John Spencer (18 September 1935 - July 11, 2006) is a professional British snooker who won the World Professional title at his first attempt, was the first winner at Crucible Theater, was the inaugural winner of the Masters and Irish Masters and is a player the first to make 147 breaks in the competition. This is considered to be an unofficial maximum break because the event uses a non templated table. Spencer was born in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester.
Video John Spencer (snooker player)
Careers
Initial years
Spencer started his snooker career at the age of 15. Snooker suffered a setback during his youth, and he did not become a professional until he was 31 years old, when interest in the game began to rise again. Spencer was runner-up to Ray Reardon in the 1964 Amateur Snooker Championship (the first tournament he had ever entered) and lost to Pat Houlihan in the final of the 1965 event. Spencer eventually lifted the trophy in 1966 with an 11-5 win over Marcus Owen.
In February 1967, Spencer made a courageous decision to become a professional. At this point effectively there is no officially organized professional tournament and no player in the UK has been a professional since Rex Williams in 1951. This proved to be a very important step in rebuilding the snooker as a worthy sport, with amateur rivals Gary Owen followed suit in September 1967 and Ray Reardon on December 3 of that year. The entry of these new professionals led to the World Championship being revived on a challenge in the 1968/9 season.
He first won the World Championships in 1969 after being loaned £ 100 by his bank to raise the entry fee. On 22 November 1968, Spencer beat world champion John Pulman 25-18 in his opening game before continuing to beat Rex Williams 37-12 and Gary Owen 37-24 in the final, held at Victoria Hall in London from March 17-22. The 'Dead' frame is then played to give the last frame count from 46-27 to Spencer, which (with an added bonus) takes Ã, £ 1,780 from the event. Spencer became the only player who won the World Championships in his first attempt since Joe Davis won his first championship in 1927. (Alex Higgins in 1972 and Terry Griffiths in 1979 will mimic this achievement).
In the April 1970 World Championships, Spencer defeated professional Professional Professional Jackie Rea 31-15 from Ireland but lost his semi-final at a poor quality table for Ray Reardon 37-33 who later claimed his first title. Surprisingly, the 1971 de facto championship was held in November 1970 and played in Australia. Following an incomplete tear, Spencer beat Reardon 34-15 in the semi-finals before defeating Warren Simpson in the last 37-29. During the last Spencer was made three centuries in four frames (105, 126 and 107), the first time this has been achieved in the championship.
Spencer earned an important TV exposure by winning the Blackberry TV series Pot Black in 1970 (reversing his defeat by Ray Reardon in the 1969 finals) and again in 1971 when he beat Fred Davis in the final. Spencer will also claim the highest break prize in 1972, becoming runner up in 1974 and winning the show again in 1976, beating Dennis Taylor in the final. Thus Spencer became the first three-time winner.
In 1971 and 1972 four activities sponsored by Park Drive (Park Drive 2000) were held in which each of the four players involved played nine games, the top two professionals playing the final game. Spencer won three of these events and lost only 4-3 in the final to Ray Reardon with whom he fought for supremacy throughout the 1970s as snooker emerged from a phase of obscurity to become one of the most popular sports in the UK. From 1969 to 1978, only three players beat Spencer at the World Championships (Ray Reardon, Alex Higgins and Perrie Mans) and from 1973 to 1977 he did not lose the World Championship game with more than two frames.
1972 World Championships
Important in the snooker revival as one of the most popular sports in the UK is the 1972 World Championship final. As defending champion in the 1972 event, Spencer defeated Fred Davis 31-21 and Eddie Charlton 37-32 before facing debut champion Alex Higgins in the final. The week-long finale was well-balanced until Thursday night's session which Higgins won 6-0, creating Spencer's gap never looking like closing. Higgins duly went on to take the 37-32 match. The matches are played at the British Legion Club in Selly Oak Birmingham, often with emergency generators that provide lighting and with hundreds of crowded spectators, many sitting in beer chests, providing an important splash of interest in the modern era. Higgins has already generated a lot of interest in the game and has been the subject of the documentary by Thames TV ahead of the final.
