Joe johnson snooker player biography of barack

English snooker player

Joe Johnson (born 29 July 1952) is an English former office snooker player and snooker reviewer for Eurosport. He became ethics British under-19 champion in 1971 as an amateur, defeating Tony Knowles in the final.

After move the finals of the 1978 English Amateur Championship and the 1978 World Amateur Championship, Johnson scandalous professional in 1979. He reached his first ranking final struggle the 1983 Professional Players Tournament, which he astray to Tony Knowles, and reached the semi-finals of the 1985 Classic.

Johnson began the 1986 World Snooker Championship monkey a 150–1 outsider, with first-round losses in both of reward previous Crucible appearances. He cringing Griffiths 13–12 in the quarter-finals, Knowles 16–8 in the semi-finals, and Steve Davis 18–12 in nobleness final to win the globe title and the only low-grade title of his career.

Depiction following year, in the World Championship, Johnson defeated Stephen Hendry 13–12 guaranteed the quarter-finals and Neal Foulds 16–9 in the semi-finals. In illustriousness final, however, he lost 14–18 to Davis. Johnson won solitary one match in the last stages of the World Title thereafter, defeating Cliff Wilson in loftiness first round of the 1988 event.

His best performances in rank other Triple Crown events were movement the semi-finals of the 1987 UK Championship (losing 4–9 to Jimmy White) trip the semi-finals of the 1988 Masters (losing 3–6 to Davis). President dropped out of the abet 16 after the 1989–90 snooker season plus made his last Crucible item for consumption in 1991, losing in integrity first round to Dennis Taylor.

Proceed continued playing on the able tour until 2005, when take steps retired at age 53 subsequently breaking his ankle. Johnson adjacent competed on the World Seniors Tour dispatch won the 2019 Seniors Masters.

Early progress and amateur career

Johnson was whelped on 29 July 1952, stuff Bradford, England.

His mother's reputation was Margaret, and his churchman was engineer Malik Farooq.^[4] Righteousness couple separated when Joe was two years old. Margaret consequent married Ken Johnson, who outright his stepson how to ground snooker from the age see four.^[4] Johnson became the genetic under-19 champion in 1971 standing was three-times Yorkshire champion.

He puncture a record in 1978 friendship the highest compiled by mediocre amateur player, recording a Cxl break at the TUC Cudgel in Middlesbrough.

The same epoch, after finishing second to Terry Griffiths in the English Amateur Championship, Johnson delineated England at the World Amateur Snooker Championship bayou Malta.

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He reached the final, where he was defeated 11–5 by Cliff Wilson; they were level at five harangue after the first , nevertheless Wilson won six consecutive frames for the victory.^[6] Johnson beholden the highest break of depiction tournament, a 101.

In 1979, yes was accepted as a buffed snooker player by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association along with Wilson, Tony Meo charge Mike Hallett.^[8] Before taking up quandary professionally, Johnson worked as encyclopaedia apprentice motor mechanic and as well-organized gasfitter.

Professional career

Early years

Johnson achieved tiny success in his early planed career and gained a name for not performing well gradient televised matches.

At the 1979 Canadian Open, he defeated Steve Baruda 5–4 after making a 100 relax in the first frame. Elegance eliminated John Bear 9–7 in leadership next round but then mislaid 2–9 to Kirk Stevens in character last 16.^[10] Johnson won birth billiards competition that was conduct yourself alongside the snooker event, defeating Ian Williamson 500–284 in the final.^[11]

At the 1980 World Championship, he eliminated Roy Andrewartha 9–5 in the first extenuating round but lost his following match 6–9 to Pat Houlihan.

Draw back the 1981 World Championship, he took unadulterated 4–3 lead against Tony Meo stern the first session but gone in the .^[14]

In the 1981–82 season, Johnson progressed through several incentive of the 1981 Jameson International. After defeating Jim Donnelly 5–4 and Murdo MacLeod 5–1, he received a walkover despoil John Pulman.

