Steve Davis vs Ronnie O'Sullivan | 1997 Masters Final

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[@the_musing_kravist]

Easily one of the most dramatic finals ever: the young, mercurial genius, eventually to become the GOAT, whizzing to an 8-4 lead; he seemed set to dispatch the older master with a couple of quick centuries. Then Steve, the tortoise to Ronnie's hare, his form perfect and his concentration unbreakable, building his momentum to win six on the trot, including a 130 break. I'll never forget watching it live on television.

[@Heathen97]

Woah. You talk like a book!

[@richhughes7450]

The naked truth was that Ron's snooker went to pot after seeing the streaker.

[@jimd3532]

Remember watching this myself, Ronnie to me will always be the greatest but Davis was class. I put Davis above Henry because Davis had a better all round game than Hendry. The only area of the game Hendry was better than Davis in was break building.

[@johnmc3862]

@Wayne Holmes Give it up will you ffs!

[@gdawgsuper758]

Excellent analysis mate I remember this match I watched it live… was a massive Davis fan from a young age but Ronnie has to be my favourite player of all time

[@ianwatkins6202]

I was there! And cheering Steve all the way 😊

[@reds005]

Was absolutely delighted for Steve when he won this. Brilliant comeback.

[@igsigsolutions5248]

Steve Davis was and still is the epitome of a gentleman snooker player.

[@Ryan_Giggs97]

I was born in December that year. But I definitely would cheer on Steve Davis against anyone in snooker. I think he was genuinely shocked, amazed and delighted to recover from 8-4 down to win 10-8 in this Masters Final against O’Sullivan.

[@amac1657]

What a player Davis was

[@darrenlomas4226]

Remember watching this back in 97. Terrific final.

[@martinwilliams9776]

Very good memories of watching this final. Such a class act, Steve Davis. Rocket: the most naturally gifted player ever. Davis: my all time favourite player. A gentleman.

[@ju.snooker]

Thanks for uploading this. Would love it if you uploaded full matches that would be great!

[@heliumtrophy]

I doubt WST would do that but that said there are some matches that I would dearly love to watch in full again.

[@powderedharp9603]

Remember this final vividly. Was a huge Davis fan & really gutted when Ronnie raced into an 8-4 lead. A great comeback by the Nugget!

[@adelehilton2792]

Greatest player ever on his day

[@chrispayne591]

Don't be silly now lol

[@kayzar293]

Come on now. Ronnie edges it over Hendry

[@DoomyMacDoomface]

Loved this match. I'm more inclined to enjoy the likes of Ronnie over Davis but as Davis fought back I was willing him on. Fantastic snooker.

[@BigAmp]

The golden nugget!! What a player he was. I suspect this win still brings a quiet smile to his dail. I liked the cutback red. He obviously learnt his lesson from "that" game of a few years before and likely never missed another.

[@Ashfaq1999]

Great final !! Both players showing how good they became 👏

[@michaellarkin2044]

Davis at his peak would have won a fair few world titles even had he played in the modern game. He was such an amazing player it is hard to appreciate for those who missed him. He may have had to adapt his game somewhat, but his technique was amazing.

[@fifthof1795]

The era between 1995 and 2000 was one where Ronnie was spaffing chances up the wall constantly. After his old man got banged up he lost it and partied for five years. He has always said that had he knuckled down and done some snooker hard graft he'd have won a lot more during that half decade. He knew he'd never win the world title until he did.

[@myrddingwynedd2751]

The irony is that when Davis was in his prime and beating everyone, he wasn't liked. When he won the masters in 97 after not winning anything for years, they suddenly all liked him and cheered for him. I'm sure there's a lesson in human psychology there somewhere.

[@joshhodkinson9677]

People love to root for the underdog.

[@Dat-yi4iz]

Still hard to believe his last world final was 1989 but what a player in the 80s great to see him win another triple crown here

[@user-qw1tr1bn3h]

I think this was probably up there with one of his best wins , he would probably say the same , considering it was later in his career and who he was playing in ronnie , unbelievable!

[@Captain_Rhodes]

I remember this. We all thought davis was done in 97. Happy he was still around but never expected him to win much. This was a great late career title and deserved

[@hmq9052]

Bit like McEnroe's brief renaissance in 92 getting to the Wimbledon semis and winning the doubles

[@Captain_Rhodes]

@@hmq9052 true

[@PeterMc141]

​@hmq9052 He won the doubles with Michael Stich. It was delayed from the Saturday to the Monday because of rain. They didn't play on Sundays back then. The good times.

[@maxpower3698]

It was nice for Steve to get another Masters title even at this late stage of his career. He always struggled even in his pomp in the 80's, the crowd was always for Jimmy and Alex who were the antithesis of Steve and that must have played on his mind, he was far the best player of his era but struggled at Wembley with the pressure I think, x6 Worlds x6 UK's but only x2 Master before this 1982 & 1988. Not a bad record 3 finals and 3 wins. Just wasn't to be this tournament compared to the rest of his career.

[@da_great_mogul]

Crazy to think that 13 years later he beats Higgins, the then world champion at the world championships!

[@redrebel0066]

I was only 17! Where have all the years gone?☹

[@joandar1]

Could not happen to nicer bloke! John, Australia.

[@davidgladwin4954]

MAGNIFICENT STEVE DAVIS

[@juchetony1910]

I wonder if he suspected then that he would never win another title.

[@iano6944]

Steve was humble..

[@PeterMc141]

Ide say that was Steve's best moment of his snooker career

[@mjwchapman]

up there. in terms of later performances the win against john higgins in 2010 was v. special.

[@maxpower3698]

I think 1987 World's against Joe Johnson 18-14 was considering 1985 and 1986 people were starting to doubt him

[@VINNIEJONES10]

Ronnie has learnt a lot from this frame alone. He just gave up and went gung-ho

[@DanceySteveYNWA]

Always a coughing contest going on in the crowd.

[@9Alessi8]

That's how uncomfortable can be if you are Ronnie's opponent, the majority of spectators are his fan, so the crowd usually shout his name and gives you are lot of pressure. Well done for anyone who has beaten Ronnie with the existence of his home field. 👍👍

[@henrigaziel2002]

What rot. The majority of the audience were on Steve’s side that night. The old ‘Romford slim’, the last hurrah of a great champion. Some would say Ronnie let him win out of great respect. He’d have thrown the Worlds if he’d been playing Jimmy.

[@9Alessi8]

@@henrigaziel2002 But a lot of people shout at his name when Ronnie got his chances, this showed there was still decent audiences either supported Ronnie or remained neutral, I feel that 40-60% of them wanted Ronnie won. Even I am wrong, those shouting remains me how tough is for Ronnie's opponent when his supporters is with him at the past and nowadays, because they also give them I lot of pressure, do you see the crowd will keep shouting a players name other than Ronnie a lot? Anyway, full credit to Steve.

[@iblacka1]

Who would have thought then that Ronnie would have went on to win 38 Ranking titles and leave all the others in the dust.

[@StevieRevbo]

the "new" way of showing a snooker match - JUST THE SHOTS is much better I'm not bothered about steve davis's wry smiles

[@stevens5541]

The only ever time I want ronnie to lose is when he plays davis.