On this day in 1985 viewers were left on the edge of their seats in the 1985 World snooker championships otherwise known as the black ball final Dennis Taylor lost the first eight frames of the final to the defending champion Steve Davis but slowly recovered to pull it back to 9–7 and 13–11 after the second and third sessions. Until the match was over, Dennis Taylor was never ahead in frames but had tied the contest three times at 11–11, 15–15 and 17–17. The deciding frame culminated in a number of shots on the final black ball. After both players had failed to pot it several times, Taylor potted the black to win his only world championship. Media outlets reported this as a major shock: Steve Davis had been the red hot favourite to win the world snooker championships. The final's conclusion attracted 18.5 million viewers, setting UK viewership records for any post-midnight broadcast and for any broadcast on BBC Two that still stands to this day. Dennis Taylor didn't retain the title but fell victim to the crucible curse where was knocked out of the first round in the 1986 World Championships by Mike Hallett. Dennis Taylor hung up his cue in 2000 and works as a popular boradcaster providing commentary for the World Snooker Championships, Steve Davis hung up his cue in 2016 and works as a popular broadcaster and pundit for the World Snooker Championships
The calm before the storm.........Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor photographed with the most famous trophy in the world
A very jubilant Dennis Taylor clearly delighted with his victory over the holder and world number one Steve Davis
More delight from the popular Irishman after his 18-17 victory over Steve Davis
Okay enough of that..........after seeing Rhys Jones reach octo-champ glory we now welcome two new contestants to the Countdown studios........which one of these will be walking away with the teapot ?
C1: Challenger Tom Page.
C2: Challenger Peter Mitchell.
DC: Susie Dent and John Virgo.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: G N R U I A C E S
R02: G J W O A E F H I
R03: 25, 4, 5, 10, 4, 9, . Target: 324.
TTT: OPENMASKS - "When it comes to wheels, he'll do all the talking."
R04: M R B E I E S T O
R05: H N M I A E P U T
R06: 100, 1, 9, 7, 5, 5. Target: 843.
R07: N L G E A I N O D
R08: Q L M U E O R N A
R09: 6, 2, 7, 2, 4, 9. Target: 580.
TTT: URBANCOIL - "One I in the letters, but two in the answer."
R10: T Y D I E O C S A
R11: T L S O E O T U P
R12: T W B I E U G V A
R13: R L E A D N U I R
R14: 75, 50, 10, 3, 1, 2. Target: 268.
R15: P A Y T H E H E N (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: G N R U I A C E S
Tom: CREASING (8)
Peter: SECURING (8)
DC: RECUSING (8)
OT: RESCUING (8) SCUNGIER (8)
Score: 8–8 (max 8)
Round 2: G J W O A E F H I
Tom: WAGE (4)
Peter: WAGE (4)
DC: HOAGIE (6) FEIJOA (6)
OT: AWEIGH (6)
Score: 12–12 (max 14)
Round 3: 25, 4, 5, 10, 4, 9. Target: 324.
C1: 324. (9 + 4) × 25 − 5 + 4 (10)
C2: 324. (9 + 4) × 25 − 5 + 4 (10)
Score: 22–22 (max 24)
Teatime teaser: OPENMASKS -> SPOKESMAN
Round 4: M R B E I E S T O
Tom: MOISTER (7)
Peter: MOISTER (7)
DC: TIRESOME (8)
Score: 29–29 (max 32)
Round 5: H N M I A E P U T
Tom: IMPUTE (6)
Peter: minutae
DC: PETUNIA (7) PUTAMEN (7)
OT: PINETUM (7)
Score: 35–29 (max 39)
Round 6: 100, 1, 9, 7, 5, 5. Target: 843.
C1: 844. (7 + 1) × (100 + 5) + 9 − 5 (7)
C2: 840.
RR: 843. (100 − 7) × 9 + 5 + 1 (10)
Score: 42–29 (max 49)
Round 7: N L G E A I N O D
Tom: LOADING (7)
Peter: LEANING (7)
DC: ALIGNED (7)
OT: ANELING (7) ANNELID (7) DEALIGN (7) DEALING (7) ENDLONG (7) LANDING (7) LEADING (7) LENDING (7) LINDANE (7) LOANING (7)
Score: 49–36 (max 56)
Round 8: Q L M U E O R N A
Tom: UNREAL (6)
Peter: LOANER (6)
DC: ALMONER (7) ENAMOUR (7) NUMERAL (7)
OT: MORULAE (7) NEUROMA (7) UNMORAL (7)
Score: 55–42 (max 63)
Round 9: 6, 2, 7, 2, 4, 9. Target: 580.
C1: 590. (5)
C2: -
RR: 580. (6 × 9 + 4) × 2 × (7 − 2) (10)
Score: 60–42 (max 73)
Teatime teaser: URBANCOIL -> BINOCULAR
Round 10: T Y D I E O C S A
Tom: COASTED (7)
Peter: SOCIETY (7)
DC: DYSTOCIA (8)
Score: 67–49 (max 81)
Round 11: T L S O E O T U P
Tom: POOTLES (7)
Peter: OUTPOST (7)
DC: TOOTLES (7) OUTLETS (7)
OT: OUTSOLE (7) OUTSTEP (7) POTTLES (7) TOOLSET (7) TUPELOS (7)
Score: 74–56 (max 88)
Round 12: T W B I E U G V A
Tom: WAGE (4)
Peter: VAGUE (5)
DC: AUGITE (6)
Score: 74–61 (max 94)
Round 13: R L E A D N U I R
Tom: LAUNDER (7)
Peter: DRAINER (7)
OT: DIURNAL (7) LARDIER (7) LURDANE (7) RANDIER (7) RUDERAL (7) UNAIRED (7) UNIDEAL (7)
Score: 81–68 (max 101)
Round 14: 75, 50, 10, 3, 1, 2. Target: 268.
C1: 268. 3 × 75 + 50 − (10 − (2 + 1)) (10)
C2: 268. 3 × 75 + 50 − (10 − (2 + 1)) (10)
Score: 91–78 (max 111)
Round 15: P A Y T H E H E N
No one buzzes. The answer was HYPHENATE.
Final Score: 91–78 (max 121)