Fast and Aggressive Snooker in the 80s | Alex Higgins vs Steve Davis | 1985 Masters L16

Enjoy the final moments of this iconic encounter between two Snooker Titans (frames 6 and 8 are unavailable). The score bar has been included for better enjoyment.
Match date: 27 January 1985
All statistics are as of the game date unless otherwise noted.
Cesar Muroya created a unique editing format to extract the essence of the game without losing the drama involved. Contextual information is also an innovation appreciated by viewers.
This format is not intended to substitute the full version but make Snooker more accessible to new fans. The fluency and atmosphere of the game stay in a shorter-length video, allowing even experienced fans to enjoy Snooker at any time.
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[@danvez5656]

It still amazes me that he was able to play a technical game to this high standard whilst totally wasted alot of the time. Such a legend, never to be repeated. Rest in peace champ

[@Tripl3333]

i didn;t know that......dammnn

[@bernarddover1442]

He was a horrible vile man

[@GazzaAyrton]

That plant at 5.44 is truly phenomenal. To miss that and to know that the frame is done. I was 10 when he won that world championship back in 1982. I love Alex Higgins like I love Jimmy White like I love Ronnie O'Sullivan. They are just so special ❤. R.I.P. Alex 😢

[@Unknown_user_6]

That really was amazing.

[@corallaroc2946]

Alex' play is so raw, natural, and somehow emotional. It is relatable and exciting. All about instinct, staying in the moment and visualizing it as well as possbile to pull stuff off. It's sad that frame 6 and 8 are missing where Higgins won. Still great to see this stuff Cesar-edited, thanks!! Perhaps some Jimmy White match in the future? 🙂

[@JohnJaySnookerChannel]

He was a maverick to say the least. Joy to watch

[@johndean4765]

With Higgins talent he should have worked harder on his game to have enabled him to beat Davis most or all the time.Fact is he usually just didn't have the game to do this.Davis beat him almost every time.Sorry but at his best Higgins was mesmerising but this was rare.

[@AlonsoRules]

Higgins would not have been able to play that way in today's game. He had very little if no safety game which doesn't get you anywhere with today's air hockey tables and break building skill. One mistake and you lose the frame.

[@mickharrison9004]

Trust me people loved Alex way more than they do Ronnie ❤

[@paulhiggins1577]

correct. that point isn't made often enough. alex had a mesmeric quality that o''sullivan has never had, largely because his personality was more interesting. o'sullivan was and is a bit of a bore

[@mickharrison9004]

@@paulhiggins1577 very well said and so true big-time ,couldn't of put it better freind and some of ,the great celebrations with Alex and fans were so intense it was like ,a football crowd celebrating ,a big goal but it was just us with the hurricane.

[@rherbert57]

I enjoy watching anything that puts the play of Ronnie O'Sullivan into context. I very much enjoyed watching Steve Davis in his prime, but ROS seems to be from another planet. Alex Higgins deserved so much better.

[@itnaklipse1669]

thanks for this - please do more of Alex if possible? so glad he won this...!

[@jeffreyratliff4685]

I am new to watching snooker and I am totally hooked. I have been binge watching current matches but I thoroughly enjoyed this classic as well.

[@Mike-lp4iq]

Check out Alex clearance he did it's probably the best in Snooker history he had to clear the table to win one shot if he missed he probably loses the blue shot he did is just mind bogging in that clearance if you notice this match is on older tables the nap of the cloth was double the size as to the new cloth today witch means you only have to hit it half as hard for the same juice is why you see alot new players get so much juice I wish I could see Alex on these new cloths he would love them a ball about a foot away from the corner poket the cue ball was down pass bulk line I believe he put back spin on the ball after he attempted to pot the ball in the corner he acculy drew that cue ball back to the rail it's unbelievable the talent this man had cuz that was on the old cloth and that shot is very very difficult gl tc

[@Paulrish61]

The most naturally talented player to ever pick up a snooker cue. Thank you for the upload. R.I.P Alex❤

[@duncantomlinson2507]

Yes. I agree. Steve Davis so talented. Alex playing laughingly poor here.

[@paulclark4616]

Today's cloths are far superior & thinner which enables slicker play & easier potting. Some tables in the 70/80's were so slow, like playing on a knitted sweater. Higgins defeated players like White, Hendry & Davis - all of whom I believe would have held their own at top level now.

[@johnsrabe]

I love Clive Everton. Sharp, distinctive, professionally critical. And the huge bouquets of flowers are so 70s. “Do something to brighten up the stage, Bertie!”

