Joe Davis
Encyclopedia
Joe Davis, OBE
(born 15 April 1901 in Whitwell
, Derbyshire
, England
; died 10 July 1978 in Hampshire
) was a British
professional player of snooker
and English billiards
.
Joe Davis became a professional billiards player at the age of 18, having won the Chesterfield Championship at age 13. In 1926 he reached his first World Professional Billiards Championship
final but was unsuccessful against defending champion Tom Newman
. He reached the final again the following year and was runner-up again to the same opponent. It was to be a case of third time lucky for Davis when he defeated Newman in 1928 to become the world champion at English billiards for the first time. He would defend his title for the next three years – against Newman again in 1929 and 1930 and New Zealander Clark McConachy
in 1932. He contested the final two more times in 1933 and 1934 losing on both occasions to Australian Walter Lindrum
.
Coinciding with his peak as a billiards player, Davis's interests shifted to snooker and he helped to organise the first snooker world championship in 1927
and won the tournament by beating Tom Dennis
, for which he won UK£
6 10s
. He went on to win the world championship every year until 1940. Joe's brother Fred, twelve years his junior, was also a snooker player and multiple World Champion. When Joe met Fred in the world championship final of 1940, Joe won 37–36.
Following the outbreak of World War II
the world championship was not held for the next five years. On resumption in 1946, Davis defended his title making it his 15th consecutive win and thereby holding the title for 20 straight years. To date, he has won more world championships than any other player. He retired from the event following this victory making him the only undefeated player in the history of the world championships.
Davis proved he was still the man to beat up to the 1950s by winning the News of the World Championship
on three occasions during the decade. His nearest rivals were his brother, Fred, and future world champion John Pulman
who each both won it on two occasions. He made history in 1955 by achieving the first officially recognised maximum break of 147 in snooker in an exhibition match at Leicester Square
Hall, the country's mecca for billiards enthusiasts. He had previously made the game's first in 1930. Also during the decade Davis attempted to popularise a new game called snooker plus
. This game had two extra , an orange and a purple, but it never took off. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire
(OBE) in 1963. He continued to play professionally until 1964.
Davis died two months after collapsing while watching his brother play Perrie Mans
in the 1978 World Snooker Championship semi-final. His home, in Whitwell
, Derbyshire bears a plaque commemorating him.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 15 April 1901 in Whitwell
Whitwell, Derbyshire
Whitwell is a small village located in Derbyshire, England.Although Whitwell celebrated its 1,000th anniversary in the 'Whitwell 1000' Celebrations of 1989 it is much older than this celebration suggests.The earliest written references to Whitwell are from the Anglo-Saxon charters however many of...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
; died 10 July 1978 in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
professional player of snooker
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
and English billiards
English billiards
English billiards, called simply billiards in many former British colonies and in Great Britain where it originated, is a hybrid form of carom and pocket billiards played on a billiard table. Billiards is less well known as "the English game", "the all-in game" and "the common game".The game is for...
.
Joe Davis became a professional billiards player at the age of 18, having won the Chesterfield Championship at age 13. In 1926 he reached his first World Professional Billiards Championship
World Professional Billiards Championship
The World Billiards Championship is an international cue sports tournament in the discipline of English billiards. It has been played annually since 1980, is one of the oldest sporting World Championships in the world, dating in earnest to the mid-19th century...
final but was unsuccessful against defending champion Tom Newman
Tom Newman (billiards player)
Tom Newman was an English professional player of snooker and English billiards.He established himself as one of the best billiards players of the 1920s, appearing in every World Professional Billiards Championship final between 1921 and 1930, and winning the title six times.Newman was a great...
. He reached the final again the following year and was runner-up again to the same opponent. It was to be a case of third time lucky for Davis when he defeated Newman in 1928 to become the world champion at English billiards for the first time. He would defend his title for the next three years – against Newman again in 1929 and 1930 and New Zealander Clark McConachy
Clark McConachy
Clark McConachy, MBE was a New Zealand professional player of English billiards and snooker.His endurance and longevity as a sportsman was astonishing. He was the New Zealand professional billiards champion from 1914 until 1980...
in 1932. He contested the final two more times in 1933 and 1934 losing on both occasions to Australian Walter Lindrum
Walter Lindrum
Walter Albert Lindrum, OBE , often known as Wally Lindrum, was an Australian professional player of English billiards who held the World Professional Billiards Championship from 1933 until his retirement in 1950. He was named Walter Albert to have the initials of the state where he was born - W.A....