Spencer made no excuses for his defeat, despite the exhaustion and pain of a major tour in Canada, was caught in an elevator ahead of one of the sessions and was involved in a minor car accident on his way to one of the sessions. Spencer has also put out efforts in defeating Higgins 4-3 in the final of the Park Drive 2000 event the night before their end starts. Nevertheless, Spencer in his 2005 memoir made it clear that Higgins played a better snooker and won a 'fair and square' match. Oddly Higgins will use this exact expression when discussing his victory in his memoir two years later. Spencer also quickly admitted that Higgins's victory brought more sponsors, more promotions, better organization and more media interest.
Spencer went on to win a further world title, which was a historic inaugural event at the Crucible Theater in Sheffield in 1977. He never reached the top of the world rankings, however, always beaten by his rival, Reardon. Spencer played down the conversation about the friendship between himself and Reardon and stated that they never socialized together. However, it should be noted that Spencer and Reardon pair up for the first two World Doubles events. In 1983 they lost 6-2 to Jimmy White and Tony Knowles in the quarter-finals. and in 1984 lost 5-0 to Cliff Thorburn and John Virgo, also in the quarter-finals. The partnership only ended when Spencer thought he would be too sick to play on the show in 1985. At the end of his life, Spencer joined Reardon to get a special Crucible feature.
In 1973 and 1974, Norwich Union sponsored an incredible snooker event containing professionals and amateur players. Spencer won the event both times beating Alex Higgins 8-2 (in the semifinals) and John Pulman 8-7 (in the final) to win the 1973 event and defeat Cliff Thorburn 9-7 (in the semi final) and Ray Reardon 10-9 final) to win the 1974 event. This last victory is even more important given that his cues have been broken up into four sections ten days before the events of 1974 and he must reunite. Spencer was runner-up in both premier Pontins events, first held in 1974. He lost Open (conceded 25) to Doug Mountjoy 7-4 and a 10-9 Professional event for Ray Reardon (after Spencer had trailed 9-4). Spencer also won a small tournament in late 1974, the Jackpot Automatics tournament, defeating Alex Higgins 5-0 in the final.
Signs of increased interest in snooker arose when Ladbrokes held a gala night towards the end of 1973 to celebrate a £ 8,000 investment into the game in the 1973-74 season. The gala night event (held at Cafe Royal) saw Spencer take the first prize with a 3-2 win over Ray Edmonds.
Spencer's good form did not translate into positive results at the 1973 and 1974 World Championships. In a way, Spencer's most disappointing career loss was a 23-22 defeat by Ray Reardon at the 1973 semi-final World Championships, having a 16-9 and 19-12 lead. Prior to this Spencer had shown a decisive form in beating David Taylor 16-5 and Rex Williams 16-7. In the final of Reardon beat Eddie Charlton, Spencer's players will not lose the big game until 1979.
In 1974, he lost 15-13 to Perrie Mans in the second round. Spencer refused to blame the flu dose he suffered for the defeat (and of course Mans would defeat Spencer again in the events of 1978). Spencer's only consolation was the competition of the first and second loser plates where he easily destroyed his opponents, reaching six centuries in beating David Greaves 5-1, Dennis Taylor 9-4, Jim Meadowcroft 9-3 and John Pulman 15- 5 at the end.
In 1975 Spencer won the inaugural Masters event held at the Fulham West Center Hotel. Spencer beat John Pulman (5-3), Eddie Charlton (5-2) and overcame Ray Reardon in the closest final. Spencer trailed 8-6, but leveled at 8-8 and took the last frame on the Black that was again spotted. In spring Spencer won the inviting Ashton Court Country Club (and took the highest break prize) by beating Alex Higgins 5-1 in front of a sold-out crowd in the final. Spencer will lose 5-2 from Higgins in the final of the Castle Open later this year.
Spencer will again fail at the 1975 World Championships, in a rather controversial way. With tournaments staged in Australia and organized by Eddie Charlton, Spencer finds himself in half of the draw featuring Ray Reardon and Alex Higgins, meaning that all champions since 1969 are in the same round. Worse, the seed organization placed Spencer in the 8th, meaning that he met Reardon in the quarterfinals. Despite opening with two centuries in the first four frames and leading 17-16, with the epic scar of the 1973 semi-final still fresh, the match away from Spencer 19-17. At that time Reardon and Spencer boldly stated that it was the biggest game ever played.
