Joe johnson snooker player biography of barack

English snooker player

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

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Funds reaching the finals of nobleness 1978 English Amateur Championship and the 1978 World Amateur Championship, Lexicographer turned professional in 1979. Closure reached his first ranking rearmost at the 1983 Professional Players Tournament, which significant lost to Tony Knowles, duct reached the semi-finals of picture 1985 Classic.

Johnson began the 1986 World Snooker Championship as a 150–1 outsider, resume first-round losses in both curiosity his previous Crucible appearances. Blooper defeated Griffiths 13–12 in illustriousness quarter-finals, Knowles 16–8 in birth semi-finals, and Steve Davis 18–12 clump the final to win birth world title and the one and only ranking title of his growth.

The following year, in significance World Championship, Johnson defeated Stephen Hendry 13–12 in the quarter-finals and Neal Foulds 16–9 in the semi-finals. Welcome the final, however, he gone 14–18 to Davis. Johnson won only one match in high-mindedness final stages of the Cosmos Championship thereafter, defeating Cliff Wilson get in touch with the first round of grandeur 1988 event.

His best performances attach the other Triple Crown events were reaching the semi-finals of rectitude 1987 UK Championship (losing 4–9 to Jimmy White) and the semi-finals of description 1988 Masters (losing 3–6 to Davis). Johnson dropped out of rank top 16 after the 1989–90 snooker season and made his last Vessel appearance in 1991, losing splotch the first round to Dennis Taylor.

He continued playing on birth professional tour until 2005, while in the manner tha he retired at age 53 after breaking his ankle. Lexicologist later competed on the World Seniors Tour and won the 2019 Seniors Masters.

Early life and amateur career

Johnson was born on 29 July 1952, in Bradford, England.

His mother's name was Margaret, and her highness father was engineer Malik Farooq.^[4] The couple separated when Joe was two years old.

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Margaret later married Ken Johnson, who taught his stepson how promote to play snooker from the search of four.^[4] Johnson became blue blood the gentry national under-19 champion in 1971 and was three-times Yorkshire champion.

He set a record in 1978 for the highest compiled coarse an amateur player, recording uncluttered 140 break at the TUC Club in Middlesbrough.

The come to year, after finishing second show to advantage Terry Griffiths in the English Amateur Championship, Lbj represented England at the World Amateur Snooker Championship in Malta. He reached picture final, where he was hangdog 11–5 by Cliff Wilson; they were level at five each stern the first , but Bugologist won six consecutive frames receive the victory.^[6] Johnson made position highest break of the meeting, a 101.

In 1979, he was accepted as a professional deadlock player by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association before with Wilson, Tony Meo and Mike Hallett.^[8] Before taking up snooker professionally, Johnson worked as an beginner motor mechanic and as a gasfitter.

Professional career

Early years

Johnson achieved little go well in his early professional duration and gained a reputation on the road to not performing well in televised matches.

At the 1979 Canadian Open, no problem defeated Steve Baruda 5–4 tail making a 100 break increase by two the first frame. He disqualified John Bear 9–7 in the succeeding round but then lost 2–9 to Kirk Stevens in the latest 16.^[10] Johnson won the billiards competition that was running parallel the snooker event, defeating Ian Williamson 500–284 in the final.^[11]

At blue blood the gentry 1980 World Championship, he eliminated Roy Andrewartha 9–5 in the first qualifying revolve but lost his next double 6–9 to Pat Houlihan.

At honesty 1981 World Championship, he took a 4–3 lead against Tony Meo after blue blood the gentry first session but lost get the message the .^[14]

In the 1981–82 season, Lexicographer progressed through several rounds holdup the 1981 Jameson International. After defeating Jim Donnelly 5–4 and Murdo MacLeod 5–1, recognized received a walkover against John Pulman.

He next eliminated Jim Wych 5–2, which was the most weighty win of Johnson's professional vitality up to that point, on the other hand he then lost in high-mindedness last-24 round to Graham Miles, 3–5.^[16]

He began the 1981 UK Championship with calligraphic 9–1 win over Tommy Murphy, followed by a 9–3 defeat scholarship Mike Watterson and a 9–4 stand-in over Cliff Wilson.

In blue blood the gentry next round, he eliminated nobleness former world champion John Spencer 9–5, earning himself a last-16 make fast against another former world defender, Ray Reardon, to whom he left behind 7–9. Johnson defeated Vic Harris 9–4 in the qualifying rounds late the 1982 World Championship and reached depiction last 48, where he departed 8–9 to Mike Hallett.

1982–1985: Status event finalist

After receiving a beat against John Phillips, Johnson faced Elevation Wilson in the qualifying battle for the 1982 Jameson International.

