Doug Mountjoy

Doug Mountjoy (born 8 June 1942) is a retired Welsh snooker player. He was a mainstay of the professional snooker circuit during the late 1970s and 1980s, and remained within the top 16 of the world rankings for eleven consecutive years. He began his professional snooker career by clinching the title at the 1977 Masters tournament, which he had entered as a late replacement. He won both the 1978 UK Championship and the 1979 Irish Masters, and reached the final of the 1981 World Championship where he lost to Steve Davis. He also finished in second place at the 1985 Masters, but by 1988 he had dropped out of the top 16.

Doug Mountjoy
Born (1942-06-08) 8 June 1942
Tir-y-Berth, Glamorgan[1]
Sport country Wales
Professional1976–1997
Highest ranking5 (1990/91)
Career winnings£759,659
Highest break145: 1981 World Championship
Century breaks49
Tournament wins
Ranking2
Non-ranking15

Mountjoy enjoyed a resurgence in his 40s, and at the age of 46 he defeated future seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry in the final of the 1988 UK Championship. He followed this up with the 1989 Classic title, and by the end of the 1988–89 season he was back in the top 16, where he remained until 1992. His world ranking peaked at #5 in 1990/1991. He also won five Welsh Professional titles during his career.

Diagnosed with lung cancer in 1993, Mountjoy qualified for the World Championship at the age of 50, just weeks before having one of his lungs surgically removed. He continued to play professionally until 1997, and he was coach to the United Arab Emirates snooker association between 1997 and 1999.

Early life

Mountjoy was born on 8 June 1942.[2] He was brought up just outside Ebbw Vale and worked for some years as a coal miner, playing snooker in his spare time.[1] A well-known player in the valleys as a youth and young man, he won many amateur tournaments including two Welsh Amateur titles and the World Amateur title in 1976,[1] for which he beat Paul Mifsud 11–1.[2] After the World Amateur victory he turned professional, at the age of 34.[3]

Career

Mountjoy's first success was as a late replacement in the 1977 Masters at the New London Theatre, his first professional tournament.[1] He beat former world champions John Pulman, Fred Davis and Alex Higgins, and in the final defeated the then world champion (and defending Masters titleholder) Ray Reardon 7–6 to win the title.[3][4]

At the World Championship a couple of months later, he beat Higgins again in the first round but lost to Dennis Taylor in the quarter-final 11–13.[2] At the end of 1977 he reached the final of the first-ever UK Snooker Championship, losing to Patsy Fagan 9–12. He won the title a year later beating David Taylor 15–9, and in the same season he beat Ray Reardon to win the Irish Masters 6–5.[4]

In 1980 he won the Champion of Champions, beating John Virgo 10–8 in the final.

After being part of the winning Wales team in the first two snooker World Cups, in 1979 and 1980, he had an attack of Bell's palsy which partially paralysed his face.[1] With the problem cleared, he reached the final of the 1981 World Snooker Championship, where he beat Eddie Charlton, Dennis Taylor and, in the semi-final, Ray Reardon (against whom he made a 145 break, a championship record at the time). He then played Steve Davis in the final. Davis was favourite to win his first world title, and appeared to be racing to an easy victory when he won the first six frames of the match. However Mountjoy recovered, and on several occasions came close to drawing level. Trailing 11–13, and with the score at 60–63 in the 25th frame, he looked certain to cut Davis's lead to one frame but missed a simple blue from its spot. Davis went on to clear the colours, fluking the final black, and Mountjoy would win only one more frame as Davis eased to an 18–12 victory.

After that run at the World Championship, he had only a short run of titles; he won the Welsh Professional Championship in 1982[4] and 1984[4] to go with his 1980 title. He was back in the final of a major again in the 1985 Masters tournament, losing to Cliff Thorburn. Mountjoy also reclaimed the Pot Black title in March that year, having previously won it in 1978.

He won another Welsh title in 1987[4] but otherwise he struggled, including a 1–9 defeat to Steve Longworth in the 1986 UK Championship. By 1988 he was out of the top 16 in the World Rankings. It was at this time that he turned to the snooker coach Frank Callan, who had a reputation for being a valuable teacher to the professionals. In his book Frank Callan's Snooker Clinic, he relates the rebuilding of Mountjoy's game. Callan identified a particular fault in his technique, where he would play shots that required side spin by cueing across the ball, rather than moving his bridge hand over and striking in a straight line. This was how Mountjoy had always played a shot with sidespin, which was a testament to just how talented he was.[5] Callan instructed Mountjoy to use a 'drill' when preparing to strike the ball, rather than spending varying amounts of time and care on a shot dependent upon its difficulty. With a blanket approach to every stroke, Mountjoy found his game returning.

