Joe Johnson (snooker player)
Born | Bradford, England | 29 July 1952
---|---|
Sport country | England |
Nickname | The Shoe[1] |
Professional | 1979–2004 |
Highest ranking | 5 (1987–88) |
Tournament wins | |
Ranking | 1 |
World Champion | 1986 |
Joe Johnson (born 29 July 1952) is an English former professional snooker player and snooker commentator for Eurosport. He became the British under-19 champion in 1971 as an amateur, defeating Tony Knowles in the final. After reaching the finals of the 1978 English Amateur Championship (losing to Terry Griffiths) and the 1978 World Amateur Championship (losing to Cliff Wilson), Johnson turned professional in 1979. He reached his first ranking final at the 1983 Professional Players Tournament (losing to Knowles), and reached the semi-finals of the 1985 Classic (losing to Cliff Thorburn).
Johnson began the 1986 World Snooker Championship as a 150–1 outsider, with first-round losses in both of his previous Crucible appearances. He defeated Griffiths 13–12 in the quarter-finals, Knowles 16–8 in the semi-finals, and Steve Davis 18–12 in the final to win the world title and the only ranking title of his career. The following year, in the World Championship, Johnson defeated Stephen Hendry 13–12 in the quarter-finals and Neal Foulds 16–9 in the semi-finals. In the final, however, he lost 14–18 to Davis. Johnson won only one match in the final stages of the World Championship thereafter, defeating Wilson in the first round of the 1988 event.
His best performances in the other Triple Crown events were reaching the semi-finals of the 1987 UK Championship (losing 4–9 to Jimmy White) and the semi-finals of the 1988 Masters (losing 3–6 to Davis). Johnson dropped out of the top 16 after the 1989–90 snooker season and made his last Crucible appearance in 1991, losing in the first round to Dennis Taylor. He continued playing on the professional tour until 2005, when he retired at age 53 after breaking his ankle. Johnson later competed on the World Seniors Tour and won the 2019 Seniors Masters.
Early life and amateur career
[edit]Johnson was born on 29 July 1952, in Bradford, England.[2] His mother's name was Margaret, and his father was engineer Malik Farooq.[3][4] The couple separated when Joe was two years old.[3] Margaret later married Ken Johnson, who taught his stepson how to play snooker from the age of four.[3][4] Johnson became the national under-19 champion in 1971 and was three-times Yorkshire champion.[2]
He set a record in 1978 for the highest break compiled by an amateur player, recording a 140 break at the TUC Club in Middlesbrough.[2] The same year, after finishing second to Terry Griffiths in the English Amateur Championship, Johnson represented England at the World Amateur Snooker Championship in Malta.[5] He reached the final, where he was defeated 11–5 by Cliff Wilson; they were level at five frames each after the first session, but Wilson won six consecutive frames for the victory.[6] Johnson made the highest break of the tournament, a 101.[7]
In 1979, he was accepted as a professional snooker player by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association along with Wilson, Tony Meo and Mike Hallett.[8] Before taking up snooker professionally, Johnson worked as an apprentice motor mechanic and as a gasfitter.[3][9]
Professional career
[edit]Early years
[edit]Johnson achieved little success in his early professional career and gained a reputation for not performing well in televised matches.[9] At the 1979 Canadian Open, he defeated Steve Baruda 5–4 after making a 100 break in the first frame. He eliminated John Bear 9–7 in the next round but then lost 2–9 to Kirk Stevens in the last 16.[10] Johnson won the billiards competition that was running alongside the snooker event, defeating Ian Williamson 500–284 in the final.[11]
He lost his opening match at the 1979 UK Championship to Bill Werbeniuk, 3–9.[12] At the 1980 World Championship, he eliminated Roy Andrewartha 9–5 in the first qualifying round but lost his next match 6–9 to Pat Houlihan.[12] After defeating John Dunning 9–6 at the 1980 UK Championship, he lost 4–9 in the next round to Patsy Fagan.[12] Johnson eliminated Tony Knowles from the 1981 English Professional Championship with a 9–2 win in the first round before receiving a walkover against John Pulman to progress to the quarter-finals, where he lost 5–9 to Ray Edmonds.[12] At the 1981 World Championship, he took a 4–3 lead against Tony Meo after the first session but lost in the deciding frame.[13][14]
In the 1981–82 season, Johnson progressed through several rounds of the 1981 Jameson International.[15] After defeating Jim Donnelly 5–4 and Murdo MacLeod 5–1, he received another walkover against Pulman. He next eliminated Jim Wych 5–2, which was the most significant win of Johnson's professional career up to that point, but he then lost in the last-24 round to Graham Miles, 3–5.[15][16]
He began the 1981 UK Championship with a 9–1 win over Tommy Murphy, followed by a 9–3 defeat of Mike Watterson and a 9–4 win over Cliff Wilson. In the next round, he eliminated the former world champion John Spencer 9–5, earning himself a last-16 tie against another former world champion, Ray Reardon, to whom he lost 7–9.[17][15] Johnson defeated Vic Harris 9–4 in the qualifying rounds of the 1982 World Championship and reached the last 48, where he lost 8–9 to Mike Hallett.[15]
