The Black Ball Final | 1985 World Championship | Dennis Taylor vs Steve Davis

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[@MYJETGLO]

Remember watching this live on TV as a 15 year old kid. If I remember correctly, this game went on till about nearly 1am....my heart was thumping and it still does even watching it now after all these years.

[@brianmartin-bg1ij]

Me too same age riveting stuff

[@DG-nc1jc]

Steve Davis' face before the pink and after it is priceless! It's a meme in today's world!

[@SirFluffyFluffton]

I don't think Steve Davis thought he'd pot the pink, it was a tough shot near the cushion... Four balls remaining Steve Davis was red hot favourite and the black was safe... Credit to Dennis...

[@myalfie]

This was on the 28th April a Sunday 1985 I started work on the Monday the 29th and I retired last year 26th Oct 2021 after 36years how time flies!

[@Juan-si4ou]

@Ivor Mectin I was still in ma dad's sack

[@topazpenguin5740]

You worked for 36 years? What's your secret?

[@myalfie]

No secret I started in British steel aged 19 and finished with Tata steel aged 54( same company),the pension scheme you can finish at 50 but Tata took it over and paid out the pension scheme,as they wanted rid of it,you have to be 55?to access it I finished early using holiday time accrued and had a pot of Over £600k which I have a financial advisor looking after! That’s how I’m able to finish.

[@jameshollins5659]

@@myalfie tax payers money propping up that company and no doubt pension

[@williamlawlor7445]

@Hugh Jarse sitting in the living room with my dad watching it. Only a few other things I remembered where I was, like 9/11 and the Douglas, Tyson knock out.

[@hughoneill9833]

I always watched snooker but as a young 9 year old this was past my bedtime so I didn't get to see it all. However, I do remember my dad rushing into my room, way past midnight and waking me up to come and see the last moments of this frame. He never got swept up in anything but he was so excited about this final and the way it ended. He'd lived in Sheffield years earlier, so the crucible was special for us. We're Irish, so Dennis winning was a big deal. He's gone now .. but I always watch the crucible every year. It reminds me of that night. It reminds me of those days. I hope the BBC don't axe Dennis and JV like they are planning to do. We need the legends and they deserve to remain in our hearts.

[@GrrMeister]

*Argh Yes - I remember it well !* 🙃

[@steffanhoffmann]

Well said mate ✅

[@duncanholding7636]

The first safety shot by Steve Davis on the black remains considering the pressure one of THE best shots ive ever seen

[@steffanhoffmann]

Agreed. Without doubt Davis the coolest player I've ever seen, and the most gentlemanly.

[@AlonsoRules]

How Davis failed to win this is one of the greatest mysteries in sport. He was 7-0 up after the first session and then 2 up with 3 to play on Day 2. Taylor was never in front in frames until the last black went in.

[@williamlane9844]

And the best man won

[@logicalnetwork1611]

If you saw the Trump v williams semi final match at world championships 2022 then u will realize how fortunes can fluctuate on the green baize.

[@sockington1]

because he was/is a tosser

[@brianbotterill5820]

Handy when you have telescopic lens on your nose!

[@logicalnetwork1611]

@Ivor Mectin williams is like fine wine. Hes gettng better with age. His long potting is par excellence.

[@jamesdoyle3885]

One of the greatest sporting finales ever

[@chonv5617]

one of million

[@paulrichards6894]

and probably worse winner ever

[@RossoVerdeNero]

​@paulrichards6894 You're going to have to explain that... "worse winner ever"? Apart from your rubbish grammar, what on earth do you mean? Dennis was one of the most popular winners ever... but if you mean he wasn't a long-standing serial world championship winner, just remember what he said in the interview afterwards... "I'm the best this year..."

[@theironshiek]

Those shots on the brown, blue and pink were unreal

[@chilly6470]

Pots but, position wasn't good.

[@theironshiek]

@@chilly6470 that's what I'm referring too man

[@garywallace5602]

That brown and blue from Dennis, are awesome shots WITHOUT any pressure. Dennis, had balls of steel in that final frame. Even had the audacity to double the black...missed it by a whisker!

[@thomasoloughlin9075]

No snooker final has ever matched this final two legends of the game.

[@fearlesslegend2073]

lol not really ! Davis is a legend but Dennis Taylor is trash

[@thephantom4661]

A great final yes but I wouldn't call Dennis a legend.