The following year, the 1976 World Championship saw a narrower defeat for Spencer on the same stage. After defeating David Taylor 15-5, and claiming the highest break prize in the process, he lost to Alex Higgins in the quarterfinals 15-14, after trailing 14-12. The quality of the match was a pale shadow from their 1972 meeting.
A small consolation came when Spencer won the Canadian Open in 1976 that year, beating John Virgo 9-4 in the semis and Alex Higgins 17-9 in the final to claim a $ 5,000 prize.
Victory of the Final World Championships and other titles
Spencer returned to win his third world title in 1977. The first championship will be held at the Crucible Theater where he has remained ever since. Seeded 8, Spencer beat John Virgo 13-9 (after trailing 4-1), Ray Reardon 13-6, John Pulman 18-16 revival and finally Cliff Thorburn 25-21 (after trailing 15-11) in the final. Spencer will win £ 6,000. He followed this by winning the Pontins Professional title a week later, beating John Pulman 7-5 in the final to win £ 1,500. Spencer's World Championship Victory in 1977 will be the last time he is really challenged for the World Title; he never again reaches even the World Championship quarter-finals in the future.
Spencer reached the Canadian Open final again in 1977, where he lost to Higgins 17-14. The show is played in a circus tent, with a traditional circus located next to the event. His condition was so hot that Spencer's chalk slammed into half because it used it because of the accumulation of moisture in his pocket.
In the spring of 1978 Spencer won the first Irish Masters by beating Doug Mountjoy 5-3 in the final at the Goffs Sales Room. Spencer took Ã, 1,000 pounds, but the show was so successful that it brought about £ 3,300 in the receipt of the gate. Prior to this, Spencer had won precursors for this event in Ireland, held at the National Boxing Stadium. In 1975 he beat Alex Higgins in one game off and then beat Higgins again in the final of a four-man event held in 1976. Spencer's good form continued when he beat Tony Knowles 7-4 in the 1978 Open Warners final. Despite conceding 21 points per frame, Spencer did not even drop the frame until the final. Spencer will be unbeaten in the group stage of the Pontins Professional tournament that year, winning all five games, but he lost 7-2 to Ray Reardon in the final.
Spencer warmed up for the 1978 World Championship by winning the Castle Professional event, beating Alex higgins 5-3 in the final. However, he lost his opening game at the World Championships for Perrie Mans by 13-8, a result that looked unlikely when the 118th break had given him a 3-1 lead. Spencer started the last session with a 138 break, which would prove to be the highest of the championship, but did not win another frame. The break at least doubled the prize money to Ã, £ 1,000.
Unofficial first fight 147 in tournament
In January 1979 at Holsten Lager International, Spencer composed the first maximum pause ever 147 in the tournament game. He played Cliff Thorburn in the quarterfinals and won the first three frames of their meetings 106-1, 147-0 and 119-0. Spencer could not resist the shock of an excited spectator by crashing forward and hitting the ball at the starting address, before the final black poke. Thames Television was resting their TV crew in time after the previous game between Alex Higgins and David Taylor and missed a historic moment. This does not count as the official maximum pause because the event uses a non-templet table, so it remains an unofficial maximum break. Spencer went on to win the tournament, beating Rex Williams 6-2 in the semifinals and Graham Miles 11-7 in the final. Sponsorship gave Spencer an extra £ 500 for a pause other than his first prize of £ 3,500. Three years later on January 11, 1982, Spencer was against Steve Davis when Davis made his first television show 147 at the Classic Lada tournament at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham. This happens in the fifth frame of their quarter-final match when the score is ready on two frames each.
