DECIDER Higgins v Davis FINAL 1983 UK Championship

[@chrisevans5259]

Higgins was a swashbuckling unpredictable genius round the table, he flitted arround always twitching and never still like an uncoiled spring and pottng shots from here there and everywhere, no ball was safe. But you couldn't keep your eyes of him when in full flow, he was mesmerizing to watch. Higgins was a great player to watch as you never knew what to expect. Great player.

[@mandynixon2258]

will never be another alex

[@matimus100]

Snookers not a sport right?

[@secrethousemate]

I was at this match. Me and a mate tried to get Higgins's autograph as he was coming out of his hotel before the final session. He'd already signed for this other lad who was with us the day before so he tried to avoid us and almost tripped over a kerb. He walked to the venue with his manager. Davis was surrounded by his entourage of about five inc Barry Hearn and we couldn't get near him. We ended up getting Len Ganley's autograph who was very friendly.

[@digeme69]

I was at the masters at Wembley around 87/88 (can't remember the exact year.) Higgins was at the venue close to the betting area. He was alone when I asked him for his autograph but he said "later, later!" and was dismissive. I could've understood if he was watching a horse race but no race was on at the time. As a semi pro punter myself I knew all about betting etc. In contrast to this I spoke with Bill Werbeniuk in 1985 at the Connaught Rooms in London after he'd played his match in the Deluxe British Open (the only time snooker was played there). He was waiting for his taxi to arrive and he signed an autograph and was happy to have his photo taken with me and spoke with me for around 10 minutes. He was the total opposite to Higgins

[@seanscanlon9067]

+secrethousemate - so Len didn't crush your balls then?

[@dkizxpt-su3ze]

Higgins cannot spend his life signing autographs, and he signed thousands inn his time. Give him a break

[@JD-eq4dp]

I remember this fantastic final. Cant believe it was 1983... where does the time go.

[@duncanbirss4333]

When Davis says " another handshake " ! Brilliant

[@briand317]

lol.... 5.54 steve chalking his cue

[@DeejayNally]

lol

[@seanp.fmurphy625]

haha- seen that meself- and the look davis gave him after- classic

[@uniqueco3710]

brian doherty Check Alex at 7.01 Ohu whatever that means 😀.. Proper header cert.

[@topneorej]

Anthony, and tennis;-)

[@wayneanthonyholmes157]

Not as pathetic as Steve's face during Higgins break Hahaha! And Davis always done that before he put his cue back in its case after another deciding frame major defeat Haha Haha! And only he would try and get 5 snooker when it's virtually impossible.

[@markchurchill6579]

The legend that was Alex. The greatest player to put snooker on the map. Not the best player ever I know but the peoples champion who made us love the game. He gambled, he drank, he smoked, he lived the high life, in all not a bad old life aye. Life today is fitness freaks and salad then a early night, dear old Alex would have said, Fuck that 😂 RIP Champ

[@mikrusby68]

but he was a bit nasty too, as much as i liked the way he played

[@johnflynn7035]

Very well said, nice one.

[@1967briano]

And to think he died of malnutrition. Sad.

[@dkizxpt-su3ze]

@@mikrusby68 Seems like you're a bit nasty one with your mean-spirited comment about someone who died years ago Alex was a snooker player, not a moral preacher. Leave him alone.

[@neilgilder4036]

What a brilliant message totally agree

[@ifukill7538]

Alex and Steve gave us an amazing final to watch.

[@matimus100]

Steve likes pouting

[@PhilipKerry]

Len " Ball Crusher " Ganley :) My favourite Ref ever :)

[@dkizxpt-su3ze]

Sounds like you want Len to crush your balls

[@ultrademigod]

Back when even the refs had some personality.

[@MrCharlesWidmore]

The Chimney Sweep from Lurgan 👍 ☘️

[@erniescullion8452]

It's so emotional watching this as I rem the company I was in when it happened.

[@shellsbignumber2]

Whispering Ted Lowe, the best commentator ever.

