Dennis Taylor
 | |
| Professional | 1972–2000 |
|---|---|
| Highest ranking |
|
| Tournament wins | |
| Ranking | 2 |
| World Champion | 1985 |
Dennis Taylor (born Denis Taylor, 19 January 1949 in Coalisland, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland) is a retired snooker player, and current BBC snooker commentator. Taylor is well known for his sense of humour and his trademark over-sized glasses. Winner of two ranking events, he is best known for winning the 1985 World Snooker Championship final, beating the heavily favoured Steve Davis on the black ball in a final often described as one of the sport's greatest.
Career
Taylor turned professional in 1971 and made his world championship debut in 1973, narrowly losing to Cliff Thorburn in the first round. After world semi-final losses in 1975 and 1977, Taylor reached his first major final – the World Championship – in 1979, but lost 24–16 to debutant Terry Griffiths.
Having reached the semi final of the World Championships in 1984, losing to Steve Davis, Taylor was playing very well as he began the 1984–85 season. In September, however, he was devastated by the sudden death of his mother, which caused him to withdraw from the Jameson International. His first ranking event win came later in 1984, when he won the Rothmans Grand Prix by beating Cliff Thorburn 10–2 in the final.
Later that season he reached his second world final in 1985, where he faced Steve Davis, world number one, reigning world champion and the dominant player of the 1980s. Taylor trailed 8–0 after the first session, but bounced back to trail 7–9 and 15–17 and then level at 17–17. In an incredibly tense final frame, the score was 62–44 to Davis with only the brown, blue, pink and black still on the table. While Davis needed only the brown, Taylor needed all the colours. He potted a long brown, which he says is one of his best ever under pressure. A tricky blue and a difficult pink also went in, bringing the score to 62–59 to ensure that, for the first time ever, the title would be decided on the black ball. Taylor eventually potted the black after Davis had missed a tricky cut into the top pocket and, amid euphoric scenes watched by over 18 million viewers well after midnight on live BBC television, the Irishman lifted the much-coveted cup at the relatively advanced age of 36. Davis later drily commented that the match had all been there "in black and white".
The World Championship win added to Taylor's popularity. On his return to Coalisland with the world trophy he was mobbed by the town's inhabitants, and he appeared widely on television thereafter.
Taylor reached the Rothmans Grand Prix final again in autumn 1985, and again faced Davis in a match that went to a deciding frame, but this time was beaten 10–9. As with all other first-time world champions so far, Taylor succumbed to the "Crucible Curse" on his return to the Crucible Theatre the following year and lost 10–6 to Mike Hallett in the opening match, humorously acknowledging defeat by putting his handkerchief on the end of his cue to resemble a white flag. He won the Benson & Hedges Masters in 1987, beating Alex Higgins 9–8 in the final. It was Higgins who once threatened to have Taylor shot after a row at the snooker World Cup in which the Northern Ireland team were beaten by Canada in the final. Taylor understandably took this threat seriously and the next time the two of them played, in the Irish Masters, Taylor was determined to win, which he did. The match was attended by a young Ken Doherty. He went on to reach the final of that tournament but, emotionally drained by the Higgins match, lost 9–4 to Davis. Taylor and Higgins were later reconciled.
Taylor was renowned for the glasses he wore during matches, with their large frame and unusual 'upside-down' structure that is required to avoid a player looking over the top of the lenses when down on a shot. As a member of the famous Matchroom group of players (managed by promoter Barry Hearn), he sang a cameo line in the Chas & Dave song "Snooker Loopy". His line was "because I wear these goggles". He was also one of the first players to develop a relative competence in using his left hand to play the game, though he himself said this was partly because he hated to play shots with the rest.
Taylor's form deteriorated gradually in the 1990s and he retired from playing professionally in the year 2000. He now commentates on the four televised snooker tournaments each year for the BBC, alongside the likes of Terry Griffiths, John Virgo and Clive Everton. He has also made guest appearances on Big Break, They Think It's All Over, A Question of Sport and The Weakest Link.
In 2005 he was one of the celebrities taking part in the third series of the successful BBC show Strictly Come Dancing, reaching eighth place with his partner Izabela Hannah.
Dennis currently lives in Llay near Wrexham and has been a resident of the village since April 2003. His autobiography is entitled Frame By Frame.
He was also well known by his saying "eh sorry wit"
World Championship finals: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)
| Outcome | Year | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| Runner-up | 1979 |  Terry Griffiths |
16–24 |
| Winner | 1985 |  Steve Davis |
18–17 |
Tournament wins
Ranking wins
- World Championship – 1985
- Rothmans Grand Prix – 1984
Other wins
- Irish Professional Championships – 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987
- Canadian Masters – 1985, 1987
- Benson & Hedges Masters – 1987
- World Trickshot Championship – 1997, 1998
Team events
- World Cup – 1985, 1986, 1987 (with All-Ireland team)