[@rayfinkle2805]

Dennis Taylor a legend in his own mind

[@rayfinkle2805]

@Ivor Mectin no I didn’t. It hurts your pea brain that someone agrees with me doesn’t it

[@rayfinkle2805]

@Ivor Mectin As if . Is that your Pakistani mate ? I’ll lose no sleep over you . Taylor is a lucky blagger end of . Deal with it

[@rantdmc]

one of the things that people rarely notice about this incredible sporting moment is that Dennis played his last shots extremely slowly. this contributed a lot to Steve's meltdown. he was completely psyched out by Dennis, which people thought was impossible because of Steve's mental strength

[@ianwilliamson2980]

Yes he did the nugget here big time

[@josiewallace7968]

Let's all be honest, early on a record final thrashing was on the cards. Davis was potting everything and Taylor was near enough glued to his chair. Davis missing the green in the 9th frame was a turning point

[@maxington26]

@@josiewallace7968 It's also honest to say that both players were stuggling in their own particular limelight. Pressure got to them both - Taylor won the prize.

[@shemp_]

Yes, you can see Steve get really irritated at 4:00

[@johnrobinson4404]

We all came home from the pubs sunday night( 10.30pm last orders) and the final was in full flow..we sobered up over the next 2 hours watching ttheir( what was to become an unforgettable final) happier times...

[@markcowley1369]

How good is it still to watch that?! A truly epic sporting moment! How tired and nervous must the two of them have been though? Dennis maybe thinking that this was his one and only chance to win the World Championship and Steve showing tremendous dignity in defeat. Great stuff! Sporting history.

[@andyhodgson7692]

The tension was unreal. The look on both their faces. You could see that they were both nervous. It was great television.

[@josiewallace7968]

Dennis Taylor's final brown has got to be one of the greatest shots ever at the Crucible

[@ianmcfadden5450]

Remember this well, i was on the edge of my seat! Real snooker legends

[@ThomasLWoolsey]

Northern Ireland’s favourite son! Never get tired of watching this!

[@LIVERNIL723]

This breaks my heart flooding memories of this final and the 80s. I loved Steve Davis so much.

[@shaz2761]

Yeah, this and the Joe Johnson finals were close. He was almost an 8 times champ!

[@richardbrown1189]

I remember watching this at a friends house and we were on the edge of our seats. Hard to believe it was nearly forty years ago.

[@cliffjones9922]

I never knew of this final! Looks to be a fantastic match. I'm shocked that Dennis never mentions it in his commentary.

[@UTubeSL]

Bizarre isn't it! Clearly not that proud of it, nor a big deal for him 😄😄😄

[@altt-check1-2]

😂😂👍🏻

[@UTubeSL]

@Ivor Mectin good evening. We were both joking of course - it is obvious that Dennis never STOPS mentioning it! 😄 And he is right to be proud. You obviously got worked up, given your reply. Something that less hasty judgement might have avoided. All the best.

[@TequilaToothpick]

@Ivor Mectin In addition to them being sarcastic it is not the most viewed program on the BBC in history.

[@Jakestreet]

@Ivor Mectin it's only a couple of KZbin comments, relax. They probably don't remember or even were born to see it.

[@flammenjc]

Has to be up there in the best sporting moments in human history. The psychological turmoil, the endurance, the respect they had for each other. It had it all.

[@Rayfaedundee]

I remember watching this match as a youngster, I remember it was on tv till about 1am.. about 80% of the U.K. was watching it.

[@FLEXZILLAGAMING]

Wasn’t that the only channel back then?

[@conscienceaginBlackadder]

​@@FLEXZILLAGAMING no there were 4 by then. 1 channel era ends 1955 !

[@R2Bl3nd]

​@@FLEXZILLAGAMING I bet it was the most interesting thing going on out of the other available channels at that time of night.

[@ArtUniverse]

After all these years, I'm still at the edge of my seat while watching this.

[@JD-eq4dp]

Remember it well. I was 14 at the time and Mum & Dad let me stay up to watch it. Goodness Gracious where have the years gone. 🤔

[@snookeringu2tonightu231]

I love the still image you have created on the KZbin feed for this video. I never realised Dennis played the black left handed 😂😂

[@alienghost7717]

37 years past away and it'STILL iconic! 💯🔥👍

[@hairyass666]

Sunday, 28th April 1985...I was 13 years old..it went past midnight and I also had to ask parental permission to stay up and watch it...I met Dennis Taylor 3 years ago and he told me I wasn't old enough to remember it?..awesome...😎👌🤣

[@ashtakmetoza5689]

The most incredible snooker final! I was 10 years old when this happened and my parents let me stay up to watch it, I'm so glad they did!

