Steve Davis has announced his retirement from snooker after this years qualifiers at the world snooker championships in Sheffield.
Steve Davis has had one of the most successful snooker careers ever seen, which has spread across 38 years on the main tour. Davis first turned professional in 1978, dominated the game throughout the 80’s, winning six world titles and maintaining the No.1 spot from 1983-1990.
In total Steve Davis has won 28 ranking titles putting him joint second with John Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan.
After making his announcement live on BBC, Steve Davis was granted a lap of honour with the World Championship trophy in front of the Crucible audience – re-enacting a moment he last won 27 years ago.
Davis told BBC Sport: “The Fergal O’Brien match was my last and I told Barry Hearn [Davis’ manager] it was time to call it a day. My father passed away recently and it was natural time to stop playing.
“I should have done it ages ago, I played a bit for my father. I am delighted to have such a great time in the game, I was lucky to have a hobby as my profession.
“It has been a fantastic. The game will move on to other places but I feel like the grandfather of the sport.”
Steve Davis has also participated in some of the best matches ever played, including the dramatic 1985 world championship final against Dennis Taylor, where he lost 18-17 on the final black.
The Welsh Open in 1995 was his last ranking title, though he did manage to reach the final of the 2005 UK Championship and produced a surprise run to the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Championship at the age of 52.
Steve Davis, nicknamed The Nugget, finished his career with a total of 355 century breaks, earned more than £5.5m in prize money and now spends his time as a music DJ which he enjoys immensely.
Tributes have come in from fellow players and friends upon hearing of the retirement of Steve Davis, wishing him all the best in his retirement. We can still expect to see Steve Davis at exhibition matches and commentary on the BBC.