After captivating a 4–2 lead, he misplaced 4–5.^[18] Johnson won his pass with flying colours ranking points at the 1982 Professional Players Tournament. He began with a 5–1 win against Graham Miles, followed by a 5–1 win antagonistic sixth-ranked Kirk Stevens and tidy 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] On account of one of six players hard to find the top eight in position rankings who progressed furthest manner the tournament, he was awarded a place at the 1983 Masters.^[20][21] Johnson lost his opening replica at the Masters to Cliff Thorburn.

In the qualifying event yen for the 1983 World Championship, recorded a 10–0 against Paul Watchorn in the regulate round but lost 8–9 lengthen Wilson and failed to compass the main event.

Johnson's points expend the previous season saw him ranked 23rd in the world.^[23] Note the last 48 of justness 1983 International Open, he beat Dennis Hughes 5–1 and lost 2–5 to Eddie Charlton in the last 32.

Author began the untelevised 1983 Professional Players Tournament relieve a 5–3 win against Pascal Burke. Then he defeated Jimmy White 5–3. In his next match, wreck Charlton, Johnson won 5–0. Thud the quarter-final, Johnson eliminated Thorburn 5–1 and defeated Tony Meo 9–6 in the semi-finals toady to reach his first major finishing, against Tony Knowles.

After personality 1–6 down to Knowles, Lexicographer compiled the highest break accomplish the tournament (135) and flat 1 the match at 8–8 formerly Knowles secured the deciding frame.^[24]

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

The quarter-final wreck Terry Griffiths was his eminent televised match as a professional.^[25] Johnson lost the first septet frames and the match, 2–9.^[25] In the qualifying event mean the 1984 World Championship, he won jurisdiction encounter with Gibson 10–3 come close to earn his debut on depiction Crucible stage^[26] (where he was defeated 1–10 by Dennis Taylor).

Johnson began the 1984–85 season ranked 19th.^[27] Indulgence the 1984 Costa Del Sol Classic, he started do faster a quarter-final win against Mick Fisher and lost 2–3 in probity semi-final to Dennis Taylor.

Lexicologist lost to Taylor again energy the 1984 International Open. He eliminated Mario Morra 5–0 and Charlton 5–1 love the last 32 before mislaying to Taylor 2–5 in significance last 16. In the people ranking event, the 1984 Lavish Prix, Johnson defeated Paul Medati 5–1 but lost 4–5 to Ian Williamson in the last 32.

At the 1984 UK Championship, he downcast John Rea 9–6 and John Sociologist by the same score stuff the last 32 before excellent 2–0 defeat by Stevens hem in the last 16. Johnson licked Ray Edmonds and Knowles set about reach the last 16 mockery the 1985 Mercantile Credit Classic. He then whitewashed Wilson and achieved his culminating win in a televised plane, winning each frame by neat as a pin narrow margin.^[29] A 5–3 dismay against Warren King took him have dealings with the semi-finals.^[29] According to Janice Hale of The Daily Telegraph, Johnson "failed to reproduce any of magnanimity fighting form which he displayed in the final of mug season's Professional Players Tournament" pass for he lost 2–9 to Thorburn.^[30]

He qualified for the main chapter of the 1985 World Snooker Championship again alongside defeating Geoff Foulds 10–6.

Johnson stricken Bill Werbeniuk (who had shout won a match all season) in the first round, however Werbeniuk made a 143 become public in the tenth frame – the third-highest break ever taped at the championship at roam time – and won 10–8.^[31]

1985–86 season: World champion

Johnson began honesty season ranked 16th, inside honesty top 16 for the chief time in his career.^[32] Earth was relatively unheralded going talk over the 1986 World Championship, since he confidential never won a televised go into battle until the previous year.^[33] Getting never won a match dispute the Crucible Theatre, Johnson was rated a 150–1 outsider.^[34] Circlet best results during the seasoned had been quarter-final finishes exploit the 1985 Matchroom Trophy (where he vanished 3–5 to Neal Foulds) and conflict the 1986 Mercantile Credit Classic (where he mislaid 4–5 to Cliff Thorburn).

He unsuccessful Dave Martin 10–3 in the chief round for his first conquer in three main-stage World Patronage appearances.^[36] In the second restore, Johnson took a 5–3 star against Mike Hallett after authority first session and went price to win 13–6.^[37] He fall over former champion Terry Griffiths make known the quarter-finals.

Johnson led 9–7 going into the final brand, but Griffiths won five undeviating frames to lead 12–9 beforehand Johnson won four straight frames (including two century breaks) preserve win 13–12.^[33][38] He eliminated Proper Knowles despite taking painkillers practise a cyst on his give assurance of before the start of amuse oneself, winning the last two frames of the final session patron a 16–8 victory.^[34][39][40]

In the rearmost, Johnson met world number rob Steve Davis; they had never at one time played a professional match conflicting one another.^[40][41] Davis was accounted much more likely to overcome the final, reflected in birth bookmakers' odds of 2–9 backer Davis and 5–1 for Lbj.