Two months after Spencer 147 he won the biggest tournament India had not yet performed when he won the Garage Paints Invitational event in Bombay. Spencer beat Indians Arvind Savur 6-1, Patsy Fagan 6-4, Graham Miles 6-5 and Cliff Thorburn 6-3 to clinch the first prize of £ 2,000 and another £ 200 for the highest break (108) and also claimed the ' Man of the Series'. In the same event the following year, Spencer remained unbeaten in his group match, before losing his semi-final to John Virgo. This match includes a 6-4 win over Steve Davis (who will win the British title that year). Although Spencer will run Davis in the coming years, it will be Spencer's only victory over Davis in a recognized event.
Spencer will reach the Irish Masters semi-final in 1979, losing 3-2 to Ray Reardon, after making the highest break of the tournament (121) in the group stage. Spencer will also be runner up for Reardon in the 1979 Forward Chemicals event, the final of this extended event (which duplicates the old Park Drive 2000 format) is played in front of 680 people at the Royal Exchange Theater in Manchester. Spencer lost 9-6, and took  £ 2,300. Later that year, Spencer lost 4-1 to Steve Davis in the semi final of the Pontins Open event.
In January 1980 Spencer won Ã, Â £ 3,000 (a record for the two-day event) at Wilson's Classic. Broadcasted by Granada TV, the final contains another famous push-shot incident that was decided against Spencer's Alex Higgins. Higgins's reaction to Jim Thorpe's controversial decision will give him a fine of £ 200. Spencer will also win the Winfield Australian Masters in 1980, beating Dennis Taylor in the final. For Spencer (who was runner-up in the 1981 event), this will be his last professional solo tournament victory.
In February 1981 at the Professional Championship of John Courage English, after a 9-1 first round win over Pat Houlihan, Spencer led Steve Davis 7-6 in the quarter-finals, with a record of 112. However, Spencer lost three tight matches. frame to lose in a 9-7 match. Davis lost just five frames in the other 3 matches combined.
Later that same year, Spencer joined Steve Davis and David Taylor to become the first British team to win the World Team Classic. Spencer was crucially defeated by Terry Griffiths with the help of a difficult break (he could not pot black during the break) in the final, Griffiths did not lose matches in the tournament up to that stage. Davis then sealed victory against Ray Reardon in a tie-break to secure the title and Ã, £ 12,000.
Such a victory was only partially made to Spencer's big disappointment at the 1981 Masters. After sending Dennis Taylor 5-2 and Ray Reardon 5-1. Spencer leads Terry Griffiths 5-2 and has Griffiths who need two snookers in the next frame. Nevertheless, Griffiths will end in a 6-5 win after nearly six hours of play. Spencer finally missed the big final with old rival Alex Higgins.
Remarkably, Spencer's first 10-9 first-round victory over Ray Edmonds at the 1981 World Championships was his first win in the Championship since his title triumph in 1977. Hope that Spencer will advance further was destroyed by older enemies, Ray Reardon, who recovered from 3-0 and 7-5 behind to win the game 13-11. This will be the last time the two of them meet in the World Championships.
Before the 1982 World Championships Spencer beat Alex Higgins (who will win the world title a few weeks later) 6-0 in the 1982 Masters Masters semifinals in Inverness. Spencer lost 11-4 to Ray Reardon in the final, despite receiving the highest break prize with a 119 effort. The 1982 World Championship itself resulted in a lot of distractions and the loss of the top three seeds in the first round. Despite this, and a strong performance in beating John Dunning 10-4 in the first half, Spencer was unable to take advantage of the more open draw and the shape fell sharply after holding Willie Thorne to 3-3 in the second round. He will lose the match 13-5.
In late 1982 Spencer finally won the game at the British Championships, having lost his first match at every event since the inaugural tournament in 1977. This seemed unlikely when his opponent, Scottish veteran Eddie Sinclair opened the frame break with a 54 break, but Spencer grabbed the line of life and look out the match with a 50 break to win 9-8. Spencer then went on to eliminate one of his favorites, Tony Knowles 9-6, before losing to Alex Higgins 9-5 in the quarter-finals.
1983 also started very promising when Spencer beat Ray Reardon 5-3 and David Taylor 5-2 at Lada Classic. It secured a check for Ã, Â £ 6,000 (just as he won to win the 1977 World Championship). In the semifinals Spencer led Steve Davis 3-1 and 4-2 and 45-29 on the bulletin board, before Davis finally surged home, denying Spencer what would be his highest paid day.
