View source for Fred Davis (snooker player)

{{short description|English former professional snooker player, 8-time world champion}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox snooker player
| name              = Fred Davis
| honorific_suffix  = [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]]
| image             = Fred Davis after the 1948 World Snoker Championship.jpg
| image_size        = 
| caption           = Davis with the [[World Snooker Championship]] trophy in [[1948 World Snooker Championship|1948]]
| birth_date        = {{birth date|1913|08|14|df=y}}
| birth_place       = [[Chesterfield, Derbyshire|Chesterfield]], [[Derbyshire]], England
| death_date        = {{death date and age|1998|04|16|1913|08|13|df=y}}
| death_place       = [[Denbighshire]], Wales
| Sport country     = {{ENG}}
| Professional      = 1929–1993
| High ranking      = 4 ([[1976–77 snooker season|1976–77]])
| Official maximums = 
| Best finish       = Semi-final (x2)
| Ranking wins      = 
| World champ       = {{Hlist|[[1948 World Snooker Championship|1948]] | [[1949 World Snooker Championship|1949]] | [[1951 World Snooker Championship|1951]] | [[1952 World Professional Match-play Championship|1952]]}} {{Hlist|[[1953 World Professional Match-play Championship|1953]] | [[1954 World Professional Match-play Championship|1954]] | [[1955 World Professional Match-play Championship|1955]] | [[1956 World Professional Match-play Championship|1956]]}}
}}
'''Fred Davis''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE}} (14 August 1913 – 16 April 1998) was an English professional player of [[snooker]] and [[English billiards]]. He was an eight-time [[World Snooker Championship]] winner from [[1948 World Snooker Championship|1948]] to [[1956 World Professional Match-play Championship|1956]], and a two-time winner of the [[World Billiards Championship (English billiards)|World Billiards Championship]]. He was the brother of 15-time world snooker champion [[Joe Davis]]; the pair were the only two players to win both snooker and English billiards world championships, and Fred is second on the list of those holding most world snooker championship titles, behind Joe.

Davis' professional career started in 1929 at the age of 15 as a billiards player. He competed in his first world snooker championship in [[1937 World Snooker Championship|1937]] and reached the final three years later, losing to Joe by 36–37. From 1947, Davis played in five straight finals against Scottish player [[Walter Donaldson (snooker player)|Walter Donaldson]], winning three. When the event merged into the [[World Professional Match-play Championship]] in [[1952 World Professional Match-play Championship|1952]], Davis won five more championships, defeating Donaldson three times and then [[John Pulman]] twice.

Davis won the World Billiards championship twice in 1980, defeating [[Rex Williams]] in the May event, and later [[Mark Wildman]] in the November event. With the beginning of the [[snooker world rankings]] in 1976, Davis was ranked fourth in the world, and remained on the professional tour until 1993 when, aged 80, he retired due to [[arthritis]] in his left knee. He died in 1998 after a fall in his home in [[Denbighshire]], Wales.

==Early life==
Fred Davis was born in [[Chesterfield, Derbyshire]] on 14 August 1913, the youngest of six children of coalminer-turned-[[Landlord#Licensed victualler|pub landlord]] Fred Davis and his wife Ann-Eliza. His [[snooker]]-playing brother [[Joe Davis|Joe]], 12 years his senior, was the eldest of the six siblings.<ref name="ODNB">{{cite ODNB |last=Everton |first=Clive |author-link=Clive Everton |date=23 September 2004 |title=Davis, Joseph [Joe] |url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-31013 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/31013 |access-date=11 May 2020 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903050418/https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-31013 |archive-date=3 September 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="EBRIT">{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joe-Davis |title=Joe Davis |author=((The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica)) |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |date=8 July 2019 |access-date=24 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622150512/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joe-Davis |archive-date=22 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Joe actively discouraged Fred's professional ambitions, telling Fred that he was not good enough to pursue a professional career. Fred learned to play on a [[snooker table|miniature table]], a Christmas gift from his parents.<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Robert McG. Jr. |title=Fred Davis, a Grand Master Of British Snooker, Dies at 84 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/23/sports/fred-davis-a-grand-master-of-british-snooker-dies-at-84.html |access-date=17 August 2020 |date=23 April 1998 |page=Section A, Page 22 |language=en |format=newspaper |archive-date=27 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527083512/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/23/sports/fred-davis-a-grand-master-of-british-snooker-dies-at-84.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Fred instead played [[English billiards]] which he later called "his first love",<ref>Davis, Fred, ''Talking Snooker'', A&C Black, second edition, 1983, p. 12.</ref> and he won the British Boys Under-16 Billiards Championship in 1929.<ref>{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |author-link=Clive Everton |title=Guinness Books of Billiards and Snooker, Guinness Publishing |date=1982 |page=117}}</ref> In 1929, he turned professional automatically under the rules of the Billiards Association and Control Council.<ref>{{cite book |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |title=Black Farce and Cue Ball Wizards: The Inside Story of the Snooker World |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7O7SQxTjSLIC&pg=PT9 |date=2 December 2011 |publisher=[[Mainstream Publishing]] |location=Edinburgh |isbn=978-1-78057-399-1 |page=23}}</ref> By the time he was ready to play competitive billiards, the sport was in sharp decline, although he did defeat [[Kingsley Kennerley]] to win the United Kingdom Professional Billiards Championship in 1951.<ref>{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |author-link=Clive Everton |title=The Guinness Book of Billiards and Snooker |date=1982 |page=52}}</ref> Davis remarked that, once snooker had come to the fore, he assumed he would never play another billiards match.<ref name="auto2">{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=February 1980 |page=11}}</ref>

