Steve Davis v Tony Knowles, 1982 Snooker: World Championship

We tend to remember finals, but you know the early rounds can sometimes

produce just as much excitement and intrigue at the start of snooker's

annual marathon. And so it proved in the early rounds in 1982. We will

relive a first round match between Steve Davis and Tom Knowles. Steved

turn up as the champion, the world number 1. He was the first of his

six crucialable crowns that previous year and he dominated the season

leading up to the championship. He'd won six events, including the UK and

Masters titles. He was widely expected to complete the set of

snooker's big titles that season. He was up against a qualifier from

Bolton, who had been to the Crucible before and knocked out in the first

round by Graham Myles. But he had yet to win a match. As it got closer

to the championship I started to feel the heat a bit. I had a bad

performance against Ray in a smaller event. I think I lost 5-0. All of a

sudden I started to unravel mentally. That effectively was the

worry of defending the title. The fact that I had been so dominant, I

wanted to keep that dominance, and I started to feel the heat. Well, that

was evident early on when Steve fell 3-0 behind, something was up with

the rumford Robot's motor E the his opponent has take even year to win

any match. The good looking qualifier did not seem to be phased

in the slightest qualifier did not seem to be phased

in the slightest by playing the world number 1 today. This is round

4. Unlucky with that. Not being kind to

him at the moment. Just take the cue ball back down

behind those three colours. No, he's not. He is going behind the green.

The wry smile that tells you he's not happy about that either.

That was a great shot! APPLAUSE

He is looking to the ceiling for something.

Tony playing extremely well. Some solid snooker.

That touch of brilliance is just missing at the moment. Steve

fighting the bowls will -- with almost every shot.

APPLAUSE Keeping his cool.

That's extraordinary! How cruel this game of snooker can be.

That's the type of thing that the world champion is fighting...

Good one! APPLAUSE

That puts him 30 points ahead. APPLAUSE

Oh, dear, oh, dear. And so, once again, Mark Davis finds himself --

Steve Davis finds himself in trouble. A great performance by

The world champion yet to chalk up a frame in defence of his world title

'82. Tony making few mistakes in these

first four frames. Steve obviously disappointed.

APPLAUSE Steve leaves the arena and it is

Tony who goes out to the interval. Steve was just at the racing, hadn't

settled and was desperate to get a frame on the board, as quickly as he

mulled over the proceedings at the mid-session interval. This is frame

5. Gradually the pattern of the game is

changing and I think Steve is trying very hard to break down the run of

the balls that Tony has had. And with which, one must say, he's

played very well indeed. And... Steve was open-mouthed there,

thinking he'd gone enough again. Well, it did go. And he is on the

black. And this time the remaining three

reds are a bit little -- are a little bit easier.

And it is amazing what a little potting success will do to a player.

Even of Steve's calibre, he is now letting the cue go through the shot

and getting his pots nice and clean. Oh, dear! That was unfortunate.

Still, Steve has a convincing lead now. 83. Tony Knowles, eight. A

pretty relieved 24-year-old Steve Davis taking on this man - he isn't

a youngster, he is two years Steve's senior in Tony Knowles. With a frame

on the board, surely normal service will be resumed now?

Well, that was a mistake by Tony, but whether he's left one, I

wouldn't say this is an easy putt. But it's there to be taken.

Looked as if Steve might get back in there, but a bad miss on the pink. A

chance for Tony now. Well, he's got to do a little dink

swerve here to get the pink, and he's not too happy with it.

Well, a very risky shot at this stage of the procedures.

And this, of course, is when Tony must really fight hard, because

Steve Davis is desperately trying to chau his way back into the match --

claw his way back into the match. APPLAUSE

He won't be happy with that shot. And another chance for Tony.

APPLAUSE Just went in. But he is on the

black. And Steve must be wondering what

he's got to do. He's made a mistake and he's being made to pay for it.

He missed an easy pink. And this so far is the mayest break

of the match -- highest break of the match - 51.

I was hoping he split the reds up there, but just missed them. And

snookered. So, Mark Davis now requiring --

Steve Davis now requiring a snooker. 4-0 down before I got my first frame

on the board. Then Tony Knowles made it importantly 5-1 after that. And I

just - in the end of the session, I just wanted the ground to swallow me

up. Sheer agony. No little embarrassment for Steve at this

stage and his grip on the world championship trophy is loosening at

an alarming rate by this point. He has a chance, though. Frame 7,

an alarming rate by this point. He has a chance, though. Frame 7, to

lunch a counterattack. He may have left a red on here. Thin cutting.