1982–1985: Ranking event finalist
[edit]After receiving a walkover against John Phillips, Johnson faced Cliff Wilson in the qualifying competition for the 1982 Jameson International. After taking a 4–2 lead, he lost 4–5.[18] Johnson won his first ranking points at the 1982 Professional Players Tournament.[2] He began with a 5–1 win against Graham Miles, followed by a 5–1 win against sixth-ranked Kirk Stevens and a 5–4 last-16 win against Mark Wildman.[19] In the quarter-final, Johnson won the first frame against John Virgo but was defeated 1–5.[19] As one of six players outside the top eight in the rankings who progressed furthest in the tournament, he was awarded a place at the 1983 Masters.[20][21] Johnson lost his opening match at the Masters to Cliff Thorburn.[22] In the qualifying event for the 1983 World Championship, recorded a 10–0 whitewash against Paul Watchorn in the first round but lost 8–9 to Wilson and failed to reach the main event.[22]
Johnson's points from the previous season saw him ranked 23rd in the world.[23] In the last 48 of the 1983 International Open, he beat Dennis Hughes 5–1 and lost 2–5 to Eddie Charlton in the last 32.[2][22] Johnson began the untelevised 1983 Professional Players Tournament with a 5–3 win against Pascal Burke. Then he defeated Jimmy White 5–3. In his next match, against Charlton, Johnson won 5–0.[22] In the quarter-final, Johnson eliminated Thorburn 5–1 and defeated Tony Meo 9–6 in the semi-finals to reach his first major final, against Tony Knowles.[2][22] After being 1–6 down to Knowles, Johnson compiled the highest break of the tournament (135) and levelled the match at 8–8 before Knowles secured the deciding 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.[22] The quarter-final against Terry Griffiths was his first televised match as a professional.[25] Johnson lost the first seven frames and the match, 2–9.[25] In the qualifying event for the 1984 World Championship, he won his encounter with Gibson 10–3 to earn his debut on the Crucible stage[22][26] (where he was defeated 1–10 by Dennis Taylor).[22]
Johnson began the 1984–85 season ranked 19th.[27] At the 1984 Costa Del Sol Classic, he started with a quarter-final win against Mick Fisher and lost 2–3 in the semi-final to Dennis Taylor.[28] Johnson lost to Taylor again at the 1984 International Open.[22] He eliminated Mario Morra 5–0 and Charlton 5–1 in the last 32 before losing to Taylor 2–5 in the last 16.[22] In the following ranking event, the 1984 Grand Prix, Johnson defeated Paul Medati 5–1 but lost 4–5 to Ian Williamson in the last 32.[22] At the 1984 UK Championship, he defeated John Rea 9–6 and John Spencer by the same score in the last 32 before a 2–0 defeat by Stevens in the last 16.[22] Johnson defeated Ray Edmonds and Knowles to reach the last 16 at the 1985 Mercantile Credit Classic.[22] He then whitewashed Wilson and achieved his first win in a televised match, winning each frame by a narrow margin.[29] A 5–3 victory against Warren King took him into the semi-finals.[29] According to Janice Hale of The Daily Telegraph, Johnson "failed to reproduce any of the fighting form which he displayed in the final of last season's Professional Players Tournament" as he lost 2–9 to Thorburn.[30]
He qualified for the main stage of the 1985 World Snooker Championship again by defeating Geoff Foulds 10–6.[9] Johnson played Bill Werbeniuk (who had not won a match all season) in the first round, but Werbeniuk made a 143 break in the tenth frame – the third-highest break ever recorded at the championship at that time – and won 10–8.[31]
1985–86 season: World champion
[edit]Johnson began the season ranked 16th, inside the top 16 for the first time in his career.[32] He was relatively unheralded going into the 1986 World Championship, since he had never won a televised match until the previous year.[33] Having never won a match at the Crucible Theatre, Johnson was rated a 150–1 outsider.[34] His best results during the season had been quarter-final finishes at the 1985 Matchroom Trophy (where he lost 3–5 to Neal Foulds) and at the 1986 Mercantile Credit Classic (where he lost 4–5 to Cliff Thorburn).[22][35]
He defeated Dave Martin 10–3 in the first round for his first win in three main-stage World Championship appearances.[36] In the second round, Johnson took a 5–3 lead against Mike Hallett after the first session and went on to win 13–6.[37] He met former champion Terry Griffiths in the quarter-finals. Johnson led 9–7 going into the final session, but Griffiths won five straight frames to lead 12–9 before Johnson won four straight frames (including two century breaks) to win 13–12.[33][38] He eliminated Tony Knowles despite taking painkillers for a cyst on his back before the start of play, winning the last two frames of the final session for a 16–8 victory.[34][39][40]
In the final, Johnson met world number one Steve Davis; they had never previously played a professional match against one another.[40][41] Davis was considered much more likely to win the final, reflected in the bookmakers' odds of 2–9 for Davis and 5–1 for Johnson. Davis took a 3–1 lead, making breaks of 108 and 107.[42] Johnson then took the next three frames to finish the first session 4–3 ahead. Davis began the second session by winning four frames in succession to put himself 7–4 ahead. After the next mid-session interval, Johnson won four consecutive frames,[34] before Davis clinched the last frame to leave the match level at 8–8 overnight.[43]