[@billypribbo9668]

Probably fake too, don't think real ones could have coped with all the fag smoke.

[@AD-kv9kj]

Love the flowers. But not as much as I used to love the big globes they decorated the arena with at the Embassy World Championships. These online gambling companies now have no class at all - just tacky and homogenous with their brand logos plastered across every inch of the arena.

[@johnsrabe]

Cesar … thank you so much for posting this. I do not know how many game videos are available from the 70s and 80s, but I for one would not be discouraged by imperfect video quality. I’d love to see more Riordan, or Alex Higgins, or any of the old guys play. I think it gives a real sense of history and valuable context. Also, I love hearing people cough.

[@misterking8610]

The amount of work that gets put into these videos👏 Love from Pakistan🇵🇰

[@maratonlegendelenemirei3352]

Sanga Ye!!!

[@eamonnbyrne8400]

Oh the Hazy day's of the 80's. Cheer's Cesar. ☘

[@IanJones-yy7zx]

These guys made snooker what it is. It seemed more exciting and intense back then. All us kids wanted snooker tables for Christmas. Great days.

[@antoinecringemann]

Steve Davis made it what it is, Alex was sadly always an obnoxious sore loser with the mentality of an 8 year old

[@iamme3513]

So true. They were great days. remember indoor league on sundays?

[@iamme3513]

Thanks for this gem. We watched this live when shown all those years ago. Alex has always been a hero of mine. He made snooker. he was also the finest player I have seen. The George Best of snooker. Thanks for memories Alex. RIP

[@john_wheels]

Old but gold

[@JohnJaySnookerChannel]

We need a new Alex Higgins to come on the scene. Enthralling and exciting and reckless and entertaining and a top player to booth. Who out there matches him for this?

[@trojanlol]

Trump?

[@z01t4n]

There are quite a few "entertainers" in today's snooker (Trump, Brecel and Ronnie are a pleasure to watch on their good days), but a truly reckless player will probably never reach the top (8) ranks again. You simply can't afford that against a Selby or a Higgins, because they will punish you just like Steve did in the two frames lost by Higgins. That's why even Trump only plays his "naughty snooker" when the frame's already won.

[@Billy.Nomates]

We have Ronnie

[@JohnJaySnookerChannel]

@@Billy.Nomates we sure do but I meant coming up after him and Judd etc

[@Billy.Nomates]

@JohnJaySnookerShorts500 got you..to be honest,when Ronnie retires,I'll find it harder to watch

[@alanmurray5963]

Two days before I was born.....no wonder the crowd were so happy😋

[@Leakh6161]

Brilliant match, brilliant video and a high quality snooker from the Great players! Thanks, Mr. Muroya! ❤❤❤

[@bullsnutsoz]

After watching this it is apparent taht O sullivan has moved snooker into another world.

[@kianiano]

Perfect and attractive play...

[@ruca9528]

Might be just me but I used to always think that even the click of the balls sounded different when higgins hit them.

[@Voltanaut]

Great video. Plz do more older snooker matches.

[@user-kg8od1vf9m]

Автору! Как всегда ОТЛИЧНЫЙ МАТЕРИАЛ!!! СПАСИБО!!! И смонтировано безупречно, без лишних пауз и повторов! БРАВО !!!

[@user-nx3oh6ny7p]

Thank you so much for this piece, meant a lot to me .

[@lakmeister]

Saw it at the time....amazing game....Wembley hated Davis...Loved Alex....the mob was happy....I still have this tape and UK final 83

[@marktyler3381]

That was really enjoyable, thank you. I love Higgins' soft shots.

[@Bigchurchmusic]

Higgins was a rock star.

[@marksnowden3300]

Higgins was decent, but let’s be honest, Davis took the game to another level and spawned the relentless high break snooker required in the modern game, hendry then O’Sullivan have taken it even further

[@Matt-gp9gc]

doesn't take long to realise his technique wasn't "crazy" at all, he did all the textbook things apart from the twitching at the end of the shot. Very talented player

[@castleanthrax1833]

Yes, he obviously had a very good eye and was a naturally gifted snooker player.

[@Billy.Nomates]

It was crazy though,compared to the other players conventional techniques. All other professionals say they were surprised how good he was playing like he did

[@mikescorpio13]

drunken master without any disrespect to the best snooker player ever.Did you ever play pool when you start to get a feeling and you feel invicible.He was the best at it sadly it had repercussions.

