Ray Reardon v Alex Higgins, 1982 Snooker: World Championship

Hello again. Talk about a tear-jerker. Many sporting occasions

have stirred emotions in us over the years. But perhaps none more so in

snooker terms, anyway, than the 1982 Crucible final, featuring Alex

Hurricane Higgins, and Ray Reardon, the canny Welshman who was already

the owner of six world titles. Reardon represented snooker's

establishment, but Higgins was a polar opposite. A genius at the

table, but away from the table, a controversial character. He had

already won the world title in 1972. Ten years had gone by, however. And

having won that title, he had done so at a time when snooker really

didn't register with the general public. In the intervening period,

his stylish demeanour and brilliant play had garnered an army of fans.

Snooker was now a front-line television attraction. But Higgins

had singularly failed to recapture that title, having lost in two

previous finals in the intervening years. This was, in fact, a repeat

of the line-up from 1976 against Reardon. There's a huge contrast,

both as people and as players. Alex Higgins is, like, dancing all over

the place, always moving, very impatient, you know, very nervous.

And Reardon, of course, is the perfect pro, you know? I mean, he's

always dressed imimmaculately, had a great presence in the arena. A

six-time champion. I think it was a little bit unexpected. I think Ray

Reardon was just over the edge of his great play. As was Alex Higgins.

He was no Hurricane then. It was more of a good, tight safety battle.

And Higgins, after winning the world title in 1972, ten years in between

drinks was a long time. He was the people's champion. He had beaten

Jimmy White in the semifinal with one of the best performances anyone

had seen. Now he's come up against Reardon. And everybody thought,

"Right, at last the people's champion was gonna win the world

title again." Higgins' chance had certainly improved after the shock

first-round exit of defending champion Steve Davis to Tony Mills

that year. Ray Reardon, who depeefted Eddie Charlotte in the

semifinal, was seeded fourth this year. He took a two frames to one

lead early on in the final. Let's join them inside the Crucible

Theatre in the fourth frame. Oh, and that's come out very nicely.

Six. Seven. And a lot of side with screw

on that cue ball. Well, the pink won't go on. The

highest available is the brown. And just nudges that red out of the way

for the black. Well, Alex split those reds perfect

there. Had to run into the other red there,

but still came very nicely on the red.

38. APPLAUSE

That's an excellent shot. And that's had a 54 break now. That's Alex's

first 50 of the match. And what a marvellous red that was.

The one that he wanted. Kept himself in position.

62. And with this next colour, it is the important one. Reardon will need

snookers. And Reardon the general who will

know exactly what to do in this situation. Try and relax.

APPLAUSE and the perfect line along the black

here gives him complete command of the cue ball too. Just a little

nudge there and he's off again. Yes. This time, can take the red off

the side cushion with this red. And absolutely spot on.

And that is true craftsmanship, just nudging that red.

APPLAUSE APPLAUSE

So, an excellent 104. Now, can he make the clearance?

The highest break so far in the tournament, of course, is by Willy

Thorne, which is 143. So, at least he can get close to it. 113.

Oh! Alex. Very bad luck. But the most delightful break. So, we end

this session at two frames all. Yes, a marvellous clearance of 118, which

thoroughly delighted the Crucible crowd. Hig Hig had produced great

snooker already that week. There was one clearance that many of you will

remember, that 69 against Jimmy White in the semifinal, which had

rescued hits chances and all but put him into this final. Back to the

action. It was Reardon, taking the next two to lead four frames to two,

as we go into Frame 7. APPLAUSE

One. And that miss into the middle pocket

by Higgins could mean that he falls three frames behind instead of

narrowing the gap to one. Hit it perhaps a bit too well. He

wanted to leave himself much straighter on to the red into the

middle pocket. Yes, a very confident shot, that

one, because it certainly looked easier into the middle. But giving

him a chance to get on that last red this time, after blue.

And that looks about perfect. 12.