[@dublinsfaircity]

Not that Steve knew or gave a damn at the time but i feel him losing this iconic match made him seem less robotic like and more human. I've rarely ever seen so much hurt in a person than when Vine interviewed Steve post match. It is still hard to watch. I was always a Steve fan and even more so after this.

[@charliem9656]

Very true, it made people start to root for Steve in the future

[@leejames8595]

I re-live this moment 30 times a year as I fit the table for the Snooker Greats shows featuring Steve & Dennis. Great guys too

[@JohnJaySnookerChannel]

What an incredible final, I was only 3 years old but my Dad told me the story about how every time Taylor missed he would say that’s it now and be heading to bed and then he ended up staying up til all hours to see the ending of the match!!

[@jediroya6810]

I think on the 30th anniversary of this in 2015, the BBC said it still held the record for highest TV viewership after midnight. Maybe the record even still stands today!

[@Psalm11950]

The greatest snooker final ever. Taylor did well from 0-8 but was a bit fortunate on that black ball game. Hardly anyone thought Davis would lose

[@MrSimplesimon007]

I remember it well, Steve was the man to beat back then, and Joe Johnson did it too, I loved watching snooker back then, they even made mad songs like snooker loopy 👍

[@shanekelley7682]

Steve Davis was seen as cold 🥶 but we now know what a great personality he is.

[@none7574]

I remember watching this live, when tv was brilliant

[@stevewimmer9758]

One of the greatest moments in snooker history

[@gazzahale9335]

Seriously though, how lucky was Taylor. Perfect safety shots from 2 reduculous doubles. Something everyone forgets

[@johnp515]

The first double was not ridiculous,

[@mtns7036]

Wonderful. One of the greatest moments in any sport.

[@chrisburton8079]

Saw these pair in the Kings Lynn Corn Exchange last night reenacting that final and having a bit of banter it was fantastic love Steve Davis love Dennis Taylor two great characters

[@waynewalker8227]

Phenomenal. Love Dennis for his nerve amongst all the other things he brought to snooker. Bless him. X

[@Siopc]

My uncle told me about this final. Had to watch it.

[@franzherflek4116]

One of the best sporting ends of all time in any sport

[@richardgarland7060]

I remember watching that live…seems like only yesterday

[@daveb5375]

I was 10 years old and one of the only exceptions when I was allowed to stay up WAY past bedtime to watch this with my parents. Wow, absolutely gripping stuff and it made me wonder the sorts of nerves Davis and Taylor were feeling to have missed those opportunities before (that resulted in it being the best world final ever in my opinion)

[@Mediumal]

Arguably the greatest world snooker final ever. Such tension, such drama. Those who were there will never forget it I’m sure. It was compelling enough for those of us who watched it live on TV. Sometimes there are events that transcend the confines of their own particular sphere of interest or audiences. This was one of those occasions. 17 frames all and down to the last black. A scriptwriter would never dare opine such a scenario. Brilliant stuff that will live long in the memory not of those who witnessed it but in snooker folk-lore as long as the game remains popular.

[@rochstan123]

Remember watching this with my Dad. IMO, the most memorable snooker match and final ever.

[@entrace1]

One of the greatest snooker finales ever, two of the greatest players at the time, and yet they look like two geezers playing in my local snooker hall xD

[@TSUNAMISHOTTA]

The facial expressions are priceless so much on the line still no final has been decided on the Black since so if you watched this live you captured the perfect moment

[@lagelous]

Dennis playing with his glasses upside down made his victory even greater!

[@davemiller7633]

Anybody with glasses like those upside down means business😂😂

[@muhweziblessings]

It was the normal way FYI

[@ianwilliamson2980]

Yeah these glasses were the in thing .ray reardon even had ones

[@ianwilliamson2980]

Davis fell to bits here .if he met a good player like hendry that's what happened to him.

[@zfatbcvxbthsbcv]

@@ianwilliamson2980 Pretty sure they were just so he could see through them when potting, very stylish though yes.

[@Reoleax]

Never to be beaten. Greatest sporting drama ever

[@Cootster72]

13 I was when I first saw this and was allowed to stay up.

[@Jahson70]

The best snooker final I've ever seen.