On the second day, Johnson wore an unusual pair of red, pink and white leather shoes.[42] Resuming the match, he won another run of four frames to take a 12–8 lead.[43] Gordon Burn wrote in his book Pocket Money (1986), "From the beginning of the third session he played an open game full of flair and daring and the length-of-the-table, long-potting which had been so characteristic of Steve Davis in the days when he was still making his name."[44] The session ended with Johnson ahead 13–11.[34] In the final session the crowd appeared to favour Johnson, who had played with an attacking style throughout the tournament.[43] He won three of the next four frames to lead 16–12 before the mid-session interval.[41][43] He then added frame 29 and compiled a break of 64 in frame 30 to win the match 18–12.[34][41][43] The win helped lift Johnson from 16th place in the 1985–86 professional rankings to eighth for 1986–87.[45]
He wore a T-shirt with the slogan "Bradford's Bouncing Back" (a reference to the Bradford City stadium fire a year earlier) when he was not playing in the tournament.[46] Johnson's win led to an appearance on the television show Wogan and a "personal appearance" accompanying pop star Cliff Richard to watch Wimbledon.[43]
Post-World Championship win
[edit]He had a poor season in terms of results as world champion, and lost before the televised stage in every major tournament except one before the 1987 World Championship.[32][47] By his own admission, Johnson arrived at the Crucible for the tournament simply hoping merely to progress past the first round.[48] However, he defied expectations and reached the final again.[47] In the first round, Johnson narrowly defeated Eugene Hughes in a match that went to the last frame.[49] He followed this with a 13–7 win against Murdo MacLeod, then defeated the 18-year-old Stephen Hendry 13–12 in the quarter-finals.[47][49][50] In the semi-final, Johnson won 16–9 against Neal Foulds.[51] Once again his opponent in the final was Steve Davis, who defeated him.[49]
Johnson took a 4–3 lead in the first session but was 7–9 behind after session two.[48] Davis increased his advantage to 14–9, but Johnson took the last frame of the third session and the first three frames of the concluding session to be one frame behind at 13–14.[48] After Johnson had a bad miss attempting a long pot early in frame 28, Davis took that frame and the next two for an 18–14 victory.[48] Davis said, "For Joe to come to the Crucible and play as if he hadn't had the season he has was tremendous, really."[48] Johnson praised Davis, as he had after the 1986 final, and said about his own year as champion: "It only seemed five minutes when I walked out to play Steve again in the final, but with all the personal appearances it just seemed to go on and on."[48]
He reached fifth place in the world 1987–88 rankings based on results from the two preceding seasons, largely as a result of his performances at the Crucible.[52] Johnson was runner-up to Dennis Taylor in the four-player 1987 Carling Challenge,[53] and he won the 1987 Scottish Masters by overcoming Terry Griffiths 9–7 in the final for his only other major professional snooker title.[54][55] He reached the semi-finals of the 1987 UK Championship, where he came close to making a 147 maximum break against Jimmy White but missed the pink on 134[32] and lost the match 4–9.[22] Later that season Johnson reached the semi-finals of the 1988 Masters, where he lost 3–6 to Davis after eliminating Willie Thorne and White.[22] He defeated Cliff Wilson 10–7 in the first round of the 1988 World Championship,[56] and recovered from 3–11 to 9–11 against Steve James before losing after James won the next two frames.[57]
Dropping six places to 11th in the 1988–89 season,[58] Johnson's best showing in a ranking tournament was reaching the quarter-finals of the 1988 Fidelity International Open. He lost 5–10 to Tony Meo in the first round of the 1989 World Championship.[22] In 1989–90, Johnson was runner-up to Thorne in the invitational 1989 New Zealand Masters.[22] His best ranking-tournament performance was at the 1989 Rothmans Grand Prix, where he whitewashed White in a run to the quarter-finals.[22] Johnson won the invitational 1989 Norwich Union Grand Prix by defeating Hendry 5–3 in the final,[59] but lost 8–10 to Darren Morgan in the opening round of the 1990 World Championship.[22]
Later career
[edit]Johnson began the 1990–91 season ranked 18th, outside the top 16 for the first time in five years.[27][60] He failed to progress as far as the quarter-finals in any ranking event that season.[61] Johnson won the 1991 Nescafe Extra Challenge, a four-player round-robin event, with victories in all three of his matches, against Tony Drago, James Wattana and Alain Robidoux.[62] He qualified for his last appearance at the Crucible, the 1991 World Championship, where he lost 6–10 to Dennis Taylor in the first round.[61] Despite having heart and eye problems during the 1990s, Johnson continued to play in qualifying events.[63] Following his first heart attack, in 1991, Johnson received medical advice to retire as the pressure of competitive matches could increase the likelihood of another heart attack.[64]