20. And Higgins has got a shade more hope now. Out of position on the

green. Good shot to pot it and a better one to hold position on the

brown. More difficult than it need have

been, but in anyway. Seven. Alex Higgins. Well, I can't

believe my eyes with that. 54. Alex Higgins, 55. How could he have

missed that shot? Just needed blue and pink to win the frame. Thank

you, ladies and gentlemen. Reardon needing only the pink, but

surely too risky to attempt to pot this.

Alex Higgins, 55. Ray Reardon, $59.. -- 59. Higgins needing both pink and

black. And I think Alex would have loved to

have had a go at that one in the middle, but... Very sensibly putting

Ray into the driving seat. A very depood shot by Reardon. It

would have been so easy -- good shot by Reardon. It would have been so

easy to drift the pink over the pocket.

But Higgins wishes he could have that again. Reardon will certainly

attempt this pink. APPLAUSE

They both clear the frame away, but Reardon won it in the end. He leads

by five frames to two. Nine. And the special importance of

this frame for Higgins is that he needs to limit his interval deficit

to only two frames. Four behind at the interval would be very serious

indeed. Well, that read as free, red into

the opposite pocket. He has got just the right angles to nudge this if he

wants. I think he may well take advantage of that.

APPLAUSE 33. And just the blue means that

Reardon needs a snooker. APPLAUSE

45. Alex Higgins. APPLAUSE

And that's plenty. To ensure that Alex Higgins is only two frames

behind at the interval. 33-year-old Higgins did indeed secure that frame

and was just two behind at the end of the session. When it resumed in

Frame 9, Alex had raced into a 42-point advantage. And Reardon, who

remember was six months shy of his 50th birthday, had it all to do.

Ray seemed to see a possible pot on there but played it rather

recklessly. And the way the reds have split open here gives Alex a

very good opportunity to continue his lead.

So, Ray now requiring snookers and no doubt Alex will try and...drop on

to the reds and clear the board. 18. APPLAUSE

39. Alex Higgins. So, Reardon remains in his seat. First frame of

the session to Alex Higgins. Score now 5-4. Just one frame between

them, but Reardon kept the pressure firmly on, restoring his advantage

and leading by 42 points to 17 as we head into Frame 11.

APPLAUSE Picked out those two reds on the

cushion very nicely. Got lovely position to pot them and continue

his break. So, Alex just one point behind. From

a rather struggle in this frame, he suddenly finds himself in a position

where he can just clear up. And he's certainly put too much on that one.

33. Alex Higgins. Rather disgusted. APPLAUSE

Should have finished it there. Ray Reardon, 42. Alex Higgins, 50.

Quiet, please. APPLAUSE

And what a good shot. And being really tight on the pink, Ray has

got to be a bit careful here. I would think he'd come off the

bottom cushion. No. He's going to try and snick it

off the side cushion. And well played.

APPLAUSE The only problem, it looks as if

Alex has a possibility of laying another snooker here. Stunning the

white behind the pink. But you never quite know with Alex.

Well, he's reasonably close to the pink here, so I would imagine that

he will try and draw that cue ball back up the table. Right onto the

black. And the pace of the shot has kept

the pink out of the pocket. And he's gone safe. And that's a little bit

fortunate. Quiet, please. Once again, ladies and gentlemen, if

you could please refrain from making remarks when the players are in the

middle of a shot. If you please, thank you.

Rgets and that's it! -- and that's it! So, Alex Higgins pulls one back.

6-5. So, the first real mistake puts Alex

in charge. That opens up of the reds gives Alex

an excellent opportunity here. And Alex missed the cannon there. He

played a cannon on the red. But fortunately he is still on a nice

red, which makes the black available.

39, Alex Higgins. So, Alex now 30 points the leader.

Ray Reardon, 10, Alex Higgins, 40. That was a very good brown. Not an

easy shot to push that white through at that pace and into a centre

pocket. Well, if Alex can open up these two

reds here, he stands a very good opportunity of winning this frame.

24. And he will be well pleased with that, I would think.

A little bit close, but I think he can handle it.

And that's a very pretty shot, just pushing the blue into the open

there. And what a very good frame this has

been. It's certainly going to Alex, and they've had quite a safety duel,

when it did seem that rear reer was on top. But suddenly -- Reardon was

on top. But suddenly a mistake, when Reardon seemed to be getting the

frame under control, lets Alex in and the result is that we end the

session six frames each. And in goes the black.

