Joe Johnson (snooker player)
Encyclopedia
Joe Johnson is an English former professional snooker
player. He is best known as the surprise winner of the 1986
World Championship
.
. After becoming a professional in 1979, his most notable early achievement was to reach the final of the untelevised 1983 Professional Players Tournament
, which he lost 9–8 to Tony Knowles
.
In 1986, Johnson arrived at the World Championship, having never won a match at the Crucible Theatre
, as a 150–1 outsider. He beat Terry Griffiths
13–12 in the quarter-finals after trailing 12–9, and then Knowles in the semi-finals. In the final he met world number 1 Steve Davis
– then at the peak of his ability – and defied all odds to win 18–12. A supporter of Bradford City
football club, he wore a t-shirt with the slogan "Bradford's Bouncing Back" (a reference to the Bradford City stadium fire a year earlier) whenever he was not playing during the tournament.
Johnson had a poor season as world champion, reaching only one semi-final, but he defied expectations at the 1987 World Championship
and reached the final again, again meeting Davis but this time losing 18–14. He reached number 5 in the world rankings in the 1987–88 season
, largely as a result of his success at the Crucible.
Johnson won the Langs Scottish Masters
in 1987, beating Terry Griffiths 9–7 in the final and taking his only other major snooker title. He reached the semi-finals of the 1987 UK Championship and came close to making a maximum break against Jimmy White
, but missed the pink on 134 and went on to lose the match 4–9. He rarely came close to repeating these successes, and rapidly descended the rankings, dropping out of the top 16 by 1991
and the top 32 by the mid-1990s. His last appearance at the World Championship came in 1991. He suffered heart and eye problems during the 1990s, and retired from professional snooker at the end of the 2003/2004 season.
Johnson remains the player who came closest to beating the "Crucible Curse
", in that no first-time world champion has ever successfully defended the title. Johnson's defence saw him both reach the final and come within 4 frames of victory. Ken Doherty
also reached the final in 1998, a year after his first win at the Crucible, but lost by a greater margin to John Higgins. No other first-time champion has reached the final the following year.
Johnson also won the Seniors Pot Black
Trophy in 1997, beating Terry Griffiths in the final. He was also an early influence on, and friend of, the late snooker player Paul Hunter
. He is now a commentator for Eurosport
while also running two coaching academies, one in Bradford and one at the Corner Pocket Snooker club Hoyle Mill in Barnsley. Johnson is married with five sons and two daughters.
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 :...
player. He is best known as the surprise winner of the 1986
World Snooker Championship 1986
The 1986 Embassy World Snooker Championship took place at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield between 19 April – 5 May 1986.- Notable moments :* Joe Johnson was a 150–1 outsider at the start of the championship...
World Championship
World Snooker Championship
The 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...
.
Career
Johnson reached the final of the World Amateur Snooker Championship in 1978, losing to Cliff WilsonCliff Wilson
Cliff Wilson was a Welsh professional snooker player. He managed to get to into the world's top 16 in 1988 at the age of 55; a remarkable feat for someone with very poor eyesight and a number of other ailments.- Amateur years :...
. After becoming a professional in 1979, his most notable early achievement was to reach the final of the untelevised 1983 Professional Players Tournament
Grand Prix (snooker)
The World Open is a professional ranking snooker tournament. It has previously been known as the Professional Players Tournament, the LG Cup and the Grand Prix. During 2006 and 2007, it was played in a unique round-robin format, more similar to association football and rugby tournaments than the...
, which he lost 9–8 to Tony Knowles
Tony Knowles (snooker player)
Anthony Knowles is an English professional snooker player. He was a three times semi-finalist in the World Professional Snooker Championship in the 1980s.-Career:...
.
In 1986, Johnson arrived at the World Championship, having never won a match at the Crucible Theatre
Crucible Theatre
The Crucible Theatre is a theatre built in 1971 and located in the city centre of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. As well as theatrical performances, it is home to the most important event in professional snooker, the World Snooker Championship....
, as a 150–1 outsider. He beat Terry Griffiths
Terry Griffiths
Terrence "Terry" Griffiths OBE is a retired Welsh snooker player and current snooker coach and pundit. He won the World Championship in 1979 at the first attempt, and reached the 1988 final. He also won the Masters in 1980 and the UK Championship in 1982, making him one of seven players to have...
13–12 in the quarter-finals after trailing 12–9, and then Knowles in the semi-finals. In the final he met world number 1 Steve Davis
Steve Davis
Steve Davis, OBE is an English professional snooker player. He has won more professional titles in the sport than any other player, including six World Championships during the 1980s, when he was the world number one for seven years and became the sport's first millionaire...