He reached the quarter-finals of the 1991 Grand Prix after defeating Warren King in the last 64, Tony Jones in the last 32 and Mike Hallett in the last 16 to set up the quarter-final against Nigel Bond, where he lost 3–5.[22] Johnson was runner-up to Stephen Hendry in the invitational 1992 European Challenge,[65] and he narrowly missed qualifying for the 1992 World Championship after losing 9–10 to Mick Price on the pink ball in the deciding frame.[66]
Needing to win one match to qualify for the 1993 World Championship, Johnson lost 6–10 to Karl Payne in the last 48.[67] He won only one qualifying match at the World Championship in his next five attempts, a 10–5 victory against Matthew Couch in 1995 .[67] Johnson did not reach the last 48 of the World Championship again after 1993, although he won three matches in 2003.[67] He broke his ankle in a fall at home before the start of the 2003–04 season and did not compete in any events until the World Championship qualifying in February 2004. Johnson conceded, 0–9 behind, to Ian Preece in their best-of-19-frames match.[68][69] He played his last match as a professional later that month in the qualifying rounds of the 2004 Players Championship, where he lost 3–5 to Stuart Mann.[68][70] Johnson retired in 2005, aged 53, as the oldest player on the professional snooker circuit at the time.[33]
Seniors events
[edit]He won the Seniors Pot Black Trophy in 1997.[71] Johnson played in the 2000 World Seniors Masters, a one-frame-format event, and lost in the first round to the eventual champion Willie Thorne.[72] He promoted the revival of the World Seniors Championship in 2010,[32][73] and lost 0–2 to Steve Davis in his opening match.[74] Johnson won the April 2019 World Seniors Masters, with all three of his matches determined on a re-spotted black used as a tiebreaker in the event of each player winning one of two frames.[75][76] He lost 0–3 to Adrian Ridley in the first round of the 2023 World Seniors Championship[77] and 1–3 to Barry Pinches at the same stage of the 2024 edition.[78]
Legacy
[edit]In his 2012 book, Clive Everton wrote that in 1986 Johnson "produced an unstoppable urge of inspiration" but "never sustained such form before and never sustained it again".[79] Johnson found it difficult to deal with the pressures of World Championship fame, and was poorly served by his manager.[79] Snooker journalist Hector Nunns wrote in 2017 that that Johnson would always be remembered for "his shot-making, his shoes, his extra-curricular singing, and his sheer joie de vivre in the match that defined his career".[80] In their 2005 book about snooker world champions, Luke Williams and Paul Gadsby wrote: "His attacking style and ability to crash in long pots [...] prefigured the tactical approach that would dominate snooker from the 1990s into the new millennium."[60]
Other activities
[edit]Johnson was the subject of This is Your Life, and he was a guest on the celebrity sports quiz A Question of Sport in 1986.[81][82] In April 1987, BBC1 broadcast a 30-minute profile of Johnson, An Ordinary Joe, which focused on the year since his World Championship victory.[83] He made several appearances on the snooker-themed game show Big Break between 1991 and 2001.[84] Johnson was interviewed for an episode of the BBC Radio 5 Live show Time of My Life in 1998 and was a guest on the TV quiz show Celebrity Eggheads in 2012.[85][86]
He sang in the Preston-based band Made in Japan,[87] who released a cover of "Everlasting Love" in October 1986.[88] Johnson coached Shaun Murphy,[32] and he was an early influence on Paul Hunter.[89] He is a regular commentator for Eurosport.[54] In December 2013, John Higgins said of Johnson: "I heard before the 2013 UK Championship Joe Johnson was slating me. If that guy isn't the worst commentator in the world, he's in the top three."[90]
Johnson and his business partner Dave Shipley bought three snooker clubs, and Johnson managed coaching academies.[60][91] He is married to Terryl and has seven children.[2][63] By 2017, he had survived seven heart attacks.[63]
Performance and rankings timeline
[edit]Tournament | 1979/ 80 |
1980/ 81 |
1981/ 82 |
1982/ 83 |
1983/ 84 |
1984/ 85 |
1985/ 86 |
1986/ 87 |
1987/ 88 |
1988/ 89 |
1989/ 90 |
1990/ 91 |
1991/ 92 |
1992/ 93 |
1993/ 94 |
1994/ 95 |
1995/ 96 |
1996/ 97 |
1997/ 98 |
1998/ 99 |
1999/ 00 |
2000/ 01 |
2001/ 02 |
2002/ 03 |
2003/ 04 |
Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ranking | –[a] | –[93] | –[94] | –[95] | 23 | 19 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 17 | 26 | 23 | 26 | 37 | 56 | 47 | 52 | 55 | 59 | 61 | 73 | 90 | 96 | [96] |
Ranking tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LG Cup[b] | Not Held | QF | F | 2R | 3R | 1R | 2R | 2R | QF | 1R | QF | 2R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | LQ | 2R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | WD | [22] | ||
British Open[c] | Non-Ranking Event | 1R | 2R | 3R | 3R | QF | 2R | 2R | 3R | 2R | 2R | LQ | 1R | LQ | 2R | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | WD | [22] | ||||
