
The 1985 Black Ball Final: Carnage at The Crucible
From Sport Is History by SpiritLand Creative
April 30, 2026 · 43 min
About this episode
The episode reflects on the iconic 1985 Black Ball Final between Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor, highlighting the rise of snooker in the UK during the 1980s.
On one Sunday night back in April 1985, 18 million people tuned-in to watch two men in bow ties try and pot a snooker ball in a theatre in Sheffield. Steve Davis vs Dennis Taylor was a game that had it all, some might say on paper the final was a mismatch but what occurred was in fact a night of surprise and a finish that has resonated down the ages. Mark and Marcus look back fondly on the rise of snooker during the 1980s in the UK, they highlight some of the outlandish characters that built the game as well as unearth their own memories covering the sport. Every week, Mark Pougatch and Marcus Buckland unpack unbelievable stories from the world of sporting history. Tik Tok Instagram YouTube Produced by Spiritland Creative Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
People in this episode
Hosts: Mark Pougatch, Marcus Buckland
Topics covered
- snooker
- 1980s sports
- sports history
- television events
- memories
Keywords
- snooker
- 1985 Black Ball Final
- Steve Davis
- Dennis Taylor
- sports history
- UK snooker
- television audience
Mentioned in this episode
Places: Sheffield
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