[@thebenevolentsun6575]

​@@Billy.Nomateshe only moved after hed hit the ball. Aslong as you line up properly and hit the cue ball at the intended spot you will make the pot.

[@wajc6486]

It’s a twitch because there’s no pause

[@IhaveMy0pinion]

This snooker at it's best....love Alex and amazing player and Steve Davis. No stupidness just amazing snooker ❤❤🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@sharpvidtube]

It was a great feeling when Alex beat Davis. Shame the rivalry didn't last longer, probably missed the peak of Alex Higgins, when you see how good players are in their 40s now. Reardon was great in his 40s, but I don't think he drank as much vodka😂

[@digeme69]

Higgins beat Davis again in the Irish Masters a few weeks after this match 6-2 but overall Davis gave Higgins some heavy beatings. 25-5 in career matches to Davis. After the 6-2 Irish Masters defeat they played 12 more matches with Davis winning 11 in a row before the last was a 4-4 draw. This match was played on Wed 30th January at 7.30pm. I was at Wembley for the afternoon match between Big Bill and Griffiths. I saw Higgins inside the venue at the interval and asked him politely if he'd sign my programme. There was no crowd of people around him, I was the only person who asked him. He said "later, later" and walked off. Davis was a far better player and was also very approachable, he had time for everyone.

[@sharpvidtube]

@@digeme69 They were completely different personalities. If Davis had all the problems Alex did, I doubt he would've been so approachable.

[@castleanthrax1833]

​@sharpvidtube Alex's problems were mostly self-inflicted though, so he had nobody to blame but himself.

[@digeme69]

@@castleanthrax1833 Spot on!

[@DanielHewsonPianist]

Alex got cancer & it ended any hopes of a serious come back he may have had.

[@ADAOLUIZMARTINSLUIZ-tn3cn]

ERA UM GRANDE CLÁSSICO DA SINUCA MUNDIAL! 👍👍

[@Tonystony1984]

I like how back then they could smoke and drink beer with no one giving a fuck 🤠🍺

[@thespursfan7564]

THEE GREATEST SNOOKER OWES YOU BIG TIME ALEX , JIMMY AND RONNIE

[@rashidxd]

Those big flowers though 😆

[@scoop2963]

I knew alex higgins personally.. on the one hand he was so generous but on the other hand he was a a bit crazy... a real one of a kind..

[@lenraby5920]

Alex even after all these years in a match gone almost gives you a heart attack watching. Davies was a wonderful player and not as slow as some portrayed. Ronnie is the Goat for sure, no doubt, but Alex pulled on your heart like no other.

[@joenewman7033]

The best legend

[@JesseThehuSnooker]

Applauding for straight shots lollll

[@RodolphoAraujo-ee8ii]

Alex Higgins RIP 😢❤

[@waytothewill]

"The image quality improves after this frame." That should be the longest frame in snooker history! 😁

[@dubtownman9508]

Remember watching this live... its apparent how brilliant his close ball control/touch was.. all modern players have really just become more prolific with breakbuilding but definitely not more than Higgins had in terms of ability and position

[@subhasishmitra1972]

The 80s and 90s saw quite a few good players from India...Geet Sethi and Michael Ferreira to name just two. Geet had quite a good rivalry with Steve Davis. Can you manage a few retro videos of a few matches featuring players from India?

[@johndean8295]

Geet was billiards?

[@subhasishmitra1972]

@@johndean8295 Geet was primarily a billiards player, but he did play snooker too. Yasin Merchant, Sonic Multani were the better snooker players those days.

[@johndean8295]

What about ohbi agrawal who sadly passed away ?

[@subhasishmitra1972]

@@johndean8295 Om Agarwal...fantastic player.

[@Billy.Nomates]

Not heard of these players before

[@robertnorman4306]

Alex never really down on the cue it works for him😂enjoyed watching him back in the day🔴

[@alirezaseif6464]

Very ❤nice

[@Swat-ed5bt]

Rip legend ❤

[@user-cf9xp1mo4u]

I think the BBC should repeat snooker classics from past years xxxlol all the best ❤❤❤ 1:05

[@maratonlegendelenemirei3352]

5:45 To score the winning goal in the World Cup final against Germany or to make this monster shot against the winning machine that was Steve Davis? I'd choose this pot every time!

[@kshgarg1]

The Rack Pack. Thats the movie.

[@maratonlegendelenemirei3352]

2:17 That's a terrible miss for a legend like Mr Higgins!