And he goes enough! How unfortunate. Things just aren't going right for

Steve tonight. So 55 behind and Steve in trouble

again. Well, this is a day that Steve will

want to forget. A chance of a snooker here, I would

think. APPLAUSE

Well, that is a little more like it! But he's got an awful lot to do yet.

A bit short again there. Tony can swerve this. Snooker would have been

much more advantageous. GASPS

Steve concedes. 6 frames to 1. APPLAUSE

This looks like a possible chance for Steve here. Just hold for the

black. And Steve very unhappy with that

shot. Meant to hold the white in the more of a direct line with the

corner pocket, but has to take a risk here.

APPLAUSE Well, he got out of trouble there

and he's on the black. But he has to play these shots very carefully.

CROWD GASPS Black dangerously near the top

pocket there, but didn't go in. Steve really must be very unhappy

with those misses. It's not at all like him.

The pink goes on the highest available when it won't go on its

own spot. And again, Tony, is punishing Steve

for another careless miss. And that's a little indication that

Tony is really beginning to feel confident.

The reds are so positioned he could clean-up this frame.

To Tony goes into the lead, and as we were saying, every opportunity

here to make sure of the frame. He wanted to get just the other side

of the blue there. But he shouldn't have much problem with this.

He should have got that, because he's not safe yet.

It is rather a risky shot. Perhaps look for a quick way to finish this

frame. But perhaps he should be a little bit more patient.

Steve trying a snooker there, but it hasn't come off. And... Tony

probably just plays safe again here. Many a time we have seen Steve clear

up from a situation like this now. I wonder if he can do it.

There you see probably the greatest player of the day. Once that little

bit of confidence goes, it makes all the difference in the world.

I don't think we have seen Steve play like this for a long time, he

is really underperformed the night. Again, he should have capitalised on

that. Another chance for Steve. That was a bad miss my Tony, if

Steve does clear up here than he will rue that this. One always has

the feeling that as Steve Davis begins to play, Tony Knowles might

Not a good shot at all.

APPLAUSE. Steve for the snooker. Not too difficult about, what will he

live? slick but there's just missed it.

There may be a pot here for Steve. Not easy, but could leave the white

says if he misses it. -- the white save.

He really vital ball is the red Bull, and Steve has left that honour

for Tony. And this ball will be it. And that

really puts Steve in trouble again. APPLAUSE. That surely tells us it

will be 7-1 to Tony. Watton unfamiliar situation for Steve

Davis. APPLAUSE. If ever Steve Davis needed to win a

frame, it is this one because it is the first player to the ten that

wins of this 19 frame match. APPLAUSE.

I think he is a little unfortunate there, at that spot. 14.

22. Tony Knowles now is begin to play with the sort of confidence we

know he can play with. My word, he has really helped himself together

very well. Because whatever happens, this has been a tremendous match of

Drescher for him. -- pressure for him. One thing we are sure of,

whatever happens, it shall be sensational because Steve Davis who

started 5-2 on to win the tournament, shall have to win

everything tomorrow if he is going to pull this match out of the fire.

Yes with the buildup that Steve Davis has had Jack, it must be

particularly tough for Tony Knowles. 41. 43.

Seven. He only played a very deep screw them, but could not get a hold

of it. What a wild one from Steve Davis, that is not at all like him.

He only scores seven. APPLAUSE. A round of applause there

for a very good shot. Tony Knowles 47, Steve Davis seven.

Tony Knowles having a little talk to himself there, he is still not

satisfied. APPLAUSE. One. A bad miss from Steve there, he

usually makes those. They are all on here for Tony Knowles if he can keep

his nerve. On. here for Tony Knowles if he can keep

his nerve. One. Eight. A bit dangerous, but he got

away with it. APPLAUSE. That was a very important red ball because it

puts Steve Davis in trouble again. 11, quiet please. 13. 38 points as

the lead. 16. This is surely going to be an 8-1 lead for Tony Knowles,

and what a day Steve Davis has the face tomorrow. APPLAUSE.

A rather desperate effort by Steve Davis for any snooker they are,

knowing it is a witty hopeless task. One cannot take away from Tony

Knowles, they truly wonderful performance. APPLAUSE. 11. He won't

be worrying about the black, that is 8-1 to Tony Knowles, eight trillion

magnificent performance. Tony Knowles shakes hands with Steve

Davis. What a session that was for Tony Knowles. The crowd were excited

there was a shock on the cards. They were loving it, baying for blood.