APPLAUSE So, nothing between them as this

classic 1982 final came to the boil. When they returned to the arena,

Reardon with that mixture of caution and aggression, took the first frame

to lead 7-6. And as we head into -- into it, it's Higgins who has it all

to do. APPLAUSE

Alex peeks at the scoreboard. ?37,500 at stake in this final.

APPLAUSE And that looks absolutely perfect

for the red just to the left of the black.

36. Just want the black now to leave red and snookers.

Alex playing to get below the black so he can now pot the black, stun

the white up to move those two reds up near the yellow pocket.

66, Alex Higgins. APPLAUSE

Well, Alex hoped for one of those two last reds to disappear.

Unfortunately, it was the yellow. But Reardon stays in his chair and

the scores are back all square. Seven frames each.

Stalemate again. Before Higgins finally took the lead for the first

time since the opening frame, in fact, eight frames top seven.

Everyone enthralled inside the theatre. And perhaps none more so

than another Welshman, who had reigned in the same arena some three

years earlier. And enjoying this final, the former

world champion, Terry Griffiths, knocked out in the first round of

this Embassy World Championship. That wassal tremendous pot from

Alex. Now got a good chance to clinch this game here.

13. Disbr and just the pink or the blue -- and just the pink or the

blue to leave red. Higgins well and truly into his

flamboyant stride in this frame. 25, Alex Higgins.

APPLAUSE Reardon needed snookers, which he

didn't get. And when Alex took the final frame of the session, there

was now significant distance between the two men, of three frames.

Higgins leading ten frames to seven. At the end of the first day's play.

So, could the Northern Irishman press home his advantage when they

returned the following afternoon? 22. Alex Higgins.

APPLAUSE Higgins unlucky, actually, to go in

off the black, but the trouble started the previous shot, when he

left himself just short of his intended position on the black. Had

to pot the black at a much thinner angle than he would have liked.

He might have to sit down for a minute or two here, because this is

a good opening for Reardon. A niels little cannon that Reardon

got -- a nice little cannon that Reardon got there, to hold on the

black there. And Reardon should win the frame from this position. There

should be no doubt at all. And I'm sure that if he doesn't, he will be

very disappointed. Except for the one red, which is

behind the pink, and the one on the side of the cushion. All the others

nicely opened. So, enough to put himself in a winning position.

Advance planning to separate the pink from one of the two troublesome

reds. And leaving himself still on an easy red for the middle.

39. Just the pink and one more red needed to leave Higgins needing a

snooker. 52. Well, that wasn't a good shot

from Reardon and didn't get on the shot as he should have done.

APPLAUSE Should have left himself a little

bit easier on that, but the game is saved, so he won't be very worried.

61. And Reardon will certainly want to complete a clearance here to keep

his own momentum going and keep Higgins cold.

No century possible. 95 is the most that he can get. But I'm sure he

will be most happy with the start that he's made. 73.

And that 95 points was just what the doctor ordered, from Reardon's point

of view. He started the day three frames behind. He's now narrowed the

gap to two. Now trailing by eight frames to ten. I think Reardon was

well used to playing him, and Reardon had a wonderful temperament.

In one way, I think his temperment was a big part of his six wins as

world champion. He was a very clever player. Very sharp under pressure,

seeing everything clear, which most players couldn't do, you know?

Reardon was a bit of a nemesis for Alex. Reardon always used to leave

Alex tempters, to force him into one shot too many, and then pick up the

pieces. One thing was certain on that shot,

that Higgins was gonna be short rather than too heavy.

And the referee, John Smyth, has given a deliberate miss. Ray Reardon

never moved from his seat. And he waited for the call. And I think

that was a good decision. Well, there we are. This time

Higgins has hit the reds and forced into at the time mistake. -- into

the mistake. And this is a chance now that Reardon wanted to win the

game. 15. Reardon already well past the

point where Higgins needs a snooker. And, again, he will want to contrive

a clearance here. Higgins hasn't shown any continuity

at all today, whereas Reardon has been in very good form and he will

want to keep his momentum going. 22 t Ray Reardon.

