Born | Liverpool, England | 11 May 1964
---|---|
Sport country | England |
Nickname | |
Professional | 1983–2010 |
Highest ranking | 2 (1989/90, 1992/93–1993/94) |
Maximum breaks | 1 |
Century breaks | 221 |
Tournament wins | |
Ranking | 9 |
World Champion | 1991 |
John Stephen Parrott MBE (born 11 May 1964) is an English former professional snooker player and television personality. He was a professional during the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, and remained within the top 16 of the world rankings for 14 consecutive seasons.
He twice reached the final of the World Snooker Championship. At the 1989 World Snooker Championship, he lost 3–18 to Steve Davis, the heaviest defeat in a world championship final in modern times. Two years later, however, defeating Jimmy White in the final of the 1991 event. He also won against White later the same year, to win the 1991 UK Championship title. This made him only the third player to win both championships in the same calendar year (after Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry); he is still [update] one of only six players to have achieved this feat. The following year, Parrott lost in the final of the 1992 UK Championship, again to White. Parrott reached the final of the Masters three times, losing to Henry in every match.
He reached his highest place in the world rankings in 1989–90, 1992–93, 1993–94 where he was second. He is one of several players to have achieved more than 200 competitive century break during his career, with 221. Following his playing career, Parrott became a commentator and pundit for the BBC. In addition, he also presented horse racing and was a regular on BBC quiz show A Question of Sport.
John Parrott was born on 11 May 1964 at the Oxford Street Maternity Hospital, Liverpool. [2] Parrott grew up with his aunt and uncle following a split between his parents when he was 4. [3] : 10 He was a keen bowls player until the age of 11, [4] as he was first introduced to snooker by his father. [3] : 16 [5] He lost in the final of the English Under-16s Championship in 1979 and then again in 1980. [6] [7] [3] : 34–37 The next year, he won the 1981 Pontins Junior Championship. In 1982, he won the Pontins Open, a tournament with over 1,000 entrants. [3] : 44 The same year, he also won the televised Junior Pot Black championship. He turned professional in 1983 after winning 14 tournaments in his last year as an amateur player, including a second Junior Pot Black title, [8] and finishing as runner-up in the English Amateur Championship. [9] [10]
Parrott turned professional in 1983, aged 19, making his televised debut as a professional during the last 16 of the 1984 Classic. [3] : 20 In the match, he defeated Alex Higgins 5–2. He then beat Tony Knowles in the next round before losing to Steve Davis in the semi-finals on a deciding frame . [11] [12] Parrott qualified for the World Snooker Championship on the first attempt, losing only three frames in qualification. He defeated Knowles, but lost in the quarter-finald to Dennis Taylor. He finished his first professional season ranked 20th in the world. [3] : 54 In 1987, Parrott was placed within the top 16 in the world for the first time. [3] : 54
At the 1988 Classic, Parrott reached his first ranking event final. Despite leading 11–10, he lost 11–13 to Steve Davis. [13] The following season, Parrott was runner-up in four events. He lost again to Davis in the final of the 1988 World Matchplay, to Stephen Hendry in the final of the invitational 1989 Masters, to Mike Hallett at the 1989 English Professional Championship and then at the 1989 World Snooker Championship. [3] : 59–61
He took his first ranking title in the 1989 European Open, [14] and defended his title in 1990.
Parrott spent 14 consecutive seasons in the top 16 of the snooker world rankings, 11 of them in the top 6. [4]
From 1984 to 2004 Parrott was ever-present at the World Championship, reaching at least the last 16 every year from 1984 to 1995, [4] but he failed to qualify in 2005. [15]
Following his 1991 victory he never again reached the semi-finals, but lost in the quarter-finals seven times between 1992 and 1999.
Overall, Parrott won a total of nine world ranking events, which as of November 2019 was 12th on the all-time list behind Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins, Mark Williams, Jimmy White, Mark Selby, Ding Junhui, Neil Robertson, Peter Ebdon and Judd Trump. Winning both the World Championship and UK Championship in 1991 made him one of only [update] six players to have won snooker's two most prominent ranking titles in the same year.
Parrott also reached the final of the Masters three times in four years, but lost to Stephen Hendry on each occasion.