There was me, the ice blooded robot falling apart in front of the rise.

The crowd was getting more behind Tony Knowles, I really went into my

shell and hated every moment of it. Quite a story. The defending

champion Steve Davis was 8-1 down overnight. They wonder if he got

much sleep that evening. When they came back the following day, we knew

we were in for either one of the greatest comebacks in the history of

the Crucible, or one of the biggest surprises. Four, Tony Knowles. The

most unusual start thereby Steve Davis.

Four, Tony Knowles. The most unusual start there by Steve

A nice confident start by Tony Knowles.

Steve Davis has got a slight problem here, it will not be easy to get

back to the ball cushion. Tony Knowles seems to have started

exactly the same way this morning as he finished last night, looking very

relaxed. Steve Davis is a little hesitant so far, but naturally he

has everything to do and cannot afford to make many mistakes.

Eight. Just having a look to see if the black will clear into the corner

pocket. Nine. Steve Davis actually played there to

stop the black from being potted, he is watching with bated breath but

unfortunately it will spot. 16, Steve Davis.

Of course in simple terms Steve Davis needs nine frames and Tony

Knowles needs just two frames. But Steve Davis has nothing to play with

at all, he has to virtually win everything in this session, they

colossal task ahead of him. No easy way for him to get back

here. Only went for the pot as well, hoping for safety. APPLAUSE.

He will be very relieved about that one, the balls are in such a

position that if that one had stayed it would have become a good position

for Tony Knowles to score. Now, Tony Knowles is a negative trouble. If

all of the bulls are roped in he has to somehow find one of the rebels,

not only hit it that live Steve save.

Lovely shot from Tony Knowles, played to perfection. He under a hit

that on a little bit, but could go down a steady pot down on the pink,

which is what he tried to do. Certainly Steve Davis would make

short work of these in normal form. One. A very good chance for Steve

Davis here I am sure, he has got a very good chance. Began a slightly

careless shot, Steve Davis has left himself a little bit to do here.

Could have been closer to the black. APPLAUSE. Steve Davis has not really

put together any break at all, on its the feeling that this is what he

needs, if he is going to get back into this match, just to get a

little bit of confidence back. And in his preamble to the shot

there, Steve has carelessly touched the cue ball, so it is a foul shot

and that is a lettoff for Tony. Well, Tony didn't play that one very

well. I am fairly sure he will just take the blue here - no. Not an easy

shot. Yes, I think he'll opt for taking the blue and just leaving it

tight behind the green ball. The blue is the easier one to play.

And the referee declares that was a foul shot.

It does seem that Steve Davis is doomed to a really bad match.

Nothing seems to be going his way at all.

Now Steve seems completely out of sorts with himself. Again, that

safety shot hit much too thick and leaving Tony half a chance. And

again, a very, very good shot by Tony

Played to perfection. Perfect on the black. He didn't look very happy

with that one because he didn't play it awfully well. Still a read on,

but not as easy to get position as it might have been.

And that was a cunning shot by Tony there. He almost covered the redses

with the yellow. Just a little bit short of strength. So Steve has a

reasonably easy safety shot here. He just played a tickle on the two

reds, but unfortunately just missed it.

And a very nice little cannon onto the red there. Beautifully played

and that could well be a frame-winning shot.

And that six from Tony puts him 17 points in the lead, which means the

green and the yellow will be enough to make Steve only able to draw with

the balls on the table. APPLAUSE

And Steve there, I am sure, wondering what has happened last

night and today. So Steve Davis now in deep trouble

again. What a good frame Tony has played in this opening of the

session. He has refused to be hustled and force the game at all.

He's let Steve make the mistakes, knowing that he's got all of the

pressure. Well, almost a snooker, but, of

course, Steve can do very little, other than really struggle and try

and get the snookers required. Just two snookers required.

And that is just where Steve doesn't want it.

Well, he tried very hard and concedes the frame.

APPLAUSE Nine frames to one, Tony Knowles.

In this very important frame, Tony now has a chance, dare I say it, to

finish in a blaze of glory. So far in the match it has been very

noticeable that no breaks have been made, but I am sure that Tony won't

be upset about that. APPLAUSE

Tony there almost saw that ball drift and just miss the knuckle.

A very good safety shot from Tony to put Steve in trouble again with all

of the Reds scattered. Yes, I think he is trying to just

play to this ball on the side cushion here. Just push it to the

top cushion and leave his white on the back cushion here. He's played

it fairly well. He will be pleased to get out of trouble.