==Career==
===Pre-war career===
After a career in billiards in his youth, Davis concentrated on snooker. He first played in the [[World Snooker Championship]] in [[1937 World Snooker Championship|1937]] but lost 17–14 to Welshman Bill Withers in the first round, a defeat that Davis put down to ignoring his worsening eyesight.<ref>{{cite book |last=Davis |first=Fred |title=Talking Snooker |publisher=A&C Black |date=1983 |page=13}}</ref> His brother Joe considered this defeat an affront to the family honour, and hammered Withers 30–1 in the next round. Joe's fury with his brother's performance persuaded Fred to consult an optician, who devised a pair of glasses with swivel lens joints to help his play.<ref>{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |author-link=Clive Everton |year=1993 |title=The Embassy Book of World Snooker |publisher=[[The Book People]] |location=Surrey |page=15}}</ref>  He reached the semi-finals in [[1938 World Snooker Championship|1938]] and [[1939 World Snooker Championship|1939]] before reaching the final in [[1940 World Snooker Championship|1940]], losing 36–37.<ref>{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |author-link=Clive Everton |title=Guinness Book of Billiards and Snooker |pages=58–59}}</ref> Davis was called up on 20 July 1940 to serve in the [[British Army]] for the [[Second World War]], only five days after his wedding.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=September 1976 |page=23}}</ref>

===Post-war career===
Having dominated snooker from 1927 to 1946, Joe Davis retired from the World Snooker Championship after his [[1946 World Snooker Championship|1946]] victory. Fred reached the final the following year, but lost 62–82 to Scot [[Walter Donaldson (snooker player)|Walter Donaldson]].<ref>{{cite book |first=Fred |last=Davis |title=Talking Snooker |publisher=A&C Black |date=1983 |page=18}}</ref> The pair made up the final for five straight years until 1951, with Davis winning in [[1948 World Snooker Championship|1948]], [[1949 World Snooker Championship|1949]] and [[1951 World Snooker Championship|1951]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Snooker Champ. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59480062 |access-date=25 May 2012 |newspaper=[[The Sunday Times (Western Australia)|Sunday Times]] |date=2 May 1948 |archive-date=29 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129143719/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/59480062 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk">{{cite web |last=Turner |first=Chris |title=World Professional Championship |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/world.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130416080933/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/world.html |archive-date=16 April 2013 |work=cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk |publisher=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive |access-date=9 February 2011}}</ref> Joe Davis had been undefeated in the world championships, but Fred would go on to be the only player to beat Joe on level terms – a feat he achieved four times between 1948 and 1954,<ref>{{cite book |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |title=Guinness Book of Billiards and Snooker |date=1982 |page=60}}</ref> despite Joe previously telling Fred that he would never beat him.<ref name="auto2"/> Snooker remained a huge attraction at this time, and crowds filled [[Blackpool Tower Circus]] to see Davis beat Donaldson 84–61 in the 1948 final and 80–65 in the 1949 final. However, times were changing, and from 1950 matches became shorter. Donaldson beat Davis for the last time to win the 1950 title, 51–46.<ref>{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |author-link=Clive Everton |title=Guinness Book of Billiards and Snooker |date=1982 |pages=62–63}}</ref>

As defending champion, Davis did not play in the [[1952 World Snooker Championship|1952]] event, which was only contested by two players.<ref name="First Australian Guardian">{{cite news |last=Everton |first=Clive |author-link=Clive Everton |title=Neil Robertson set to rewrite history as first genuine Australian world champion |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/30/world-snooker-championship-neil-robertson-shaun-murphy |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=21 May 2012 |location=London |date=30 April 2009 |archive-date=27 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227054301/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/apr/30/world-snooker-championship-neil-robertson-shaun-murphy |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=ghday1>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HVtAAAAAIBAJ&pg=6853%2C4593501 |title=Snooker and billiards |newspaper=[[The Glasgow Herald]] |page=3 |date=26 February 1952 |access-date=29 November 2020 |archive-date=29 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129143723/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HVtAAAAAIBAJ&pg=6853%2C4593501 |url-status=live}}</ref> Following a disagreement between some of the players and the governing body, Davis played in an alternative tournament – the [[World Professional Match-play Championship]]. Davis then won each of the first five championships.<ref name="World Matchplay">{{cite web |last=Turner |first=Chris |title=World Matchplay |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/matchplay.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228200020/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/matchplay.html |archive-date=28 February 2012 |work=cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk |publisher=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive |access-date=14 March 2011}}</ref> Davis won the first three of these events over Donaldson, but when Davis won the 1954 event with a 39–21 victory over Donaldson, it was clear there was a decline in interest as only five players entered the championship; Donaldson then retired.<ref name="Davis retains Argus">{{cite news |title=Davis retains snooker title |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26595197 |access-date=8 May 2013 |newspaper=[[The Argus (Australia)|The Argus]] |date=8 March 1954 |archive-date=29 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129143730/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/26595197 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=gh19nov1953>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Glasgow Herald]] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lEdAAAAAIBAJ&pg=5110%2C1948247 |date=19 November 1953 |page=9 |title=Snooker |access-date=29 November 2020 |archive-date=29 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129143740/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lEdAAAAAIBAJ&pg=5110%2C1948247 |url-status=live}}</ref>

After defeating [[John Pulman]] in two close finals in [[1955 World Professional Match-play Championship|1955]] and [[1956 World Professional Match-play Championship|1956]], Davis chose not to play in the 1957 Championship—held in Jersey and, for financial reasons, featuring just four entrants—thus leaving the path clear for Pulman to win the event.<ref>{{cite book |author=Davis, Fred |title=Talking Snooker |publisher=A&C Black |date=1983 |page=24}}</ref> After the war Davis and his wife had invested in a hotel in [[Llandudno]], and this gave them some financial security away from snooker. This proved a wise move; by the early 1960s Davis was playing exhibitions in aid of cancer charities, but soon even this limited amount of snooker activity dried up. Following tours of Canada and Australia (where he won an international tournament in 1960) and after an exhibition in [[Pontefract]] where he performed in front of only a handful of people, Davis effectively went into retirement. He hardly played for four seasons before being contacted by [[Rex Williams]], who was keen to restart interest in snooker.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=September 1976 |pages=26–27}}</ref> Under Williams, the championships were resumed in 1964 on a [[1964–68 World Snooker Championships|challenge basis]]. Davis challenged Pulman on three occasions, but lost in 1964 by 19–16, in 1965 by 36–37 and in 1966 by five matches to two.<ref>{{cite book |author=Everton, Clive |author-link=Clive Everton |title=Guinness Book of Billiards and Snooker |date=1982 |page=65}}</ref>