UK Championship | Non-Ranking Event | 2R | 2R | 2R | SF | 3R | 3R | 3R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | LQ | 3R | LQ | LQ | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | WD | [22] | ||||
Welsh Open | Tournament Not Held | 3R | 1R | 1R | 2R | LQ | 1R | LQ | 2R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | WD | [22] | |||||||||||
European Open[d] | Tournament Not Held | 3R | 3R | 2R | 2R | 3R | LQ | LQ | 2R | LQ | NH | LQ | Not Held | LQ | LQ | WD | [22] | |||||||||
Irish Masters | Non-Ranking Event | LQ | WD | [22] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Players Championship[e] | Not Held | NR | LQ | 1R | 2R | QF | 2R | 1R | QF | 1R | Not Held | 1R | 1R | LQ | 2R | 2R | LQ | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | [22] | ||
World Championship | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | 1R | 1R | W | F | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | [22] |
Non-ranking tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Masters | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | 1R | QF | SF | 1R | QF | LQ | A | A | LQ | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | [22] |
Matchroom League[f] | Tournament Not Held | A | RR[g] | A | A | A | A | Tournament Not Held | [102] | |||||||||||||||||
Former ranking tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Canadian Masters[h] | NR | Not Held | Non-Ranking | 1R | Tournament Not Held | [15] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Hong Kong Open[i] | Non-Ranking Event | NH | LQ | Tournament Not Held | NR | NR | Tournament Not Held | [15] | ||||||||||||||||||
Classic | Non-Ranking Event | 1R | SF | QF | 2R | 2R | 3R | 1R | 3R | 1R | Tournament Not Held | [22] | ||||||||||||||
Strachan Open | Tournament Not Held | 2R | Tournament Not Held | [61] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Dubai Classic[j] | Tournament Not Held | NR | 1R | 1R | QF | 1R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | Tournament Not Held | [22] | |||||||||||||
German Open | Tournament Not Held | LQ | LQ | LQ | NR | Tournament Not Held | [22] | |||||||||||||||||||
Malta Grand Prix | Tournament Not Held | Non-Ranking Event | WD | NR | Not Held | [22] | ||||||||||||||||||||
China Open[k] | Tournament Not Held | NR | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | Not Held | [22] | ||||||||||||||||||
Thailand Masters[l] | Tournament Not Held | Non-Ranking Event | Not Held | 2R | 1R | 1R | 3R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | NR | NH | [22] | |||||||
Former non-ranking tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Players Championship[e] | Not Held | 2R | Ranking Event | Not Held | Ranking Event | [108] | ||||||||||||||||||||
British Open[c] | LQ | LQ | RR | LQ | LQ | Ranking Event | [109] | |||||||||||||||||||
Bass & Golden Leisure Classic | Not Held | LQ | Tournament Not Held | [110] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
UK Championship | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | QF | Ranking Event | [22] | |||||||||||||||||||
Costa Del Sol Classic | Tournament Not Held | SF | Tournament Not Held | [28] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Australian Masters[i] | A | A | A | A | A | A | QF | SF | QF | NH | R | Tournament Not Held | A | A | Tournament Not Held | [22] | ||||||||||
Scottish Masters | Not Held | A | A | A | A | A | QF | W | NH | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | Not Held | [22] | ||
Carling Challenge[m] | Tournament Not Held | A | A | SF | F | A | Tournament Not Held | [22] | ||||||||||||||||||
Canadian Masters[h] | 2R | A | Not Held | A | QF | QF | R | Tournament Not Held | [10][22] | |||||||||||||||||
Kent Cup | Tournament Not Held | A | QF | A | A | A | NH | A | Tournament Not Held | [112] | ||||||||||||||||
World Matchplay | Tournament Not Held | QF | A | A | A | A | Tournament Not Held | [15] | ||||||||||||||||||
English Professional Championship | NH | QF | Not Held | 2R | QF | SF | SF | QF | Tournament Not Held | [22] | ||||||||||||||||
New Zealand Masters | Tournament Not Held | A | Not Held | SF | F | Tournament Not Held | [113] | |||||||||||||||||||
Irish Masters | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | QF | QF | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | Ranking | [22] | |
Shoot-Out | Tournament Not Held | 1R | Tournament Not Held | [114] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Nescafe Extra Challenge | Tournament Not Held | W | NH | A | Tournament Not Held | [62] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Norwich Union Grand Prix | Tournament Not Held | A | W | SF | Tournament Not Held | [22][115] | ||||||||||||||||||||
World Masters | Tournament Not Held | 3R | Tournament Not Held | [22] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pontins Professional | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | QF | QF | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | Tournament Not Held | [22] | |||
European Challenge | Tournament Not Held | F | A | Tournament Not Held | [116] | |||||||||||||||||||||
Strachan Challenge 1 | Tournament Not Held | 2R | LQ | Tournament Not Held | [61] | |||||||||||||||||||||
Strachan Challenge 2 | Tournament Not Held | LQ | LQ | Tournament Not Held | [61] | |||||||||||||||||||||