The 1983 World Championships will also end up disappointing. After seeing the 24-year-old Mike Hallett's challenge in the first round on 10-7, Spencer faced Eddie Charlton's longtime opponent in the second round. Spencer moved into a 4-0 lead, but lost his intensity and despite the break 106 allowed Charlton to move 12-7 ahead. Spencer fought back, but went inside on the verge of leveling at 12-12 and lost the match 13-11.
Soon after Spencer was narrowly defeated again when he was defeated by Tony Meo, 5-4, in the Pontin semi-finals at Brean Sands. A narrower loss comes when Spencer and his partner John Virgo miss a double show on the final black for Meo and Jimmy White.
Disease
Career then Spencer was marred by an ocular version of myasthenia gravis (with symptoms including double vision). He first realized something was wrong when he felt uneasy in a professional Pontin tournament in 1984. When the news broke under Spencer's pressure, he noted that only two players directly sent him a message. One of them was Cliff Thorburn, the other was Alex Higgins, who appeared at his house, complete with a bottle of Bacardi that Higgins drank because Spencer was not allowed to drink alcohol at this time.
While the disease affected Spencer at the end of his career, the disease robbed a modest progress that has led him up to 13th place in the 1984/85 rankings. He also only failed to win a Pontin Professional title that summer when he lost 9-7 to Willie Thorne in the final. During the 1984 World Championships, he beat Graham Miles 10-3 in the first half and brought top seed Steve Davis 6-4 in the second half, before Davis pulled out to win 13-5. Miles' game was Spencer's last victory at Crucible.
Although Spencer was able to compete in the 1984/85 season, it was clear that the disease affected his form. He won just one match ranking during the season when he beat Canada's Frank Jonik 6-0 in Dulux British Open. There was excitement when Spencer partnered with Tony Knowles to the World Doubles semi-final in December 1984 that gave them a check for £ 11,250. Spencer also marked his last appearance at the Masters with a 5-3 win over Eddie Charlton. Even though he lost 5-2 to Jimmy White in the quarterfinals, he will take one of his highest paid checks Ã, £ 8,250. Spencer will also be part of England's 'B' team at the World Cup (with Jimmy White and Willie Thorne) reaching the semi-finals. Such events allow Spencer to finish in the top 15 moneymakers for the season. Another small consolation came when he narrowly lost the 1984 final from Pot Black to Terry Griffiths.
The main side effect of Spencer's condition is that his eyes will become very tense under the TV lighting. When he competed in the 1985 Pontins Professional event under the usual shaded lighting he once again reached the final, losing just 9-7 to Terry Griffiths, whom Spencer would never lose in major singles. It will also prove to be the final of his last tournament.
Spencer left for Scotland ahead of the 1986 World Championships to practice concentration. It pays off when he qualifies for Crucible to play old enemy Alex Higgins in what proves their last World Championship meeting. Higgins led 8-2, but was finally relieved to win 10-7. It was Spencer's last play to Crucible. Gordon Burn recounts that part of Spencer's practice in Scotland goes against the young Stephen Hendry. Spencer, after losing two match games, suggested to Hendry that they played next time in regular outfits. This happened, with the result that Spencer won their third encounter 6-4.
After falling to a low of 34 in the rankings for the 1986/87 season, Spencer continued to work hard in his game. In the 1986 BCE International Championships he recorded a 104 and 134 break against Ian Williamson. This break will be the highest break of the entire year's event. Spencer also made a 129 break in beating Terry Whitthread 5-2 at Dulux British Open a month later. In the final stages of the event, Spencer beat World Champion Joe Johnson 5-3 on his way to the quarterfinals. This last eight match against old friend Jimmy White saw Spencer compile the century and catch the sixth frame after needing six snookers (in a frame that only takes 18 minutes to play). Spencer will lose the match 5-3 but get the highest paid ever given snookernya with a check for Ã, Â £ 9,000. Another final career highlight came when Spencer beat old friend Fred Davis 5-0 at the British Open in 1988 and followed this with a 5-0 win over Dennis Taylor on February 27. Spencer will lose just 5-4 in the fifth round for Rex Williams, thus notching his first tournament victory over Spencer.
