Steve Davis has never stood still. The six-time world champion was back on BBC duty at the Crucible in 2026, and in October 2025 his band The Utopia Strong released their album Doperider and took it on a UK tour.
Before the synths and the DJ sets, though, he was the most dominant snooker player of the 1980s. Discover more cue legends in our snooker collection.
Steve Davis Fact File
| Full name | Steve Davis OBE |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 22 August 1957 (age 69) |
| Place of birth | Plumstead, London, England |
| Discipline | Snooker |
| Nationality | English |
| Professional career | 1978–2016 |
| Current status | Retired; BBC pundit and musician |
| Manager | Barry Hearn (Matchroom) |
| Nickname | The Nugget, Interesting |
Career History
| Years | World titles | Key finals |
|---|---|---|
| 1981–1984 | 3 (1981, 1983, 1984) | Beat Mountjoy, Thorburn and White |
| 1985–1986 | 0 | Runner-up to Dennis Taylor and Joe Johnson |
| 1987–1989 | 3 (1987, 1988, 1989) | Beat Johnson, Griffiths and Parrott |
| Career | 6 world titles | 28 ranking titles |
World Championship record from Wikipedia and snooker.org. He made 30 Crucible appearances, the last a quarter-final run in 2010.
Lucania and Barry Hearn
Davis was introduced to snooker by his father Bill at 12. His talent at the Lucania club in Romford caught the eye of Barry Hearn, who became his manager, and Davis turned professional in 1978.
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The First 147 and a World Title
In 1981 Davis beat Doug Mountjoy 18-12 to win his first world title. On 11 January 1982, at the Lada Classic in Oldham, he made the first officially recognised maximum break on television, against John Spencer.
Further world titles followed in 1983 and 1984, and he became snooker's dominant force.
For warmer days, there is the Steve Davis Snooker Icon Frame Men's T-Shirt.
The Black-Ball Final and Three in a Row
The 1985 world final is part of British sporting folklore. Davis lost 18-17 to Dennis Taylor on the final black in front of a reported 18.5 million viewers after midnight.
He answered with three straight world titles from 1987 to 1989, finishing with an 18-3 thrashing of John Parrott, and won all three Triple Crown events in the 1987-88 season. At the 1989 Grand Prix he beat Dean Reynolds 10-0, the first whitewash in a ranking final. In 1988 he became the only snooker player to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
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The Long Goodbye
In 2010, aged 52, Davis beat Mark King 10-9 and then defending champion John Higgins 13-11 to reach the Crucible quarter-finals, where Neil Robertson ended the run. It was his 30th and final appearance at the famous venue. He announced his retirement live on the BBC in April 2016, with 28 ranking titles, six UK Championships and 15 Triple Crown titles behind him.
Honours
Triple Crown
- World Champion: 1981, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989
- UK Champion: 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
- Masters: 1982, 1988, 1997
Other titles
- 28 ranking titles
- World Seniors Champion: 2013
Recognition
- BBC Sports Personality of the Year: 1988
- MBE 1988, OBE 2000
- Snooker Hall of Fame: 2011
Away From the Table
Davis co-founded the experimental band The Utopia Strong in 2018 and has released three albums with them. He has DJed on radio and at Glastonbury, and his 2015 autobiography is titled, fittingly, Interesting.
FAQs
How old is Steve Davis?
Steve Davis was born on 22 August 1957, so he is 69.
Where was Steve Davis born?
He was born in Plumstead, London.
How many world titles did Steve Davis win?
He won six world titles: 1981, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988 and 1989.
Who made the first televised 147?
Steve Davis made the first officially recognised televised maximum, against John Spencer at the Lada Classic on 11 January 1982.
Who beat Steve Davis in the 1985 world final?
Dennis Taylor beat him 18-17 on the final black in the famous 1985 final.
When did Steve Davis retire?
He announced his retirement from professional snooker in April 2016.
Shop the Steve Davis Collection
Rack up a bit of eighties snooker style with our made-to-order Steve Davis range.
Steve Davis Men's Hoodie
£39.99
Find more legends of the green baize in our snooker collection, or create your own with our custom name hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan.
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