Fast and Aggressive Snooker in the 80s | Alex Higgins vs Steve Davis | 1985 Masters L16

Well, he's got good contact there on the red, and the easiest of the possible three pots that he could take on. 33, 39. No reason now why he shouldn't convert this into a flame-winning break. 40, 47, 48, 55, 56. This is the tricky one. Pull the red very close to the pink pot in either centre or corner pocket. 63. For some reason, Higgins preferring the rest at the black spot end of the table rather than the other rest. I thought that Higgins might perhaps have covered it with the pink and black. 1, 6, 8. From Alex Higgins' point of view, it's only saving grace from that last shot, is that the pink and black are close together. And Davis will certainly need 11 of pink and black, actually, to win this frame. 15. So this is going to be the key shot. Not only potting the blue, but trying to break the pink, free it away from the black in order to make the clearance. Considering playing the thinnest of cuts there, he can get the white ball perhaps to the balk area. 20, Steve Davis. 7, Steve Davis. Well, that was a big surprise. Higgins could clearly hit the pink direct, and I'm not surprised from that position. Davis has put him in again. His privilege, of course, after any foul by his opponent. Davis now needs only hit the pink. 1. Well, that was an interesting choice of shot, yellow in preference to green, but it didn't come off. 3. Tremendous shot to pick out that plant, and now in a position to win the frame. Absolutely fly. That was a great pressure ball there for Alex. Full-blooded attempt at the green. 8. Another pressure shot coming up here. Pressure, it's this man. What a ball to pot at that stage. 16. And as early in the frame as it is, this is a frame-winning chance. 22, 23. It was an excellent positional shot there on the pink, stretching over and having to screw back just to the exact position. 37. 38. 46. What a break this has been from Alex Higgins. 53. Pulling out all the stops. 54. 61. He still needs to pot this red to leave Davis needing a snooker, and he lost one frame earlier this evening after making a break of 63 in it. Clinching the frame at that critical table. Steve Davis, 34. Alex Higgins, 61. 1. He's got to clear the table to win this seventh frame. A tremendous amount of pressure on Davis. 6. 8. 11. So nearly Higgins was one up with two to play, but now he faces the probability of being one behind with two to play. 15. 20. 26. 1. 8. 9. I've still read the back of the pack, which is potable into the right-hand corner pocket. And what a test of nerve and character this is for Davis. 15. And whichever way it is, Clive, everyone's seen some fantastic snooker tonight. 22. The pink wouldn't go on its own spot, no other spot being available. It's replaced as near as possible to it. 29. In a straight line between it and the middle of the top cushion. 35. The cue extension comes into play. Much easier to play this sort of shot with that than it would be with the half putt. 36. Now this man really has got great nerve for a match. Stroke that one in as if he was just practicing. 7. Steve Davis. 8. Just takes a look back towards the table. 9. If you please, thank you. 10. And realizes that the white ball wasn't tight enough to the top cushion. Ladies and gentlemen, once again, may I please you to keep quiet. Not only for the players, but so that everybody else can enjoy. Thank you. 12. Yes, the shout of my son was completely mistimed. He was actually down on the shot. He was certainly acting against Higgins' interest. 1. 4. 5. Intended to come up to pop the blue in the center and slightly not enough pace in that shot. This was much more difficult. 10. Proof that Davis has made in this deciding frame. Well, as Higgins walks back to his chair, Davis is certainly composing himself. A couple of good shots here. And he could be in a match winning position. It's very, very difficult to pop the last few balls necessary to get you over the line. 2. What a ball that was. 9. And now that Higgins has got the black back on its spot, can he snatch frame and match at the last? 14. 15. 22. This is a matter of nerve now. 23. No technical reason why Higgins shouldn't clear the table. Well, the adrenaline is certainly flowing now, but Alex has perhaps for the first time throughout this whole match slowed himself down. Only twice in 15 attempts has Higgins beaten Davis. But this might be the third. 39. 42. I'll add a quick recount. 44. Higgins needs up to the pink to win him the frame and match. Four times out of four this season, Higgins has lost to Davis. 51. And that's not so good. Quiet please, ladies and gentlemen. Davis is going to get back to the table. When Higgins was on the brown, he couldn't have expected to. In your chair with your nerves jangling. Expecting to lose. That blue was going dangerously close to that left corner pocket. But quite some distance between the two balls and not even certain whether or not Davis can actually get around that pink to make contact with the blue. Quiet please, ladies and gentlemen. That was awkward for Davis. And this is possible. Blue and pink to win.