[@ThePhilGrimm]

I was a Pot Black viewer in the 1970s but I reckon Clive Everton was the best Snooker commentator ever.

[@dkizxpt-su3ze]

@@ThePhilGrimm Ted Lowe was the best, but Clive Everton was amazing. I hate the BBC for sacking him

[@fifthof1795]

Sarcasm is so British...

[@ianwilliamson2980]

Clive Everton was the best ever as had great knowledge of the game and it's history.

[@fifthof1795]

@@dkizxpt-su3ze ....of all the things it Is possible to hate the BBC for....🤔😀

[@paradise8876]

Higgins entertainer extraordinaire .... saw every ball of it as a 12yr old boy.

[@byronelenica8329]

Alex Higgins - the greatest snooker player of all time. Just like Ali and George best the players that followed owe their very existence, as highly paid sports personalities, to these men. Steve Davis was great in his own right. He respected Alex.

[@proudindian2186]

Steve hated alex. Alex popularized snooker.

[@ysb844]

@Eric Lewis higgins was a genius. i played with him back in the day. the tables and balls back then were totally different. heavier balls, slower cloths, tighter pockets. no extensions. so to compare them is difficult. but my good mate saw higgins walk in a club in london in the early 70s pissed, challenge a well known player at the time to a game, take a cue out of the rack and with the old bonzaline balls (which were like cannonballs) make a 130 break when he could hardly stand up. even ronnie o sullivan couldnt do that. people dont understand how different it was back then. after a match we would go nightclubbing till the early hours and he would still play his next round the next day. no steve davis early nights with a cup of cocoa. i think in this day and age he would be classed as bi-polar and his mood swings would have been sorted with medication. whether that would have made him have the success he was capable of i dont know. legend

[@theclimieleighchannel6974]

YSB exactly,different times,saw Alex play an exhibition with Jimmy in the 80s (85) I have to this day never seen anyone come close to it,he was on his top game (cruising as he called it) just pure instinct snooker,just Ton after Ton,cue action wafting all over the place,made jimmy look like a club player,and this was a young jimmy brilliant in his own right,so as always we come to the Ronnie would smack his arse in any era argument,now, agreed Ronnie is about the best there is no doubt,could have won a WC every year if he wanted,the difference was and is consistency,Alex didn’t have it enough of the time to be called the best of all time,he’s on the list but not there,his own fault,but as for not top 10,yes mate top 10 alright,Steve and Ronnie have said this in interviews,not some dopey comments on you tube,it’s opinion at the end of the day,this is mine

[@byronelenica8329]

@Eric Lewis LOL. OK (nearly always) you mean as Constable painted more paintings than Van Gogh? I bet you rate AJ as the best boxer ever?

[@byronelenica8329]

@Eric Lewis You confuse genius with number of wins. They are not the same. No one has played better snooker than Alex Higgins.

[@jmgrant6881]

Liked how Davis chalked his cue after he conceded.😄

[@torontok]

The game is so much evolved now just imagine putting Ronnie to play that safety shot or having him clear the table instead of the way Alex did...

[@kav6666]

You could see how much that hurt Davis,THE look on his face was priceless.

[@momentumstocks3493]

I loved seeing Davies get beat....I don';t know why...but i just did. No offence.

[@ianwilliamson2980]

This was the greatest comeback I've ever seen

[@bazsully4205]

Alex made snooker what it became rip Alex thanks for the memories growing up in the 80s 😎👍🎱

[@micheleauriemma9513]

If I started playing and loving snooker it's because of Alex Higgins, one of the most talented players of all time, RIP champion..

[@matimus100]

Snookers not a sport right?