In the 1988/89 season, with Mountjoy noticeably using his new drill, he reached the final of the 1988 UK Championship. At the age of 46 he was meeting the young pretender Stephen Hendry in the final. He won 16–12 and gained his first ranking tournament victory, having at one stage scored centuries in three consecutive frames, and after the match praised Hendry as a future talent: "I can see him getting into the Top 300 at some point. Tee hee." In January 1989 he won the Classic, beating fellow Welshman Wayne Jones in the final, to win consecutive ranking titles. That gave Mountjoy his second ranking title during his twelve years as a professional, both of them won within two months. He then won his fifth Welsh Professional title the following month. He was back in the top 16 the next season, and by 1990 he was number 5 in the world. He stayed in the Top 16 until 1992. In 1993, not long after dropping out of the top 16, Mountjoy was diagnosed with lung cancer after being a smoker for many years.[1] That year, in his final World Championship finals appearance, at the age of 50, he beat Alain Robidoux 10–6 in the first round only weeks before an operation to remove his left lung. For fifteen years he was the last player aged over 50 to appear in the final stages. He survived the cancer and continued to play snooker until 1997. After 1997 he concentrated on snooker coaching but did compete in the World Championship again in 2000 and 2002.

Performance and rankings timeline
Tournament 1976/
77		 1977/
78		 1978/
79		 1979/
80		 1980/
81		 1981/
82		 1982/
83		 1983/
84		 1984/
85		 1985/
86		 1986/
87		 1987/
88		 1988/
89		 1989/
90		 1990/
91		 1991/
92		 1992/
93		 1993/
94		 1994/
95		 1995/
96		 1996/
97
Ranking[6] [nb 1] 14 14 13 14 6 7 12 15 15 14 14 24 10 5 10 26 30 26 36 59
Ranking tournaments
Asian Classic[nb 2] Tournament Not Held NR F QF 1R 2R WD LQ LQ LQ
Grand Prix[nb 3] Tournament Not Held 1R 1R QF 2R 3R 1R 3R QF 1R 2R 1R 1R 2R 1R LQ
UK Championship NH Non-Ranking Event 2R 2R 2R 1R W 1R 2R 1R 2R 2R 1R 1R LQ
German Open Tournament Not Held LQ LQ
Welsh Open Tournament Not Held 1R 2R 1R 1R LQ 1R
International Open[nb 4] Tournament Not Held NR 1R QF 1R 2R 2R 1R 2R 1R Not Held 1R 1R 1R LQ LQ
European Open Tournament Not Held 3R QF QF 2R 3R LQ 1R LQ LQ
Thailand Open[nb 5] Tournament Not Held Non-Ranking Event Not Held 3R 3R 1R 1R LQ 1R LQ LQ
British Open[nb 6] Not Held Non-Ranking Event 1R 1R 3R 1R 3R 3R 2R QF 1R QF 1R LQ LQ
World Championship QF 2R 2R 2R F 2R 2R QF 2R 2R 2R 2R 1R 2R 1R 1R 2R LQ LQ LQ LQ
Non-ranking tournaments
Scottish Masters Tournament Not Held QF A A A A A A NH A QF A A A A A A
The Masters W QF SF A QF QF SF 1R F 1R QF 1R A QF 1R 1R LQ LQ A A A
Seniors Pot Black Tournament Not Held QF
Irish Masters[nb 7] A F W F QF QF QF A A A A A A 1R 1R A A A A A A
Pontins Professional RR RR W A SF SF W QF A A A A QF A SF SF A A A A A
European League[nb 8] Tournament Not Held RR Not Held A A A RR RR A A A A A A
Former ranking tournaments
Canadian Masters[nb 9] Non-Ranking Event Tournament Not Held Non-Ranking 2R Tournament Not Held
Hong Kong Open[nb 10] Not Held Non-Ranking Event NH 3R Tournament Not Held NR NH
Classic Not Held Non-Ranking Event 1R 1R SF 1R 2R W 1R 2R 1R Tournament Not Held
Strachan Open Tournament Not Held 1R MR NR Not Held
Former non-ranking tournaments
Canadian Masters[nb 11] A 1R A A A Tournament Not Held A A A R Tournament Not Held
Holsten Lager International Not Held 1R Tournament Not Held
Forward Chemicals Tournament Not Held RR Tournament Not Held
Golden Masters NH W SF Tournament Not Held
Padmore Super Crystalate Not Held QF Tournament Not Held
Bombay International Not Held A RR Tournament Not Held