===Modern era===
The revival of the World Championship as a [[single-elimination tournament]] in 1969 saw Davis defeat future world champion [[Ray Reardon]] 25–24 before losing 37–24 to [[Gary Owen (snooker player)|Gary Owen]] in the semi-finals.<ref>{{cite book |author=Davis, Fred |title=Talking Snooker |publisher=A&C Black |year=1983 |page=28}}</ref> Davis's match with Reardon would earn a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest recorded snooker session and Reardon would later note that he learned more from that match than he had in the previous 20 years playing the sport.<ref>{{cite book |author=Reardon, Ray |title=Enjoying Snooker |publisher=St Michael Books |date=1986 |page=70}}</ref> That same year [[BBC TV]] started its ''[[Pot Black]]'' series. Davis's familiarity with long matches contested over several weeks in his prime meant he was not immediately suited to the single-frame format of the event; however, he adapted well to it, finishing as runner-up to [[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]] in the 1971 series. He also achieved the highest {{cuegloss|break}} in the 1970 (54), 1971 (73) and 1975 (87) series.<ref>{{cite book |author=Perrin, Reg |title=Pot Black |publisher=BBC Books |date=1983 |pages=21–22}}</ref>

Soon after winning a [[1970 Canadian Professional Snooker Association tournament|Professional Snooker Association of Canada's Invitation Event]], in which he defeated [[Paul Thornley]] in the final in May 1970,<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Billiards and Snooker|issue=592 |date=June 1970 |page=16}}</ref> Davis suffered the first of two heart attacks, and did not participate in the 1970 World Championship, which was held in Australia and won by John Spencer.<ref>{{cite book |author=Davis, Fred |title=Talking Snooker |publisher=A&C Black |year=1983 |page=29}}</ref> He lost 31–21 to Spencer in his first match in the [[1972 World Snooker Championship|1972 championship]], but defeated [[David Greaves]] 16–1 in the second round of the 1973 championship before losing to [[Alex Higgins]], the defending champion, 16–14 in the quarter-finals, a match most notable for a leak in the roof which forced rain to stop play while a cover was found and the position of each ball marked.<ref name="iris_Spoi">{{cite news |title=Spoilsport rain began Williams' reign at top |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=23 March 1996 |access-date=15 September 2020 |first=Emmet |last=Malone |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/spoilsport-rain-began-williams-reign-at-top-1.36157 |archive-date=16 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916054136/https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/spoilsport-rain-began-williams-reign-at-top-1.36157 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Davis gained his revenge in [[1974 World Snooker Championship|1974]], when he beat Higgins 15–14 in the quarter-finals, having earlier beaten [[Bill Werbeniuk]] 15–5. This return match with Higgins also contained a notable incident when the referee, [[Jim Thorpe]], called a {{cuegloss|push-shot}} in frame 25, a decision to which Higgins vehemently objected, swearing at the referee. Higgins blamed his subsequent defeat on the incident,<ref name=Hurricane>{{cite book |author=Higgins, Alex |author-link=Alex Higgins |title=From the Eye of the Hurricane: My Story, Headline |year=2007 |pages=99–100}}</ref> but never blamed Davis for any part of it, clearly stating his admiration for Davis for playing so well following his second heart attack.<ref name=Hurricane/> Davis, for his part, also praised Higgins for his "sportmanship".<ref>{{cite book |author=Davis, Fred |title=Talking Snooker |publisher=A&C Black |date=1983 |page=34}}</ref> However, Davis lost 15–3 to eventual champion Reardon in the semi-finals.<ref>{{cite book |author=Everton, Clive |author-link=Clive Everton |title=Guinness book of Billiards and Snooker |date=1982 |page=92}}</ref>

In 1975, Davis travelled to Australia to compete in the World Championship, where he played [[Dennis Taylor]],<ref name="Davis, Fred 1983, p35">{{cite book |author=Davis, Fred |title=Talking Snooker |publisher=A&C Black |date=1983 |page=35}}</ref> but lost by a single frame, 15–14.<ref name="Davis, Fred 1983, p35"/> The 1975 [[Watney Open]] in [[Leeds]] provided some consolation, and Davis beat [[Patsy Fagan]] 13–9 and John Spencer 13–12 before losing 17–11 in the final to Alex Higgins.<ref>{{cite book |author=Hayton, Eric |title=The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker |publisher=Rose Vila Publications |year=2004 |page=334}}</ref> Davis stated that a win over Spencer convinced him that he could still compete at the highest level of tournament play.<ref name="Davis, Fred 1983, p35"/> [[Snooker world rankings|World rankings]] were introduced in 1976. Despite Davis's abilities peaking long before this, he was still [[Snooker world rankings 1976/1977|ranked number 4 that season]]. In 1977 Davis was ranked number 9, rising to 6 during both the 1978 and 1979 seasons; he maintained his form as the tour expanded, still being ranked inside the top 16 players in 1982, aged 67, and only falling outside the top 64 in 1988, aged 74.<ref>{{cite book |author=Karnehm, Jack. |title=World Snooker |publisher=Pelham Books |date=1981 |page=12}}</ref> Although Davis lost 15–13 to [[Eddie Charlton]] in the quarter-finals of the 1976 World Championship, having beaten Werbeniuk 15–12 in round one, he came close to winning his first professional title for twenty years at the [[1976 Pontins Professional]]. With victories over [[Willie Thorne]], 7–4 in the quarter-finals, and [[Graham Miles]], 7–2 in the semi-finals, he faced Reardon in the final. Davis missed a crucial {{cuegloss|brown ball}} in the {{cuegloss|deciding frame}}, having made a break of 107 during the match, and Reardon won 10–9.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=June 1976 |page=24}}</ref>

