Steve Davis v Joe Johnson, 1986 Snooker: World Championship

Hello again. The 1986 Crucible final had a lot to live up to. 12 months

earlier, 18 and a half million people were glued to their TV sets,

watching the drama served up by Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor. 1

year on, Steve Davis was back, in another final, and if he was widely

expected to beat Dennis Taylor and famously didn't, he was expected to

crush Bradford's Joe Johnson. They was the 150' to-1 outer. The whole

of Yorkshire was entranced by his progress and so was very neutral in

the country. Everyone was dream a fairy tale sporting finale. I

remember thinking, should I touch this trophy now? Because

remember thinking, should I touch this trophy now? Because I may not

get another chance. Obviously, he was going to win. I will just have a

little touch. I approached the final against Steve Davis, thinking to

myself, what a great player he is. He lost in the final of the year

previously, with the famous black ball, and I thought, he is going to

set his stall out to beat me. And I tried to put him out of my mind

completely. I was playing the balls rather than Steve Davis. If you

start thinking you're playing the best player ever which he was at

that time, you're halfway beaten before you start. Coming into the 86

world championship, I had weathered the tomorrow, won events during the

season, got my Lib equilibrium back, and was relishing the chance of

regaining my title. I got into the final, against another huge

underdog, Joe Johnson decided to play the match and tournament of his

life. Just shy of his 29th birthday, Steve Davis took the opening frame

and in the second, he is 14 points adrift.

Well, that kiss as it turns out, couldn't have been better.

Well, it is does seem the only plb here can be the blue -- the only

problem here can be the blue. He looks to epretty straight on the

brown. That brings Steve level on the

scores. So this obviously the key shot. Just requiring now blue and

pink. So, a sigh of relief by Joe and he's

got a chance here. APPLAUSE

So, this frame taken twice as long as the first one. So Joe is putting

up the night. Well done, Joe!

APPLAUSE Slight slit more difficult, having

to use the cue extension, and because of that reason, he is not

ideally placed on the black. Pot is quite easy, but he'll need to

develop one or two reds in order to keep the break going. Or go for the

single red in baulk. He is looking very closely at the

possibility of a 3-ball plant, just directly behind the pink. 4-ball,

possibly. Nicely controlled as well. He is

sitting on the pink here. 43. He has accumulated 43 points so

far, and the break hasn't been easy because of the situation of the

balls, the next couple of shots, we should see it develop.

And that's a nice little kiss on the blue.

And Steve certainly sill looking fresh after that tremendous match

he's had. I wonder if perhaps little later, Willie Thorne may be able to

enlarge on that, whether he should be tired after such a tough match.

Well, useful kiss to leave him on the brown, still got to break into

the reds to maintain the break. Ask he couldn't have played it any

better. 67. Steve now safe. And quite a nice

possibility of a nice sized break here.

Naict. I it will interesting to see how he handles the glean. The rest

of the colours on their spots. More or less.

APPLAUSE And there he tried to give it's a

little pick. APPLAUSE

Oh, what a beauty! And that must make him feel pleased. But he's got

to get another one. APPLAUSE

So, even applause from Joe there for a lovely 100 break.

Well, he can obviously see a problem there, I would suggest it's the fact

he is not straight on the plaque makes it very difficult when it's so

tight. Well, Steve has intentionally potted

that red, because it clears the black into the right-hand corner

pocket. But finishing as straight as he has on the black...

I was about to say he was limited in the shot he could play. But possibly

now has the same problem. 16.

APPLAUSE Well, he's certainly on the pink,

but he cut that one a little bit fine.

36. Not quite as he intended. He was looking for a thicker contact on the

red, no too far away from the cue ball, now a different choice of red.

And this really is a beautiful break that Steve is making. He is using

very few cannons and pinpointing the cue ball.

Back in position. Now requiring the black or one of the 3 remaining reds

to secure the frame. Skaix 6667. Again, a very clean

tiedsy break. Colours virtually on their spots again. This could be a

formality. And this really is a classic break

from Steve Davis. He's playing so well now, that he's put in the

absolute minimum of effort into the stroke, but getting the maximum from

it. 89. 94.