Pontins Camber Sands Not Held SF Tournament Not Held
Champion of Champions Not Held SF NH W Tournament Not Held
International Open[nb 12] Tournament Not Held 2R Ranking Event Not Held Ranking Event
Northern Ireland Classic Tournament Not Held SF Tournament Not Held
Classic Not Held QF A A QF Ranking Event Tournament Not Held
Tolly Cobbold Classic Not Held RR A A A QF A Tournament Not Held
Thailand Masters Tournament Not Held SF A A A Not Held Ranking Event
UK Championship NH F W 2R 1R 2R 2R 2R Ranking Event
British Open[nb 13] Not Held RR RR RR 2R RR Ranking Event
New Zealand Masters Tournament Not Held QF Not Held A A Tournament Not Held
Australian Masters[nb 14] Not Held A A A A 1R 1R A A A NH R Tournament Not Held A A NH
Norwich Union Grand Prix Tournament Not Held QF Tournament Not Held
Welsh Professional Championship F Not Held W SF W F W F F W SF W F A Tournament Not Held
Hong Kong Challenge[nb 15] Tournament Not Held W F A A A A NH QF A Tournament Not Held
Shoot-Out Tournament Not Held 1R Tournament Not Held
World Matchplay Tournament Not Held A QF 1R A A Tournament Not Held
World Masters Tournament Not Held 1R Tournament Not Held
Pot Black F W F SF A SF A 1R W 1R Tournament Not Held SF A A Not Held
World Seniors Championship Tournament Not Held QF Tournament Not Held
Performance Table Legend
LQ lost in the qualifying draw #R lost in the early rounds of the tournament
(WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin)		 QF lost in the quarter-finals
SF lost in the semi-finals F lost in the final W won the tournament
DNQ did not qualify for the tournament A did not participate in the tournament WD withdrew from the tournament
NH / Not Heldmeans an event was not held.
NR / Non-Ranking Eventmeans an event is/was no longer a ranking event.
R / Ranking Eventmeans an event is/was a ranking event.
  1. New players on the Main Tour do not have a ranking.
  2. The event was also called the Dubai Masters (1988/1989), Dubai Classic (1989/90–1994/1995) and Thailand Classic (1995/1996)
  3. The event was also called the Professional Players Tournament (1982/83–1983/1984)
  4. The event was also called the Goya Matchroom Trophy (1985/1986)
  5. The event was also called the Thailand Masters (1983/1984–1986/1987 & 1991/1992) and the Asian Open (1989/1990–1992/1993)
  6. The event was also called the British Gold Cup (1979/1980), Yamaha Organs Trophy (1980/1981) and International Masters (1981/1982–1983/1984)
  7. The event was also called the Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament (1974/1975–1976/1977)
  8. The event was also called the Professional Snooker League (1983/1984) and the Matchroom League (1986/1987 to 1991/1992)
  9. The event was also called the Canadian Open (1978/1979–1980/1981)
  10. The event was also called the Australian Masters (1979/1980–1987/1988 & 1995/1996) and Australian Open (1994/1995)
  11. The event was also called the Canadian Open (1978/1979–1980/1981)
  12. The event was also called the Goya Matchroom Trophy (1985/1986)
  13. The event was also called the British Gold Cup (1979/1980), Yamaha Organs Trophy (1980/1981) and International Masters (1981/1982–1983/1984)
  14. The event was also called the Hong Kong Open (1989/1990) and Australian Open (1994/1995)
  15. The event was also called the Hong Kong Masters (1983/1984–1988/1989)

Career finals

Ranking finals: 4 (2 titles, 2 runners-up)
Legend
World Championship (0–1)
UK Championship (1–0)
Other (1–1)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Runner-up 1. 1981 World Snooker Championship Steve Davis 12–18
Winner 1. 1988 UK Championship (2) Stephen Hendry 16–12
Winner 2. 1989 The Classic Wayne Jones 13–11
Runner-up 2. 1989 Dubai Classic Stephen Hendry 2–9