.
Coinciding with his peak as a billiards player, Davis's interests shifted to snooker and he helped to organise the first snooker world championship in 1927
1927 World Snooker Championship
The 1927 World Snooker Championship snooker tournament was held at the Camkin's Hall, Birmingham, England. This was the inaugural edition of the tournament and was organised by the Joe Davis, who also won the title and went on to dominate this event until after the Second World War...
and won the tournament by beating Tom Dennis
Tom Dennis
Tom Dennis was an English professional snooker and English billiards player.Dennis reached the finale of the World Championship in 1927, 1929, 1930 and 1931 but was beaten every time by Joe Davis. The closest Dennis came to defeating Davis was in the 1931 tournament, when the pair were the only...
, for which he won UK£
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
6 10s
Shilling
The shilling is a unit of currency used in some current and former British Commonwealth countries. The word shilling comes from scilling, an accounting term that dates back to Anglo-Saxon times where it was deemed to be the value of a cow in Kent or a sheep elsewhere. The word is thought to derive...
. He went on to win the world championship every year until 1940. Joe's brother Fred, twelve years his junior, was also a snooker player and multiple World Champion. When Joe met Fred in the world championship final of 1940, Joe won 37–36.
Following the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the world championship was not held for the next five years. On resumption in 1946, Davis defended his title making it his 15th consecutive win and thereby holding the title for 20 straight years. To date, he has won more world championships than any other player. He retired from the event following this victory making him the only undefeated player in the history of the world championships.
Davis proved he was still the man to beat up to the 1950s by winning the News of the World Championship
News of the World Championship
The News of the World Championship was the premium snooker tournament of the 1950s and widely considered as being more important than the world championship due to the involvement of Joe Davis.-History:...
on three occasions during the decade. His nearest rivals were his brother, Fred, and future world champion John Pulman
John Pulman
John Pulman was an English professional snooker player who dominated the game throughout the 1960s....
who each both won it on two occasions. He made history in 1955 by achieving the first officially recognised maximum break of 147 in snooker in an exhibition match at Leicester Square
Leicester Square
Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west...
Hall, the country's mecca for billiards enthusiasts. He had previously made the game's first in 1930. Also during the decade Davis attempted to popularise a new game called snooker plus
Snooker Plus
Snooker plus is a cue sport based on snooker. The variant was created by Joe Davis, who added an orange ball and a purple ball to the set. The idea was that this would increase the maximum break from 147 to 210, and so help to attract a greater audience...
. This game had two extra , an orange and a purple, but it never took off. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(OBE) in 1963. He continued to play professionally until 1964.
Davis died two months after collapsing while watching his brother play Perrie Mans
Perrie Mans
Pierre "Perrie" Mans is a retired professional snooker player from South Africa, who first won the South African professional championship in 1965, and went on to win it 19 times in total.-Career:...
in the 1978 World Snooker Championship semi-final. His home, in Whitwell
Whitwell, Derbyshire
Whitwell is a small village located in Derbyshire, England.Although Whitwell celebrated its 1,000th anniversary in the 'Whitwell 1000' Celebrations of 1989 it is much older than this celebration suggests.The earliest written references to Whitwell are from the Anglo-Saxon charters however many of...
, Derbyshire bears a plaque commemorating him.
Snooker
- World ChampionshipWorld Snooker ChampionshipThe World Snooker Championship is the leading professional snooker tournament in terms of both prize money and ranking points. The first championship was held in 1927; since 1977, it has been played at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England...
– 1927–1940, 1946 - Daily Mail Gold Cup – 1936/37, 1937/38
- Sunday Empire News Tournament – 1948/49
- News of the World ChampionshipNews of the World ChampionshipThe News of the World Championship was the premium snooker tournament of the 1950s and widely considered as being more important than the world championship due to the involvement of Joe Davis.-History:...
– 1950, 1953, 1956 - Sporting Record – 1950/51
English billiards
- World ChampionshipWorld Professional Billiards ChampionshipThe World Billiards Championship is an international cue sports tournament in the discipline of English billiards. It has been played annually since 1980, is one of the oldest sporting World Championships in the world, dating in earnest to the mid-19th century...
– 1928–1930, 1932