APPLAUSE So there's the hundred. And a lovely

break. So Steve Davis leads by 3 frames to one at the interval. Steve

Davis had this habit of really punishing people. I remember the

year before, he was 8-nil up. And he had beaten Mike Hallett 9-0 in one

of the big tournaments as well. I thought to myself, every time you

get a chance, try and make sure you win the frame, you know? Don't give

up frames, if you like. Don't take them too lightly. Stay with him.

One of the problems for Joe, he is not certain where the pink is going

to go after he is potted it. Whether the red in the open there would be

covered by by the pink. Well, just a couple more reds to

make this frame safe. And a good performance considering what

happened in the last two frames. So that red means that Davis needs a

snooker. And because he couldn't get his body

right down to play his last shot, Johnson didn't get his positional

play as accurate as he might have done.

APPLAUSE Nevertheless, all is well and he can

congratulate himself on coming back so strongly after the mid-session

interval,ing a having 2 century breaks put on him in the two

previous frames. APPLAUSE

Davis concedes. And Johnson narrows the gap to one frame.

, he can obviously get through to this red, and now a good chance for

Joe. Just having a look after potting the

pink into had red centre, whether he can stay on that red.

Now gone six points in front, and the only difficult ball it appears

to me could possibly be the green. Now this is the important shot - 12

points in front. Once have you a green and grown, and Joe having a

look at where he's got to screw back off the yellow. If the green was on

the spot, it would be quite simple. So, Davis scored four, but he only

added one more red as Johnson played some very tight, competitive match

snooker to win the frame and level the match at 3-all. 12 months

earlier, Davis had famously gone 8-0 in front against Dennis Taylor ask

still lost. But this time, Joe Johnson was determined to stick with

him a lot more closely in the early stages. But suddenly after breaks,

he found it was clear blue water in front of them. But even then, the

Nugget was not taking anything for granted. The only shot I remember of

the final was Joe potting a ball down the rail, all the way down into

the green pocket, and taking on shots with breathtaking ease. He

didn't have a care in the world - such a great cueist. Great shot.

Ties time, Joe -- this time, Joe is taking the half bass. Earlier, he

used his own telescopic cue, not terribly successful with.

Joe keeps looking at that red at the back of the pack.

And he looks to have the perfect position on it.

They have broken beautifully for him! Every chance now of pulling his

frame out of the bag. Now looks to stun off the red into

the pink for the right-hand coverage pocket. Corner pocket.

Is a terrific player and great temper. For a match player. Probably

his greatest attribute coming into the world championship, his cool,

calm and collected manner at the table.

So already 32 points in point. If he could get 2 pinks, that could be

sufficient to leave Steve needing snookers.

He may have to get down for the blue off this red.

66. APPLAUSE

72, Johnson has a break. Well, Joe Johnson has mate 3 centuries in the

championship, but that's the highest break in the final, a break of 72.

He now trails by just 2 frames. The support of the people absolutely

certainly helped my, without a doubt. They were fantastic. Every

time I got a good shot, I could hear the thunder russ applause. Fantastic

to have that kind of support. Take it quite naturally. Difficult

red, along the top. Yes, a lot more difficult shot than

it looked. Knew he would be leaving Steve if he missed it. But now given

himself an excellent chance in this frame. Already 20 points in front.

He was 3 times Yorkshire amateur champion and turned professional in

1979. It has taken him 7 years to get to this stage, the stage of the

world championship final. APPLAUSE

And this is the last of the easy reds. And of course, it's not enough

for Joe to win the frame. So he's looking now, I think, to go down

near in baulk cushion off this red, so he has an angle when potting the

green to come down and split the 3 reds.

So now, 39 points in front. Just need the red and one more colour to

leave Steve needing snookers again. And Joe, just checking the board.

And just note the position a little bit there. Just checking he is 40 in

front, he needs at least the green. I think we may see him play a

snooker here. APPLAUSE

. John, had a brave shot that was! Yes, that's a great shot. Puts him

43 in front now. Knew he was leaving the red and he missed

32, Joe Johnson. That knock of 32 was enough to bring Johnson within

one frame of his decorated opponent. He has a slight advantage in the

next But Steve is eyeing up a red here.