He reached the semi-finals of the [[1978 World Snooker Championship]], at the age of 64, having defeated [[John Virgo]] 9–8, Dennis Taylor 13–9 and [[Patsy Fagan]] 13–10.<ref>{{cite book |author=Everton, Clive. |author-link=Clive Everton |title=The Guinness Book of Billiards and Snooker |date=1982 |page=96}}</ref> He met [[Perrie Mans]] and trailed 14–16, but missed a {{cuegloss|pink ball}}, which allowed Mans to take the frame, and eventually win 18–16. The crucial missed {{cuegloss|pot}} was watched by his brother Joe, who was taken ill after the miss; he was rushed to hospital to undergo a six-and-a-half-hour operation, but died a few weeks later.<ref name="Everton2011">{{cite book |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |title=Black Farce and Cue Ball Wizards: The Inside Story of the Snooker World |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7O7SQxTjSLIC&pg=PT9 |date=2 December 2011 |publisher=[[Mainstream Publishing]] |location=Edinburgh |isbn=978-1-78057-399-1 |page=19}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=April 1986 |page=19}}</ref> This would be the last time Davis would reach the semi-finals of the event. Davis closed 1978 with a quarter-final appearance in the [[1978 UK Championship|UK Championship]]. He defeated veteran Yorkshireman [[John Dunning (snooker player)|John Dunning]] 9–2 before losing to Alex Higgins 9–4.<ref>{{cite book |author=Everton, Clive |title=Guinness Book of Billiards and Snooker |date=1982 |page=96}}</ref>

In early 1979 Davis met Alex Higgins in the final of the Castle Open (an event hosted at Bernard Bennett's club in [[Southampton]]).<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=March 1979 |pages=10–11}}</ref> During the World Championship that year he beat [[Kirk Stevens]] 13–8 to progress to the quarter-finals. This match was to be his last victory at the [[Crucible Theatre]], but Davis compiled the first century of the championship, a break of 109 in the sixth frame — an effort even applauded by the referee.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=June 1979 |page=11}}</ref> In the quarter-final against Eddie Charlton, Davis soon fell 5–0 behind; he later admitted that he unwisely played an attacking game. This style enabled him to make a break of 110 in the eighth frame to reduce his arrears from 6–1 to 6–2, but he lost the match 13–4.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene|location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=June 1979 |page=12}}</ref>

During the first [[1979 World Challenge Cup|World Challenge Cup]] in 1979 Davis acted as England's captain (the team was completed by John Spencer and [[Graham Miles]]). He won his first seven frames as England won matches 8–7 over Northern Ireland and the Rest of the World. England were, however, defeated 14–3 in the final by Wales.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=December 1979 |pages=5–9}}</ref> Although Davis lost 13–5 to [[David Taylor (snooker player)|David Taylor]] in his first match in the [[1980 World Snooker Championship]],<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=June 1980 |page=4}}</ref> he did reach the quarter-finals of the [[1980 UK Championship|UK Championship]] the following season, with a 9–6 victory over [[Mark Wildman]] before his 9–6 defeat by Alex Higgins.<ref name="Everton">{{cite book |author=Everton, Clive |author-link=Clive Everton |title=Guinness Book of Billiards and Snooker |year=1982 |page=102}}</ref> In 1981, at the age of 67, Davis played in his last snooker final, the Raffles/Sheffield Shield Tournament played at the Sheffield Snooker Centre. He beat [[Mike Watterson]] 9–6 and Dennis Taylor 9–5. In the final he led [[Terry Griffiths]] 4–1, but eventually lost 9–5.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=September 1981 |page=11}}</ref> Earlier in the season he played in his last Masters, beating Kirk Stevens 5–4 in the first round before losing to Terry Griffiths 5–2 in the quarter-finals.<ref name="Everton"/>

===Later years===
Davis played professionally into old age, making his last appearance in the World Snooker Championship in 1984 aged 70, where he lost to Werbeniuk 10–4. The following year he trailed Canadian [[Bob Chaperon]] 7–2 in the fourth qualifying round, but came back to win the match 10–9.<ref name="Everton, Clive 13">{{cite magazine |author=Everton, Clive |author-link=Clive Everton |publisher=Everton news agency |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=May 1985 |page=13}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |author=Everton, Clive |author-link=Clive Everton |publisher=Everton news agency |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=May 1985 |page=15}}</ref> Davis showed similar resilience in the [[1985 UK Championship]] qualifying rounds to survive 9–8 against [[John Rea (snooker player)|John Rea]]. He then went on to beat Werbeniuk 9–7 in the first round, having trailed 5–3 at the interval. Davis then lost to Alex Higgins 9–2 in the second round.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Everton, Clive |author-link=Clive Everton |publisher=Everton news agency |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=January 1986 |pages=7, 11}}</ref> That same month Davis defeated Billy Kelly and then Kirk Stevens in the Mercantile Credit Classic; Stevens amusingly asked Davis not to retire until Stevens had finally defeated him. Davis would be defeated 5–3 by [[Eugene Hughes (snooker player)|Eugene Hughes]] in the fourth round.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Everton, Clive |author-link=Clive Everton |publisher=Everton news agency |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=January 1986 |pages=23–25}}</ref>