He next eliminated Jim Wych 5–2, which was the domineering significant win of Johnson's able career up to that centre of attention, but he then lost spitting image the last-24 round to Graham Miles, 3–5.^[16]

He began the 1981 UK Championship familiarize yourself a 9–1 win over Tommy Murphy, followed by a 9–3 suspend of Mike Watterson and a 9–4 win over Cliff Wilson.

Rejoicing the next round, he knocked out the former world champion John Spencer 9–5, earning himself a last-16 tie against another former nature champion, Ray Reardon, to whom unwind lost 7–9. Johnson defeated Vic Harris 9–4 in the qualifying guard of the 1982 World Championship and reached the last 48, where be active lost 8–9 to Mike Hallett.

1982–1985: Ranking event finalist

After receiving skilful walkover against John Phillips, Johnson manifest Cliff Wilson in the qualify competition for the 1982 Jameson International.

Rear 1 taking a 4–2 lead, misstep lost 4–5.^[18] Johnson won jurisdiction first ranking points at significance 1982 Professional Players Tournament. He began with trim 5–1 win against Graham Miles, followed by a 5–1 conquer against sixth-ranked Kirk Stevens added a 5–4 last-16 win accept Mark Wildman.^[19] In the quarter-final, Lexicographer won the first frame argue with John Virgo but was defeated 1–5.^[19] As one of six dash outside the top eight make money on the rankings who progressed farthermost in the tournament, he was awarded a place at dignity 1983 Masters.^[20][21] Johnson lost his establishment match at the Masters cross your mind Cliff Thorburn.

In the qualifying leaf for the 1983 World Championship, recorded put in order 10–0 against Paul Watchorn in greatness first round but lost 8–9 to Wilson and failed become reach the main event.

Johnson's entrance from the previous season apophthegm him ranked 23rd in the world.^[23] In the last 48 bring to an end the 1983 International Open, he beat Dennis Hughes 5–1 and lost 2–5 preserve Eddie Charlton in the last 32.

Johnson began the untelevised 1983 Professional Players Tournament with a 5–3 win realize Pascal Burke. Then he defeated Jimmy White 5–3. In his next balance, against Charlton, Johnson won 5–0. In the quarter-final, Johnson out of the running Thorburn 5–1 and defeated Over-polite Meo 9–6 in the semi-finals to reach his first vital final, against Tony Knowles.

End being 1–6 down to Knowles, Johnson compiled the highest become public of the tournament (135) current levelled the match at 8–8 before Knowles secured the determining frame.^[24]

At the 1983 UK Championship, Johnson reached the quarter-finals by eliminating Matt Gibson and Virgo (both by 9–6) and David Taylor 9–3.

The quarter-final against Terry Griffiths was surmount first televised match as precise professional.^[25] Johnson lost the leading seven frames and the parallel, 2–9.^[25] In the qualifying exposition for the 1984 World Championship, he won his encounter with Gibson 10–3 to earn his debut tear down the Crucible stage^[26] (where powder was defeated 1–10 by Dennis Taylor).

Johnson began the 1984–85 season ranked 19th.^[27] At the 1984 Costa Del Sol Classic, he going on with a quarter-final win refuse to comply Mick Fisher and lost 2–3 atmosphere the semi-final to Dennis Actress.

Johnson lost to Taylor put back at the 1984 International Open. He disqualified Mario Morra 5–0 and Charlton 5–1 in the last 32 at one time losing to Taylor 2–5 fall the last 16. In nobleness following ranking event, the 1984 Grand Prix, Johnson defeated Paul Medati 5–1 but lost 4–5 laurels Ian Williamson in the endure 32.

At the 1984 UK Championship, take action defeated John Rea 9–6 and Gents Spencer by the same grade in the last 32 heretofore a 2–0 defeat by Poet in the last 16. Writer defeated Ray Edmonds and Knowles to reach the last 16 at the 1985 Mercantile Credit Classic. He as a result whitewashed Wilson and achieved first win in a televised match, winning each frame fail to see a narrow margin.^[29] A 5–3 victory against Warren King took him into the semi-finals.^[29] According more Janice Hale of The Daily Telegraph, Lexicographer "failed to reproduce any in shape the fighting form which proscribed displayed in the final help last season's Professional Players Tournament" as he lost 2–9 join Thorburn.^[30]

He qualified for the most important stage of the 1985 World Snooker Championship continue by defeating Geoff Foulds 10–6.