[@GOATAli]

Most tense and extraordinary end to any sports contest ever

[@thewanderingwolves90]

Back when the referee could say thank you ladies and gentlemen and nobody got upset 😅

[@ScottyBugler2005]

This was on the night of my christening and I was only 4 at the time, but everyone who came to the party back at our home stayed till the final black went down and Taylor had received the trophy. Even I got to stay up and watch it

[@ReecePoolinho]

One of the greatest pieces of drama in any sport

[@adamoliver5589]

When dennis potts that long brown and the sound it made and the crowd cheering him on. GOOSEBUMPS everytime

[@stevevince9680]

That brown was one of the greatest shots ever played.

[@adamoliver5589]

@@stevevince9680 agreed !!!!! That pot should be talked about more

[@arvids7]

The greatest final moments in the history of sports finals.

[@brianwilson49]

I’ll never my parents letting me stay up to watch this! We watched the whole final and there was no way I was going to bed before it was done!

[@TrevorHerbert-dj1jl]

This drama will never be repeated. The ultimate.😂❤❤🙏🙏peace.

[@adamoliver5589]

That cheeky smirk on dennis's face after he potted the pink lol

[@DB-sh4gh]

i remember watching this on my black & white portable telly in my bedroom... great memories..

[@glenreddy1435]

Personally, I watched the match live, and have always believed, Steve Davis, half heartedly went for the shot, I think deep down, he didn’t want to take Dennis’s last chance to win the title away from him, they were good rivals, Steve was just starting out, in his mind.

[@MrJdebest]

Wow, 35 games are to be played, first to 18 wins. Tied 17-17 , last frame, last ball to decide the winner! Priceless tournament 😊

[@chrislogan2557]

It's crazy that Dennis was never ahead in the match at any point until he potted the last ball, will never happen again.

[@dontmakemelaugh4335]

how do you know it wont happen again

[@chrislogan2557]

@@dontmakemelaugh4335 Common sense, not difficult to work out is it?

[@dontmakemelaugh4335]

@@chrislogan2557 well by your reasoning that it will never happen again by rights it shouldn't have happened in the first place.... why is your statement so correct when for all we know a hundred people couldve said the exact same thing in the decades leading up to this moment.... not difficult to work that out is it??

[@chrislogan2557]

@@dontmakemelaugh4335 But it did happen and hasn't happened again since so I'm right and you're wrong, not hard to work out is it?

[@dontmakemelaugh4335]

@@chrislogan2557 the only way you can guarantee this will never happen again is if snooker is never played again.. a 8yr old could work that out, what's your excuse muppet?? never seen someone on here who's such an arrogant full of himself donkey.. even said theres no way a person like this could exist.... and yet here we are...

[@johnc3403]

38 years ago and it's like it happened yesterday...

[@Rechud]

This game went on way past my bedtime

[@simonwhite699]

I watched this when I was 12 and it was Amazing back then as it is 37 years later!!!!

[@BunyanaRed1958]

That Brown was a really mint shot. The sound it made as it went in the pocket.

[@maartenvangansbeke7099]

A Finale to Never Forget🎉😮😊

[@chrisbuzzer]

Those were the days my friend we thought they’d never end we’d sing and dance forever and a day, we’d live the life we choose we’d fight and never lose , those were the days oh yes those were the days

[@danielraynolds9502]

I'm so very proud of the way Dennis battled throughout this final. This ending is the greatest ever world championship win in snooker. Total admiration for Dennis. I've watched this whole final over again many times from start to finish. Dennis did play Steve again in the Rothman,s Grand Prix final which was a BBC Grand slam also in October 1985,, 6 months later. Losing 10_9 on that occasion to Steve. Steve won the very 1st frame of that final on a black ball finish, Funny enough. Steve led 7_2, Before Dennis stormed to lead 8_7 ahead. But lost by a shave in that Grand Prix final 10_9.

[@SirFluffyFluffton]

There used to be characters in snooker many many years ago.... It was palpable watching you can feel the pressure.... Steve Davis looked a little bit snug before the pink was holed.... Get yourself a lottery ticket Dennis! you know what they say the luck of the Irish.. never be a final like that I again...🎱🎱🎱🎱

[@adamoliver5589]

that first pot should be talked about more !!!!!!! AWESOME pot by DENNIS taylor

[@PatrickMcF]

I was in the 147 club in WS Mare run by Bruce Bernard. Working in Pontins . I remember saying for a joke what's the odds on a black ball game. What a night. ❤

[@phild6485]

I was so wanting Dennis to win with his funny glasses I was only 10. I think this finished at 12.30am it was edge of your seat tension. 💺 When Dennis potted that black I was hysterical with joy 😊

[@greatdelusion7654]

6:30 is the most iconic “No” in history

[@chocolatemonster07]

I hadn't been born when this happened but my parents met on the night of this. I can't imagine the tension of actually being there watching it

[@wangchi_]

you're talking about the match, right?

