | Ranking event | Not held | Ranking event | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern Ireland Classic | Tournament not held | QF | Tournament not held | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| UK Championship | Tournament not held | A | A | A | A | 2R | A | A | Ranking event | ||||||||||||||||
| British Open | Tournament not held | A | RR | 2R | A | A | Ranking event | ||||||||||||||||||
| Classic | Tournament not held | A | QF | QF | QF | Ranking event | Tournament not held | ||||||||||||||||||
| Tolly Cobbold Classic | Tournament not held | A | A | F | A | A | SF | Tournament not held | |||||||||||||||||
| New Zealand Masters | Tournament not held | QF | Not held | A | A | Tournament not held | |||||||||||||||||||
| Carlsberg Challenge | Tournament not held | A | SF | A | A | A | Tournament not held | ||||||||||||||||||
| KitKat Break for World Champions | Tournament not held | QF | Tournament not held | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pot Black | A | RR | A | A | SF | RR | A | A | W | SF | A | A | SF | SF | Tournament not held | A | A | A | NH | ||||||
| Hong Kong Masters | Tournament not held | A | A | A | QF | QF | A | NH | A | A | Tournament not held | ||||||||||||||
| Canadian Masters | Not held | W | QF | QF | QF | W | W | W | Tournament not held | SF | QF | SF | R | Tournament not held | |||||||||||
| Canadian Professional Championship | Tournament not held | W | Not held | SF | W | W | W | W | SF | Tournament not held | |||||||||||||||
| Dubai Masters | Tournament not held | QF | Ranking event | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Matchroom Professional Championship | Tournament not held | A | A | QF | Ranking event | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Norwich Union Grand Prix | Tournament not held | RR | A | A | Tournament not held | ||||||||||||||||||||
| World Matchplay | Tournament not held | 1R | 1R | A | A | A | Not held | ||||||||||||||||||
| Shoot-Out | Tournament not held | 3R | Tournament not held | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| European Grand Masters | Tournament not held | QF | Tournament not held | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Masters | Tournament not held | 1R | Tournament not held | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| European Challenge | Tournament not held | QF | A | Not held | |||||||||||||||||||||
| World Seniors Championship | Tournament not held | 1R | Tournament not held | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| LQ | lost in the qualifying draw | #R | lost in the early rounds of the tournament (WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin) |
QF | lost in the quarter-finals |
| SF | lost in the semi-finals | F | lost in the final | W | won the tournament |
| DNQ | did not qualify for the tournament | A | did not participate in the tournament | WD | withdrew from the tournament |
| NH / Not held | means an event was not held. | |||
| NR / Non-ranking event | means an event is/was no longer a ranking event. | |||
| R / Ranking event | means an event is/was a ranking event. | |||
Career finals
Ranking finals: 10 (2 titles)
Thorburn's record in ranking tournament finals is shown below.
| World Championship (1–2) |
| Other (1–6) |
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runner-up | 1. | 1977 | World Snooker Championship |  John Spencer (ENG) |
21–25 |
| Winner | 1. | 1980 | World Snooker Championship |  Alex Higgins (NIR) |
18–16 |
| Runner-up | 2. | 1983 | World Snooker Championship (2) | Steve Davis (ENG) |
6–18 |
| Runner-up | 3. | 1983 | International Open | Steve Davis (ENG) |
4–9 |
| Runner-up | 4. | 1984 | Grand Prix | Dennis Taylor (NIR) |
2–10 |
| Runner-up | 5. | 1985 | The Classic | Willie Thorne (ENG) |
8–13 |
| Winner | 2. | 1985 | Matchroom Trophy | Jimmy White (ENG) |
12–10 |
| Runner-up | 6. | 1986 | The Classic (2) | Jimmy White (ENG) |
12–13 |
| Runner-up | 7. | 1986 | International Open (2) | Neal Foulds (ENG) |
9–12 |
| Runner-up | 8. | 1987 | International Open (3) | Steve Davis (ENG) |
5–12 |
Non-ranking finals: 25 (18 titles)
World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, the governing body for professional snooker, first published official world rankings for players on the main tour for the 1976–77 season. Thorburn's record in non-ranking tournament finals is shown below.