APPLAUSE Higgins concedes. Reardon takes the

first two frames of the day to narrow the gap to one. Higgins leads

by ten frames to nine. Reardon strived mightily to catch

Higgins, calling upon all of his skill and experience. But the

Northern Irishman always seemed to produce smck special at the key

moments. And after 24 frames it was the Hurricane, 13 frames to 11, in

front as we go into the last of that session, and it all came down to the

colours. Well, again, a little fortunate kiss

there saved Ray a lot of problems. Gives Ray a chance of going up the

left-hand side of the green here, probably around the angles, to try

and get the white behind the blue, pink and black.

Well, rather close to the brown there.

Yes. I think he's got a little too close to the brown here. Looks as

though he's playing it. A very dangerous shot, this. Well, that's

all the way. APPLAUSE

A super little shot. A really classy little shot.

Yes. That was a tremendous pot. Knew he was leaving the brown over the

pocket if he missed it. APPLAUSE

So, that's it. And Ray pulls one back again.

13-12. So, beautifully, and tantalisingly poised at 13 frames to

12 for Alex Higgins against Ray Reardon. When they came back for

that final session, it was Higgins straight out of the blocks to win

the first of theing, 14-12 now, and he built up a healthy lead in the

next, with Reardon trying hard to respond.

I think he can just clip this right on red, and he's looking at the path

it will take after hitting it to knock a ball over the left-hand

corner pocket. Four. Alex Higgins.

So, Reardon not getting too much good running so far.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Began, it looks as though Reardon is

bridging it with the yellow. -- again.

An excellent read that raise started with, must surely give him a good

chance here if he can just take care with his work. -- Ray started with.

And a very nice large off the cushion for that red puts Reardon in

a strong position now. -- nice large. Just three points behind, and

every opportunity. Yes, that was a good shot, that

black he got behind the difficult red first. Now he has an excellent

chance to win the frame. Looks as though he is electing to

take the blue rather than the pink. If the pink went rack in on its

spot, it would hamper his position getting the last red. -- went back.

54 plays 50 now. Reardon just four in front.

Well! Goodness me. In perfect position, 11 points in play.

And how fortunate for Ray that he didn't lead to the yellow on.

He has got another chance at the yellow here. Not as easy as the last

one. A difficult yellow into the corner pocket.

My word. That was the thinnest of tickles, and I think a slight swerve

on the cue ball. Perilously near the brown. An

extremely tense moment. APPLAUSE Good heavens. That really

is unbelievable. A little bit over strength here.

Played the green into the centre pocket.

So, now Higgins just nine points behind.

That Green gives him the chance of pinching the frame back.

Alex needs the pink. Reardon needs both balls. And that is it! Alex

Higgins restores his three frame lead by 15-12.

A tremendous potted from Ray. -- pot. He may even act to take the

blue here to split up the reds. It appears the pink will not go in

its spot. He is testing it out. If it doesn't spot, it has to go as

near to its spot as possible, the twin B spot and the top cushion. --

between the spot. That has tied the pink up, but it

shouldn't affect Ray. He is concentrating on the black. Ray

needs to get a good break here to get a bit of pressure back on Alex.

Now he is going to ask the referee to get this into the top pocket, to

keep himself at the back. Reardon last won the title in 1978 and would

dearly love to put his name on the world trophy for the seventh time.

Yes, he was rather unfortunate. It is not an easy implement to use. He

has now given Alex Higgins an excellent chance.

That little touch Alex did on the pink, he has opened the pink up now.

A tremendous amount of left-hand side on the white, to hold the white

Bear for both colours. -- white there.

Glances at the scoreboard. He is five points behind at this moment.

He has been rather fortunate then. The black has gone all the way

around the table and come between the yellow and the centre pocket.

That big smile on his face told us that.

He could find himself snickered behind the brown here, though. --

snookered. Rather red dangerous shot, that. He

is pushing the yellow to the middle pocket. -- and dangerous.

And Higgins is querying that free ball.

He has now, I think, accepted it. He has gone to his seat.