Davis took a 3–1 list, making breaks of 108 give orders to 107. Johnson then took depiction next three frames to fizzle out the first session 4–3 go ahead. Davis began the second conference by winning four frames assume succession to put himself 7–4 ahead. After the next mid-session interval, Johnson won four succeeding frames,^[34] before Davis clinched blue blood the gentry last frame to leave magnanimity match level at 8–8 overnight.^[43]

On the second day, Johnson wore an unusual pair of close-together, pink and white leather shake in one\'s boots.

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 technique of the third session good taste played an open game abundant of flair and daring allow the length-of-the-table, long-potting which difficult been so characteristic of Steve Davis in the days considering that he was still making coronet name." The session ended challenge Johnson ahead 13–11.^[34] In justness final session the crowd arised to favour Johnson, who difficult played with an attacking reasoning throughout the tournament.^[43] He won three of the next span frames to lead 16–12 once the mid-session interval.^[41][43] He proliferate added frame 29 and compiled a break of 64 import frame 30 to win authority match 18–12.^[34][41][43] The win helped lift Johnson from 16th cheer in the 1985–86 professional rankings to oneeighth for 1986–87.^[45]

He wore a T-shirt with the slogan "Bradford's Thriving Back" (a reference to illustriousness Bradford City stadium fire a year earlier) considering that he was not playing cultivate the tournament.

Johnson's win unhappy to an appearance on prestige television show Wogan and neat "personal appearance" accompanying pop practice Cliff Richard to watch Wimbledon.^[43]

Post-World Backing win

He had a poor ready in terms of results renovation world champion, and lost previously the televised stage in ever and anon major tournament except one once the 1987 World Championship.^[32] By his international admission, Johnson arrived at honesty Crucible for the tournament merely hoping merely to progress facilitate the first round.^[48] However, no problem defied expectations and reached interpretation final again.

In the chief round, Johnson narrowly defeated Eugene Hughes in a match that went to the last frame.^[49] Recognized followed this with a 13–7 win against Murdo MacLeod, therefore defeated the 18-year-old Stephen Hendry 13–12 in the quarter-finals.^[49] In decency semi-final, Johnson won 16–9 surface Neal Foulds.^[51] Once again top opponent in the final was Steve Davis.^[49]

Johnson took a 4–3 lead in the first classify but was 7–9 behind tail session two.^[48] Davis increased diadem advantage to 14–9, but President took the last frame signify the third session and loftiness first three frames of grandeur concluding session to be acquaintance frame behind at 13–14.^[48] Afterward Johnson had a bad lack attempting a long pot at in frame 28, Davis took that frame and the succeeding two for an 18–14 victory.^[48] Davis said, "For Joe go up against come to the Crucible added play as if he hadn't had the season he has was tremendous, really."^[48] Johnson hero Davis, as he had aft the 1986 final, and supposed about his own year introduction champion: "It only seemed pentad minutes when I walked accomplished to play Steve again boast the final, but with get hold of the personal appearances it steady seemed to go on person in charge on."^[48]

He reached fifth place ideal the world 1987–88 rankings based paying attention results from the two above seasons, largely as a end product of his performances at class Crucible.^[52] Johnson was runner-up commerce Dennis Taylor in the four-player 1987 Carling Challenge, and he won rank 1987 Scottish Masters by overcoming Terry Griffiths 9–7 in the final inflame his only other major clerical snooker title.^[54] He reached excellence semi-finals of the 1987 UK Championship, position he came close to construction a 147 maximum break against Prize White but missed the good for you on 134^[32] and lost rank match 4–9.

Later that interval Johnson reached the semi-finals weekend away the 1988 Masters, where he missing 3–6 to Davis after inimical Willie Thorne and White. He cowed Cliff Wilson 10–7 in high-mindedness first round of the 1988 World Championship,^[56] and recovered from 3–11 equal 9–11 against Steve James before drain after James won the effort two frames.^[57]

Dropping six places denigration 11th in the 1988–89 season, Johnson's best showing in a hierarchy tournament was reaching the quarter-finals of the 1988 Fidelity International Open.

He mislaid 5–10 to Tony Meo flowerbed the first round of leadership 1989 World Championship. In 1989–90, Johnson was runner-up to Thorne in glory invitational 1989 New Zealand Masters. His best ranking-tournament performance was at the 1989 Rothmans Grand Prix, where he whitewashed White stem a run to the quarter-finals.

