Joe Johnson Player Profile
Joe Johnson Stats
Date of birth: 29 July, 1952
Nationality: England
First turned professional: 1979
Highest ranking: 5
Ranking titles: 1
Triple Crown titles: 1
Crucible best: champion
Masters appearances: 6
147 breaks: 0
SHQ Stars:
★★★★
Summary
Joe Johnson turned professional in 1979 after reaching the final of the previous year’s IBSF World Amateur Championship.
The Bradford potter’s progress on the main tour was slow, and he didn’t feature regularly at the business end of tournaments during his first few years on the circuit.
The 1983/84 campaign was a turning point in Johnson’s career, though.
After beating the likes of Jimmy White, Eddie Charlton, and Cliff Thorburn, Johnson reached the final of the 1983 Professional Players Tournament – eventually losing in a deciding-frame showdown against Tony Knowles.
More positive results during that period helped the Englishman rise into the top 16 for the first time in 1985.
MORE PLAYER PROFILES:
Yet, few people would have given him much of a chance at the start of the following year’s World Snooker Championship.
A 150/1 outsider at the beginning of the tournament, Johnson won the last four frames to beat Terry Griffiths from 12-9 behind in the quarter-finals before hammering Knowles to reach the final.
Steve Davis was his last opponent, and Johnson stunned the world with an 18-12 victory over the runaway world number one.
A year later, he almost did it again but just fell short of the double as Davis avenged the defeat in the 1987 title decider.
Johnson’s performances at the Crucible Theatre helped him reach a career-high ranking of number five in the world.
However, his presence in the higher echelons was fleeting and he spent only a handful of years in the top 16 overall.
Among the other non-ranking trophies he captured was the Scottish Masters in 1987 where he beat Stephen Hendry, Thorburn, and Griffiths in Glasgow.
Suffering from eyesight problems later in his career, Johnson slid further down the rankings during the 1990s and eventually retired in 2004.
Still competing on the World Seniors Tour, Johnson is associated more these days for his commentary work for Eurosport.
Click here for the latest news on Joe Johnson
Ranking Event Victories
- 1986 World Snooker Championship
Other Notable Victories
- Scottish Masters (1987)
- Norwich Union Grand Prix (1989)
- Seniors Masters (2019)
Featured photo credit: WST
Joe Johnson Player Profile
SHQ Stars: How it works
| Rating | SHQ Stars | Career Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Black | ★★★★★★★ | multiple world champion; 30+ ranking titles; career triple crown; world no.1 (at least 3) |
| Pink | ★★★★★★ | world champion; 10+ ranking titles; multiple winner of triple crown events; member of top 2; 15+ seasons in top 16 (at least 3) |
| Blue | ★★★★★ | winner of triple crown event; 5+ ranking titles; member of top 4; 12+ seasons in top 16 (at least 2) |
| Brown | ★★★★ | 2+ ranking titles; member of top 8; triple crown event finalist; 8+ seasons in the top 16 (at least 2) |
| Green | ★★★ | ranking title; member of top 16 (at least 1) |
| Yellow | ★★ | member of top 64 |
| Red | ★ | professional |
