Dennis Taylor

The man behind the glasses — Dennis Taylor's 1985 World Snooker Championship final against Steve Davis, decided on the final black ball at 12:19am in front of 18 million British television viewers, is the most watched snooker moment in history and one of the great sporting occasions of the decade. His oversized glasses, Northern Irish warmth and ability to perform when everything was on the line made him one of the sport's most beloved figures. A World Champion, UK Champion and Masters winner across a career that brought snooker into British living rooms and made him one of the recognisable faces of 1980s sport.

Dennis Taylor was born in Coalisland, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland in 1949 and is remembered for one of the most watched moments in British sporting history — his 1985 World Championship final victory over Steve Davis on the final black of the final frame, with 18.5 million viewers watching at 12:23am. The match is the highest-rated snooker broadcast in history. Taylor had already won that tournament, having defeated Davis 18-17 in a match that went to a final frame and then to the final ball. He also won the UK Championship in 1984 and the Masters in 1987. He was world number one briefly in 1985. His oversized spectacles — specially fitted after vision problems — became his trademark and one of sport's most distinctive images. He became a popular BBC Radio and television commentator after his playing career. He was awarded an MBE in 1986 and an OBE in 2018.

Safety-first player with trademark upsize glasses

Northern Irish snooker legend, iconic 1985 World final

• World Champion 1985
• UK Champion 1984
• Masters 1987