In the qualifying rounds of the [[1988 World Snooker Championship]] Davis beat [[Jack Fitzmaurice]] 10–8 and [[Jim Bear]] 10–4 before losing to Australian [[John Campbell (snooker player)|John Campbell]] 10–3 in the final qualifying round. This gave Davis a cheque for £3,117, which despite winning the event eight times, was his highest ever in a professional snooker competition.<ref>{{cite book |author=Smith, Terry |title=Snooker: The Players, The Shots, The Matches |publisher=St Michael's Press |year=1989 |page=109}}</ref> The following year he beat [[Bernard Bennett]] 10–4 in the second round of qualifying for the World Championship,<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Everton, Clive |author-link=Clive Everton |publisher=Everton news agency |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=May 1989 |page=14}}</ref> it would be his last victory in a championship he had first graced 52 years earlier.<ref name=Obit>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/79178.stm |title=Tributes to cue king Fred Davis |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=15 October 2009 |archive-date=29 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629170658/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/79178.stm |url-status=live}}</ref>

During the [[1989–90 snooker season]] Davis recorded wins over [[Jimmy van Rensberg]] and Mike Watterson, but a 10–6 defeat by Ian Brumby in the second round of qualifying for the World Championship meant that he was forced into a 'play-off' to maintain his full professional status where he was defeated 10–5 by [[Jason Prince]].<ref name="Everton, Clive 13"/> Suffering from arthritis of the knee, Davis limped from the arena to the press conference during which he was given an emotional standing ovation from spectators, players on other match tables and even those on the practice tables, who all ceased playing to acknowledge the moment.<ref name="evertone">{{cite magazine |author=Everton, Clive |author-link=Clive Everton |publisher=Everton news agency |magazine=Snooker Scene|date=July 1990 |issn=0269-0756 |pages=10–11}}</ref> At the press conference, Davis announced he was now retired from competitive snooker but would keep playing in UK-based billiard tournaments.<ref name="evertone" /> However, snooker threw its doors open to all comers and Davis resumed his snooker career, but played little competitive billiards thereafter.<ref name=Obit/>

During the [[1990–91 snooker season]] he recorded his final professional snooker victories at the Mercantile Classic. In the preliminary round he beat veteran Southampton professional Bernard Bennett 5–1 and [[Tony Wilson (snooker player)|Tony Wilson]] 5–4 on the same day. In the next round he lost 5–2 to Rex Williams in a match which saw 99 years of professional experience between the two players.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Everton, Clive |author-link=Clive Everton |publisher=Everton news agency |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=October 1990 |issn=0269-0756 |pages=12–13}}</ref> As a former World Champion, Davis was invited to compete in the [[1991 World Masters]], where he lost to [[Steve Davis]] 0–6. This was Fred's last TV appearance in a competitive match.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Hendon, David |author-link=David Hendon |title=Past Masters (2) |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton news agency |date=September 2009 |page=22}}</ref> At the age of 79, Davis played in the preliminary rounds of the [[1992 Grand Prix (snooker)|1992 Grand Prix]], losing 5–1 to the 17-year-old [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]].<ref>[https://www.eurosport.co.uk/snooker/ronnie-o-sullivan-on-prison-time-playing-until-60-and-why-he-is-like-tiger-woods_sto7810344/story.shtml Ronnie O'Sullivan on prison time, playing until 60 and why he is like Tiger Woods]</ref>

==Billiards==
Davis won the [[World Professional Billiards Championship|World Billiards Championships]] in June 1980, beating Rex Williams 5978–4452, and in so doing became the only player except for Joe Davis to have lifted both the World Snooker and World Billiards titles. However, he was quick to point out that standards differed markedly from those of the 1930s when the top players made such large breaks that they killed the game as popular entertainment.<ref>{{cite book |last=Davis |first=Fred |title=Talking Snooker |publisher=A&C Black |date=1983 |page=49}}</ref> He received £1500 plus a cheque for £500 for the highest break (583); this was presented to him by 94-year-old [[Willie Smith (billiards player)|Willie Smith]], World Billiards champion in 1920 and 1923.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene|location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=July 1980 |pages=3–7}}</ref> Davis also retained the title later in November the same year, when the championship was restored to a knock-out basis for the first time since 1934. Davis beat [[Paddy Morgan]] 1907–978, John Barrie 1253-1153 and Mark Wildman 3037–2064 in the final to pocket £4000, then a record for a billiards event.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=December 1980 |pages=12–15}}</ref>

The modest billiards revival continued during the 1980s{{cn|date=November 2023}}. In March 1982 he was defeated by a record narrow margin of six points in the semi-finals whilst defending his world title, as eventual champion Rex Williams beat him 1500–1494.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |title=Unhappy Williams regains title |date=April 1982 |pages=11–13}}</ref> In the 1983 event he beat [[Clive Everton]] and Eddie Charlton ''en route'' to the final where he lost to Rex Williams 1500–605, but took the highest break prize for an effort of 427.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=May 1983 |page=9}}</ref> Also revived (from 1979) was the [[UK Open Billiards Championship|United Kingdom Professional Billiards Championship]]. Although Davis lost the title 1548–1031 in the semi-final of the 1979 event (to John Barrie)<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=March 1979 |pages=7–8}}</ref> Davis looked likely to reclaim the title in 1983 when, having dispatched Ian Williamson and [[Ray Edmonds]], he led [[Mark Wildman]] 750–477 after the first session of the final. However, Wildman recovered to take the title by 1500–1032.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=February 1983 |pages=23–25}}</ref>