– then at the peak of his ability – and defied all odds to win 18–12. A supporter of Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
football club, he wore a t-shirt with the slogan "Bradford's Bouncing Back" (a reference to the Bradford City stadium fire a year earlier) whenever he was not playing during the tournament.
Johnson had a poor season as world champion, reaching only one semi-final, but he defied expectations at the 1987 World Championship
World Snooker Championship 1987
The 1987 Embassy World Snooker Championship took place at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England between 18 April – 4 May 1987.Joe Johnson made it to the final again, but so did Steve Davis, making it a repeat of the 1986 final. However Johnson did not defend his title, as he lost 14–18 to Davis...
and reached the final again, again meeting Davis but this time losing 18–14. He reached number 5 in the world rankings in the 1987–88 season
Snooker world rankings 1987/1988
Snooker world rankings 1987/1988: The professional world rankings for the top 32 snooker players in the 1987/1988 season are listed below.-References:...
, largely as a result of his success at the Crucible.
Johnson won the Langs Scottish Masters
Scottish Masters (snooker)
The Scottish Masters, often known by its sponsored names, the Lang's Scottish Masters or the Regal Scottish Masters, was a non-ranking professional snooker tournament held every year from 1981 until 2002, with the exception of 1988....
in 1987, beating Terry Griffiths 9–7 in the final and taking his only other major snooker title. He reached the semi-finals of the 1987 UK Championship and came close to making a maximum break against Jimmy White
Jimmy White
James Warren "Jimmy" White MBE is an English professional snooker player. Nicknamed the "Whirlwind" and popularly referred to as the "People's Champion", White is a multiple World Championship finalist renowned for losing each of the six finals he contested.White's extensive list of achievements,...
, but missed the pink on 134 and went on to lose the match 4–9. He rarely came close to repeating these successes, and rapidly descended the rankings, dropping out of the top 16 by 1991
Snooker world rankings 1990/1991
Snooker world rankings 1990/1991: The professional world rankings for the top 32 snooker players in the 1990/1991 are listed below.-References:...
and the top 32 by the mid-1990s. His last appearance at the World Championship came in 1991. He suffered heart and eye problems during the 1990s, and retired from professional snooker at the end of the 2003/2004 season.
Johnson remains the player who came closest to beating the "Crucible Curse
Crucible Curse
The "Crucible curse" refers to the fact that no first-time snooker world champion has retained his title the following year since the event moved to the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield in 1977...
", in that no first-time world champion has ever successfully defended the title. Johnson's defence saw him both reach the final and come within 4 frames of victory. Ken Doherty
Ken Doherty
Ken Doherty is an Irish professional snooker player. He is the only player ever to have been world amateur and world professional champion...
also reached the final in 1998, a year after his first win at the Crucible, but lost by a greater margin to John Higgins. No other first-time champion has reached the final the following year.
Johnson also won the Seniors Pot Black
Pot Black
Pot Black was a British series of snooker tournaments televised by BBC, that played a large part in the popularisation of the modern game, from 1969 to 1986. The event was revived in the form of several one-off tournaments throughout the 1990s and up to 2007...
Trophy in 1997, beating Terry Griffiths in the final. He was also an early influence on, and friend of, the late snooker player Paul Hunter
Paul Hunter
Paul Alan Hunter was an English professional snooker player. His media profile developed swiftly and he became known as the "Beckham of the Baize" because of his good looks and flamboyant style....
. He is now a commentator for Eurosport
Eurosport
Eurosport is a pan-European television sport network operated by French broadcaster TF1 Group. The network of channels are available in 59 countries, in 20 different languages providing viewers with European and international sporting events...
while also running two coaching academies, one in Bradford and one at the Corner Pocket Snooker club Hoyle Mill in Barnsley. Johnson is married with five sons and two daughters.
World Championship finals: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)
| Outcome | Year | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| Winner | 1986 |  England Steve DavisSteve Davis Steve Davis, OBE is an English professional snooker player. He has won more professional titles in the sport than any other player, including six World Championships during the 1980s, when he was the world number one for seven years and became the sport's first millionaire... |
18–12 |
| Runner-up | 1987 | England Steve Davis Steve Davis Steve Davis, OBE is an English professional snooker player. He has won more professional titles in the sport than any other player, including six World Championships during the 1980s, when he was the world number one for seven years and became the sport's first millionaire... |
14–18 |
Non-ranking
- Scottish Masters – 1987
- Seniors Pot Black – 1997