The likes of John Parrott and Jimmy White may have fallen by the wayside in qualifying for the 2010 snooker World Championship; but one veteran who will be at the Crucible, making history, is snooker’s Mr. Interesting, Steve Davis.
The prestigious competition will begin next month and Davis will be participating in a record 30th World Championship.
During his heyday, Davis was almost invincible at the Baize. He famously won the competition six times during the 1980s, with his first coming just two years after his World Championship debut in 1979.
An 18-12 victory over Welshman Doug Mountjoy in 1981’s final in Sheffield led to his flamboyant manager Barry Hearn – who is now trying to inject some life back into the sport as its chairman - charging into the arena and hoisting the Ginger Magician into the air in one of the most iconic scenes from the tournament’s long and celebrated history.
It would mark the start of one of the most remarkable careers in the sport’s modern era. Now in 2010, Davis has played snooker in five different decades; and although age has taken its toll on snooker’s grand old man, the 52-year-old is just pleased to be playing well again.
Davis beat 37-year-old Adrian Gunnell 10-4 to seal his place in 2010’s World Championship. At that age, Gunnell himself is no spring chicken; but the fact that Davis is 15 years older is a notable one, and it’s a credit to his professionalism that he’s been able to enjoy such a lengthy career in the sport.
Davis’ opponent in the opening round of next month’s tournament will be the man who lit up the 2010 Masters with his hip hop inspired entrance, Mark King. And as the name of his opponent was announced this morning, Davis beamed with glee. As the veteran, he knows that the crowd will be firmly behind him at the Crucible; and as King is also from Romford, it promises to be a hugely intriguing fixture in the opening round of matches.
Incredibly, it’s now 25 years since the snooker World Championship’s most epic final involving Davis and Dennis Taylor was played out in Sheffield. The Nugget came agonisingly close to sealing a third consecutive world title at the Crucible but lost on the final black in the very last frame of the 18-17 match.
It would be fitting, then – not to mention miraculous - if Davis could have one last shot at the title which has now eluded him for 21 years.
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