“DENNIS TAYLOR gets to repeat snooker’s most famous pot every night as a roadshow for the 1985 Black Ball final kicks off. This year is the 40th anniversary of the epic World Snooker Championship final between dominant Steve Davis and underdog Taylor. 4 Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis pose with the Snooker World Championship trophy”, — write: www.thesun.co.uk
This year is the 40th anniversary of the epic World Snooker Championship final between dominant Steve Davis and underdog Taylor.
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Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis pose with the Snooker World Championship trophy during their exhibition match recreating their 1985 finalCredit: PA
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Taylor, in action, during that epic 1985 finalCredit: GettyThe Northern Ireland potter recovered from 8-0 down and then 9-1 behind to win 18-17, sinking the last ball amid incredible scenes at the Crucible.
More than 18 million people were still tuned into the action on BBC 2 even though it had gone past midnight.
The baize pair — with John Virgo as the referee — will embark on a series of up to 40 events across the country.
It starts on Monday night at the Brindley Theatre in Runcorn and promises to be an evening of nostalgia, trick shots, stories, jokes and one memorable pot.
Then on Wednesday, they head to the Victoria Hall in Stoke for a “Black Ball — Clash of the Titans” show.
Taylor told SunSport: “We’re doing 40 shows this year. I love working with Steve. He’s so funny — totally different to what he was in the 80s.
“He was a bit like Nick Faldo then. Fully focused. When we do the shows, he just makes me laugh, no matter how many times I’ve heard him tell the stories. He’s just a funny man.
“After 40 years we’re still talking about it. You cannot believe it. And I still get to pot that black every night!
“Well, I don’t always pot it, by the way. Steve will set up the shot that he missed, cutting it back in. He’ll explain the reason why he missed the shot.
“It’s funny, because in the Q&A fans always want to know who I was wagging my finger at when I won.
“Why did I wear the big upside-down glasses? And details on why I raised an imaginary cue above my head.
“You’d have never thought people, 40 years on, would still be talking about it.”
Taylor was commentating on Sunday’s 51st Masters final between Shaun Murphy and Kyren Wilson at the Ally Pally — on his 76th birthday.
For decades, he has been in the BBC’s commentary booth — and has no plans to put down the microphone.
It had been reported a few years ago Taylor and Virgo, 78, were set to leave the Beeb but bigwigs changed their mind amid public outcry and have kept using the snooker septuagenarians.
Taylor, 76, added: “It’s something I’ve always loved doing. I’ve been doing it for a long time.
“I’ve always commentated as if I was sitting in somebody’s lounge with them, chatting about the game.
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Taylor won the final 18-17 in dramatic fashion after two huge comebacksCredit: PA:Press Association
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John Virgo will also appear as a referee alongside Davis and Taylor on the tourCredit: Getty“I never ever get fed up with it, especially when you are live. Hopefully it will continue for a bit longer yet.
“My favourite line is, ‘Listen, I’ll keep on talking until they tell me to stop’.”
BBC Sport will broadcast Triple Crown events until 2032 in a new five-year extension — the strongest indicator yet that the World Championship will stay at the Crucible beyond its contract that expires in two years.