In the 1984 World Billiards Championship Davis lost to Eddie Charlton 1436–829 in the semi-finals.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene|location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=May 1984 |page=8}}</ref> After this time billiard events increasingly changed structure to a series of games of 400 or 150 points.{{cn|date=November 2023}} Davis was less happy with this structure; with this and with his advancing years, he fared less well at the game after this time.{{cn|date=November 2023}} In the 1985 World Championship he defeated Clive Everton 3–1 in round one, but fell 3–0 to Australian [[Robby Foldvari]] in the quarter-finals.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=April 1985 |page=20}}</ref> The following year (still seeded third) he lost 3–0 to [[Bob Close]], who was making his professional debut.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=February 1986 |page=31}}</ref> In 1987 he reached the quarter-finals of both the UK Billiards Championship and the World Championship, but lost on both occasions to Robby Foldvari.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=March 1987 |page=25}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=April 1987 |page=19}}</ref> Davis's last entry in the World Billiards Championship came in 1992, but with the main competition to be played in India, he did not play his first-round match against David Barton.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=October 1992 |issn=0269-0756 |page=24}}</ref> Davis did enter the 1993 UK Billiards Championship, but did not play his first-round match against Ian Williamson and he also scratched from the Radiant Grand Slam Second Leg where he was due to play David Edwards that same month.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first1=Clive |last1=Everton |author-link1=Clive Everton |first2=Tom |last2=Terry |date=March 1993 |pages=18–20}}</ref>

==Retirement and death==
Davis was made an Officer of the [[Order of the British Empire]] in 1977.<ref name="World Snooker (2007, Fred Davis)">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/past_players-10018.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504144031/http://www.worldsnooker.com/past_players-10018.htm |archive-date=4 May 2010 |url-status=dead |title=Past players – Fred Davis}}</ref> Davis (accompanied by his wife Sheila) was presented with the award by [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother]] at [[Buckingham Palace]].<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=December 1977 |page=1}}</ref> Davis retired in 1993, aged 79, having lost to future world champion [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]] 5–1 in the Grand Prix qualifying during his last season. Davis lost 10–1 to [[Peter Daubney]] in the first round of qualifying for the [[1992 World Snooker Championship]].<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=May 1992 |page=5}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=June 1992 |page=21}}</ref> Four months later he lost 5–0 to [[Mark King (snooker player)|Mark King]] in the sixth round of qualifying for the [[1993 World Snooker Championship|1993]] event; it was Davis' last World Championship match.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=August 1992 |page=19}}</ref> His last competitive snooker match came in August 1992 when he lost 5–1 to [[Neil Tomkins]] in the [[1992 European Open (snooker)|1992 European Open]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Hayton, Eric |title=The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker |publisher=Rose Villa Publications |date=2004 |page=340}}</ref>

On 14 August 1993 Davis turned 80, and still held a ranking of 259. He said then that he would have loved to continue playing, but was prevented from doing so by the severe arthritis in his left knee which made it painful to walk. Indeed, it was Davis' attempt to redistribute his stance which contributed to such heavy defeats in his final snooker matches.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=September 1993 |page=9}}</ref> He died in April 1998 in [[Denbighshire]], three days after a fall at his home.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=May 1998 |page=22}}</ref>

==Controversy==
At the end of 1988 Davis spoke out against the governing body and its running of the game. His comments followed the convening of disciplinary action against him following his withdrawal from the Mercantile Credit Classic qualifying competition the previous May. Davis withdrew because of intense discomfort caused by his arthritis and confirmed his withdrawal twice with the tournament director, David Harrison. Davis was furious that his unblemished 60-year career had been called into question by a disciplinary board and took up his case via association member Ian Doyle. Doyle offered an apology, but no official apology was given. Davis stated that the [[WPBSA]] was more interested in thinking of ways to get at [[Barry Hearn]], rather than acting in a constructive manner and accused the WPBSA of trying to buy off lower-ranked players to "get them on their side against Hearn".<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |location=Halsowen |publisher=Everton's news agency |first=Clive |last=Everton |author-link=Clive Everton |date=January 1989 |page=30}}</ref>

==Performance and rankings timeline==
<ref name="KOBY">{{cite book |last=Kobylecky |first=John |date=2019 |title=The Complete International Directory of Snooker Players – 1927 to 2018 |publisher=Kobyhadrian Books |location=<!--not stated--> |pages=47–48 |isbn=978-0993143311}}</ref><ref name="GUINNESS">{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=1985 |title=Guinness Snooker: The Records |location=Enfield |publisher=[[Guinness World Records|Guinness Superlatives]] |isbn=0851124488}}</ref>

===Pre-war===
{| class="wikitable"  style="font-size:85%;"
! '''Tournament'''
! 1936/<br/>37
! 1937/<br/>38
! 1938/<br/>39
! 1939/<br/>40
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"| [[Daily Mail Gold Cup]]<ref group="nb" name="rrh">Round-robin handicap tournament</ref>
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"| A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"| A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"| A
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|[[1939/1940 Daily Mail Gold Cup|3]]
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"| [[World Snooker Championship|World Championship]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"| LQ
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1938 World Snooker Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1939 World Snooker Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1940 World Snooker Championship|F]]
|}