Strachan Challenge 3 | Tournament Not Held | LQ | Tournament Not Held | [61] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Malta Grand Prix | Tournament Not Held | QF | A | A | A | A | R | A | Not Held | [61] | ||||||||||||||||
Seniors Pot Black | Tournament Not Held | W | Tournament Not Held | [71] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
World Seniors Masters | Tournament Not Held | 1R | Tournament Not Held | [72] |
Performance Table Legend | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
LQ | lost in the qualifying draw | #R | lost in the early rounds of the tournament (RR = Round robin) |
QF | lost in the quarter-finals |
SF | lost in the semi–finals | F | lost in the final | W | won the tournament |
DNQ | did not qualify for the tournament | A | did not participate in the tournament | WD | withdrew from the tournament |
NH / Not Held | means an event was not held. | |||
NR / Non-Ranking Event | means an event is/was no longer a ranking event. | |||
R / Ranking Event | means an event is/was a ranking event. | |||
MR / Minor-Ranking Event | means an event is/was a minor-ranking event. |
Career finals
[edit]Ranking finals: 3 (1 title)
[edit]Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 1. | 1983 | Professional Players Tournament | Tony Knowles (ENG) | 8–9 | [24] |
Winner | 1. | 1986 | World Snooker Championship | Steve Davis (ENG) | 18–12 | [22] |
Runner-up | 2. | 1987 | World Snooker Championship | Steve Davis (ENG) | 14–18 | [22] |
Non-ranking finals: 8 (5 titles)
[edit]Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 1. | 1987 | Carling Challenge | Dennis Taylor (NIR) | 5–8 | [22] |
Winner | 1. | 1987 | Scottish Masters | Terry Griffiths (WAL) | 9–7 | [22] |
Runner-up | 2. | 1989 | New Zealand Masters | Willie Thorne (ENG) | 4–7 | [22] |
Winner | 2. | 1989 | Norwich Union Grand Prix | Stephen Hendry (SCO) | 5–3 | [22] |
Winner | 3. | 1991 | Nescafe Extra Challenge | James Wattana (THA) | Round–Robin | [62] |
Runner-up | 3. | 1992 | European Challenge | Stephen Hendry (SCO) | 0–4 | [22] |
Winner | 4. | 1997 | Seniors Pot Black | Terry Griffiths (WAL) | unknown | [117] |
Winner | 5. | 2019 | The Seniors Masters | Barry Pinches (ENG) | 2–1 | [75] |
Pro-am finals: 1 (1 title)
[edit]Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | 1. | 1981 | William Younger Open | Cliff Wilson (WAL) | 8–7 | [118] |
Amateur finals: 3 (1 title)
[edit]Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | 1. | 1971 | British Under-19 Championship | George Crimes (ENG) | 3–0 | [119] |
Runner-up | 1. | 1978 | English Amateur Championship | Terry Griffiths (WAL) | 6–13 | [120] |
Runner-up | 2. | 1978 | World Amateur Championship | Cliff Wilson (WAL) | 5–11 | [7] |
Notes
[edit]- ^ New professionals do not have a ranking.[92]
- ^ The event was also called the Professional Players Tournament (1982/1983–1983/1984).[97]
- ^ a b The event was also called the British Gold Cup (1979/1980), Yamaha Organs Trophy (1980/1981) and International Masters (1981/1982–1983/1984).[98]
- ^ The event also ran under the name Irish Open (1998/1999).[99]
- ^ a b The event was also called the Goya Matchroom Trophy (1985/1986).[100]
- ^ The event was later called the Premier League.[101]
- ^ Tenth of ten competitors.[102]
- ^ a b The event was also called the Canadian Open (1978/1979–1980/1981).[103]
- ^ a b The event was also called the Australian Open (1994/1995).[104]
- ^ The event was also called the Dubai Masters (1988/1989), Dubai Classic (1989/90–1994/1995) and Thailand Classic (1995/1996).[105]
- ^ The event ran under different names as China International (1997/1998 and 1998/1999).[106]
- ^ The event was also called the Thailand Masters (1983/1984–1986/1987 & 1991/1992) and the Asian Open (1989/1990–1992/1993).[107]
- ^ The event was also called the Carlsberg Challenge (1984/1985 to 1986/1987)[111]
References
[edit]Citations
- ^ Carter, Jo (15 April 2010). "Joe Johnson: The man who stunned the Crucible". ESPN. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Morrison 1988, p. 56.
- ^ a b c d Everton 1986, p. 30.
- ^ a b Payne, Joe (17 May 1986). "Right on cue: snooker mania sweeps Britain". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 112. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ Williams & Gadsby 2005, pp. 136–137.
- ^ "Wilson claims snooker crown". Star-Phoenix. Saskatoon. 27 November 1978. p. 21. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ a b Morrison 1987, p. 160.
- ^ "New professionals – winning doesn't count". Snooker Scene. July 1979. p. 5.
- ^ a b c Williams & Gadsby 2005, p. 137.
- ^ a b "Round by round at the C.N.E. International". Snooker Scene. October 1979. pp. 11–17.
- ^ "Johnson wins C.N.E. billiards". Snooker Scene. October 1979. pp. 11–17.
- ^ a b c d Hayton & Dee 2004, p. 571.
- ^ Hayton & Dee 2004, pp. 571–572.
- ^ "Embassy world professional championship (qualifying competition) at Romiley Forum, Stockport". Snooker Scene. May 1981. p. 5.
- ^ a b c d e f g Hayton & Dee 2004, p. 572.
- ^ "KO for seeded Canadian". Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph. 3 September 1981. p. 18. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ Hayton & Dee 2004, pp. 12, 17.
- ^ "Jameson International: qualifying competitions". Snooker Scene. November 1982. p. 5.
- ^ a b "Professional Players Tournament". Snooker Scene. November 1982. pp. 16–22.