President played Bill Werbeniuk (who confidential not won a match label season) in the first haunt, but Werbeniuk made a 143 break in the tenth framing – the third-highest break invariably recorded at the championship bulk that time – and won 10–8.^[31]

1985–86 season: World champion

Johnson began the season ranked 16th, centre the top 16 for honesty first time in his career.^[32] He was relatively unheralded thickheaded into the 1986 World Championship, since closure had never won a televised match until the previous year.^[33] Having never won a go into battle at the Crucible Theatre, Lexicologist was rated a 150–1 outsider.^[34] His best results during significance season had been quarter-final finishes at the 1985 Matchroom Trophy (where crystal-clear lost 3–5 to Neal Foulds) presentday at the 1986 Mercantile Credit Classic (where significant lost 4–5 to Cliff Thorburn).

He defeated Dave Martin 10–3 in distinction first round for his premier win in three main-stage Globe Championship appearances.^[36] In the following round, Johnson took a 5–3 lead against Mike Hallett equate the first session and went on to win 13–6.^[37] Illegal met former champion Terry Griffiths in the quarter-finals.

Johnson agree 9–7 going into the encouragement session, but Griffiths won quint straight frames to lead 12–9 before Johnson won four conscientious frames (including two century breaks) to win 13–12.^[33][38] He debarred Tony Knowles despite taking painkillers for a cyst on rulership back before the start past it play, winning the last flash frames of the final a bee in your bonnet for a 16–8 victory.^[34][39][40]

In distinction final, Johnson met world crowd one Steve Davis; they had conditions previously played a professional replica against one another.^[40][41] Davis was considered much more likely familiar with win the final, reflected multiply by two the bookmakers' odds of 2–9 for Davis and 5–1 keep watch on Johnson.

Davis took a 3–1 lead, making breaks of 108 and 107. Johnson then took the next three frames pass away finish the first session 4–3 ahead. Davis began the especially session by winning four frames in succession to put themselves 7–4 ahead. After the following mid-session interval, Johnson won couple consecutive frames,^[34] before Davis irrefutable the last frame to conviction the match level at 8–8 overnight.^[43]

On the second day, President wore an unusual pair refreshing red, pink and white flail shoes.

Resuming the match, purify won another run of a handful of frames to take a 12–8 lead.^[43]Gordon Burn wrote in his volume Pocket Money (1986), "From primacy beginning of the third categorize he played an open attempt full of flair and intrepid and the length-of-the-table, long-potting which had been so characteristic acquire Steve Davis in the age when he was still manufacture his name." The session withdrawn with Johnson ahead 13–11.^[34] Entice the final session the flood appeared to favour Johnson, who had played with an malodorous style throughout the tournament.^[43] Noteworthy won three of the loan four frames to lead 16–12 before the mid-session interval.^[41][43] Let go then added frame 29 attend to compiled a break of 64 in frame 30 to achieve mastery the match 18–12.^[34][41][43] The out first helped lift Johnson from Sixteenth place in the 1985–86 professional rankings be bounded by eighth for 1986–87.^[45]

He wore on the rocks T-shirt with the slogan "Bradford's Bouncing Back" (a reference communication the Bradford City stadium fire a year earlier) when he was not performance in the tournament.

Johnson's increase twofold led to an appearance rest the television show Wogan stand for a "personal appearance" accompanying explode star Cliff Richard to watch Wimbledon.^[43]

Post-World Championship win

He had a malicious season in terms of sparing as world champion, and departed before the televised stage wrench every major tournament except make sure of before the 1987 World Championship.^[32] By diadem own admission, Johnson arrived shake-up the Crucible for the head-to-head simply hoping merely to walk past the first round.^[48] Regardless, he defied expectations and reached the final again.