Parrott came through the qualifying event for the World Championship a record ten times. In 2007 he reached the last 16 of the World Championship for the first time in seven years, after victories over James Leadbetter, David Gray and Steve Davis (10–9, having led 6–1 and 9–6). [16]
A record ten of Parrott's World Championship matches went to a final-frame decider, seven of which he won. He was also the first player to conduct a "whitewash" in the Crucible World Championship final stages, when he defeated Eddie Charlton 10–0 in the first round of the 1992 tournament. [17] For 27 years, he held the record for being the only player ever to achieve this, until Shaun Murphy defeated China's Luo Honghao 10–0 in the first round of the 2019 World Championship.
On 4 August 2009 at the qualifiers for the 2009 Shanghai Masters he lost 0–5 against Michael White.
Following his 6–10 defeat to young Chinese Zhang Anda in the 2010 World Championship Qualifiers, Parrott finished outside the top 64 in the end of season rankings and was not assured a place on the main tour for the 2010–11 season. [18] Later Parrott announced he was to retire from the professional game. [19]
Parrott played in the 2011 World Seniors Championship, where he lost in the semi-finals to Davis. [20] He also participated in the preliminary qualifying rounds of the 2012 World Snooker Championship for players who were members of the WPBSA but were not on the main tour, losing 0–5 to Patrick Wallace in Round 1. [21]
Following his playing career, Parrott became a pundit and commentator on snooker for BBC Sport, often in partnership with Steve Davis.[ citation needed ] From 1996 to 2002, he was one of the team captains on the BBC quiz show A Question of Sport , alongside association football player Ally McCoist. [22] As a supporter of horse racing, he was involved in the BBC's horse racing coverage as part of the presenting team. [23] [24]
In 1996, Parrott was honoured with an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list, for charitable services in Merseyside. [25] In 2008, he launched John Parrott Cue Sports, an online retailer selling snooker and pool cues and some snooker collectables. [26] This was re-branded John Parrott Sports in 2019. [27] Parrott is a supporter of Everton F.C. and brother-in-law of former Everton player Duncan Ferguson. [28] Parrott was made the Honorary Patron of the British Crown Green Bowling Association in 2010. [29]
Tournament | 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 | 1996/ 97 | 1997/ 98 | 1998/ 99 | 1999/ 00 | 2000/ 01 | 2001/ 02 | 2002/ 03 | 2003/ 04 | 2004/ 05 | 2005/ 06 | 2006/ 07 | 2007/ 08 | 2008/ 09 | 2009/ 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ranking [30] [nb 1] | [nb 2] | 20 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 22 | 18 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 42 | 39 | 39 | 53 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ranking tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shanghai Masters | Tournament Not Held | LQ | A | LQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Grand Prix [nb 3] | 2R | 2R | 1R | 2R | SF | 2R | 3R | QF | 1R | 2R | SF | 1R | 1R | SF | QF | 2R | 2R | 2R | 2R | 1R | SF | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | 2R | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UK Championship | NR | 1R | 2R | SF | QF | QF | 3R | SF | W | F | SF | QF | 3R | QF | 2R | QF | 2R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 1R | QF | 1R | 1R | LQ | WD | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Welsh Open | Tournament Not Held | SF | QF | 2R | 1R | F | SF | QF | 2R | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | 2R | 3R | 1R | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
China Open [nb 4] | Tournament Not Held | NR | QF | 1R | 2R | 1R | Not Held | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | WD | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Championship | 2R | QF | 2R | 2R | 2R | F | SF | W | QF | QF | QF | QF | 1R | QF | QF | QF | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | LQ | 1R | 2R | LQ | LQ | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-ranking tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Premier League [nb 5] | A | Not Held | A | A | F | RR | A | RR | SF | F | RR | RR | RR | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Masters | A | A | A | A | SF | F | F | QF | F | QF | 1R | 1R | QF | QF | 1R | 1R | SF | QF | A | A | A | A | LQ | A | A | A | A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former ranking tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Canadian Masters | Not Held | Non-Ranking | QF | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hong Kong Open [nb 6] | Non-Ranking Event | NH | 2R | Not Held | NR | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Classic | SF | LQ | 1R | QF | F | QF | 3R | 2R | QF | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Strachan Open | Tournament Not Held | F | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dubai Classic [nb 7] | Tournament Not Held | NR | SF | 2R | W | W | 2R | 1R | W | 1R | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
