Cliff Thorburn v Kirk Stevens - 1983 World Championship quarter-final

Just posting some highlights for those who couldn't stay up to 2:15 am because they had work in the morning.

[@mackers8026]

8.40 Stevens: 'Jesus!' Clive Everton: 'Extremely disappointed there...'

[@mackers8026]

First time I've ever seen this footage. I'd always assumed that it hadn't been recorded because it finished so late. Thanks MJT, another gem unearthed.

[@Timemachine74]

What an era of snooker this was 👍

[@parkerbohnn]

Brings back memories as I know both of them. Cliff has two sons and the older one Brett is a very good player. Cliff lives in Unionville I live in the city next to it Markham. I knew Kirk well from the Golden Cue in Scarborough, Ontario way back when he was in high school. He never really went to school Joe the owner let him play everyday for free when he was young.

[@waynejackel2921]

Hello mjt Loved Every Minute of this Classic Snooker Video A Gem. Kirk was like a Son to Cliff.a Majestic Match. Much Appreciated. WAYNE.

[@paulWalker-zh7nk]

How the time fly's ... remember them both and obviously big bill ,all from canada.the first over seas world champion, cliff thorburn

[@spleeeen4it]

could have been stevens year, what a yellow to miss when he had a clear chance to win, what a talent he was

[@redd605]

Cliff had some tough rounds ,by god he battled for everything, players would hate playing him now if he was in his prime now

[@RogerJJSmith]

That miss by Thorburn on the yellow in the last frame was outrageous. It should have been called a miss, which is possible even in the snookers required stage when the miss is so bad. And yes, contrary to popular belief, it was possible to replace balls after a miss back in 1983 - there was an instance of it in the 1982 WC final after Higgins missed a snooker by a long way.

[@parksyist]

It is not possible at snookers required stage

[@RogerJJSmith]

@@parksyist Yes it is, if the miss is so flagrant then it possible for a miss to be called at the snookers required stage. That was so back then, as Everton stated in the commentary.

[@mackers8026]

@@RogerJJSmith You're right, Roger. Even with snookers needed, the rules allowed for a miss to be called back then. The obvious escape was to hit the yellow off one cushion, but by playing the white into the top cushion first it looks like Cliff was playing the tactical calculated thing. We're so used to today's rules that I couldn't work out what he was doing playing it that way! When you look at the old matches from the 80s, the calculated miss happened a lot.

[@johnmc3862]

@@mackers8026 The miss rule wasn't introduced till 1995.

[@johnmc3862]

The miss rule wasn't introduced till 1995.

[@Bloxdio_God]

The greatest era of snooker in history. It was a gargantuan sport then.

[@tonynaccarato4751]

Old time snooker, that i played in the 60's and 70's, in Canada, scrappy, lots of misses, lot of great runs, admire both gentlemen immensely, sign of the times.

[@giovannitidona658]

The hook on the yellow cliff knew there was no way out , he put the cue ball center table where it would be the least dangerous to him , reff.should have replaced yellow

[@dlhrjt]

Quarter final finishing at 2:15 in the morning... Didn't leave the fitters long to change the stage to the one-table set-up.

[@deant9606]

Nice mate.

[@michaelsands2049]

Like Higgins and White at the end there. Great match.

[@opencurtin]

The 45 break from Cliff was really excellent to break the back of Kirk

[@ianwilliamson2980]

That yellow miss must haunt Kirk yet .he jawed it it never went in and out of pocket as Spencer thought there.

[@opencurtin]

That’s actually Jim Meadocroft , he just hit it too hard otherwise it would have dropped in ..

[@ianwilliamson2980]

@@opencurtin yeah it is Jim right enough I see .but no it wasn't how hard he hit it but as Clive said it jawed the pocket meaning he caught the edge rather than going in the middle of it so it was a miss really.

[@PeterMcManus-pn9zx]

Kirk looked frustrated by Cliffs slow play and I dont blame him.

[@حسنالجوربهجي]

روعه

[@chrisalienfreakwhitty7467]

Digraceful attempt at that yellow by Thorburn. Its a shame the white wasn't repeatedly put back to its starting point until he actually made a genuine attempt to hit it.

[@damienspurs147]

💙

[@dlamiss]

Stevens was unlucky in so many matches at the crucible

[@ianwilliamson2980]

At ten thirty thorburn took over two minutes on a shot.

[@parksyist]

Still quicker than Selby

[@ianwilliamson2980]

@@parksyist yeah Selby was near three mins once and ref had to warn him to take a shot I remember.

[@ianwilliamson2980]

Never seen that before tbh except one game when both players were warned

[@parksyist]

Cliffs flukey year. Fluked the red on the maximum fluked the yellow for game here and fluked brown to get into the final

[@opencurtin]

Take your flukes

[@dlamiss]

Knowles missed a pretty easy final pink at 15/13 against Thorburn.

[@jasenjackson2538]

He'd have swapped all those flukes for his wife not to have a miscarriage during the tournament! A fantastic ambassador for the game and a true legend!

[@koreainsincere]

Ridiculous from Thorburn on that yellow. A child could have seen the angle wasn't correct for where he was aiming, let alone a professional. Should have been pulled up by Street.

[@PeterMc141]

Kirk was ripped off. Cliff done a deliberate miss and the ball should of been replaced.