[@CRuane02]

@@matimus100 cue sport

[@alanmctavish4802]

Tavy@ alex higgins would of been the greatest player ever in the game if he had played for himself and not to please the crowd and then later the huge tv audience that he drew to watch the game. It was going nowhere till alex came on the scene. Alex wouldv won at least 7 world titles and 7 uk titles and all the rest, he was born to play the game, i was only age 9 in 1982 when jimmy white just needed 1 frame to get to the final and was 59 points ahead in that frame and alex had to win it to make it 15 each, but i just couldnt believe the way he won that frame under that amount of pressure and he potted about 6 balls and i will never know how he managed it. He was taking on pots you would do at an exhibition match but taking his time and he potted a long blue and put so much left hand side screw on it to come back of the cushion and down into the reds to the pot a long red from near the black spot and the red was near the pink spot and he put into the top right hand pocket. It was amazing to watch and still is. Players past and present talk about that famous long blue alex did, and a forgott to say he was bridging over about 7 reds and the pink and black. But the players have all admitted they have tried that very same shot at least 30 times and none has got it right, as in the deep left sided screw back of the middle cushion and back down to next to the black. And a dont even know if that was his best shot on that break. If he practiced and lived like steve davis a believe alex would of beaten him alot lot more and any one about at that time. Rip alex and thancks

[@kingshearer2]

What a brilliant commentator Ted Lowe was, he created even more drama than the players.

[@matimus100]

Nonsense

[@christophersargeant6291]

Absolute legend the greatest player to hold a cue pure genius

[@andywright3450]

Alex was a one off genuis great potter great player 😀😀 rip Alex

[@MattBridger]

I always love watching these classic Higgins clips...'cos you always get O'Sullivan fans saying how much better he is. Errr so why are you here then? Cos it irritates you how Alex Higgins is still the number 1 name in the history of Snooker that's why! Lap it up!!!!!!

[@matimus100]

Strange comment easy lover

[@seanscanlon9067]

5:52 Jim Royle in the background had Barb's housekeeping money on a Higgins win there! 😋

[@momentumstocks3493]

Good spot.....100% was him!!

[@tommytommytommytommy330]

Alex higgins great great player, not worth watching snooker these days unless Ronnie playing

[@paulliddle9879]

That was a great final

[@joeince4977]

Higgins flicking his head at the end and saying OH hahahaha

[@richarddunne09]

Alex Higgins the people's champion

[@tarakb7606]

A snooker genius !!! RIP

[@the_alchemy_method]

Steve chalks his cue then the nod... 🤩

[@TariqMahmood-yo5op]

That time, they don't know, king of snooker was 7 and half year old, 😊

[@abhishekmedhekar3418]

Ronnie?

[@James-bw2ow]

The king of snooker will all ways be Alex

[@flappospammo]

the ollie reed of snooker legend

[@Spugalugs]

You know he's playing snooker in heaven 🙏🏻

[@matimus100]

Superstitious graffiti nonsense totally unnecessary right here guys 👆

[@duncanbirss8923]

'another handshake', class from Davis at end of interview!

[@rogeriodasilvabastosbastos2662]

Não sou da época de Alex Higgins , mais sou amante do bilhar, e pra mim Alex Higgins foi fenomenal...

[@gezzaf6912]

both fantastic players and Ted Lowe this before Hendry and O Sullivan Jimmy was around also the eighties and nineties where great for Snooker

[@MrMagsimus]

Lol why was poor Steve still chalking his cue after he just conceded the last frame ?? Did he think they would have a re rack ? 😂 lol

[@choppy249]

MrMagsimus . Just nervous tension I think and doing something you are comfortable with when you are feeling a little nervous and uncomfortable yourself. He wasn’t used to being in this position very often was he and I think he found it hard to cope with. I heard him once say that there was no snooker player that he would rather beat in a big match than Alex as there was nobody else that could put him under that sort of pressure when he was playing well. The rest when he himself was on Top form he would always beat but Alex when he was on top form was a different kettle of fish. That’s why he respected him so much as a snooker player and losing to him really, really hurt especially in the final of a big competition like this. I would even imagine it might have dented his confidence a little and made him ask himself questions like , Am I really the best ? He seemed somewhat stunned to me almost like a rabbit caught in the headlights. It’s almost like he didn’t know what to make of it all.

[@momentumstocks3493]

Shows you how much of a habit it is..probably chalked his "cue" before going to bed.