In next red could win him this frame.

7, Steve Davis. This is hard to believe... He missed the same shot

now into that pocket, identical, I would say, 3 times.

So now got to be an excellent opportunity for Joe. Unfortunately

for Joe, I think the green is covering the brown spot. So should

he pot the brown, of course, he would come back down to the black

spot, so Joe electing the take the green instead.

And he's over his problems. Just a little bit care now. And the match

is all square. The brown and blue now to put this

frame safe. APPLAUSE

And Steve must be wondering how he lost this frame with the chances

he's had. Well, this frame has been going to

and fro throughout. Finally, Johnson takes it. And makes

the match all square at 7 frames each.

And Joe Johnson is away straightaway.

Yes, the sight of reds that Joe's been knocking in all week. Again, a

crucial shot. This red will be going into the pack.

APPLAUSE 16. So now, a choice, could run down

for the red into the right-hand centre pocket, or may elect to

disturb these reds again, just above the black.

Probably screw back for the blue here, to get away from the side

cushion. Playing with complete ease. And of

course, the way the reds are set, each time he pots one, it opens up

the path for the another one into the opposite corner pocket.

I would like to have come a little lower on the black there, to get the

reds into this right-hand corner pocket.

The capacity crowd appreciating every move he makes.

So just one red and one more colour to leave Steve needing snookers.

Could just scu the black, leave the pink in the centre off this red.

Joe, just looking at the baurd - and I'm sure if it was me playing his

shot, I would be screwing off the pink so I didn't play a position for

the red. APPLAUSE

He seems to be playing the same game as you, John. D.

APPLAUSE He made a 72 in the 12th frame, his

highest in the final. He has now equalled it. And about to go a

little better. 77.

APPLAUSE Some brilliant potting by Joe

Johnson, a break of 75 and only 59 points left on the table.

Said before, these are the ones that he has been knocking in all week.

It was a long way off with that one. A bit wild, John.

Now, 70 points in front, just wants the one red to clinch this frame.

It's been some entertaining snooker in the first 16 frames of the first

day's play of the world final. APPLAUSE

Terrific stuff! Some great potting by both players. Superb safety.

48. The last red disappears and Joe Johnson, without a point on the

scoreboard. And so clinically, Steve Davis

white-washing Joe Johnson in our final frame of the day, but Joe

Johnson takes the honours. He has drawn level over the 16 frames of

the first day's play, and they share the match, 8 frames each.

APPLAUSE , they shake hands and the brilliant

81, but it's all square, 8 frames each. So at 8 #23r5i78s all, this

was not the lap of honour for Davis had many people had predicted. This

was very tight and very delicately poised. So in frame 17 we go. E lap

And a rather surprising miss by Steve there. Just a little twist of

his hand as he went through with the shot.

Well, Joe would want to be on this red as straight as pock possible, in

order he can run through for the black.

Tried to leave himself an angle in which to take one of 3 reds, into

the left-hand corner pocket, he may have finished a little too straight.

16, 17. Set Joe up here for every chance to take the frame.

And that sounded like a kick and sure enough... Giving the ball a

clean. Unfortunately, he is away from the

side cushion and just the black now is going to put Joe safe.

37 points ahead with a possible 35 still on.

38. So Johnson, the underdog, 9 frames to 8 in front. And you know,

on the very, very smallest of the margins, titles are won and lost.

Just take a look at what happens in frame 18.

Well, that is a cruel fluke and one sympathy is with Steve there. That

really hurts. And at such a vital stage.

Reason why he shouldn't. The yellow is not as easy as he planned. But he

is back in perfect position. So Joe goes two ahead. Needs the

blue and the pink. APPLAUSE

So Joe gets the fluke of the final so far, and makes it 10-8. I got my

luck in the final. I watched it back afterwards and there was certain

times where the lucks went with me and I won important frames with that

a little bit of rung in. Maybe that affected him. So 25 ahead now, Joe.

