Steve Davis retirement: Six-time world snooker champion announces he has played final match

Despite his many trophies, Davis will be remembered by many as the man beaten by Dennis Taylor in the 1985 Crucible final

Former champion Steve Davis salutes the Crucible crowd with the World Snooker Championship trophy after announcing his retirement from the game (Getty)

Six-time world snooker champion Steve Davis has announced his retirement.

Davis, 58, lost to Fergal O'Brien in the first round of qualifying for this year's Betfred World Championship and decided that would be his final match.

"That was my last match as a professional," Davis said on the BBC. "So I'm calling it a day.

"I phoned up Barry (Hearn, his long-time manager) and told him it was on my mind to enter the World Championship and make that the last. I said, 'Barry, I think it's time to retire from professional snooker'.

"And he said, 'Steve, you retired 10 years ago we just didn't have the heart to tell you'."

An emotional Davis took a bow in front of the Crucible crowds with the World Championship trophy on Sunday.

The death of his father, Bill, in late March came after Davis had reached his decision. Bill Davis had introduced his son to snooker.

Davis said: "It came to my mind that perhaps it was the right time to stop.

"And my father wasn't very well. So I entered, for him, this year's World Championship. He was still alive when I entered, then he passed away so I played the match against Fergal. That was the only match I ever played without him."

Davis won world titles in 1981, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988 and 1989, but he rates his last Crucible match victory as his greatest.

He said: "My memory's not that great so the one five years ago beating John Higgins was the most amazing match I've ever played. When you're not supposed to win, then you do... I walked up from here (the Crucible) to the Winter Gardens to be interviewed and that was one amazing moment."

Despite his many trophies, Davis will be remembered by many as the man beaten by Dennis Taylor in the 1985 Crucible final, when his missed black at the end of the deciding frame was watched by a record TV audience of 18.5million viewers.

Taylor potted the black to win snooker's most famous match.

Dennis Taylor after beating Steve Davis in the 1985 final (Getty)

Davis has previously spoken of that as being a highlight of his career, although at the time he was left mortified.

He ends his career with 28 ranking titles, including six UK Championships to sit alongside his triumphs in Sheffield.

Davis also won the Masters three times, dominating the sport during an era when there was competition from the likes of Alex Higgins and Jimmy White.

Davis told a press conference: "I think the best moment of my career was missing the black against Dennis Taylor.

"At one stage I was the strongest player in the game so I was expected to win, so those moments when everybody is excited are when you don't.

"With Dennis, that was the best and worst moment of my career because I think it just showed how greatly snooker had been appreciated by the public."

Davis began his career in the late 1970s, having been armed by his father with the book How I Play Snooker, written by his namesake Joe Davis.

Based in Romford, he practised at the Lucania Club, where Hearn was involved, and the pair struck up a friendship in 1976 that has lasted the test of time. Hearn assumed the role of manager to Davis, and they became a great team. Hearn is now chairman of World Snooker, with Davis on the board.

"I do think I should have retired earlier, in a way. But if I had retired as quickly as Stephen (Hendry) I wouldn't have had one of my best moments, which was beating John Higgins when I wasn't supposed to," Davis added.

"The last couple of years have been tough because you don't get much success and I was definitely doing it for my father then."

On Hearn, Davis said: "I think he realised I should have retired ages ago.

"He realised it was just habit really. If it wasn't for him, I don't think I would have been as successful. Not because he gave me anything other than back-up. I learnt from him in lots of ways. I fell on my feet and maybe he fell on his feet as well when we met up together. It was a very strong partnership.

"It's sad that era has come to an end, but I think only happy things."

Davis turned professional in September 1978.

He said: "The first match I remember as a professional was in Pot Black, against Fred Davis on television, and I potted a ball down the cushion. (Commentator) Ted Lowe said, 'He's going to play a safety shot' and I potted it, and he went, 'My goodness, he's gone for it'.

"That was the start of a new game, a stronger game being played, a more aggressive game, and the 80s became a forerunner to how the game has progressed now.

"Stephen Hendry and myself agree we miss the days when you used to get booed in, because that just proved how good you must have been if people felt that way inclined.

"I started off being the hottest prospect during the 80s, having it all my own way and thinking I could walk on water and it was never going to stop, and then Stephen Hendry came along and the 90s were just awful for me, I hated the 90s with a passion.

"But I still enjoyed the fact I was still playing the game that I loved as a professional."

PA