On 22 April 1983, in the early hours of the morning at the Crucible, Cliff Thorburn potted the final black and sank to his knees. He had made the first maximum 147 break in World Championship history, one of snooker's most famous moments.
Three years earlier, the Canadian known as The Grinder had become the first player from outside the UK to win the world professional title in the modern era. Explore our snooker collection as you read.
Cliff Thorburn Fact File
| Full name | Clifford Charles Devlin Thorburn |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 16 January 1948 (age 78) |
| Place of birth | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
| Height | Not officially published |
| Discipline | Snooker |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Status | Retired (last match 2022) |
| Highest ranking | World No. 1 |
| Nickname | The Grinder |
Career History
| Category | Figure |
|---|---|
| Ranking titles | 2 |
| World Championship finals | 3 (won 1980) |
| Masters titles | 3 (1983, 1985, 1986) |
| Competitive 147s | 2 |
| Career centuries | 91 |
Ranking titles are events counting towards the world rankings; career centuries are competitive breaks of 100 or more, as recorded by CueTracker.
Early Years in Canada
Born in Victoria, British Columbia, Thorburn won the North American amateur title in 1971, making six centuries at the event. He turned professional in the early 1970s and reached his first World Championship final in 1977, losing to John Spencer.
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World Champion in 1980
In 1980 Thorburn beat Alex Higgins 18-16 in a gripping Crucible final to become world champion. His patient, methodical style earned him the nickname The Grinder, and he went on to top the world rankings.
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The First Crucible 147
Thorburn's maximum came in the fourth frame of his second-round match against Terry Griffiths at the 1983 World Championship. He won the match 13-12 in a session that finished at 3:51am, and went on to reach the final again, losing to Steve Davis.
He won the Masters that year too, and in 1985 and 1986 became the first player to win it three times and the first to retain it. The 1985 Matchroom Trophy, where he beat Jimmy White in the final, gave him a second ranking title. He made a second competitive maximum against Jimmy White in the 1989 Matchroom League.
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Later Years
Thorburn kept competing for decades, winning the Seniors Masters at the Crucible in 2018 aged 70. He played his final match at the UK Seniors Championship in January 2022, ending a career of more than 50 years.
Honours
Ranking Titles
- World Champion 1980
- Matchroom Trophy 1985
Major Invitational Titles
- Masters 1983, 1985, 1986
- Scottish Masters 1985, 1986
- Australian Masters 1983
- Pot Black 1981
Team
- World Team Classic 1982 (Canada)
- World Cup 1990 (Canada)
Individual
- Order of Canada (1984)
- Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
- Snooker Hall of Fame
- Seniors Masters 2018
Away From the Game
Thorburn wrote an autobiography, Playing for Keeps, with Clive Everton in 1987. He has also worked in coaching for Canadian and Pan American snooker bodies and played on the Snooker Legends and World Seniors tours.
FAQs
How old is Cliff Thorburn?
Cliff Thorburn was born on 16 January 1948, so he is 78 years old.
Where was Cliff Thorburn born?
He was born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
When did Cliff Thorburn win the World Championship?
In 1980, beating Alex Higgins 18-16 in the final at the Crucible.
Who made the first 147 at the Crucible?
Cliff Thorburn, against Terry Griffiths at the 1983 World Championship.
Why was Cliff Thorburn called The Grinder?
The name reflected his patient, methodical style. Alex Higgins called him that after the 1980 final.
How many Masters titles did Cliff Thorburn win?
Three, in 1983, 1985 and 1986. He was the first player to win the Masters three times.
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Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Steve Davis and Alex Higgins.
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