35 points remaining. So we are in this situation again, where with who

takes this red could very well be the winner.

Well that rather poor effort by Joe, he might pay for that.

APPLAUSE Well, by recall that statement.

He is having the run-in, but you got to take it when it comes your way.

Steve, of course, has the problem of not only hitting the red, but trying

to keep it safe. It would be disaster for him, should Joe have a

chance at a pot. So now, 31 points ahead and this red

will make Joe compare Tivoli save. What a session this has been. Quite

unbelievable, and one in fairness to Steve, one must say that as well as

Joe has played, and my word he has played well - he certainly had the

running but then, one can say he has overcome the big occasion while

nobody thought he could. So it's great credit to him. So without

question of doubt, Joe is going to take all four frames in this first

session to lead by 12 frames to 8, and that gives Steve quite a task.

So 12 frames to 8 it is. And I just remember thinking, well he's

outplaying me. And I really struggled. I tried as hard as I

could to get back every session. 25. Joe Johnson.

APPLAUSE Well, obviously, Johnson thought

that plant was on. But he could regret playing it now.

Noticeable after coming on after the interval, Steve staying down that a

little bit longer on some shot. Walking around and just thinking

positive thoughts. His record since he came into the

professional game, has been just unbelievable, really. I feel this is

probably the greatest challenge he has ever had to face.

Just the pink now to leave Joe Johnson needing snookers in this

frame. With that break of 52, Steve Davis

closes to 3 frames behind. Johnson still leading 12 frames to 9. Well

the next 2 were shared, so now it's 13 frames to 10 in the under dog,

Johnson's favour. Steve to may, no score. A lot of pressure on this

shot. It was indeed, no position

guaranteed if he got it. Every possibility of leaving a very good

opening for his opponent if he missed it.

15. That was a nice shot by Steve, clearings that red, so after potting

the black, the black won't be available in both corner pockets.

And I'm certain that a nice big break here, would be a nice boost

for him. Yes, if Davis can win this frame,

perhaps with this visit to the table, a deficit of two frames going

into the final session would be recoverable, obviously. If he were

to lose it, the deficit of four would take some retrieving.

Just this pink and one more red... Would leave the frame safe.

And a good performance this, by Steve. Certainly looked to be on the

ropes at 1 stage. I said earlier that this was one of

the his great challenges, mainly because he has not played his best,

whether it's due to the pressure or what have you.

When he came from behind against Willie Thorne in the UK, Willie was

playing brilliantly, but so was Steve. So this is a bit different.

And in this frame, showing he can stand up to it.

Question, when he was 12-8 down, this world final looked as if it

could be slipping away from him. But he's sure of winning this frame now.

So it will be 3 out of four for him. Since mid-session interval.

Davis's third century of this final. Following his consecutive efforts of

108, and 107 in the third and fourth frames.

APPLAUSE So, would that break of 100 Steve

Davis, he takes the last frame of the afternoon, but it's Joe Johnson

who takes a 13 frames to 11 lead into the final session. What a

match! And it's the underdog, 33-year-old Joe Johnson who led

going into the final session, 13-11. This is a man who until this point

hasn't won a single ranking title. And here he was, leading one of the

iconic players of the 1980s. With the Yorkshire crowd beginning to

sniff an upset, they got firmly behind their man, Johnson surged

ahead even further. It's Steve to play, frame 28.

Well, would you believe that! ? And that is so unlike Steve. And a gift

of a chance here for Joe. Couldn't ask for more than this.

Well I never like to use the word "pressure" too loosely, but surely

that's the reason that Steve missed the black. So Joe now 25 points

ahead. And without any problems, he should clear the colours. And Steve

was picking up his rest to say that will do, but he's put it back again.

25 points behind, 22 on the table. And that frame indeed went to

Johnson. He is two frames away from the most incredible of victories at

the Crucible. 16 frames to 12 the front.

REFEREE: Foul. And could be a free now, it's not quite.

There's ?112,000, ?72,000 to the winner, and ?42,000 to the loser.

I think his eyebrows were applauding the shot before he got it.

He was just playing as though he was in a club handicap.