[@jacksonirving4594]

It's a nervous thing .I used too chalk me pool que on the bus on the way home from the pub .

[@jacksonirving4594]

@@momentumstocks3493 ha ha .blue bell end 🤣

[@birdandthe]

davis resigned then chalked his cue !!!

[@parksyist]

Higgins never showed off when he played Davis, always tried his hardest to beat him. Must have respected him more

[@dkizxpt-su3ze]

Not true. Check out Alex's clearance of the colours. One of the greatest clearances ever

[@parksyist]

He'd already lost the frame

[@dkizxpt-su3ze]

@@parksyist It doesn't matter! Alex played with flair and style!

[@jordanboteler8978]

I like the plants in the background

[@ianwilliamson2980]

This was higgins greatest win

[@Billdick360]

It was up there!

[@radhakrishnakayastha4393]

Just awesome Higgins ...............he was 0-7 down to davis

[@madmacca_5]

Spot on & makes it all the more special 🙏

[@momentumstocks3493]

was this when Davies lead 7-0? I thought it was 1985 not 1983...I am missing 2 years. :-) Damm...I can remember this fightback. Was this Higgins last stand? I do not recall him doing much after this? Superb win.

[@omegaman6494]

Davis was 7-0 up here. 1985 he was 8-0 up against Taylor in THAT world final which he lost on the black. I was meant to go and watch Davis in an exhibition in my local club, bloody last minute work commitment came up!! I don't think Higgins won anything after this until the 1989 Irish Masters, might be wrong

[@JongleurJ10]

"It was incredible wasn't it." Alex immediately sees things from the fans' perspective, both a great at snooker and also in tune to what it means to the average fan.

[@breadandcircuses9967]

It’s funny that Higgins is seen as a peoples champion when snooker was never open to new players in those days , the public couldnt participate, just because he was a bit unscripted and less robotic doesn’t mean he wasn’t a corporate mannequin on the take like everyone else .

[@LerafoLuap]

What are you talking about? The game was a closed shop until the late 60s. After that it opened up to all comers, including Higgins himself. He was the young maverick who turned the game on its head and had endless run-ins with the governing body, generally because of his lack of discipline and decorum. Higgins was many things but a “corporate mannequin” was most certainly not one of them.

[@breadandcircuses9967]

@@LerafoLuap yes but you had to bumlick your way through the amateur system like jimmy white did , at least there's a q school now but thats filled with 40 year olds with 20 years experience choking any new blood , open the game up to all i say open the game up to all ( chorus )

[@jackparsons7463]

i would say to people when on a run " i don't know what your chalking your cue for"

[@alanmctavish4802]

Tavy@ a thinck its sad to see steve davis sitting terriffied of alex all the time. That was the down side to his game. But he was a natural born genius. If he played for himself and not for the crowd and lived and practised like steve davis alex would of been unstoppable. You only have to look at the times when he didnt play for the crowd and played for himself he hammerd davis after coming back from 7-0 down in the uk final to win it. Then in that 1982 world semi final against jimmy white when jimmy was 15-14 up and 59 points ahead and alex got in but that break he made that night with the balls he potted and that famous long blue with deep left hand side screw back of the side cushion while bridgeing over 8 balls to bring the white back down next to a red was just awe some. Even barry hearn said its the best break i have ever seen in all my years in the game, i have watched it about a hundred times and theres 6 or 7 shots a just dont know how he managed to do them!!! Rip alex and thancks. Legend

[@metaphysicalmigraine694]

Impressive indeed. "3rd time lucky" & "3rd time unlucky" now that's Wow. Tyvm for the video and may Alex always have a cue in his hand like a magic wand, above and beyond of which I'm fond. The genius is undeniable. Some saw him mad and sad, but the rat race of humanity is the real insanity. He was driven by his own desire, and loved to light his fuse or fire. As do I sit with wit and wonder why I'm such a techno twit.😀

[@oldskoolfool141]

Davis facial expressions when Alex said he had his head together haha

[@scottleicester4266]

Steve has admitted he was terrified by Alex as a person, he looks very nervous in his company lol

[@ifukill7538]

Steves predictable. Alex unpredictable. Not a good combination.

