Snooker legend Steve Davis was reminded of a painful memory by BBC presenter Hazel Irvine during coverage of the World Snooker Championship final on Monday. As Wu Yize and Shaun Murphy's thrilling match headed to a deciding frame, Irvine noted that this was only the fourth such occasion in the tournament's history. She gestured towards Davis, recalling his loss to Dennis Taylor in the 1985 final, which also went the distance.
Humorous Exchange in the Studio
During an interval, cameras showed Irvine seated opposite Davis and John Parrott. Irvine's comment prompted Davis to pretend to wipe sweat from his forehead and bite his tongue. Parrott jokingly asked Irvine, "Did you have to? Did you really have to?" referring to her bringing up the painful memory.
The 1985 Black Ball Final
Davis was the reigning champion in 1985. He held a commanding 9-1 lead over Taylor in the best-of-35-frame final, but Taylor fought back to level at 11-11, 15-15, and 17-17. The deciding frame lasted 68 minutes, ending with a battle over the final black ball. The match drew an estimated 18.5 million viewers in the UK.
Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2015, Davis said the pivotal moment was not the black ball but a green ball in the ninth frame when he led 8-0. "If ever I was going to have therapy, it would not be about the black," Davis said. "The green was a different story because I didn't need to play it. I should have played safe."
Wu Yize's Victory
After an epic battle, Wu Yize clinched the championship with a break of 85 in the deciding frame. Following the match, Wu said, "Since the first session I was feeling nerves all the time. So right now I just want to go to bed." Murphy paid tribute to Wu, calling him a "wonderful world champion."