Doesn't seem to have any pressure at all on him.

And of course, four open reds would be, could be enough for Joe.

Wouldn't need to bother with the two on the side cushion.

His agony is turning into a nightmare.

So joe now 29 points in front. So just needs 14 points off these two

open reds... So just this red... And the blue,

pink or black would be sufficient to leave Steve needing snookers.

Bradford's Joe Johnson, rewriting the history books.

APPLAUSE I was expecting him to go 17, 13,

14, 15. I may get over the line in one of them. That relaxed me. I

expected him to do it. Here he is, on the brink, just

wanting 1 frame. So a chance for Steve here, but a

pressure shot. And I think that's the difference

with Steve, normally, would have seen him knock in red in by the side

of the blue, and been sure of position.

Joe Johnson has learnt a great deal during the championship. He have

always known him to be a terrific potter, but his safety play has been

impeccable. And Steve refuses pots that I

couldn't believe he would refuse. Yes, he is at it again, and the

crowd are loving it. Well, I couldn't believe that Steve

refused two reds he had a chance of there. He played a safety shot and

of course, Joe, back in again now. APPLAUSE

And of course, when the pressure's on, wanting one frame for the

championship, nothing better than a few points lead early on in the

frame, to give you that bit of confidence.

22, Joe Johnson. APPLAUSE

And again, Steve not getting the right contact on the reds there. And

now, just a safety shot left. Well that certainly looked in the

pocket. Quite regularly he finds that baulk

cushion. And John that, shot, surely, says it

all. Yes, but that is probably the wildest shot I have seen Steve play

in 3 or 4 years. He through his cue as that one. -- at that one.

Those little touches make so much difference.

No, just a screw for the pink into the opposite middle.

I don't think the pink will pot so it gives Steve a chance here. The

pink going on the black spot. 20, Steve Davis. Another miss by

Steve! Looked all set. But now just five points in front. And one can

only think the pressure is getting to Steve. And of course, misses like

that with just increase Joe's confidence.

And treating it as another game of snooker.

And Joe will be, I'm sure, thinking now, all I've got to do is hold

myself together, and the choif is mine -- championship's mine.

There's enough reds all around the centre of the table.

Obviously, too straight on the red in the middle, will want to be the

other side of the blue. 14.

And he'll certainly never have a better chance than this of becoming

world champion. 14 points in front. -- 15 points in front.

And Steve must be becoming resigned now to becoming runner-up for the

second year running. What a tournament to win for your

first one - the World Championship. And Joe, quite rightly, not rushing

at all this break. Can obviously see this is the one.

By taking the green there, of course, it means... He needs both

reds, red and a colour and the last red to clinch this vital frame.

Just 17 days ago, he was a rank outsider.

Steve just waiting in his chair. I'm sure... Brilliant potting from this

fella from Bradford. Nothing to stop him now.

CHEERING Not quite! It must be said, he had

the run of the balls, but it takes nothing away from his brilliant

potting. And still thoroughly enjoying every

moment of it. The crowd here at the Crucible are going mad for

Bradford's the Joe Johnson. A most remarkable world final, I

have ever seen. And Joe Johnson defeats Steve Davis, 18 frames to

12, as the capacity crowd go completely mad! The shock of the

1385 final and how I felt afterwards, it was nowhere near the

same playing Joe. You have outplayed me, 18 to 12, what can I say?

Desperately disappointed. I got beaten.

The emotions I felt, was just... Fantastic. Elation. There was no

words that could explain it. All the world champions feel the same

feeling. Is that you have finally achieved the ambition of that you

have always hoped for. This was by any standard, a seismic

sporting surprise. A 150-to-1 outsider. Joe Johnson, reaching the

pinnacle of his sport having never won a match at the Crucible that

year. 12 months later, he was back in the final again, in the defence

of his title, in a carbon copy showdown against Steve Davis. On

that occasion, the Nugget prevailed. Joe Johnson is living proof that the

sport, every under dog has their day. And in Joe's case, fully

deserved as well. It was fantastic to list the trophy, take it back to

my club and everyone have the picture with the trophy. I mean, it

was quite special.