| Legend |
| The Masters (3–1) |
| Other (15–6) |
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runner-up | 1. | 1972 | Championship Plate | John Pulman (ENG) |
13–16 | |
| Runner-up | 2. | 1973 | Championship Plate | John Pulman (ENG) |
12–16 | |
| Winner | 1. | 1974 | World Masters | John Spencer (ENG) |
160–67 | |
| Winner | 2. | 1974 | Canadian Open | Dennis Taylor (NIR) |
8–6 | |
| Runner-up | 3. | 1978 | The Masters | Alex Higgins (NIR) |
5–7 | |
| Winner | 3. | 1978 | Canadian Open (2) | Tony Meo (ENG) |
17–15 | |
| Winner | 4. | 1979 | Canadian Open (3) |  Terry Griffiths (WAL) |
17–16 | |
| Runner-up | 4. | 1980 | Bombay International | John Virgo (ENG) |
7–13 | |
| Winner | 5. | 1980 | Canadian Professional Championship | Jim Wych (CAN) |
9–6 | |
| Winner | 6. | 1980 | Canadian Open (4) | Terry Griffiths (WAL) |
17–10 | |
| Winner | 7. | 1981 | Pot Black | Jim Wych (CAN) |
2–0 | |
| Runner-up | 5. | 1981 | Tolly Cobbold Classic | Graham Miles (ENG) |
1–5 | |
| Runner-up | 6. | 1981 | Scottish Masters | Jimmy White (ENG) |
4–9 | |
| Winner | 8. | 1983 | The Masters | Ray Reardon (WAL) |
9–7 | |
| Winner | 9. | 1983 | Australian Masters | Bill Werbeniuk (CAN) |
7–3 | |
| Winner | 10. | 1984 | Canadian Professional Championship (2) | Mario Morra (CAN) |
9–2 | |
| Winner | 11. | 1985 | The Masters (2) | Doug Mountjoy (WAL) |
9–6 | |
| Winner | 12. | 1985 | Canadian Professional Championship (3) | Bob Chaperon (CAN) |
6–4 | |
| Winner | 13. | 1985 | Scottish Masters | Willie Thorne (ENG) |
9–7 | |
| Winner | 14. | 1986 | The Masters (3) | Jimmy White (ENG) |
9–5 | |
| Winner | 15. | 1986 | Canadian Professional Championship (4) | Jim Wych (CAN) |
6–2 | |
| Winner | 16. | 1986 | Scottish Masters (2) | Alex Higgins (NIR) |
9–8 | |
| Winner | 17. | 1987 | Canadian Professional Championship (5) | Jim Bear (CAN) |
8–4 | |
| Runner-up | 7. | 2000 | World Seniors Masters | Willie Thorne (ENG) |
0–1 | |
| Winner | 18. | 2018 | The Seniors Masters | Jonathan Bagley (ENG) |
2–1 |
Team finals: 9 (4 titles)
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Team/partner | Opponent(s) in the final | Score | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1. | 1975 | Ladbroke International | Rest of the World | England |
+113 | |
| Runner-up | 1. | 1980 | World Challenge Cup | Canada |
Wales |
5–8 | |
| Winner | 2. | 1981 | World Mixed Doubles Championship | Natalie Stelmach (CAN) |
John Virgo (ENG) Vera Selby (ENG) |
269–239 | |
| Winner | 3. | 1982 | World Team Classic | Canada |
England |
4–2 | |
| Runner-up | 2. | 1984 | World Doubles Championship (2) | Willie Thorne (ENG) |
Alex Higgins (NIR) Jimmy White (ENG) |
2–10 | |
| Runner-up | 3. | 1986 | World Cup (2) | Canada |
Ireland "A" | 7–9 | |
| Runner-up | 4. | 1987 | World Cup (3) | Canada |
Ireland "A" | 2–9 | |
| Runner-up | 5. | 1987 | World Doubles Championship (2) | Dennis Taylor (NIR) |
 Stephen Hendry (SCO) Mike Hallett (ENG) |
8–12 | |
| Winner | 4. | 1990 | World Cup (2) | Canada |
Northern Ireland |
9–5 |
Amateur finals: 12 (7 titles)
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1. | 1971 | North American Amateur Championship | Kenny Shea (CAN) |
36–15 | |
| Winner | 2. | 1972 | Canadian Amateur Championship | |||
| Runner-up | 1. | 1973 | North American Amateur Championship | Bill Werbeniuk (CAN) |
22–26 | |
| Winner | 3. | 1974 | Canadian Amateur Championship (2) | Julien St Dennis (CAN) |
13–11 | |
| Winner | 4. | 1975 | Canadian Amateur Championship (3) | Bill Werbeniuk (CAN) |
11–1 | |
| Runner-up | 2. | 1975 | North American Amateur Championship (2) | Bill Werbeniuk (CAN) |
9–11 | |
| Winner | 5. | 1976 | Canadian Amateur Championship (4) | Bill Werbeniuk (CAN) |
9–2 | |
| Runner-up | 3. | 1976 | North American Amateur Championship (3) | Bill Werbeniuk (CAN) |
10–11 | |
| Winner | 6. | 1977 | Canadian Amateur Championship (5) | Robert Paquette (CAN) |
10–6 | |
| Winner | 7. | 2001 | Canadian Amateur Championship (6) | Tom Finstad (CAN) |
4–3 | |
| Runner-up | 4. | 2002 | Canadian Amateur Championship | Kirk Stevens (CAN) |
1–6 | |
| Runner-up | 5. | 2003 | Canadian Amateur Championship (2) | Alain Robidoux (CAN) |
2–6 |
See also
In Spanish: Cliff Thorburn para niños