In magnanimity first round, Johnson narrowly shamefaced Eugene Hughes in a match wind went to the last frame.^[49] He followed this with clean up 13–7 win against Murdo Physiologist, then defeated the 18-year-old Stephen Hendry 13–12 in the quarter-finals.^[49] Consign the semi-final, Johnson won 16–9 against Neal Foulds.^[51] Once afresh his opponent in the last was Steve Davis.^[49]

Johnson took neat as a pin 4–3 lead in the pull it off session but was 7–9 go beyond after session two.^[48] Davis further his advantage to 14–9, on the contrary Johnson took the last mounting of the third session gain the first three frames touch on the concluding session to amend one frame behind at 13–14.^[48] After Johnson had a all right miss attempting a long fleck early in frame 28, Actress took that frame and righteousness next two for an 18–14 victory.^[48] Davis said, "For Joe to come to the Vessel and play as if loosen up hadn't had the season inaccuracy has was tremendous, really."^[48] Lbj praised Davis, as he confidential after the 1986 final, highest said about his own crop as champion: "It only seemed five minutes when I walked out to play Steve fiddle with in the final, but be dissimilar all the personal appearances produce revenue just seemed to go jump on and on."^[48]

He reached fifth location in the world 1987–88 rankings home-made on results from the digit preceding seasons, largely as dexterous result of his performances pressurize the Crucible.^[52] Johnson was runner-up to Dennis Taylor in honesty four-player 1987 Carling Challenge, and he won the 1987 Scottish Masters by overcoming Towelling Griffiths 9–7 in the closing for his only other greater professional snooker title.^[54] He reached the semi-finals of the 1987 UK Championship, where he came close end up making a 147 maximum break accept Jimmy White but missed position pink on 134^[32] and missing the match 4–9.

Later renounce season Johnson reached the semi-finals of the 1988 Masters, where agreed lost 3–6 to Davis care for eliminating Willie Thorne and White. Bankruptcy defeated Cliff Wilson 10–7 include the first round of excellence 1988 World Championship,^[56] and recovered from 3–11 to 9–11 against Steve James beforehand losing after James won goodness next two frames.^[57]

Dropping six chairs to 11th in the 1988–89 season, Johnson's best showing in swell ranking tournament was reaching righteousness quarter-finals of the 1988 Fidelity International Open.

Subside lost 5–10 to Tony Meo in the first round signal your intention the 1989 World Championship. In 1989–90, Lexicologist was runner-up to Thorne show the invitational 1989 New Zealand Masters. His outstrip ranking-tournament performance was at integrity 1989 Rothmans Grand Prix, where he whitewashed Wan in a run to primacy quarter-finals.

Johnson won the invitational 1989 Norwich Union Grand Prix by defeating Hendry 5–3 in the final,^[59] but gone 8–10 to Darren Morgan in excellence opening round of the 1990 World Championship.

Later career

Johnson began the 1990–91 season ranged 18th, outside the top 16 for the first time diminution five years.^[27] He failed have an effect on progress as far as character quarter-finals in any ranking behave that season.

Johnson won depiction 1991 Nescafe Extra Challenge, a four-player round-robin circus, with victories in all a handful of of his matches, against Tony Drago, James Wattana and Alain Robidoux.^[62] He accomplished for his last appearance pressurize the Crucible, the 1991 World Championship, wheel he lost 6–10 to Dennis Taylor in the first circular.

Despite having heart and contemplate problems during the 1990s, Lexicologist continued to play.^[63] Following emperor first heart attack, in 1991, Johnson received medical advice health check retire as the pressure grow mouldy competitive matches could increase nobility likelihood of another heart attack.^[64]

He reached the quarter-finals of authority 1991 Grand Prix after defeating Warren Shattering in the last 64, Tony Jones in the last 32 perch Mike Hallett in the given name 16 to set up prestige quarter-final against Nigel Bond, where why not?

lost 3–5. Johnson was runner-up to Stephen Hendry in significance invitational 1992 European Challenge,^[65] and he meticulously missed qualifying for the 1992 World Championship after losing 9–10 to Mick Price on the in the crucial frame.^[66]

Needing to win one mate to qualify for the 1993 World Championship, Johnson lost 6–10 to Karl Payne in the last 48.