German Masters [nb 8] | Tournament Not Held | 2R | 1R | F | NR | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Malta Grand Prix | Tournament Not Held | Non-Ranking Event | QF | NR | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thailand Masters [nb 9] | Non-Ranking Event | Not Held | WD | QF | 3R | QF | 2R | 2R | QF | QF | F | SF | 1R | SF | 1R | NR | Not Held | NR | Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Scottish Open [nb 10] | A | LQ | QF | 1R | 3R | 1R | QF | Not Held | 2R | W | SF | 1R | QF | 2R | 3R | 1R | 3R | 2R | 1R | 3R | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
British Open [nb 11] | NR | 2R | 3R | 1R | SF | SF | 1R | 1R | 1R | 3R | 3R | SF | QF | 1R | QF | QF | 2R | 2R | 2R | 3R | 1R | 2R | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Irish Masters | Non-Ranking Event | LQ | LQ | LQ | NH | NR | Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
European Open [nb 12] | Tournament Not Held | W | W | 1R | SF | 2R | SF | F | W | F | NR | SF | Not Held | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | 1R | LQ | NR | Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northern Ireland Trophy | Tournament Not Held | NR | LQ | 1R | LQ | NH | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bahrain Championship | Tournament Not Held | LQ | NH | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former non-ranking tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UK Championship | 1R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Canadian Masters | Not Held | QF | A | A | R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hong Kong Open [nb 13] | A | A | SF | A | QF | NH | R | Not Held | A | A | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fosters Professional [nb 14] | NH | A | SF | A | A | SF | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pontins Professional | A | QF | QF | SF | W | QF | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
English Professional Championship | NH | 2R | 2R | QF | 2R | F | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
New Zealand Masters | NH | A | Not Held | A | QF | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Norwich Union Grand Prix | Tournament Not Held | A | SF | W | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Masters | Tournament Not Held | 2R | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
London Masters | Tournament Not Held | F | F | SF | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thailand Masters | A | RR | A | A | Not Held | SF | Ranking Event | A | Not Held | A | Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
European Challenge | Tournament Not Held | QF | A | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hong Kong Challenge [nb 15] | A | QF | A | A | A | QF | NH | A | QF | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indian Challenge | Tournament Not Held | F | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Belgian Challenge | Tournament Not Held | QF | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kent Classic [nb 16] | Not Held | A | W | A | A | A | NH | W | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Belgian Masters | Tournament Not Held | W | SF | F | Not Held | A | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Matchplay | Tournament Not Held | F | F | QF | QF | QF | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nescafe Extra Challenge | Tournament Not Held | A | NH | RR | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pot Black | A | 1R | 1R | Tournament Not Held | QF | SF | 1R | Tournament Not Held | A | A | A | Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Malta Grand Prix | Tournament Not Held | W | A | A | A | A | R | A | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Red & White Challenge | Tournament Not Held | F | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
German Masters [nb 17] | Tournament Not Held | Ranking Event | W | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Champions Cup [nb 18] | Tournament Not Held | QF | QF | QF | QF | 1R | RR | A | A | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Scottish Masters | A | A | A | QF | A | NH | SF | QF | QF | QF | QF | 1R | 1R | SF | SF | QF | QF | A | A | A | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Irish Masters | A | A | A | A | A | SF | QF | F | SF | SF | QF | SF | 1R | QF | SF | 1R | SF | A | A | Ranking Event | A | Tournament Not Held |
Performance Table Legend | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | |||
MR / Minor-Ranking Event | means an event is/was a minor-ranking event. | |||
PA / Pro-am Event | means an event is/was a pro-am event. |