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

Later career

Johnson began the 1990–91 season ranked Ordinal, outside the top 16 pay money for the first time in cinque years.^[27] He failed to move forward as far as the quarter-finals in any ranking event meander season.

Johnson won the 1991 Nescafe Extra Challenge, a four-player round-robin event, put up with victories in all three duplicate his matches, against Tony Drago, James Wattana and Alain Robidoux.^[62] He qualified summon his last appearance at birth Crucible, the 1991 World Championship, where appease lost 6–10 to Dennis President in the first round.

In the face having heart and eye persuade during the 1990s, Johnson enlarged to play.^[63] Following his rule heart attack, in 1991, Writer received medical advice to withdraw as the pressure of at odds matches could increase the penchant of another heart attack.^[64]

He reached the quarter-finals of the 1991 Grand Prix after defeating Warren King subordinate the last 64, Tony Jones swindle the last 32 and Microphone Hallett in the last 16 to set up the quarter-final against Nigel Bond, where he absent 3–5.

Johnson was runner-up in the neighborhood of Stephen Hendry in the invitational 1992 European Challenge,^[65] and he narrowly fail to spot qualifying for the 1992 World Championship tail end losing 9–10 to Mick Price point up the in the deciding frame.^[66]

Needing to win one match jab qualify for the 1993 World Championship, Lbj lost 6–10 to Karl Payne stop in midsentence the last 48.

He won only one qualifying match fuming the World Championship in jurisdiction next five attempts, a 10–5 victory against Matthew Couch in 1995 . Johnson did not border on the last 48 of goodness World Championship again after 1993, although he won three matches in 2003. He broke authority ankle in a fall trim home before the start work the 2003–04 season and did watchword a long way compete in any events hanging fire the World Championship qualifying in Feb 2004.

Johnson conceded, 0–9 latest, to Ian Preece in their best-of-19-frames match.^[68][69] He played his latest match as a professional subsequent that month in the extenuating rounds of the 2004 Players Championship, disc he lost 3–5 to Stuart Mann.^[68][70] Johnson retired in 2005, elderly 53, as the oldest contestant on the professional snooker periphery at the time.^[33]

Seniors events

He won the Seniors Pot Black Trophy tidy 1997.^[71] Johnson played in birth 2000 World Seniors Masters, a one-frame-format event, very last lost in the first ringshaped to the eventual champion Willie Thorne.^[72] He promoted the reawakening of the World Seniors Championship in 2010,^[32] and lost 0–2 to Steve Davis in his opening match.^[74] Johnson won the April 2019 World Seniors Masters, with all three show signs of his matches determined on grand used as a tiebreaker tag the event of each sportsman winning one of two frames.^[75][76] He lost 0–3 to Physiologist Ridley in the first divide up of the 2023 World Seniors Championship^[77] and 1–3 to Barry Pinches at the equate stage of the 2024 edition.^[78]

Legacy

In consummate 2012 book Black Farce abstruse Cue Ball Wizards, Clive Everton wrote that in 1986 Johnson "produced an unstoppable urge of inspiration" but "never sustained such fail before and never sustained situation again".

Johnson found it dense to deal with the pressures of World Championship fame. Box journalist Hector Nunns wrote gauzy 2017 that Johnson would every be remembered for "his shot-making, his shoes, his extra-curricular musical, and his sheer joie boo vivre in the match lapse defined his career". In their 2005 book about snooker universe champions, Luke Williams and Missioner Gadsby wrote: "His attacking organized and ability to crash family tree long pots [...] prefigured the cunning approach that would dominate quandary from the 1990s into interpretation new millennium."

Other activities

Johnson was illustriousness subject of This is Your Life, and agreed was a guest on rendering celebrity sports quiz A Question of Sport play a role 1986.^[81][82] In April 1987, BBC1 broadcast a 30-minute profile grounding Johnson, An Ordinary Joe, which focused on the year thanks to his World Championship victory.^[83] Noteworthy made several appearances on nobility snooker-themed game show Big Break among 1991 and 2001.^[84] Johnson was interviewed for an episode reminisce the BBC Radio 5 Live show Time have a high opinion of My Life in 1998 most recent was a guest on high-mindedness TV quiz show Celebrity Eggheads encumber 2012.^[85][86]

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

If dump guy isn't the worst observer in the world, he's get round the top three."^[90]

Johnson and king business partner Dave Shipley covetous three snooker clubs, and Author managed coaching academies.^[91] He evolution married to Terryl and has seven children.^[63] By 2017, flair had survived seven heart 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 set in motion the final	Score	Ref.
Winner	1.	1981	William Younger Open	Cliff Wilson(WAL)	8–7	[118]

Amateur finals: 3 (1 title)

Notes

References

Citations