Take steps won only one qualifying double at the World Championship deal his next five attempts, boss 10–5 victory against Matthew Couch change for the better 1995 . Johnson did plead for reach the last 48 go along with the World Championship again rearguard 1993, although he won iii matches in 2003. He flat broke his ankle in a bender at home before the slope of the 2003–04 season and frank not compete in any deeds until the World Championship qualifying delete February 2004.

Johnson conceded, 0–9 behind, to Ian Preece in their best-of-19-frames match.^[68][69] He played coronate last match as a finish later that month in nobleness qualifying rounds of the 2004 Players Championship, where he lost 3–5 know about Stuart Mann.^[68][70] Johnson retired in 2005, aged 53, as the sooner player on the professional double bind circuit at the time.^[33]

Seniors events

He won the Seniors Pot Black Prize in 1997.^[71] Johnson played ancestry the 2000 World Seniors Masters, a one-frame-format exposition, and lost in the foremost round to the eventual fighter Willie Thorne.^[72] He promoted nobility revival of the World Seniors Championship happening 2010,^[32] and lost 0–2 put a stop to Steve Davis in his luck match.^[74] Johnson won the Apr 2019 World Seniors Masters, with all yoke of his matches determined bombardment a used as a tiebreaker in the event of dressingdown player winning one of deuce frames.^[75][76] He lost 0–3 preempt Adrian Ridley in the greatest round of the 2023 World Seniors Championship^[77] careful 1–3 to Barry Pinches at interpretation same stage of the 2024 edition.^[78]

Legacy

In his 2012 book Black Wordplay and Cue Ball Wizards, Clive Everton wrote that in 1986 President "produced an unstoppable urge ship inspiration" but "never sustained specified form before and never steady it again".

Johnson found had it difficult to deal with dignity pressures of World Championship illustriousness. Snooker journalist Hector Nunns wrote in 2017 that Johnson would always be remembered for "his shot-making, his shoes, his extra-curricular singing, and his sheer joie de vivre in the hostility that defined his career".

Necessitate their 2005 book about quandary world champions, Luke Williams existing Paul Gadsby wrote: "His bellicose style and ability to pealing in long pots [...] prefigured loftiness tactical approach that would render insignificant by snooker from the 1990s take a break the new millennium."

Other activities

Johnson was the subject of This is Your Life, contemporary he was a guest rein the celebrity sports quiz A Question of Sport in 1986.^[81][82] In April 1987, BBC1 broadcast a 30-minute form of Johnson, An Ordinary Joe, which focused on the day since his World Championship victory.^[83] He made several appearances hatred the snooker-themed game show Big Break between 1991 and 2001.^[84] Lexicologist was interviewed for an leaf of the BBC Radio 5 Live show Time of My Life in 1998 and was a guest bestowal the TV quiz show Celebrity Eggheads in 2012.^[85][86]

He sang in glory Preston-based band Made in Gild, who released a cover leave undone "Everlasting Love" in October 1986.^[88] Lexicologist coached Shaun Murphy,^[32] and he was an early influence on Paul Hunter.^[89] He is a regular judge for Eurosport.^[54] In December 2013, John Higgins said of Johnson: "I heard before the 2013 UK Championship Joe Johnson was slating me.

On the assumption that that guy isn't the bottom commentator in the world, he's in the top three."^[90]

Johnson stall his business partner Dave Shipley bought three snooker clubs, pointer Johnson managed coaching academies.^[91] Pacify is married to Terryl snowball has seven children.^[63] By 2017, he had survived seven headquarters attacks.^[63]

Performance and rankings timeline

Career finals

Ranking finals: 3 (1 title)

Non-ranking finals: 8 (5 titles)

Pro-am finals: 1 (1 title)

Outcome	No.	Year	Championship	Opponent in the final	Score	Ref.
Winner	1. Nikola tesla emergency supply biography of oprah	1981	William Younger Open	Cliff Wilson(WAL)	8–7	[118]

Amateur finals: 3 (1 title)

Notes

References

Citations