Legend |
---|
World Championship (1–1) |
UK Championship (1–1) |
Other (7–7) |
Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 1. | 1988 | The Classic | Steve Davis | 11–13 |
Winner | 1. | 1989 | European Open | Terry Griffiths | 9–8 |
Runner-up | 2. | 1989 | World Snooker Championship | Steve Davis | 3–18 |
Winner | 2. | 1990 | European Open (2) | Stephen Hendry | 10–6 |
Winner | 3. | 1991 | World Snooker Championship | Jimmy White | 18–11 |
Winner | 4. | 1991 | Dubai Classic | Tony Knowles | 9–3 |
Winner | 5. | 1991 | UK Championship | Jimmy White | 16–13 |
Runner-up | 3. | 1992 | Strachan Open | James Wattana | 5–9 |
Winner | 6. | 1992 | Dubai Classic (2) | Stephen Hendry | 9–8 |
Runner-up | 4. | 1992 | UK Championship | Jimmy White | 9–16 |
Winner | 7. | 1994 | International Open | James Wattana | 9–5 |
Runner-up | 5. | 1994 | European Open | Stephen Hendry | 3–9 |
Winner | 8. | 1995 | Thailand Classic (3) | Nigel Bond | 9–6 |
Runner-up | 6. | 1996 | Welsh Open | Mark Williams | 3–9 |
Winner | 9. | 1996 | European Open (3) | Peter Ebdon | 9–7 |
Runner-up | 7. | 1997 | European Open (2) | John Higgins | 5–9 |
Runner-up | 8. | 1997 | German Open | John Higgins | 4–9 |
Runner-up | 9. | 1998 | Thailand Masters | Stephen Hendry | 6–9 |
Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Team | Opponent(s) in the final | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | 1. | 2000 | Nations Cup | England | Wales | 6–4 |
Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | 1. | 1982 | Pontins Spring Open | Ray Reardon (WAL) | 7–4 | [31] |
Runner-up | 1. | 1985 | Pontins Spring Open | Jim Chambers (ENG) | 6–7 | [31] |
Winner | 2. | 1986 | Pontins Spring Open (2) | Tony Putnam (ENG) | 7–6 | [31] |
Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 1. | 1979 | British Under-16 Championship | Tony Pyle (ENG) | 2–3 | [6] |
Runner-up | 2. | 1979 | Pontins Junior Championship | Dave Gilbert (ENG) | 1–3 | [32] [33] |
Runner-up | 3. | 1980 | British Under-16 Championship (2) | Terry Whitthread (ENG) | 1–3 | [7] |
Winner | 1. | 1981 | Pontins Junior Championship | Don Tate (ENG) | 3–1 | [32] [34] |
Runner-up | 4. | 1982 | British Under-19 Championship | Neal Foulds (ENG) | 2–3 | [35] |
Winner | 2. | 1982 | Junior Pot Black | John Keers (ENG) | 156–70 [a] | [8] |
Runner-up | 5. | 1983 | English Amateur Championship | Tony Jones (ENG) | 9–13 | [9] |
Winner | 3. | 1983 | Junior Pot Black (2) | Steve Ventham (ENG) | [a] | [8] |
Alexander Gordon Higgins was a Northern Irish professional snooker player and a two-time world champion who is remembered as one of the most iconic figures in the sport's history. Nicknamed "Hurricane Higgins" for his rapid play, and known as the "People's Champion" for his popularity and charisma, he is often credited as a key factor in snooker's success as a mainstream televised sport in the 1980s.
James Warren White is an English professional snooker player who has won four seniors World titles. Nicknamed "The Whirlwind" because of his fluid, swift and attacking style of play, White is the 1980 World Amateur Champion, 2009 Six-red World champion, a record four-time World Seniors Champion, 2019 Seniors 6-Red World Champion and 1984 World Doubles champion with Alex Higgins.
Steve Davis is an English retired professional snooker player who is currently a commentator, DJ, electronic musician and author. He dominated professional snooker in the 1980s, when he reached eight World Snooker Championship finals in nine years, won six world titles, and held the world number one ranking for seven consecutive seasons. He won 28 ranking titles during his career, placing him fifth on the all-time list, behind Ronnie O'Sullivan (41), Stephen Hendry (36), John Higgins (31), and Judd Trump (29). The first player to make an officially recognised maximum break in professional competition, at the 1982 Classic, he was also the first to earn £1 million in career prize money. He is the only snooker player to have won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award, which he received in 1988.
Joe Johnson is an English former professional snooker player and snooker commentator for Eurosport. He became the British under-19 champion in 1971 as an amateur, defeating Tony Knowles in the final. After reaching the finals of the 1978 English Amateur Championship and the 1978 World Amateur Championship, Johnson turned professional in 1979. He reached his first ranking final at the 1983 Professional Players Tournament, and reached the semi-finals of the 1985 Classic.
Graham Miles was an English snooker player.
Anthony Christian Meo is a retired English snooker player. He won the 1989 British Open by defeating Dean Reynolds 13–6 in the final, and was runner-up to Steve Davis at the 1984 Classic. He won four World Doubles Championship titles, partnering Davis, and the 1983 World Team Classic representing England alongside Davis and Tony Knowles.