Non-ranking finals: 27 (15 titles, 12 runners-up)
Legend
UK Championship (1–1) [nb 1]
The Masters (1–1)
Other (13–10)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Runner-up 1. 1977 Pot Black Perrie Mans 0–1
Winner 1. 1977 The Masters Ray Reardon 7–6
Runner-up 2. 1977 Welsh Professional Championship Ray Reardon 8–12
Runner-up 3. 1977 UK Championship Patsy Fagan 9–12
Runner-up 4. 1978 Irish Masters John Spencer 3–5
Winner 2. 1978 Pot Black Graham Miles 2–1
Winner 3. 1978 Golden Masters Ray Reardon 4–2
Winner 4. 1978 UK Championship David Taylor 15–9
Runner-up 5. 1979 Pot Black (2) Ray Reardon 1–2
Winner 5. 1979 Irish Masters Ray Reardon 6–5
Winner 6. 1979 Pontins Professional Graham Miles 8–4
Winner 7. 1980 Welsh Professional Championship Ray Reardon 9–6
Runner-up 6. 1980 Irish Masters Terry Griffiths 9–10
Winner 8. 1980 Champion of Champions John Virgo 10–8
Winner 9. 1982 Welsh Professional Championship (2) Terry Griffiths 9–8
Runner-up 7. 1983 Welsh Professional Championship (2) Ray Reardon 1–9
Winner 10. 1983 Pontins Professional (2) Ray Reardon 9–7
Winner 11. 1983 Hong Kong Masters Terry Griffiths 4–3
Winner 12. 1984 Welsh Professional Championship (3) Cliff Wilson 9–3
Runner-up 8. 1984 Hong Kong Masters Steve Davis 2–4
Runner-up 9. 1985 The Masters Cliff Thorburn 6–9
Runner-up 10. 1985 Welsh Professional Championship (3) Terry Griffiths 4–9
Winner 13. 1985 Pot Black (2) Jimmy White 2–0
Runner-up 11. 1986 Welsh Professional Championship (4) Terry Griffiths 3–9
Winner 14. 1987 Welsh Professional Championship (4) Steve Newbury 9–7
Winner 15. 1989 Welsh Professional Championship (5) Terry Griffiths 9–6
Runner-up 12. 1990 Welsh Professional Championship (5) Darren Morgan 7–9

Pro-am finals: 3 (2 titles, 1 runner-up)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Winner 1. 1974 Pontins Spring Open John Spencer 7–4
Winner 2. 1976 Pontins Spring Open (2) Lance Pibworth 7–1
Runner-up 1. 1984 Pontins Spring Open Neal Foulds 4–7

Team finals: 4 (2 titles, 2 runners-up)
Outcome No. Year Championship Team/partner Opponent(s) in the final Score
Winner 1. 1979 World Challenge Cup  Wales  England 14–3
Winner 1. 1980 World Challenge Cup (2)  Wales  Canada 8–5
Runner-up 1. 1981 World Team Classic  Wales  England 3–4
Runner-up 2. 1983 World Team Classic (2)  Wales  England 2–4

Amateur finals: 4 (3 titles, 1 runner-up)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Runner-up 1. 1966 Welsh Amateur Championship Lynn O'Neill 5–9
Winner 1. 1968 Welsh Amateur Championship John Terry 6–5
Winner 2. 1976 Welsh Amateur Championship (2) Alwyn Lloyd 8–6
Winner 3. 1976 IBSF World Amateur Championship Paul Mifsud 11–1
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References
  1. "Profile: Doug Mountjoy". Eurosport. 3 December 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  2. Morrison, Ian (1988). Who’s who in snooker. Hamlyn. pp. 74–75. ISBN 0600557138.
  3. "Doug Mountjoy". wst.tv. World Snooker. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  4. Hale, Janice (1987). Rothmans Snooker Yearbook 1987–88. Aylesbury: Queen Anne Press. pp. 129–133. ISBN 0356146901.
  5. Frank Callans Snooker Clinic book authors quote
  6. "Ranking History". Snooker.org. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  1. The UK Championship did not become a ranking event until 1984
Records
Preceded by
Bill Werbeniuk & Rex Williams
142		 Highest break
in the world championship
1981 – 23 April 1983		 Succeeded by
Cliff Thorburn
147
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