And Tony is playing some good safety shots here. Steve puts him into

trouble and Tony plays well and says, "Let's see what you can do

this time." On one of his good days, that would have gone in. Now he's

left Tony a chance over the corner pocket.

Well, this is the second opportunity that Tony has had to put a score

together in this frame. Just a little over strength on to that

shot. He should get this all right. The table seems pretty fast on the

bed. And there the Embassy World champion

seeing his title fade away. Tony, of course, is quite a prolific

break maker. He is a superb player, but I don't think he's really

worried about breaks at all in this match. He has played a very, very

good game. He's played a real hard match game of snacker.

ANNOUNCER: 24, Tony Knowles. APPLAUSE

And when the balls run like this, there is nothing much that you can

do about it. It is just going to happen that way and the only way to

do it is to pot the balls and Steve is having that much trouble at the

moment. Well, 10 minutes of play we've had

in this frame and an indication of Tony's excellent safety play. Steve

hasn't managed to plot a -- pot a ball so far.

And with the balls set as they are, I think Tony is being very sensible.

He is 42-nil in front and he wants the balls to remain safe so it is a

real tight frame. APPLAUSE

And now is he tempted to have a go at this one? I think the two reds

near the green won't go into the pocket. So it could be nearly a shot

for nothing. Well, a little smile came onto the

lips of Steve there as Tony potted that excellent red. I think that was

an indication that he feels that is it. #

At least he has the consoling fact that he's a very young man and still

has a long time to go. In terms of a playing career.

And Tony just overdid the side a little bit there. Played for the

outside red of that little cluster. ANNOUNCER: 11, Tony Knowles.

APPLAUSE I should think that all Steve can do

here is just drift behind the black and hope that he really gets tight.

Well, a possible chance here, but not a good one.

Well, he is 52 points behind and not a lot of reds to play with.

He is on the red. I think that red will just go past the groan. His

problem is to get the -- green. His problem is to get the position on

the collar to disturb those three reds on the right-hand side cushion

there. APPLAUSE

He's now with a bit of luck. He wants to put the yellow. He is

perfect on the yellow to hit the Reds. Let's see if he will have a

bit of luck this time. APPLAUSE

I think that is the first time the bulls have really gone for Steve

today. He played it very well. A very good chance here for him.

Steve now moves to 22 points. 31 behind Tony. He needs the whole of

the balls to win. Now he's finished just about perfect on the pink

there. Just off straight. One good shot from Steve could

really put him in with a chance of winning this frame.

APPLAUSE He desperately needs to get on the

yellow off the black and it is not as easy as it looks. He's got to

force the cue ball a bit here. That was the problem. You see he had a

lot of side on that cue ball. This gives Tony the opportunity.

APPLAUSE And that little kiss on the brown

there I think really seals the fate of Steve Davis.

And a little wave of the hand indicates that the Embassy World

champion has been defeated by Tony Knowles in a superb exhibition of

match snooker. APPLAUSE

Tony Knowles created one of the great stop sets in Crucible history

and he went onto prove it was in fluke either. He reached the

quarterfinals that year and, indeed, came back to reach through

semifinals at the Crusaders. It was in some respects the -- the

Crucible. It was in some respects, the launch pad to this young man's

career. He went onto win two ranking titles and reach dizzying heights of

world No. 2 in the world rankings. That famous day this was his

reaction. Congratulations. Which was the more difficult, playing this

morning or getting through last night? Well, after a big victory

last night, a big lead of 8-1, it is hard to say how you are going to

play this morning. I was glad to say that I got right back into the game

again early on. Most people would have thought that last night with

that lead you would have just gone back and sat down and read a book or

something. But I gather you didn't? No, we ended up at the local

nightclub last night. Until what time? Until about 2:00, 2:30. Is

that the way you relax? Well, it was good to get away from the game, you

know. It wasn't bad. It was an awful feeling having to suffer sitting in

your chair at the championship when the underdog is battering you is a

horrible experience. Yes, Steve's shock defeat against the underdog

Tony Knowles is still talked about even today. We never let him forget

it. Yes, the defending champion knocked out in Round 1. But, as it

turns out, it is just one of many, many exits for defending champions.

In fact, even to this day, no first-time Crucible champion has

ever returned the following year and successfully defended the world

crown. Strange. It is called The Crucible Curse and it is still very

much a factor in today's championship. We hope that you have

thoroughly enjoyed our little walk down memory lane. I am sure Tony

did. I am not so sure about Steve, though!

MUSIC: I Just Want To Celebrate by Rare Earth