[@thecarpetman7687]

Clapping for nearly every shot no matter how easy!

[@lakmeister]

If only he played more like this,but that's not Alex,you never knew what you were getting ?

[@antwan.]

Steve Davis wasn't appreciated during his pomp. Same with Hendry. They're both sound blokes.

[@LfcFanGav]

5.56 when Davis looks at Higgins in envy not at Higgins life, but the way in which The Public took to Alex, an entertainer, a genius, loved by his fans, had charisma, never boring Sadly everything that Steve Davis didn't have, and never would have. When you cash in a personality for success and winning titles like the Romford Robot did, you may have riches, success, trophys, but you will never have what Alex Higgins had

[@kevinb6831]

May have been true then, but Davis is well loved now that people can see his real personality. Just a really nice guy.

[@musicandfilms9956]

Turns out, from the evidence, that it's Steve who was more worthy of his success.

[@AlanSaunders-dp3kq]

Legend

[@MidNightSnowFawl]

Alex was great to watch

[@matimus100]

Apparently an alcoholic to right?

[@wanderer1955]

If Higgins couldn't do it, it couldn't be done.

[@Manasses1961]

Unfortunately, he probably blew his winnings on his next great love, horses

[@MrStonecold69]

His 69 break against Jimmy White was better 1982 World Championships semi final

[@tonynaccarato4751]

Higgins was a very tough player,

[@kingshearer2]

Davis is fuming sitting in the chair at the end.

[@thegallerian]

Six years before he won another tourney.

[@erniescullion8452]

Everyone has failed to mention NEARLY EVERY SINGLE SHOT DEAR ALEX MADE WAS APPLAUDED. THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD

[@charlesscottkelly]

Higgins cue ball position was always poor, but could not just about anything. Mid 80s I remember him making a hell of a lot of finals but getting beat.

[@danielgoncalves5067]

Exactly....when Higgins came to the table he had a beautiful chance to clear and any average player would have easily clear up. I agree that he was a great potter but his positional play was really poor. Even his first really was bizarre to me when he had another red to right pocket that would have clear the path to the pink and would have left him a easy black. People can praise him all they want but O'Sullivan or Hendry would crush him 9 times out of 10.

[@highgreen6452]

Pretty easy to play check side for these boys back in the day the pockets were 10% bigger so slightly more room for error

[@WhisperedDreams951]

The game was boring until The Hurricane came on the scene. Is there snooker on the telly? I for one one wouldn't be that interested unless Higgins was playing.

[@wayneanthonyholmes157]

I was there that night in Preston and Davis never was any good under extreme pressure losing to Higgins. Hendry and Dennis Taylor in deciding frames in big matches.

[@LPCLASSICAL]

He did win some nervy finals too though. I recall one where he was way of ahead of Thorne who came back at him winning 5 frames in a row - Davis held his nerve that time to win by 2 frames. It was rare for him to be in a decider position.

[@christopherpenny7925]

Even though he won 81 career titles and over 65% of all deciders he was involved in. Sounds like someone who couldn't handle the pressure...

[@documax123]

Everybody seems to think that Steve was the most interesting (hence his nickname). I wasn't a big fan of Alex, I have to say. Gowever, I honestly found him more interesting. I know I'll get slaughtered here in the comments for it but I'm just being honest about it.

[@buzzneil]

The Steve “Interesting” Davis was sarcasm

[@alastairmackay4861]

Poor Steve, awkwardly chalking his cue after defeat at the end there 5:55

[@skiwelnitz3406]

i won a thousand quid with a tenner on this... yeh... when Alex was way behind I still maintained he would beat Steve... so I was given 10 to 1 and placed a fiver... and my boss felt sorry for me and raised the odds to 100-1... so i upped my stake to a tenner..... and the frames started falling....

[@dkizxpt-su3ze]

5:51 No need to chalk your cue Steve! The game is over!

