Jameson International Semi Final 1981 Steve Davis v Alex Higgins

Best of 17 frames semi final between Davis and Higgins, presented by Fred Dinenage on World of Sport and Dickie Davies. Includes interview with both players at the end of the afternoon session. Something that is quite rare to see half way through a match and is never seen in the modern game. Short interview with Dennis Taylor after the match as well.

[@alanmctavish4802]

Its amazing to think alex higgins never did a 147 at least twice on tv. I remember about 1983 a think, and alex had potted 15 reds and 14 blacks and the green was tight against the top right side cushion and alex had to pot the blue after the red as he wasnt on the black, and he tried taking the green off the side cushion. So he was left with a hard green that was 4 foot away from the pocket and the cue ball a foot away from the green but about a foot into the middle of the table near the blue, and after the yellow he potted this amazing green plus the rest and got a 145 break. It really was a pure joy to watch alex when in that form. He smiled but he knew he was so close but far away. During the break you could see the green kept bothering him becouse of where it was, as he kept looking at ways to move it, and he tried to move it but he went out of position for the black couse of it. Had they all been on there spots he would have got the 147, easy! And in 5 minutes. I believe he did get them in practice games. He nearly got a 147 on tv when he had just the colours to pot and he missesd a near enough strait green. After all that he had done he missesd an easy pot. But what a player! The only player that played as if it was a 6ft pool table and not a 12ft snooker table.

[@rockybarrano33]

Yes, I remember that one on the green at the World Championships…👍

[@darrenbithell3858]

I'm sure this was the first tournament I watched when I was six years old, and have never looked back. Thank you so much for uploading this

[@TheMattTempest]

Tense match! As so often, the best match is not usually the final. Davis in his pomp - five tournament wins on the trot - but strangely off form for a bit of this (that early morning flight from Jersey Clive Everton mentions twice) and Higgins on fire but a bit careless. Not often you see Davis cock-up the breakoff shot once, let alone twice. Thanks for uploading!

[@deant9606]

Fabulous break in the final frame. Think the crowd forgot they had hands to clap.

[@TanveerAhmed-gl5jk]

Thanks for uploading these rare gems.enjoyed fully .Alex again Pleasing the audiance.not thinking of winning.👍👍👍

[@Bloxdio_God]

Tha is for posting. Some real gems coming up lately.

[@parksyist]

Great channel you are building up here mate keep them coming :)

[@ukbloke5740]

35:17 - Not a desktop computer or terminal to be seen. Dinage there reading the scores off a sheet of paper. Could you live in a world like that again? I know I could.

[@digeme69]

I agree with you to a degree but at the same point, there would be no old snooker footage on youtube to see without technology!

[@ju.snooker]

Davis and Higgins’ rivalry summed up nicely at 1:37:49

[@koenhughes9267]

1:40:54, Steve wouldn't be able to do that.

[@josefserf1926]

'Instinctive genius' is correct

[@kevinharrison4909]

Dickie davies what a blast from the past.

[@paleshelter4002]

I like the plants on display... symbol of grace and sportsmanship

[@stanleyharrison7031]

Higgins was fizzing in this match but like on so many other occasions lost to himself

[@parksyist]

Brilliant stuff

[@bottlecap57]

Loved watching this again! Saw it as it happened as a fascinated 12 year old. Even remember that scoreline coming through when Birtles scored his first goal for united🙂. Great match but Higgins a little annoyed with the Davis fan club "the Romford roar" I feel. Some of the best days in snooker!

[@mansellracing8690]

I just love Alex Higgins, He was Fantastic when he put his mind to it, When he was Concentrating and fully Focused, Oh and not to Pissed to play. It's a real shame cause he could have won at least 6 or 7 World tittles Easy if he had of just Knuckled down a bit more. But we all know it wasn't just Alex's fault, Jimmy White was a very Bad Influence on Alex Taking him to night clubs to get Bladdered, And Casino's EXE. But when he was on it, He could wipe the floor with anyone. Great Footage of two Legends of the game. to see them having a laugh was nice, Cause poor Alex thought Steve hated him. But as Steve said later in his career, i don't hate him, He was my Hero Growing up. RIP ALEX the People's Champion. He made the game what it is today, And the rest just tried to follow him. Great Video mate.

[@gerryryan]

What utter nonsense

[@mansellracing8690]

It's not nonsense pall, It's true. There are video's of Alex and Jimmy Together on you tube. Going to night clubs and Casino's. And Alex throwing up outside the Taxi. And instead of Jimmy saying come on mate you've Had enough. He takes him somewhere else with booze. anyway it don't matter weather you Believe it or not. were all entitled to an opinion. I still enjoyed your video Though,

[@stephenpiggott5869]

can't blame Jimmy Alex his own worst enemy

[@NymphZoic68]

Stephen Trevor - you'll dig out the 1972 final at this rate :)x

[@chrisbland6942]

If only there had been cameras present. The footage would be like gold dust!

