Cliff Thorburn is a former world snooker champion and one of the most influential international players of the sport’s 1980s era.
Cliff Thorburn – Career Snapshot
| Date of birth: | 16 January 1948 |
| Nationality: | Canada |
| Turned professional: | 1972 |
| Highest world ranking: | No. 1 |
| Ranking titles: | 2 |
| World Championship titles: | 1 |
| Triple Crown titles: | 4 |
| Masters appearances: | 15 |
| Maximum 147 breaks: | 2 |
Cliff Thorburn’s Snooker Career
Cliff Thorburn turned professional in 1972 after being recommended to the WPBSA by then world champion John Spencer. He quickly established himself as the leading overseas competitor in a sport long dominated by British and Irish players, earning a reputation for patience, resilience, and tactical discipline.
Nicknamed “The Grinder”, Thorburn became one of the defining figures of snooker’s boom period, reaching the latter stages of the game’s biggest events with remarkable consistency. He contested three World Championship finals between 1977 and 1983, securing his greatest triumph in 1980 with victory over Alex Higgins at the Crucible Theatre.
Thorburn’s place in snooker history was further cemented in 1983 when he compiled a famous 147 maximum break at the Crucible, only the second officially recognised maximum in professional competition. His emotional reaction to the achievement remains one of the sport’s most enduring images.
With the World Championship serving as the primary ranking event for much of the era, Thorburn’s sustained excellence in Sheffield helped him reach world number one in 1981. He also enjoyed significant success at the Masters in London, reaching four finals and becoming the first player to successfully defend the title in the mid-1980s.
Beyond the ranking circuit, Thorburn won numerous invitational titles and played a key role in inspiring a generation of Canadian players. He retired from the main tour in 1996 but returned to the winner’s circle in later years, capturing the Seniors Masters title in 2018.
Cliff Thorburn’s Ranking Titles
Cliff Thorburn won two ranking titles during his professional career.
| Year | Tournament |
|---|---|
| 1980 | World Snooker Championship |
| 1985 | Matchroom Trophy |
Other Major Titles and Notable Wins
- The Masters (1983, 1985, 1986)
- Canadian Open (1974, 1978, 1979, 1980)
- Pot Black (1981)
- Australian Masters (1983)
- Scottish Masters (1985, 1986)
- World Cup (1982, 1990)
- World Mixed Doubles Championship (1981)
- Seniors Masters (2018)
Cliff Thorburn and the Triple Crown
Cliff Thorburn won four Triple Crown titles during his professional career.
- World Championship: 1 title (1980)
- UK Championship: 0 titles
- Masters: 3 titles (1983, 1985, 1986)
SHQ Star Rating: ★★★★★★
SnookerHQ uses a seven-point star scale based on the scoring values of snooker balls, with a black (7) representing the highest career classification. Ratings are assigned using career achievements, longevity, and historical impact.
Cliff Thorburn: ★★★★★★
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Featured photo credit: WSS