[@7rich79]

The balls really seem to run very different on that cloth. Was it that much thicker back then, or are there other reasons?

[@andrewjenery1783]

They did seem to play with more freedom than you see in today's snooker and the pockets look more generous.

[@AD-kv9kj]

The cloths were thicker, the slates weren't as well heated and the balls were made of different material and heavier, called "Crystalate" snooker balls.

[@FloydMaxwell]

"In January 1989 [age 40], Higgins fell out the window from his partner's first floor flat and broke 30 bones in his ankle."

[@sharpvidtube]

I remember he had to hop for a while after that, then a few months later, he beat Stephen Hendry 9-8 in the 1989 Irish Masters.

[@castleanthrax1833]

Was he drunk?

[@kristofvandycke6687]

I think that that quote is wrong in wikipedia. The ankle doesn’t contain 30 bones at all. The entire foot does, but you’d have to break every single bone in it, and that seems rather unlikely. I think someone added a zero in that quote, because breaking 3 bones in the ankle is perfectly reasonable. (I am aware that I used the terms “perfectly reasonable” in the context of a man like Alex Higgins, so I’m not 100% sure.)

[@DavidDavid-kl4ru]

@@castleanthrax1833 Was he ever sober?

[@fritzlange7934]

Only Alex Higgins could break more bones than there are in the human ankle.

[@SuperJimbell]

You beauty

[@TheMrBennito]

Alex always advertised as the spectacular player, yet for me Steve is the admirable player. He had it all.

[@JohnSmith-su3ze]

Steve didn't have charisma lol

[@fritzlange7934]

The contrast makes for exciting matches though (c.f. Borg-McEnroe).

[@PinkNinjaKick]

Crazy how much better Steve Davis is than Alex. Although Alex won this match I think it’s more accurate to say Steve let him lose. Steve Davis’s technique and play is so smooth and consistent compared to the players of his day. Steve could totally compete with the roster of today while Alex wouldn’t be close.

[@DashDrones]

14:00 Class potting.

[@john-gy7rc]

Applause after just about every shot is funny.

[@franzlyonheart4362]

Why does he dip down the cue at every shot just before impact? Looks to me to be less precise than today's technique -- even from aggressive players like Trump or Sullivan, I have never seen such a violent "dip", looks less controlled. Trump & Sullivan are aggressive and controlled simultaneously. Would appreciate if someone much more expert in snooker technique could help me explain.

[@rithikgandhi3685]

was wondering the same. Would be great if any expert can explain his technique.

[@paulhoey2956]

Higgins was too hot+cold and no surprise he lost in the next round to Griffiths

[@AbdulWahab-fk7yf]

5:43 shot ❤

[@nikolettnagy2054]

Milyen dalra szokott bevonulni?

[@billymccullough2624]

Alex Higgins,Legend&The People's Champion

[@Tripl3333]

The definition of...Nerves of Steel. I couldn't sit on my bum quietly for 10mins....!!!! foooouuuffff

[@PomBare]

I know they say the pockets were no bigger in those days, but they sure look bigger on screen.

[@HadToChangeMyName_YoutubeSucks]

Just love Alex. But I'm curious, years after he died he went to Oasis gigs? Maybe I'm tired but that Gallagher quote is confusing me.

[@thomas-fq1wi]

He died in 2010 he was still fit and playing mosconi cup.pool through the late 90's so couldve went to oasis concerts no problem for 10 years if he wanted

[@HadToChangeMyName_YoutubeSucks]

@@thomas-fq1wi -- Just the quote made it sound like he died and years later started going to concerts.

[@AD-kv9kj]

Everyone always says how the pockets were so much bigger back then but they don't look any bigger...?

[@paulclark4616]

Tell Everyone he's wrong.

[@gypsysoulgypsy]

At this level, you're not supposed to mess up the position from brown to blue. Then Lady Luck comes for a rescue.

[@Billy.Nomates]

Luck?

[@danieladaniel2004]

Table seemed to play heavy.

[@zer0h0urs000]

Higgins was the people's champion. A shame he had so many demons. RIP

[@waky3625]

His game was all about potting any colours. Unlike today

[@robertlocke793]

those bags seemed like buckets alex nearly fell into the middle bag

[@Kill--alllll---IDF]

A time wen in the UK 🇬🇧 There was only bbc1 bbc2 itv and channel 4 and even if u didn't like snooker u wud still sit and watch

[@AJsVIEW]

Probably the worst cue action in Snooker Vs one of the best cue action! Higgins still remains one of the best potters in the game, Legend!