[@MegaChabrol]

Watched a few of these videos now, they're great but question for anyone as I was too young to have seen Higgins play-did he always continue chasing frames after they were well gone? Ive seen him do this on numerous occasions even if he is too far behind to catch up, if I was playing him that would wind me up no end.

[@mickfarrell7630]

Hi Mega. No, Alex didn't always do this. Coming back to the table after Steve's 95 break in the decider is bizarre behaviour though. I remember in the 1986 World Championship (Alex v Terry Griffiths) Terry - in the frame before the mid session interval - made a 110 break before missing the final yellow. The ref said " Terry Griffiths - 110 - frame to Terry Griffiths" As Terry left the arena, Alex said to the ref that he (Alex) had not conceded the frame and wished to continue it. Terry had to be called back so they could continue playing!

[@mickharrison9004]

When you look at a few of alexes fine pots here, like the one along the cushion in the third frame, he had no fear of Davis and like some players then, he wasn't intimidated by him the hurricane in the nuggets own words on Alex, the only true legend.

[@ju.snooker]

48:07 - 48:35 great showmanship

[@ukbloke5740]

41:25 - The anticipation of a 'miss' *not* being called just adds to the sense of nostalgia here.

[@colinmitchell6872]

Do you know what year did the miss rule came in? Helps when watching future videos. Cheers.

[@ukbloke5740]

@@colinmitchell6872 September 1995

[@colinmitchell6872]

@@ukbloke5740 thanks. Would of guessed much later!

[@davidsmith5523]

Great memories.

[@josefserf1926]

It's sometimes hard to believe what you're seeing when you watch Higgins play. Alex did so many things badly and yet so many others exceptionally that he doesn't seem to be playing to win. A real Irishman.

[@mark-147]

Davis actually showed good personality in that mid-match interview!

[@alanfizzypop9607]

Interesting 🤣

[@heliumtrophy]

"I've no idea why Alex hit that ball so hard, it seemed quite pointless to me." Come on, Rex, the man's had enough Charlie to keep Colombia in the black.

[@johnsrabe]

Random Question: On old color sets, did the reds always show as different colors (brown, etc) like they do in this video? Or has maybe the tape gotten old?

[@piedro132]

I get the impression Higgins is pissed, can’t blame him when you’re playing Davis

[@davidgladwin4954]

Steve loved a glass of milk 🍼

[@edmundpower1250]

Being interviewed at the break was strange and it was great to see Alex laughing at Steve's jikes😂😂

[@alanmctavish4802]

It was great to see alex and steve joking like that as if they were best of pals for years at 1.05. I have never saw that before.

[@onthe4572]

This used to be the first ranking event of the season, around September I think.

[@digeme69]

That is true from 82 onwards but this 81 footage was a non ranking event

[@onthe4572]

@@digeme69 I thought it was a ranking event, and I've just discovered that the UK didn't become a ranking event till 84. So that means in 81/82 literally the only ranking event was the World Championship

[@stanleyharrison7031]

Wow the clearance around 47:00 is pure panache

[@29memyselfandi]

Never seen a player pot a ball while simultaneously doing a twirl.

[@ianwilliamson2980]

Great to see them speak midway there .they don't do that now.

[@ukbloke5740]

Interesting isn't it? Seems inappropriate somehow though. Like it breaks the competitive bubble each player in and opens up their psyche/mindset to not only the audience but to their opponent as well. I mean, you wouldn't expect this to happen in a boxing match, would you? Maybe it just serves to illustrate how much more competitive snooker is in the modern era?

[@ianwilliamson2980]

@@ukbloke5740 yeah I agree it dident seem right this.who knows what the likes of alex or ronnie might have said .

[@parksyist]

1:27 perfect 147 chance

[@damienspurs147]

💖

[@damienspurs147]

Love your channel mate Anything on Knowles ?

[@digeme69]

Not really other than the match v White that is already up.The best channel for Knowles is via this link but I'm sure you may have seen this already kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGS5eqCYlqaZqrc

[@mickharrison9004]

A very grim loss here for the hurricane, easy to say but like the commontator said about earlier in the match Higgins could of put Davis in trouble in a few frames, but instead went for everything Alex could easily of won this.

[@ianwilliamson2980]

Wonder what Alex said at end there

[@mqb5151]

Woah Dickie those side burns

[@garethrichards9572]

Steve beat Dennis Taylor 9-0 in the final !!

[@edmundpower1250]

Wow!! Then Steve went 8-0 up in the world final in 1985.Dennis must have feared the worst. Dennis the only man in snooker history to lose 15 World final frames on the trot and still win the title!