[@Johnny_Seven]

Haha Davis was chalking his cue after he conceded. He looked like he lost 20 quid and found a penny.

[@Ea-zu2em]

What's happened to snooker? It's not the same anymore :(

[@playbackvintagehifihunter9669]

Davis is my snooker Hero, but dam does he Hate Losing! Lol

[@steviemax147]

That's what made him a great champion...Hendry was exactly the same!

[@matimus100]

Nonsense

[@britsfirstfitness5026]

It's bloody good job Alex was good potter sometimes his positional play is rubbish

[@matimus100]

Disgraceful language reported

[@britsfirstfitness5026]

@@matimus100 what you on

[@ARMYUB]

A/C 😎✌💓

[@matimus100]

Strange comment

[@amarsbarr]

Davis always carried that aura of being smug and slightly up himself.. I know he didnt mean it.

[@oldskoolfool141]

He did mean it though, every aspect of his manner was careful created, even the way he sipped his drink was honed, that was the difference, Alex was natural whereas Davis was manufactured, can't take anything from the work Davis put in on the table though

[@bernarddover1442]

hurricane ??? a fucking snail

[@kwantanianman1435]

still chalking...hahaha...habits

[@razullah1986]

Yes Davis was a great player but robotic and he had no flair he would never take a chance, punters like watching players like Alex , Jimmy and Ronnie Raz x

[@erniescullion8452]

This match brillaint. Alex opens his mouth it usually embarrasses NI PEOPLE BUT STRANGE HE DIDNT THIS TIME. GREAT TO SEE HIM BEATING GINGER

[@Matt_LeTissier]

The game was less tactical back then. Davis' route of escape at the start was obviously below today's standard.

[@amazed66]

He just hit the wrong red and was going for the one nearest the top cushion where even if he missed it and slipped by it, if would have left Alex playing up the table with all reds above the cue ball.

[@choppy249]

I think you are being a bit harsh there. All the top players at the time said that his safety play was the best around with only Higgins funnily enough able to rival him. There are at least a couple of safety shots around today that only Davis and Higgins used at the time . They created them such as the one that has the white coming off two cushions , glancing the reds thinly and then returning safely to baulk. They were both innovators when it came to safety play and were doing things that no other player could do at the time. Obviously anyone can and does mess up a safety shot sometimes such as Davis did here. Intense pressure can get to even the best.

[@peterellis4982]

Alex was a great player but not the greatest

[@Rubbafingaz1]

Higgins on coke in a final as clear as day... and won lol

[@JD-eq4dp]

The most annoying commentator John Spencer. 'Every shot is a pressure shot'. Ugh !

[@TokyoJoe703]

About a year after Alex died I was visiting Belfast and stopped in on a few of Alex’s old haunts, none of the patrons had a kind word to say about him

[@rainpop3036]

Davis was a bad looser

[@ianfortean7808]

I think it's more to do with the fact he had a big lead in this final and in 85 and was gutted to lose. When he lost to Johnson in 86, he was very sporting at the end, because he knew he was beaten properly, no in a final frame which is often the toss of a coin. Denis had an amazing run of the ball on that black.

[@solveigthana2398]

Higgins was a good player in his era but he wouldn’t make the top 16 in today’s game, even at his peak.

[@darenwilliams5858]

He would have adapted his game . Far more tourmaments today means more table time and a better standard . Alex would have been a top player in any era

[@neilgilder4036]

Would have still been the most exciting player to watch and had the biggest crowd watching him where ever he went.alex Higgins made snooker what it is today LEGEND

[@markdrinkwater1508]

Stay off the drugs.

[@bernarddover1442]

pockets were huge

[@thegrimreaper4915]

Alex could be a bit flukey at times. I suppose this was one of those times.

[@schmurgen5242]

The quality of the game was dreadful. Decent club players would smash this standard now

[@LerafoLuap]

Not under the pressure of playing in a UK Championship final they wouldn’t. Bottle is everything.

[@neilgilder4036]

Poor comments don't think you will see decent club players winning world championship's