[@missasinenomine]

What was "fast & aggressive" about it?

[@ahmedalsaaidi3714]

Steve was always the better player,but alex was the most exciting among them all.

[@ruesmale6940]

His head stays so still, through the shot. Higgins movement was after he delivered the cue through the ball.

[@kianiano]

▶Doea any body know the music at the end of the video? (23:20) Thank you so much!🙏

[@CesarMuroya]

I think it's shown in the Description. It's called "Searching For Time" from Telecasted, available on the YT audio library.

[@aaronclareyloveshr6918]

I think the crowd was a little overzealous with their clapping at times... Some normal pots really don't need applause every single time.

[@wajc6486]

Notice he doesn’t have much of a pause?

[@redd605]

Everyone talks about the Taylor Davis final rightly so , but Higgins also came back from 7-0 down to beat davis a few years earlier . Higgins had that period when hen could of been 4 or 5 times world champion and masters champion 3 times and uk maybe 2 times.

[@smoath]

Remember when half your screen wasn't betting ads. Ahh..

[@blackporscheroadster-yw8hb]

1980s snooker in the microcosm of one frame. Alex.....erratic genius loser. Davis calm, collected, supreme winner.

[@CoolCoyote]

better than ronnie

[@kelvinth30]

the way Alex play the game is somewhat like a pool player would play. Cueing doesn't seem straight and aligned but still pots very well

[@dilipkhednah]

The rivalry between Alex Higgins and Steve Davies was in a totally different league, not only between them but snooker fans as well. It was probably like a football game between two big teams playing against each other during the 80s. I totally disliked Steve Davies, i always wanted Alex to win, and i was over the moon when Alex came back from 7nil down to beat him 16-15.

[@jasonhall4734]

Higgins was the greatest of them all its just a shame his temperament let him down. Even Davis said he was more talented

[@reds005]

Ref needs to speak up a bit 😂

[@FloydMaxwell]

Alex Higgins really takes charge. Plays like Ronnie.

[@johnwedgbury6817]

Stop it now. Insult to ronnie that. Alex was a glorified club player. Not consistent enough to be great

[@leahhumphrey9600]

@@johnwedgbury68172 times world champion, 2 times masters champion, 1 uk championship and Ronnie himself has said Alex was one of the biggest influences on him to play snooker. Glorified club player my arse

[@thebenevolentsun6575]

​@@johnwedgbury6817definitely better than a club player

[@JohnSmith-su3ze]

@@johnwedgbury6817 Your commenting on a video of Higgins beating the most dominant player in the history of snooker at that time You are a ridiculous human being

[@johndean8295]

Cloth seems slow ?

[@MattBridger]

Way way slower in those days. Balls heavier too.

[@kristalmacleod3004]

Steve CHOKED like a dog it HAPPENS 3 OPEN SHOTS MISSED BY HALF A FOOT ON EACH 1'

[@GrimeisAlive]

they used to clap every shot lol

[@Mykst]

Not everyone understands snooker so I can see why that would be a surprise to you.

[@michaelgaskell2031]

Everybody says Ronnie is the greatest and you know what I agree. But this guy could have. Saw a lot of his play and half the time he was shit but when he was on his game what a sight to behold

[@AmanChowdhury888]

Never liked clappers who clap after every shot. As a player , its really annoying and distracting.

[@James-C-Callan]

Crowd used to clap some basic ass shots years ago. Had to watch it on mute, horrendous racket

[@alanchamberlain9902]

The old crowds were better than now

[@antonyendean1873]

they clap too much

[@1218jmm]

Annoying audience applauding every pot made, no matter how easy.

[@user-kg8od1vf9m]

Сложный вопрос! Мы же не знаем чьи болельщики аплодируют, кому симпотизируют!☝️

[@garethdesborough7960]

That crowd is bloody annoying; why did they applaud every shot?!

[@fritzlange7934]

Alex Higgins fans were drunk and disorderly, lol.

[@jeffreyratliff4685]

The only thing that bothers me is all the chronic coughing that seems to be going on in the crowd. This one is particularly bad about that. What is the deal? I don't know how these guys can concentrate on the game. I mean coughing through the shot? If you are that sick stay home.

[@highgreen6452]

Never understood the hurricane in Higgins name I didn't think he was that fast

[@markdrinkwater1508]

In his prime he was very quick.