Jack Lisowski wasn’t alive for any of Steve Davis’s six world title triumphs but will know more about his opponent in today’s Betfred.com World Championship qualifiers than Davis will know about him.This is an intriguing clash of styles and generations, the oldest player in the tournament against one of the youngest to have reached the penultimate qualifying round.
Lisowski, 19, did so on Tuesday by beating Kuldesh Johal 10-7. Resuming 5-4 down he won the first three but suffered a kick in the last before the interval, lost it and, having never experienced the intense atmosphere of the World Championship, spent the 15 minute break in a state of some distress.
Then, all this went away when he returned to the match table to find Johal had not turned up in time and was docked a frame. Suddenly it was 8-6 and Lisowski won 10-7.
“I’ve never felt so angry after that kick. I just wanted to scream but then he never turned up,” he said.
“You don’t feel like you’ve earned the frame but it happened to me earlier in the season and that helped me to concentrate.”
Davis, 53, will receive considerable nostalgic support. He first played in the World Championship when Jim Callaghan was prime minister and is surely snooker’s greatest ever ambassador.
But Lisowski is also fast establishing a following. Like the black pudding industry, snooker needs a steady flow of fresh blood if it is to renew itself. Young players have been coming through slower than ever in recent years but the Gloucester teenager has had an excellent debut season and there are many hoping he goes all the way to the Crucible.
He is, Colin Firth-like, a racing certainty to win Newcomer of the Year at the revived World Snooker Awards in May.
Against Davis, he will find his fledgling tactical game tested like never before. It will be a lesson in safety play but if he can get in and score has every chance.
He has every right to believe in himself. Lisowski is confident but not cocky. He is grounded enough not to get carried away with life on the tour.
What a proud moment, too, for his parents, Nick and Tracey, who will of course remember Davis from their younger days. Now, their son is playing him in the World Championship.
“One of the videos I've got at home is of when he beat Ronnie O’Sullivan to win the Masters. Steve is one of the all time greats and I’m relishing playing him,” Lisowski said.
“It’ll be a proper test. He could totally outplay me, but I could get in and start potting a few.”
20 comments:
Lots of close finishes this year, gutted to see Wattana out. Come on Steve!
Love the black pudding analogy!
I think Lisowski has the flair in his game to be a crowd favourite, really silky touch in the balls.
Beginning to think that the run Davis had to the last eight in Sheffield was a last hurrah as he is plummetting down the ranking list - defeat would see him relegated from the top 48.
Personally, think he would be an excellent recepient of the BBC Lifetime Acheievement Award at the Sports Personality bash.
He has been a legenadary ambassador - second only to Jimmy White in this regard - and has served the sport with such distinction in five different decades.
It's at times when Tony Drago is on the comeback trail you wish the qualifiers were online to watch.
Come on the Maltese Falcon!
He will be probably out by the time this is printed, though!
4:15PM Can you please explain why you think Steve is 2nd to Jimmy White? Especially when 99% of snooker followers would say Steve has been the greatest ambassador the game has ever had.
I have a sneaking suspicion that Davis has at least one more 'last hurrah' ahead of him at the Crucible. He might be slipping down the rankings, but he never gives up and loves playing. If he could get close to last year's form, who knows what could happen! What a shame he didn't play Martin Gould in the QF last year. I think he could have made the semis....
And it's a decider 9-9 thank to a nice 60+ break from Davis. Will Steve Davis do it yet again...
Well played Steve...but he has a big obstacle between him and the Crucible now....
10 9 to Davis, Ihope he beats lee on sunday
I have to root for the Nugget. Seeing him at the World Championship would be very special.
If we never see him at the Crucible again it would be a shame, but his run last year would be perfect to go out on: knocking out the defending champion and then losing to the eventual champion. Nice symmetry.
I think Lisowski was counting on outscoring Davis, but Steve seems to have been scoring pretty heavily: 105, 101, 91, 80, 61. Looked like a high quality match and I really didn't fancy Davis for it given his recent results. Stephen Lee is not a bad draw for him because Lee often struggles against tacticians, and Davis will feel pretty confident after playing like that.
Betty, I fully agree with your sentiments on Steve. It was also nice to see Steve make a sizeable century at last year's WC too. An impressive string of breaks from him in his Lisowski tie too...
I feel that Jimmy has done more to popularise the sport. I am sure Davis does his bit for the fans but White seems to do a bit more.
It's a marginal call really.
The way he played last night he will give Stephen Lee a game that's for sure. That said, Lee will score heavier than Jack did and not give him so many opportunities in amongst the reds so I would still make Davis second favourite.
Definatly a Jimmy fan !
Jimmy's definitely a more popular player but Davis is the respectable face of the game. Wheeling him out for the first round at the Crucible is a bit like the Queen opening parliament.
When is his match with mr. Lee scheduled?
Sunday morning and evening
Yeah, can see where you are coming from. I think Steve is class, in many ways 'Mr Snooker'.
lee is bulldozing davis
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