[@christiano8088]

Let's see the final, I would love to see Davis destroy Taylor again.

[@stevecoombs203]

Davis the complete master, most dominant player in modern snooker

[@johnmc3862]

Hendry was more dominant. Davis was great though too.

[@ianwilliamson2980]

Wonder what alex said at end there

[@Minecraftfan-ue6mg]

Clive is timeless. He'll still be commentating in 100 year's time

[@davidjatt3251]

Uhh.... you havent heard him lately have you?

[@johnsrabe]

How common was it back then for players to take the cueball and clean it, as Higgins does?

[@ukbloke5740]

He's the only player I can remember doing that. It smacks to me of gamesmanship. It's like saying, "this is mine". I'm surprised that even back then they allowed it. I don't think it would be an issue to have a rule where it's against the rules for a player to touch any ball with anything other than his cue. Another thing you don't see is the 'hovering' that he does. Everyone goes straight back to their chair when they've completed their visit.

[@johnsrabe]

@@ukbloke5740 thanks for the answer, and that makes a lot of sense.

[@JavedKhan-kh5if]

Alex is so positive that in any kind of defensive short he was looking to poting the ball..the reason of his not claiming world titles

[@markdrinkwater1508]

He won two.

[@eamonhughes8417]

Do you have any classics snooker Eagland v Wales

[@digeme69]

The only thing I currently have is here from the 81 final Spencer v Griffiths and i remember when I recorded it I had to pause and record towards the end as I was running out of tape so I just got the frame in kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5jFq51vZZ2ip6s.

[@NymphZoic68]

1:40:50

[@alanmctavish4802]

I always thought dennis taylor was no match for steve davis at any time. Ok he beat him in that final. But we all know steve should have won when he missesd a pot that he could pot with his eyes shut. When he did miss it i was totally shocked? Becouse steve was like a robot, i thought his batterys were failing lol It was an easy pot... i potted shots like that every time i played and i was age 11 year old Steve said he just pure bottled it, as he went to the table he could hardly walk becouse he was also so tired. But he still shouldnt have missesd it. He had won it 3 times by then and loads of other tournamets! I remember then there was about 8 tournaments on tv alone in 12 months. Great days, the best years ever for any sport. The 80s.

[@ju.snooker]

1:30:30

[@christiano8088]

Im amazed he got a 20 break. Wouldn't be in the top 64 these days.

[@edmundpower1250]

Higgins was supposed to be the crowd pleaser but boring the crowd and TV audience by playing on when 80 and 90 behind, especially in the final frame! Thanks be to God no one else does it

[@redd605]

Even thought there head to head is not close they had a hard fault rivalry . Higgins was more of a Equal to davis back then .in the 80s

[@FIVE-0-APOCALYPTO]

were the pockets bigger back then?

[@johnmc3862]

No not really, it’s a myth. They were bigger in the 70’s.

[@ianwilliamson2980]

Higgins with wavy hair

[@barry607]

Funny how your view changes used to hate Davis and love Alex now the total opposite, as greavsie said it's a funny old game

[@ianwilliamson2980]

Higgins should have won this

[@jordanjordan9022]

Alex was unlucky in this match, especially in the last two frames. He played better than Davis overall and just didn't get the run of the balls at crucial moments. He deserved to win this one.

[@StewartyMac]

Higgins being a total knob playing on after Davis went about 95 points up in the final frame. An entertainer for sure, but never a nice human being.

[@johnmc3862]

Higgins was an entertainer 1st and foremost.

[@paulofarrell6498]

@@johnmc3862There was nothing entertaining about what he did at the end though.

[@johnsrabe]

18:32 Alex’s strategy is more likely to get on Steve’s nerves. And it seemed to work. 2:14:51 Alex, concede, please. Don’t be a dick.

[@parksyist]

Higgins was unlucky in the end

[@FIVE-0-APOCALYPTO]

i guess davis shrunk a few inches since then, my god wtf?

[@londonlady1966]

Tables got higher I think.

[@FIVE-0-APOCALYPTO]

@@londonlady1966 were the pockets bigger back then love?

[@tullmonkey]

No, the balls were smaller.

[@seltaeb9691]

ITV had loads of meaningless snooker titles ie Lada Cars..🤣

[@johnmc3862]

It was the snooker boom. It was all across prime time tv.

[@davidgladwin4954]

9 -0 SILENCER

[@davidgladwin4954]

DAVIS DESTROYED HIGGINS VERY REGULAR, IT WAS EMBARRISING

[@johnmc3862]

Higgins had more fans though.

[@simon0044]

9-8 is as close as it gets

[@FIVE-0-APOCALYPTO]

12:30.... Jesus, why doesn't Steve kick 1 or come 2 rails?

[@ju.snooker]

1:40:50

[@ju.snooker]

1:30:30