Steve Davis facts for kids
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Davis in 2012
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| Born | 22 August 1957 Plumstead, London, England |
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| Sport country |  England |
| Professional | 1978–2016 |
| Highest ranking | 1 (1983/84–1989/90) |
| Tournament wins | |
| Ranking | 28 |
| World Champion |
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Steve Davis (born 22 August 1957) is a retired English professional snooker player. He is now a sports commentator, DJ, and author. In the 1980s, he was the most dominant player in snooker. He reached eight World Snooker Championship finals in nine years and won six world titles. For seven years in a row, he was ranked world number one.
Davis won 28 ranking titles, which are the most important tournaments in snooker. He was the first player to make a maximum break (the highest possible score in a single frame) on live television. This happened at the 1982 Classic. He was also the first snooker player to win over £1 million in prize money. In 1988, he won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award, the only snooker player ever to do so.
One of his most famous matches was the 1985 World Championship final against Dennis Taylor. Davis was leading 8–0, but Taylor fought back to tie the match at 17–17. The final frame came down to the very last black ball. A massive audience of 18.5 million people in the UK stayed up past midnight to watch. Taylor potted the black ball to win, creating one of the most dramatic moments in sports history.
Davis also won the UK Championship six times and the Masters three times. These three tournaments (the World Championship, UK Championship, and Masters) are called the Triple Crown. Davis won 15 Triple Crown titles in his career. He retired in 2016 after 38 years as a professional but still works as a commentator for the BBC.
Contents
Snooker Career
Becoming a Professional
Steve Davis was born in London, England. His father, Bill, was a big snooker fan and taught Steve how to play when he was 12. They studied a book by the famous player Joe Davis (no relation) to learn the best techniques.
When Davis was 18, a manager named Barry Hearn saw his talent and helped him start his career. Davis traveled around the UK, playing against famous professionals like Ray Reardon and Alex Higgins. He turned professional in 1978 and played his first World Snooker Championship in 1979.
The Dominant 1980s
In 1980, Davis won his first major title, the 1980 UK Championship. The next year, he won his first World Championship, beating Doug Mountjoy in the final. This was the start of his incredible run in the 1980s.
In 1982, he made history by scoring the first-ever televised maximum break. The tournament sponsor, Lada, gave him a new car as a prize. He went on to win the World Championship again in 1983 and 1984.
The Famous Black Ball Final
The 1985 World Championship final is one of the most remembered matches ever. Davis played against Dennis Taylor. He started strong, taking an 8–0 lead. But Taylor didn't give up and slowly came back into the match.
The score became tied at 17–17, forcing a final, deciding frame. The frame was incredibly tense and lasted over an hour. It all came down to the final black ball. After both players missed shots, Taylor finally potted the black to win the championship. Even though Davis lost, the match made him and the sport of snooker hugely popular.
More World Titles
After the famous 1985 final, Davis continued to be the best player in the world. He won the World Championship again in 1987, 1988, and 1989. His 18–3 victory over John Parrott in the 1989 final is one of the most one-sided wins in the modern era.
During the 1987–88 season, he became the first player to win all three Triple Crown events (the UK Championship, the Masters, and the World Championship) in a single season. By the end of the 1980s, he was snooker's first millionaire.
Later Career and Retirement
In the 1990s, a new player named Stephen Hendry became Davis's biggest rival. Davis won his last ranking title at the 1995 Welsh Open. His last major victory was the 1997 Masters, where he beat Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final.
Even as he got older, Davis remained a top player. In 2010, at the age of 52, he made it to the quarter-finals of the World Championship. He surprised everyone by beating the defending champion, John Higgins.
Davis officially retired from professional snooker in 2016. He made the announcement at the Crucible Theatre, the home of the World Championship, and received a standing ovation. He continues to be involved in snooker as a popular commentator and analyst for the BBC.
Life Outside Snooker
Besides snooker, Steve Davis has many other interests and talents.
Other Sports
Davis became a very good nine-ball pool player. He helped create the Mosconi Cup, a popular annual tournament between teams from Europe and the United States. He played for Team Europe 11 times.
He is also a keen chess player and was the president of the British Chess Federation from 1996 to 2001. He has also played in professional poker tournaments.
Music and Media
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When he first became famous, some people thought Davis was boring because he was so calm and focused. The TV show Spitting Image even gave him the nickname "Interesting" as a joke. Davis had a good sense of humor about it and even co-wrote a book called How to Be Really Interesting.
Davis is a huge fan of progressive rock music. He has a large record collection and hosts a radio show on Phoenix FM. He is also a successful club DJ. He even formed an electronic music band called the Utopia Strong with other musicians. The band has released albums and toured the UK.
Honours and Legacy
Steve Davis is considered one of the greatest snooker players of all time. He won a total of 84 professional titles in his career. His six World Championship titles are only beaten by Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan. In 2011, he was one of the first players to be added to the World Snooker Hall of Fame.
For his services to snooker, he was awarded an MBE in 1988 and an OBE in 2000. He has two sons, Greg and Jack.
Images for kids
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Davis playing a trick shot during the 2012 German Masters final.
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See also
In Spanish: Steve Davis para niños