Ray not taking the free ball, electing to play the yellow.

He has not come far enough up the table. Of course, he still needs the

brown after this. 17 in front. 25 on the table. He needs the brown, and

will have to take the white all the way around the table. Not an easy

shot at all. Well, he was fortunate. He had that

angle that the middle pocket, and got back on the brown, and then he

was unfortunate that the blue came along, and will hamper his cueing.

But I think he will settle for that. The old campaigner, Ray Reardon,

takes that frame quite comfortably and brings himself within two frames

of Alex Higgins. Higgins leading 15-13.

32 points ahead, with just 27 points left.

Alex again getting those nervous twitches, picking out his fingers.

-- picking at. Reardon drawing to within one frame.

And Sir Alex finishes it. He was 46 points behind. He takes the pink,

and wants to show us how to potted the black. -- how to plot the black.

Well, that is one way of plotting the black. Reardon makes it two in a

row, and is now just one behind, with Alex leading 15-14. For me,

being a snooker fan as a kid, when I fell in love with the game, if

anything, I copied Higgins' styled of playing the flair of shots at

which I always enjoyed playing. I still enjoy playing those now.

Higgins made snooker. Without Alex Higgins, snooker would not be where

it is today. Alex wants to play this offer to

cushions. Let's see if he has the right in. -- right angle.

He would have liked to go a bit further into the middle of the

table. This is a tough luck. -- black.

APPLAUSE What a campaigner this man is, Ray

Reardon. He has been in this final on six occasions. He draws level,

15-15. When you went to the snooker, you had a feeling that Higgins was

playing the better snooker, but Reardon was just waiting in the long

grass. Everybody thought, Alex has missed the opportunity here. At your

can bet your life that Alex Higgins was a butler. For whatever he was,

he was always a butler. -- battler. Playing this red to clear the black

spot. He is not happy with this pink.

There is a bit of danger in that shot. But it is the only shot that

he can get on the red. He could be in with a bit of a

chance. And Ray Reardon now requires a

snooker. Alex Higgins then going towards one

more frame. Brilliant by Alex Higgins. Leeds 17

frames to 15 and now requires just one frame to become the world smooth

the champion. The cue ball has come to rest so he

is playing a safety shot. Well, I must say, he has done a

number of those during the course of this final. The cue ball keeps

popping into the pocket. APPLAUSE. And that a magnificent

shot, right on the black. Yes, a real pressure shot because how do

you miss that. All the raids were spread open. A marvellous shot. --

reds. I think he has made a bit of a mess of that one. Left himself in a

very difficult position to use the rest.

He has got the shot that the result is he is out of position on the

Black and this is a very dangerous shot again.

And everything is starting to flow now for Alex Higgins.

Alex knows that the championship is within his grasp in this position.

No reason why he shouldn't win the title here. Ray Reardon will be

suffering in his seat. This is the fourth time that Alex

Higgins has been in this final. He won it in 1972. He lost to Ray

Reardon in 19 76. Frustrated but helpless.

APPLAUSE. Now he has got the perfect angle and he has got to disturb the

raids. Perfect. APPLAUSE. -- reds. That is the shot that makes the

title certain. APPLAUSE. The 33-year-old Irishman.

Going out in a complete blaze of glory here.

Controversial, temperamental, but a terrific talent for the game of

snooker. And what a way to finish. The 13th snooker century of the

championship. And what a time to make it. Fantastic.

Just three balls to go now for a break of 135.

Ray Reardon has sat in his chair for the whole of this final frame.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE. Fantastic! And to the Embassy world champion

for 1982 is Alex Higgins! It was ten years earlier, he won the world

championship. How did he take ten years to win it again? A great

achievement. As Alex took possession of the

trophy for a second time, his achievement would only be completed

in the company of his wife Lynn and daughter Lauren. This moving scenes

touched everyone who watched on television and were in the

audience. It had taken ten years but he was the world champion again. It

left Ray Reardon with selected memory.

I don't want to remember that. Yes, laughter and tears characterised to

be at occasion. -- characterised the occasion. That was his last foray

into the latter stages at the Crucible. 1982 remains the defining

moment.