Dennis Taylor is a former world snooker champion and one of the most iconic figures of the sport’s 1980s boom period.
Dennis Taylor – Career Snapshot
| Date of birth: | 19 January 1949 |
| From: | Northern Ireland |
| Turned professional: | 1972 |
| Highest world ranking: | No. 2 |
| Ranking titles: | 2 |
| World Championship titles: | 1 |
| Triple Crown titles: | 2 |
| Masters appearances: | 17 |
| Maximum 147 breaks: | 0 |
Dennis Taylor’s Snooker Career
Dennis Taylor turned professional in 1972 and quickly became one of the most recognisable figures of snooker’s early televised era. A consistent performer throughout the 1970s, he regularly reached the latter stages of major tournaments, although major titles initially proved elusive.
Taylor reached his first World Championship final in 1979 but suffered defeat at the Crucible, continuing a trend of near misses on the biggest stages. His long-awaited breakthrough arrived at the 1984 Grand Prix in Preston, where he defeated Cliff Thorburn 10-2 to secure his maiden ranking title.
The defining moment of Taylor’s career soon followed at the 1985 World Snooker Championship. Trailing Steve Davis 8-0 in the final, Taylor produced one of the most remarkable comebacks in sporting history, forcing a deciding frame and winning the title 18-17 on the final black.
That dramatic victory became one of the most replayed moments in snooker history and cemented Taylor’s place in the sport’s folklore. He followed his world triumph with further success, winning a series of prestigious invitational events including the Masters at Wembley in 1987.
Alongside Alex Higgins, Taylor also won three consecutive World Cup titles for Northern Ireland during the mid-1980s. He remained a prominent competitor into the 1990s before retiring from professional play in 2000, later becoming a long-standing and popular BBC commentator.
Dennis Taylor’s Ranking Titles
Dennis Taylor won two ranking titles during his professional career.
| Year | Tournament |
|---|---|
| 1984 | Grand Prix |
| 1985 | World Snooker Championship |
Other Major Titles and Notable Wins
- The Masters (1987)
- Matchroom Professional Championship (1987)
- Canadian Masters (1985, 1987)
- Carlsberg / Carling Challenge (1986, 1987)
- Thailand Masters (1985)
- Australian Masters (1986)
- Tokyo Masters (1987)
- World Cup (1985, 1986, 1987)
Dennis Taylor and the Triple Crown
Dennis Taylor won two Triple Crown titles during his professional career.
- World Championship: 1 title (1985)
- UK Championship: 0 titles
- Masters: 1 title (1987)
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.
Dennis Taylor: ★★★★★★
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Featured photo credit: Wikipedia