SHEFFIЕLD CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF WORLD SNOOKER
18 Apr 2007 12:39:00The 30th anniversary of World Championship Snooker in Sheffield will be celebrated this Friday with a special reception in the city attended by world champions spanning three decades.The event brings together many of those involved in some of the greatest moments in sport over the last 30 years, including former World Champions Steve Davis, Ray Reardon, Dennis Taylor and defending 888.com World Champion Graeme Dott.
England’s Steve Davis became the first player in the televised era to dominate the sport and won the first of his six world titles in Sheffield in 1981. "Having won all my world titles in Sheffield means that the city and the venue are very special to me and I always look forward to returning here," said Davis.
Welshman Ray Reardon, another six-time winner, won the last of his world titles in 1978 when the Championship was in its second year in Sheffield (the late John Spencer having won the inaugural event in Sheffield at The Crucible in 1977).
Dennis Taylor’s dramatic 18-17 win over Steve Davis in 1985 has become part of British sporting legend with the Northern Irish star winning on the black ball, while Scot Graeme Dott secured his first professional tournament victory when winning the world title against Peter Edbon last year by 18-14.
The reception is being hosted by Yorkshire South Tourism, an organisation set up to generate more visitors to the region and highlight its sporting facilities. Yorkshire South Tourism activity is funded by Yorkshire Forward.
"The 888.com World Snooker Championship is a major annual event that attracts large numbers of visitors and TV viewers from around the world to experience what the region, and Sheffield in particular, has to offer sports fans," said Richard Jones, Chief Executive of Yorkshire South Tourism. "Over the past 30 years, Sheffield has become known as the home of snooker in this country and we intend to build on this association with the sport to promote the region globally in the future."
Michael Crofts, from Sheffield City Council, commented: "By bringing together such a great line up of former champions, sponsors, administrators and the media for this celebration, we can formally thank them for making Sheffield the Snooker City. We believe that Sheffield’s World Snooker Academy will also play its part in creating the next generation of leading snooker players."
The World Snooker Championship is the richest, oldest and most prestigious tournament in snooker, having first been played in 1927.