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Crucible Classics #24

Postby Pink Ball

At number 24 in my countdown is:

24. 1983 World Championship Semi-Final: Cliff Thorburn 16-15 Tony Knowles
74(74)-51; 58-30; 13-89(51); 15-94(52); 56-50; 42-98; 52-56; 14-66; 60-53; 64-27; 8-89; 9-66; 71-32; 59-18; 23-58; 85-32; 76-33; 49-55; 72-8; 39-65; 64-48; 66-49; 50-61; 41-50; 36-79(74); 66-21; 47-59; 29-57; 70-58; 64-31; 68-37

Match Progress: 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 4-5, 5-5, 5-6, 5-7, 6-7, 7-7, 7-8, 8-8, 9-8, 9-9, 10-9, 10-10, 11-10, 12-10, 12-11, 12-12, 12-13, 13-13, 13-14, 13-15, 14-15, 15-15, 16-15

What are your memories/observations of this Crucible Classic?

Re: Crucible Classics #24

Postby D4P

Just four 50+ breaks? I wonder what the record is for fewest 50+ breaks in a match with 31 or more frames...

Re: Crucible Classics #24

Postby Alex0paul

Didn’t this go on until 2:30am?

Re: Crucible Classics #24

Postby SnookerEd25

I remember Knowles missing a tricky, but gettable pink with the rest which would have given him a 16-13 victory. Thorburn potted the pink and black to steal the frame and won the next 2. At the time I was sure the stud would one day win the WC, but 2 further semi-finals (lost to Taylor in 85, and Johnson in 86) was to be it for him.

Thorburn was drained by the time of the 83 final and Davis saw him off comfortably 18-6, I think with a session to spare. A Knowles-Davis final that year would have been intriguing given what had occurred the year before...

Re: Crucible Classics #24

Postby SnookerEd25

Yes, I think you're right BSP, and he didn't even hold hi hand up to acknowledge it, the ruthless beast :no:

Re: Crucible Classics #24

Postby SnookerEd25

Housewives favourite; I bet this match had a larger than average female audience...

Re: Crucible Classics #24

Postby SnookerFan

SnookerEd25 wrote:Housewives favourite; I bet this match had a larger than average female audience...


Did you tune in?

Re: Crucible Classics #24

Postby mick745

1983 was the year Knowles himself thinks he should have become world champion. 15-13 up and on a clearance he hadnt realised the pibk was about two inches off its spot and left a trickier pot than he should have. He was so close it wobbled and stayed over the picket.

Ranks as one of the most important missed pots in crucible history.

Third late night win for Thorburn in a deciding frame in a row.

Second Round v Griffiths at 3:51am 13-12

Quarter Final v Kirk Stevens at 2:12am 13-12.

16-15 v Knowles in the semi final i think at around 1;05am.

I also think Knowles was in a good position to win in the last frame but miscued while in the balls.

Brilliant match, great drama, and Jack Karnhm in the commentary box.

Happy days.

Not suprising after all those dramatic late night close finishes Thorburn got slaughtered in the final by Steve Davis. Thorburn's wife had also suffered a miscarriage in Canada during the tournament and his emotions were shot to bits.

Re: Crucible Classics #24

Postby csprince

loved jack karnham as a commentator was never a fan of ted lowe.

Re: Crucible Classics #24

Postby SnookerEd25

SnookerFan wrote:
SnookerEd25 wrote:Housewives favourite; I bet this match had a larger than average female audience...


Did you tune in?


I think this finished on a Friday night (somebody said 2.30 AM), as I remember watching the final session highlights on Grandstand at my nans, and we usually visited her on a Saturday.

Re: Crucible Classics #24

Postby SnookerEd25

mick745 wrote:Thorburn's wife had also suffered a miscarriage in Canada during the tournament and his emotions were shot to bits.


Yes, I believe (though this may have been skewed into an urban myth) that he came off the table having completed the 147 against Terry Griffiths to a phone call informing him of this news. He considered withdrawing form the tournament to return to Canada but his wife talked him into staying and to go on and win the title.

Came close, but all the drama and emotion of the late night finishes, the 147, worrying about his wife and a ruthlessly clinical Steve Davis meant he had little chance going into the final.

Re: Crucible Classics #24

Postby lhpirnie

SnookerEd25 wrote:
mick745 wrote:Thorburn's wife had also suffered a miscarriage in Canada during the tournament and his emotions were shot to bits.


Yes, I believe (though this may have been skewed into an urban myth) that he came off the table having completed the 147 against Terry Griffiths to a phone call informing him of this news. He considered withdrawing form the tournament to return to Canada but his wife talked him into staying and to go on and win the title.

Came close, but all the drama and emotion of the late night finishes, the 147, worrying about his wife and a ruthlessly clinical Steve Davis meant he had little chance going into the final.

No, the miscarriage was during the semi-final, but it's true Barbara insisted that he play in the final. In those days it wasn't so easy to simply get on a plane at short notice, so he probably would have been stranded in the UK for a couple of days in any case. A terrible situation that.

Re: Crucible Classics #24

Postby SnookerEd25

Thanks for the clarification. <ok>

Under the circumstances, think he did well to get six frames off Davis. Don't think i'd have been able to pot a ball.