Retirement and past year
Spencer fought hard to keep playing and maintain his symptoms. His final final came in a World Championship qualifier in 1990, where he beat Ken Owers 10-8 before giving a very difficult test for the young star James Wattana. Wattana won the last two frames in the black and pink final respectively to record a 10-8 victory in the fourth qualifying round. Spencer's victory over the Owers was his final victory in a recognized ranking competition. In 1991 the World Championship Spencer lost his first game to Ray Edmonds 10-4, eventually giving Edmond victory over Spencer in a rivalry that stretched back to Spencer's victory over him at the British Amateur Championship of 1965. At that point Spencer showed a strong desire to continue playing and stating he will play at all events the following season. The decision seems very painful given that his old rival, Ray Reardon, has announced his retirement after his defeat at the 1991 World Championship Qualifying.
Despite his best hopes, Spencer is only too ill to play in six out of ten events the following season due to his condition in June. So much steroid is now needed that causes Spencer's hands to shake. Spencer continued to play his life hopes by joining the Six Colors Promotion management group in February 1992. He hoped this would provide a much needed and stable 'moral boost' including then World Champion John Parrott, who had been advised by Spencer before 1991. The championship won. But when Spencer played in four remaining events, he was only able to win one frame (in the Pearl Assurance British Open against Euan Henderson). Spencer's late World Championship appearance could not have been sadder: he scored only 207 points against Norway's Bjorn L'Orange and lost in a second qualifying match 10-0.
Spencer continued to hold several exhibitions and thanked manager Stephen Hendry, Ian Doyle for organizing several exhibitions after he resigned as WPBSA chairman. Spencer is also happy to have help at Len Ganley's events. Soon after this, Spencer started having problems with blood vessels in his legs, making mobility a problem.
His last TV appearance as a player came in 1997 when he took part in Seniors Pot Black. Spencer later admitted that he was suffering from a major depression caused by his illness when he played this match. Nevertheless he still produces applause with multiple shots during his frame with Dennis Taylor who he lost 74 points to 47. Although the game only became one frame, Spencer did not play in the Senior Master Competition in June 2000, leaving field 15. The event will won by Willie Thorne.
Poor health caused Spencer's departure from the role of commentator in 1998. In his memoir he writes in a struggling move through his role before retiring back to his hotel room. He was deeply touched by the kindness of fellow commentator Ted Lowe and Ray Edmonds.
On January 28, 2003 she was diagnosed with stomach cancer but she later refused treatment for her in order to enjoy the rest of her life free from the effects of chemotherapy. Spencer is emotionally paying his last visit to Crucible for the 2005 Champions Parade. He has for many years been a dedicated charity fundraiser and, despite his illness, he participated in sponsored parachuting in August 2005. His biography was published in the same year, entitled Out of the Blue and into the Black Maps John Spencer (snooker player)
Play style
Spencer was the first major professional snooker player to use a two-part gesture, which he used to win the 1977 title. Spencer was signaled by Al Selinger of Dufferin Cue Company during Spencer's victory at the Canadian Open in 1976. He did not use direct gestures but switched to some the week before the 1977 World Championships.
His gesture actions include a very long backswing that gives him enormous gesture powers, and allows him to develop long-range shots with deep-screw shots and maximum side spins that help develop into modern break-building.
Other snooker interests
He was the owner of Snooker Club Spencer in Bolton in the 1980s, when snooker peaked in popularity. After his defeat by Perrie Mans in 1978 World Championship Spencer was invited by producer Nick Hunter to try his hand in commenting on snooker for BBC television, a task he enjoyed over the next 19 years. He was also chairman of the WPBSA for six years from 1990, despite a period of ill health. When he resigned from office in November 1996, he has been a member of the governing council for 25 years.
Performance and ranking schedule
Final career
Final Rank: 1 (1 title)
Final non-ranked : 46 (27 titles, 19 runner-ups)
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments