Doug Mountjoy was a Welsh professional and one of the leading figures of snooker’s late-1970s boom, winning major invitational titles and later enjoying a remarkable late-career resurgence to claim two ranking tournaments and rise as high as number five in the world rankings.
Doug Mountjoy – Career Snapshot
| Date of birth: | 8 June 1942 |
| From: | Wales |
| Turned professional: | 1976 |
| Highest world ranking: | No. 5 |
| Ranking titles: | 2 |
| World Championship titles: | 0 |
| Triple Crown titles: | 2 |
| Masters appearances: | 14 |
| Maximum 147 breaks: | 0 |
Doug Mountjoy’s Snooker Career
A former coal miner, Doug Mountjoy turned professional in 1976 after a superb year in the amateur game, during which he captured both the Welsh Amateur Championship and the IBSF World Amateur Championship. Joining the main tour at the age of 34, he made an immediate impact and quickly established himself as a contender during snooker’s rising popularity.
Invited to compete at the 1977 Masters, only the third staging of what would become one of the sport’s most famous tournaments, Mountjoy produced a sensational debut run to lift the title. He defeated former world champions John Pulman, Fred Davis, Alex Higgins, and Ray Reardon on his way to victory in London.
Further success followed at the UK Championship. Mountjoy reached the final in each of the next two editions, losing the inaugural title decider in 1977 before returning a year later to beat David Taylor and claim the trophy. With additional triumphs in invitation events such as the Irish Masters and Pot Black, he was a regular presence at the business end of major tournaments throughout this period.
In 1981, Mountjoy reached the final of the World Snooker Championship but missed out on global glory after losing to the emerging Steve Davis. His form then dipped for much of the 1980s, and by the 1988/89 season he had dropped outside the top 16 in the world rankings.
But a remarkable renaissance occurred late in his career. At the 1988 UK Championship, now upgraded to ranking status, Mountjoy rolled back the years to defeat Stephen Hendry in the final and lift the title for a second time at the age of 46. Two months later, he added another ranking crown with victory in the Classic, and those results helped him climb back up the rankings to a career-high position of number five in the world.
Suffering from illness as he entered his 50s, Mountjoy eventually retired from professional snooker in 1997 and later became a coach. He died in 2021 at the age of 78.
Doug Mountjoy’s Ranking Titles
Doug Mountjoy won 2 ranking titles during his professional career.
| Year | Tournament |
|---|---|
| 1988 | UK Championship |
| 1989 | Classic |
Other Major Titles and Notable Wins
- The Masters (1977)
- UK Championship (1978)
- Irish Masters (1979)
- Pot Black (1978, 1985)
- Champion of Champions (1980)
- Pontins Professional (1979, 1983)
- Hong Kong Masters (1983)
- World Challenge Cup (1979, 1980)
Doug Mountjoy and the Triple Crown
Doug Mountjoy won three Triple Crown titles during his professional career.
- World Championship: 0 titles
- UK Championship: 1 title (1978, 1988)
- Masters: 1 title (1977)
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.
Doug Mountjoy: ★★★★★
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Featured photo credit: WST