- ^ Everton, Clive (13 October 1982). "Higgins toils in natural break". The Guardian. p. 24. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- ^ "New faces for Masters". Snooker Scene. December 1982. p. 21.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba Hayton & Dee 2004, pp. 571–574.
- ^ "New W.P.B.S.A. rankings". Snooker Scene. June 1983. p. 28.
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- ^ a b Everton 1985, p. 81.
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- ^ Hale, Janice (12 January 1985). "Thorburn speeds on to meet Thorne in final". The Daily Telegraph. p. 33. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
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- ^ Williams & Gadsby 2005, p. 138.
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- ^ Friskin, Sydney (26 April 1986). "Snooker: Johnson makes a big advance in his career". The Times. p. 40.
- ^ Friskin, Sydney (1 May 1986). "Snooker: Dramatic victory for Johnson". The Times. p. 38.
- ^ Ross, Alasdair (2 May 1986). "Thorburn has a bad night against top snooker player". Toronto Star. Ontario. p. 2.
- ^ a b "Snooker: Davis goes into the unknown". The Times. 5 May 1986. p. 32.
- ^ a b c Friskin, Sydney (6 May 1986). "Snooker: Johnson defies odds to win". The Times. p. 40.
- ^ a b Williams & Gadsby 2005, pp. 136–141.
- ^ a b c d e f Metcalfe, Nick (23 April 2020). "World Snooker Championship memories: Joe Johnson shocks Steve Davis in 1986". Sporting Life. UK: Hestview. Archived from the original on 2 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^ Burn 2008, p. 257.
- ^ "Snooker". The Guardian. 13 May 1986. p. 28. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ Everton 2012, p. 104.
- ^ a b c Burn 2008, p. 273.
- ^ a b c d e f "Davis wins fourth world title". Snooker Scene. June 1987. pp. 18–19.
- ^ a b c "1987: Davis' revenge on Johnson". BBC Sport. BBC. 7 April 2004. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
- ^ Smith 1987, p. 78,80.
- ^ Hale, Janice (3 May 1987). "Johnson's harvest". The Observer. p. 47. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ "WPBSA world rankings". Snooker Scene. July 1987. pp. 16–17.
- ^ Morrison 1989, p. 107.
- ^ a b "Joe Johnson". World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ Smith 1988, p. 67.
- ^ Everton, Clive (20 April 1988). "Johnson prevails". The Guardian. p. 15. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ Everton, Clive (26 April 1988). "A stumble or two before James rides again". The Guardian. p. 17. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ Smith 1988, pp. 20–29.
- ^ "Snooker (Norwich Grand Prix)". The Daily Telegraph. 14 November 1989. p. 36. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ a b c Williams & Gadsby 2005, p. 141.
- ^ a b c d e f g Hayton & Dee 2004, p. 573.
- ^ a b c "Snooker: Nescafe Extra". The Daily Telegraph. 19 March 1991. p. 36. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ a b c Amos, Mike (20 July 2017). "Darlington snooker fans queue up to play former world champion Joe Johnson ... now he's blind in one eye". The Northern Echo. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- ^ "Johnson advised to retire". Snooker Scene. July 1991. p. 7.
- ^ "In brief: Hendry best". The Times. 9 March 1992. p. 27.
- ^ "Crucible scare for McManus". The Guardian. 30 March 1992. p. 21. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ a b c Kobylecky 2019, p. 121.
- ^ a b "Joe Johnson on brink of retirement". Snooker Scene. March 2004. p. 9.
- ^ Everton, Clive (12 February 2004). "Johnson's world bid comes to painful end". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- ^ "The Archive: Joe Johnson the 150–1 shot who stunned snooker". The Herald. Glasgow. 1 May 2006. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- ^ a b Hendon, David (7 July 2009). "Snooker's seniors tour". Eurosport. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ a b Smith, Terry (October 2000). "Senior Superstars". CueSport Magazine. pp. 26–28.
- ^ Everton 2012, p. 436.
- ^ "Wyldecrest World Seniors Championship". World Snooker. 9 November 2010. Archived from the original on 26 December 2010.
- ^ a b Caulfield, David (12 April 2019). "Joe Johnson Wins World Seniors Masters". SnookerHQ. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ^ "The WSS ROKiT Sheffield Masters 2019– Joe Johnson is the Master!". The WPBSA World Seniors Tour. 12 April 2019. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ^ "World Seniors Snooker Championship: Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White reach quarter-finals at Crucible". Eurosport. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- ^ "White survives to reach quarters". World Snooker Tour. 10 May 2024.
- ^ a b Everton 2012, p. 91.
- ^ Nunns 2017, p. 88.
- ^ "Across the county". Lincolnshire Echo. 11 December 1986. p. 4. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ "A Question of Sport". BBC Programme Index. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "Joe in the frame". Evening Post. Nottingham. 16 April 1987. p. 2. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ "Results for 'Joe Johnson' "Big Break"". BBC Programme Index. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "Time of My Life". BBC Programme Index. 19 November 1998. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "Celebrity Eggheads". BBC Programme Index. 17 December 2012. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ Nunns 2017, p. 80.