===Post-war===
{| class="wikitable"  style="font-size:85%;"
! '''Tournament'''
! 1945/<br/>46
! 1946/<br/>47
! 1947/<br/>48
! 1948/<br/>49
! 1949/<br/>50
! 1950/<br/>51
! 1951/<br/>52
! 1952/<br/>53
! 1953/<br/>54
! 1954/<br/>55
! 1955/<br/>56
! 1956/<br/>57
! 1957/<br/>58
! 1958/<br/>59
! 1959/<br/>60
! [[1963–64 snooker season|1963/<br />64]]
! Mar<br>1965
! Apr<br>1966
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"| [[1948 Sunday Empire News Tournament|Sunday Empire News Tournament]]<ref group="nb" name="rrh" />
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|[[1948 Sunday Empire News Tournament|3]]
| colspan="14" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"| [[1950 Sporting Record Masters' Snooker Tournament|Sporting Record Masters' Tournament]]<ref group="nb" name="rrh" />
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|[[1950 Sporting Record Masters' Snooker Tournament|3]]
| colspan="13" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"| [[Professional Matchplay Championship]]
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1952 World Professional Match-play Championship|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1953 World Professional Match-play Championship|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1954 World Professional Match-play Championship|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1955 World Professional Match-play Championship|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1956 World Professional Match-play Championship|'''W''']]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"| A
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"| [[News of the World Snooker Tournament]]<ref group="nb" name="rrh" /><ref group="nb" name="sp">[[Snooker Plus]] event in 1959/60 season</ref>
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"| A
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|[[1950/1951 News of the World Snooker Tournament|5]]
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|[[1951/1952 News of the World Snooker Tournament|4]]
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|[[1952/1953 News of the World Snooker Tournament|7]]
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|[[1953/1954 News of the World Snooker Tournament|3]]
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|[[1954/1955 News of the World Snooker Tournament|3]]
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|[[1955/1956 News of the World Snooker Tournament|2]]
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|[[1956/1957 News of the World Snooker Tournament|2]]
| align="center" style="background:#0f0;"|[[1957/1958 News of the World Snooker Tournament|'''W''']]
| align="center" style="background:#0f0;"|[[1958 News of the World Snooker Tournament|'''W''']]
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|[[1959 News of the World Snooker Plus Tournament|2]]
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"| [[1964 Conayes Professional Tournament|Conayes Professional Tournament]]
| colspan="15" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1964 Conayes Professional Tournament|F]]
| colspan="8" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"| [[World Snooker Championship|World Championship]]<ref group="nb" name="wccm">Tournaments between 1964 and 1968 were challenge matches</ref>
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1946 World Snooker Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1947 World Snooker Championship|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1948 World Snooker Championship|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1949 World Snooker Championship|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1950 World Snooker Championship|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1951 World Snooker Championship|'''W''']]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"| A
| colspan="8" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1964–68 World Snooker Championships#Results|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1964–68 World Snooker Championships#Results|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1964–68 World Snooker Championships#Results|F]]
|}

===Modern era===
<div style="width:auto; overflow:scroll">
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%"
! '''Tournament''' 
! [[1968–69 snooker season|1968/<br/>69]]
! [[1969–70 snooker season|1969/<br/>70]]
! [[1970–71 snooker season|1970/<br/>71]]
! [[1971–72 snooker season|1971/<br/>72]]
! [[1972–73 snooker season|1972/<br/>73]]
! [[1973–74 snooker season|1973/<br/>74]]
! [[1974–75 snooker season|1974/<br/>75]]
! [[1975–76 snooker season|1975/<br/>76]]
! [[1976–77 snooker season|1976/<br/>77]]
! [[1977–78 snooker season|1977/<br/>78]]
! [[1978–79 snooker season|1978/<br/>79]]
! [[1979–80 snooker season|1979/<br/>80]]
! [[1980–81 snooker season|1980/<br/>81]]
! [[1981–82 snooker season|1981/<br/>82]]
! [[1982–83 snooker season|1982/<br/>83]]
! [[1983–84 snooker season|1983/<br/>84]]
! [[1984–85 snooker season|1984/<br/>85]]
! [[1985–86 snooker season|1985/<br/>86]]
! [[1986–87 snooker season|1986/<br/>87]] 
! [[1987–88 snooker season|1987/<br/>88]] 
! [[1988–89 snooker season|1988/<br/>89]] 
! [[1989–90 snooker season|1989/<br/>90]] 
! [[1990–91 snooker season|1990/<br/>91]]
! [[1991–92 snooker season|1991/<br/>92]] 
! [[1992–93 snooker season|1992/<br/>93]] 
|-
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Snooker world rankings|Ranking]]<ref name="Ranking history">{{cite web |title=Ranking History |url=http://www.snooker.org/rnk/history.asp |publisher=Snooker.org |access-date=6 February 2011 |archive-date=14 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514065952/http://www.snooker.org/rnk/history.asp |url-status=live}}</ref>
| align="center" colspan="8" style="color:#555555;"|No ranking system
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1976/1977|4]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1977/1978|9]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1978/1979|6]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1979/1980|6]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1980/1981|8]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1981/1982|12]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1982/1983|20]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1983/1984|28]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1984/1985|46]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1985/1986|56]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1986/1987|47]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1987/1988|61]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1988/1989|83]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1989/1990|89]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1990/1991|128]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1991/1992|131]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1992/1993|190]]
|-
| colspan="50" | '''Ranking tournaments'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Dubai Classic]]<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Dubai Masters (1988/1989)</ref>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="20"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NR
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[World Open (snooker)|Grand Prix]]<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Professional Players Tournament (1982/93–1983/1984)</ref>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="14"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1982 Professional Players Tournament|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1983 Professional Players Tournament|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1986 Grand Prix (snooker)|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[UK Championship]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="7"|Non-Ranking Event
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1985 UK Championship|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1987 UK Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Welsh Open (snooker)|Welsh Open]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="23"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[European Open (snooker)|European Open]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="20"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[British Open (snooker)|British Open]]<ref group="nb" name="auto1">The event was also called the British Gold Cup (1979/1980), Yamaha Organs Trophy (1980/1981) and International Masters (1981/1982–1983/1984)</ref>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="11"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5"|Non-Ranking Event
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1986 British Open|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1988 British Open|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Thailand Masters|Asian Open]]<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Thailand Masters (1983/1984–1986/1987)</ref>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="15"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|Non-Ranking Event
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Scottish Open (snooker)|International Open]]<ref group="nb" name="auto">The event was also called the Goya Matchroom Trophy (1985/1986)</ref>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="13"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NR
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|WD
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[World Snooker Championship|World Championship]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5"|Non-Ranking Event
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1974 World Snooker Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1975 World Snooker Championship|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1976 World Snooker Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1977 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1978 World Snooker Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1979 World Snooker Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1980 World Snooker Championship|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1981 World Snooker Championship|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1982 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1984 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
|-
| colspan="50" | '''Non-ranking tournaments'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Pot Black]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1969 Pot Black|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1970 Pot Black|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1971 Pot Black|F]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1973 Pot Black|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1975 Pot Black|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1976 Pot Black|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1977 Pot Black|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1979 Pot Black|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Masters (snooker)|The Masters]]
|align="center" colspan="6" style="color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1975 Masters (snooker)|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1976 Masters (snooker)|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1977 Masters (snooker)|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1978 Masters (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1979 Masters (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1980 Masters (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1981 Masters (snooker)|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Irish Masters]]<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament (1974/1975–1976/1977)</ref>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1980 Irish Masters|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Pontins Professional]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1974 Pontins Professional|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1975 Pontins Professional|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1976 Pontins Professional|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1977 Pontins Professional|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1978 Pontins Professional|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1979 Pontins Professional|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1980 Pontins Professional|QF]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
|-
| colspan="50" | '''Former ranking tournaments'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Canadian Masters (snooker)|Canadian Masters]]<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Canadian Open (1978/1979–1980/1981)</ref>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="7"|Non-Ranking
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3"|Non-Ranking
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Australian Goldfields Open|Hong Kong Open]]<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Australian Masters (1979/1980–1987/1988))</ref>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="11"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9"|Non-Ranking Event
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NH
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3"|Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Classic (snooker)|Classic]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="11"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|Non-Ranking Event
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1986 Classic (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1988 Classic (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|WD
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NH
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Strachan Open (snooker)|Strachan Open]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="23"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NH
|-
| colspan="50" | '''Former non-ranking tournaments'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[World Snooker Championship|World Championship]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1969 World Snooker Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1970 World Snooker Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1972 World Snooker Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1973 World Snooker Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="30"|Ranking Event
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Norwich Union Open]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1974 Norwich Union Open|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="30"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1974 Watney Open|Watney Open]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1974 Watney Open|F]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="30"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1979 Holsten Lager International|Holsten Lager International]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="10"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1979 Holsten Lager International|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="30"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1980 Padmore Super Crystalate International|Padmore Super Crystalate]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="11"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1980 Padmore Super Crystalate International|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="30"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Scottish Open (snooker)|International Open]]<ref group="nb" name="auto"/>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="13"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1981 International Open|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="8"|Ranking Event
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3"|Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[British Open (snooker)|British Open]]<ref group="nb" name="auto1"/>
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="11"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1980 British Gold Cup|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1981 Yamaha Organs Trophy|RR]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9"|Ranking Event
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[UK Championship]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1977 UK Championship|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1978 UK Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1979 UK Championship|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1980 UK Championship|QF]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1982 UK Championship|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9"|Ranking Event
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1985 Kit Kat Break for World Champions|KitKat Break for World Champions]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="17"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1985 Kit Kat Break for World Champions|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="30"|Ranking Event
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | {{nowrap|[[English Professional Championship]]}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="12"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1981 English Professional Championship|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3"|Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1986 English Professional Championship|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1988 English Professional Championship|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|Tournament Not Held
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[World Seniors Championship]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="23"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1991 World Seniors Championship|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NH
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:78%;"
! colspan="6"|Performance Table Legend
|-
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|LQ
| lost in the qualifying draw
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|#R
| lost in the early rounds of the tournament<br />(WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin)
| align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
| lost in the quarter-finals
|-
| align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
| lost in the semi-finals
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
| lost in the final
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
| won the tournament
|-
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|DNQ
| did not qualify for the tournament
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|A
| did not participate in the tournament
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|WD
| withdrew from the tournament
|}
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%"
|-
|  style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|NH / Not Held || means an event was not held.
|-
|  style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|NR / Non-Ranking Event || means an event is/was no longer a ranking event.
|-
|  style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|R / Ranking Event || means an event is/was a ranking event.
|}
{{reflist|group=nb}}
</div>

