This weekend should have seen the conclusion of the 2020 World Snooker Championship. While the Crucible sits idle, we were fortunate enough to get a chance to speak to former-winners Dennis Taylor and Ken Doherty on today's OTB.
Taylor relived one of the most-entertaining and never-wracking world finals with us, as he edged-out Steve Davis in 1985.
Snooker finalists Steve Davis (L) and Dennis Taylor with the trophy before taking on each other in the World Snooker Championship final in Sheffield.Having played through 'The Troubles,' he reflected on the unifying power that the sport had in Northern Ireland:
"I think it was just a week or so after [the final], I had an exhibition fixed-up for the Shankill leisure centre.
"There I was, a wee former-altar boy from Coalisland, 99% Catholic, turned up at the Shakhill."
File photo dated 29-04-2010 of Steve Davis (back) looks on as Dennis Taylor celebrates after he wins their exhibition match at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield.When he did enter the predominantly-Protestant Belfast neighbourhood, Taylor was given a hero's welcome:
"I got an unbelievable reception. I’ve never known anything like it."
The Tyrone-man told Off The Ball that this was typical of the reaction snooker-players received throughout the period of conflict in Northern Ireland:
"Back then, back to the 70s when things were really bad, there was a few of the professionals who used to come over with me.
Dennis Taylor during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying match at Windsor Park, Belfast."We could go to any denomination of club and have unbelievable receptions. Snooker is like that, as with most sports, it brings people together."
He concluded:
"The people of Ireland, certainly of Northern Ireland, were always brilliant, when the professionals used to play at clubs, no matter what religion it was."
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