Joe Johnson is an English professional best known for his shock victory at the 1986 World Snooker Championship, one of the most unexpected triumphs in the history of the sport.
Joe Johnson – Career Snapshot
| Date of birth: | 29 July 1952 |
| Nationality: | England |
| Turned professional: | 1979 |
| Highest world ranking: | No. 5 |
| Ranking titles: | 1 |
| World Championship titles: | 1 |
| Triple Crown titles: | 1 |
| Masters appearances: | 6 |
| Maximum 147 breaks: | 0 |
Joe Johnson’s Snooker Career
Joe Johnson turned professional in 1979 after reaching the final of the previous year’s IBSF World Amateur Championship. His early progress on the Main Tour was gradual, and he did not feature prominently at the latter stages of tournaments during his first few seasons.
The 1983/84 campaign marked a turning point. After defeating players such as Jimmy White, Eddie Charlton, and Cliff Thorburn, Johnson reached the final of the 1983 Professional Players Tournament, eventually losing a deciding-frame contest to Tony Knowles. Those results helped Johnson break into the top 16 for the first time in 1985, but few would have predicted what followed at the World Snooker Championship the next season.
Arriving at the Crucible as a 150/1 outsider in 1986, Johnson produced a remarkable run. He recovered from 12-9 down to defeat Terry Griffiths in the quarter-finals, gained revenge on Knowles in the semi-finals, and then stunned the snooker world with an 18-12 victory over the dominant world number one Steve Davis in the final.
He sensationally came close to repeating the feat a year later, reaching the 1987 World Championship final before Davis restored the norm to deny him back-to-back titles. Johnson’s performances at the Crucible carried him to a career-high ranking of number five, but his stay among the game’s elite proved relatively short, with only a limited number of seasons spent inside the top 16.
Among his other successes was victory at the 1987 Scottish Masters, where he defeated Stephen Hendry, Cliff Thorburn, and Terry Griffiths.
Later in his career, eyesight problems contributed to a gradual decline in results, and Johnson retired from the professional circuit in 2004. He has since remained active on the World Seniors Tour and is also widely known for his commentary work with Eurosport.
Joe Johnson’s Ranking Titles
Joe Johnson won 1 ranking title during his professional career.
| Year | Tournament |
|---|---|
| 1986 | World Snooker Championship |
Other Major Titles and Notable Wins
- Scottish Masters (1987)
- Norwich Union Grand Prix (1989)
- Seniors Masters (2019)
Joe Johnson and the Triple Crown
Joe Johnson won 1 Triple Crown title during his professional career, capturing the World Championship in 1986.
- World Championship: 1 title (1986)
- UK Championship: 0 titles
- Masters: 0 titles
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.
Joe Johnson: ★★★★
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Featured photo credit: WST