[@chocolatemonster07]

@@wangchi_ Of course 😉

[@bazsully4205]

Had a great night at Motherwell civic centre in February 2020 with these guys 2 gentlemen 😎👍🎱

[@user-xm4wl2sd3n]

หลังจากที่เล่นสงครามประสาท ดึงเกมกันอยู่หลายชั่วโมง คนดูบางคนกำลังหลับอยู่ ก็ต้องสะดุ้งตื่นขึ้นมาตอนจบนี่เอง นอกจากคำว่าเคยเป็นแชมป์โลกแล้ว นักสนุกเกอร์เหล่านี้ ก็ไม่มีอะไรที่น่าประทับใจให้จดจำ แต่นักสนุกเกอร์ที่ไม่เคยเป็นแชมป์โลกเลย อย่าง Jimmy White กลับมีหลายสิ่งหลายอย่าง ที่น่าประทับใจ ให้โลกสนุกเกอร์ได้จดจำ อย่างมากมาย ด้วยสไตล์การแทงมือซ้าย ที่รวดเร็ว เร่าร้อน แม่นยำที่สุดในโลก ถ้าสนุกเกอร์โลกมีกติกาห้ามยืนคิดนานเกิน 1 นาที ห้ามถ่วงเวลาดึงเกมช้า ผมเชื่อว่า Jimmy White จะได้เป็นแชมป์โลกไม่ต่ำกว่า 8 สมัย

[@deanhawthorn5783]

21 when i watched this......the best ever

[@johngreenhorn8853]

Still get nervous watching this 38 years later,i can't honestly remember much if anything about Steve Davis winning it 6 times but can remember this loss like it was yesterday,how ironic.

[@Matthew-bu7fg]

Has this final ever been mentioned in a subsequent Snooker World Championship?

[@MrBooBeeDoo]

Lol I don't think so.

[@MachineNightmare]

Certainly not by Dennis Taylor himself......

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Worth watching - almost - just to see Taylor go through 6 different levels of trying to focus before attempting the final blue. I think this man knows what the word 'focus' means! J

[@davidhartley5558]

A true gent of snooker

[@user-zz6tb7vy9w]

denis was 36 here lmao, dude looks 59 here

[@garysmith6994]

Watched it on a black and white tv 📺 in my bedroom,and for those of us who did,it’s the one behind the blue 😂😂thanks ted Lowe

[@reddragon3787]

I want to buy Dennis's glasses for $1,000,000 😂

[@ianwilliamson2980]

This was snookers greatest hour

[@dirtywashedupsparkle]

As rare a moment as they come - you can't manufacture moments like these!

[@Archermit]

I had to look this up after seeing the 25th anniversary "replay" as they discussed how it went down but Dennis potted the black on 3 of the shots that he misses it here, it was funny as hell!

[@noblejennette2101]

I got lasik eye surgery in the morning one day in 2006. By 9pm that night I had recovered and went to the bar where I played the first game of pool without having to look over or through my glasses. It was the most satisfying game of pool I ever played and from then on I was a MUCH better player.

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Yes, the trophy becomes like a crown. J.

[@RustyLongPipe]

I know nothing about snooker, but have been getting a lot of Ronnie o Sullivan videos on feed for some bizarre reason the last few weeks…..and have now ended up with an interest in the sport. With that in mind, bear my ignorance in asking the following question: When Denis potted the pink, why did he do so in such a way that the white ball ended up where it did? Would it not have been easier to have the white ball end up along the right hand side of the table in line with the black ball so he could pot the black in the bottom right hand pocket? Or would that have been a tougher shot than it looks?

[@johnp515]

That would have been a very very difficult shot and very difficult to not leave it on if you miss.

[@Lol-yh3nm]

One of the most classic match in snooker history

[@KarenDickinson]

On this day my mum was ovulating. She bet my dad if hed make a comeback they'd have a baby. Here I am and turning 38 ❤

[@pinkcharly9676]

Probably the best player of all times!

[@tonyedwards892]

I was 16 watching it in my grandparents with everyone my mother was jumping in the air when he won 😂🌈great times

[@MaximusOwen1]

My favourite part is the crowd ‘roar’ when the cue ball rolls down the table after Davis misses that cut.

[@skyky934]

Sensational game 😗😛😁