- ^ "Johnson is still optimistic". Burton Mail. 26 October 1986. p. 24. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ "Obituaries: Paul Hunter". The Daily Telegraph. 11 October 2006. Archived from the original on 8 December 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ "Higgins blasts Johnson in bizarre rant after win over Burnett". Yahoo! Eurosport UK. 3 December 2013. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
- ^ Mead, Helen. "Cue the action with master and pupil Date=18 June 2007". Telegraph & Argus. Bradford.
- ^ Burn 2008, p. 182.
- ^ Turner, Chris. "Historical World Rankings 1975/76 to 1989/90". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 8 June 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
- ^ Karnehm & Carty 1982, pp. 14–19.
- ^ "New world rankings". Snooker Scene. June 1982. p. 29.
- ^ "Ranking History". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 19 December 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
- ^ Turner, Chris. "Professional Players Tournament, Grand Prix, LG Cup". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012.
- ^ Turner, Chris. "British Open Including British Gold Cup, Yamaha Organs Trophy and Yamaha International Masters". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012.
- ^ Turner, Chris. "Major European Tournaments". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
- ^ Turner, Chris. "International Open, Goya Matchroom Trophy". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012.
- ^ Turner, Chris. "Premier/Matchroom League, Matchroom Championship League". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012.
- ^ a b "Second league title for Davis". Snooker Scene. June 1988. p. 19.
- ^ Turner, Chris. "Canadian Masters". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012.
- ^ Turner, Chris. "Australian Masters". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 30 September 2010.
- ^ Turner, Chris. "Dubai Classic, Dubai Masters, Bahrain Snooker Championship". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012.
- ^ Turner, Chris. "China International, China Open, Shanghai Masters, Jiangsu/Wuxi Classic". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
- ^ Turner, Chris. "Thailand Open, Thailand Classic, Thailand Masters". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012.
- ^ "Jameson International". Snooker Scene. October 1981. p. 9.
- ^ "Yamaha Organs trophy provides familiar duet". Snooker Scene. April 1982. p. 7.
- ^ "£750 Golden Leisure for Rex". Cue World. July 1982. p. 17.
- ^ "Carlsberg Challenge, Carling Challenge, Fosters Professional". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ "Parrott shows Chinese snooker". Snooker Scene. May 1988. p. 17.
- ^ Hayton & Dee 2004, pp. 572–573.
- ^ "International one-frame shoot-out". Snooker Scene. November 1990. pp. 6–7.
- ^ Smith, Terry (8 October 1990). "Davis is beaten again on eve of title defence". The Daily Telegraph. p. 45.
- ^ "Hendry best". The Times. 9 March 1992. p. 27.
- ^ "Pot Black, Junior Pot Black". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
- ^ Everton, Clive (1981). The Guinness Book of Snooker. Enfield: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 160. ISBN 978-0-85112-230-4.
- ^ "Miles stretches snooker lead". Birmingham Evening Mail. 7 April 1971. p. 24.
- ^ Morrison 1987, p. 37.
Bibliography
- Burn, Gordon (2008) [1986]. Pocket Money. London: Faber & Faber. ISBN 978-0-571-23683-1.
- Everton, Clive (1985). Frei, Beatrice (ed.). Snooker: The Records. Enfield: Guinness Superlatives. ISBN 978-0-85112-448-3.
- Everton, Clive, ed. (1986). Benson and Hedges Snooker Year (Third ed.). Aylesbury: Pelham Books. ISBN 978-0-86369-166-9.
- Everton, Clive (2012). Black Farce and Cue Ball Wizards. Edinburgh: Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-78057-568-1.
- Hayton, Eric N.; Dee, John (2004). The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History. Lowestoft: Rose Villa Publications. ISBN 978-0-9548549-0-4.
- Karnehm, Jack; Carty, John (1982). "The supreme snooker league". World Snooker with Jack Karnehm No. 2. London: Pelham. pp. 14–19. ISBN 978-0-7207-1398-5.
- Kobylecky, John (2019). The Complete International Directory of Snooker Players – 1927 to 2018. Cambridge: Kobyhadrian Books. ISBN 978-0-9931433-1-1.
- Morrison, Ian (1987). The Hamlyn Encyclopedia of Snooker (Revised ed.). Twickenham: Hamlyn Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-600-55604-6.
- Morrison, Ian (1988). Hamlyn Who's Who in Snooker. London: Hamlyn. ISBN 978-0-600-55713-5.
- Morrison, Ian (1989). Snooker: Records, Facts and Champions. Enfield: Guinness Superlatives. ISBN 978-0-85112-364-6.
- Nunns, Hector (2017). The Crucible's Greatest Matches: Forty Years of Snooker's World Championship in Sheffield. Worthing: Pitch Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78531-284-7.
- Smith, Terry, ed. (1987). Benson and Hedges Snooker Year (Fourth ed.). Aylesbury: Pelham Books. ISBN 978-0-7207-1797-6.
- Smith, Terry, ed. (1988). Benson and Hedges Snooker Year (Fifth ed.). Aylesbury: Pelham Books. ISBN 978-0-7207-1830-0.
- Williams, Luke; Gadsby, Paul (2005). Masters of the Baize. Edinburgh: Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-84018-872-1.
External links
[edit]- Joe Johnson at the World Snooker Tour (archived)
- Joe Johnson at snooker.org