Raymond Reardon was a Welsh professional snooker player who dominated the sport in the 1970s, winning the World Snooker Championship six times and claiming more than a dozen other professional titles. Due to his dark widow's peak and prominent eye teeth, he was nicknamed "Dracula".
Terence Martin Griffiths is a Welsh retired professional snooker player and current coach and pundit. After winning several amateur titles, including the Welsh Amateur Championship in 1975 and back-to-back English Amateur Championships in 1977 and 1978, Griffiths turned professional in June 1978 at the age of 30. In his second professional tournament, he qualified for the 1979 World Snooker Championship. He reached the final of the event where he defeated Dennis Taylor by 24 frames to 16. This was only the second time a qualifier had won the World Snooker Championship, after Alex Higgins in 1972; only Shaun Murphy in 2005 has since emulated the achievement. In 1988, Griffiths again reached the final of the competition. He was tied with Steve Davis, 8–8, but lost the match 11–18.
John Spencer was an English professional snooker player. One of the most dominant players of the 1970s, he won the World Snooker Championship three times, in 1969, 1971 and 1977. He worked as a snooker commentator for the BBC from 1978 to 1998 and served for 25 years on the board of the sport's governing body, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), including a stint as chairman from 1990 until his retirement from the board in 1996.
Clifford Charles Devlin Thorburn is a Canadian retired professional snooker player. Nicknamed "The Grinder" because of his slow, determined style of play, he 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.
Douglas Mountjoy was a Welsh snooker player from Tir-y-Berth, Gelligaer, Wales. He was a member of the professional snooker circuit from the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, and remained within the top 16 of the world rankings for 11 consecutive years. He began his professional snooker career by taking the 1977 Masters, which he entered as a reserve player. He won both the 1978 UK Championship and the 1979 Irish Masters. Mountjoy reached the final of the 1981 World Snooker Championship where he was defeated by Steve Davis. He was also runner-up at the 1985 Masters losing to Cliff Thorburn, but by 1988 he had dropped out of the top 16.
William Joseph Thorne was an English professional snooker player. He won one ranking title, the 1985 Classic. He also reached the final of the 1985 UK Championship, losing 16–14 to Steve Davis after leading 13–8. He was noted for his break-building, and was among the first players to compile 100 century breaks. He earned the nickname "Mr Maximum". After retiring as a player, Thorne became a snooker commentator, primarily for the BBC.
Neal Foulds is an English former professional snooker player and six-time tournament winner, including the 1986 International Open, the 1988 Dubai Masters and the 1992 Scottish Masters, as well as the invitational Pot Black in 1992. He was runner-up at the 1986 UK Championship and the 1987 British Open, and reached the semi-finals of three Masters tournaments and the 1987 World Championship. After his retirement, Foulds became a commentator for the BBC and is currently part of the presenting team for ITV and Eurosport.
Mike Hallett is an English former professional snooker player and commentator. He won the 1989 Hong Kong Open.
Anthony Knowles is an English former professional snooker player. He won the 1982 International Open and the 1983 Professional Players Tournament, and was a three times semi-finalist in the World Professional Snooker Championship in the 1980s. His highest world ranking was second, in the 1984/85 season.
Clifford Wilson was a Welsh professional snooker player who reached the highest ranking of 16, in 1988-89. He was the 1978 World Amateur Champion and won the 1991 World Seniors Championship. He was a successful junior player, known for his fast attacking snooker and potting ability, and won the British Under-19 Championship in 1951 and 1952. In the early 1950s both Wilson and future six-times World Professional Champion Ray Reardon lived in Tredegar, where they played a succession of money matches that attracted large enthusiastic crowds.
Wayne Jones is a former Welsh professional snooker player. He won the Welsh Amateur snooker championship in 1983 by defeating Terry Parsons in the final, and turned professional in 1984. He was runner-up to Terry Griffiths at the 1988 Welsh Professional Championship.
Danny Fowler is an English former professional snooker player.
Steve Duggan is an English former professional snooker player, who competed on the professional snooker circuit from 1983 to 1996. He reached the quarter-finals of the 1985 Matchroom Trophy.
Douglas French is an English former professional snooker player.
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