==Career titles==
A list of Davis's professional snooker and billiards championships is shown below.<ref name="GUINNESS"/>

===Snooker (12 titles)===
*[[World Snooker Championship]] – [[1948 World Snooker Championship|1948]], [[1949 World Snooker Championship|1949]], [[1951 World Snooker Championship|1951]], [[1952 World Professional Match-play Championship|1952*]], [[1953 World Professional Match-play Championship|1953*]], [[1954 World Professional Match-play Championship|1954*]], [[1955 World Professional Match-play Championship|1955*]], [[1956 World Professional Match-play Championship|1956*]]
*[[News of the World Snooker Tournament|News of the World Tournament]] – [[1957/1958 News of the World Snooker Tournament|1957/58]], [[1958 News of the World Snooker Tournament|1958]]
*World Open Snooker Championship (Australia) – [[1960 World Open Snooker Championship|1960]]<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Glasgow Herald]] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HHhAAAAAIBAJ&pg=5824%2C6627456 |date=17 June 1960 |page=13 |title=Snooker |access-date=23 August 2020 |archive-date=29 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129143718/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HHhAAAAAIBAJ&pg=5824%2C6627456 |url-status=live}}</ref>
*Professional Snooker Association of Canada invitational event – [[1970 Canadian Professional Snooker Association tournament|1970]]

===Billiards (4 titles)===
*[[World Professional Billiards Championship|World Billiards Championship]] – May 1980, November 1980
*[[UK Open Billiards Championship|UK Billiards Championship]] – 1951
*[[British Junior English Billiards Championship|British Under-16 Boys Championship]] – 1929

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/PastPlayersArticle/0,,13165~2234068,00.html |title=Official player profile of Fred Davis |work=worldsnooker.com |at="Past Players" section |publisher=[[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305162519/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/PastPlayersArticle/0,,13165~2234068,00.html |archive-date=5 March 2014 |access-date=14 June 2023 }}
* {{WST player|fred-davis}}

{{World snooker champions}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Fred}}
[[Category:English snooker players]]
[[Category:English players of English billiards]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Chesterfield, Derbyshire]]
[[Category:1913 births]]
[[Category:1998 deaths]]
[[Category:World champions in English billiards]]
[[Category:Winners of the professional snooker world championship]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Deaths from falls]]