Doug Mountjoy

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Douglas James Mountjoy Template:Needs IPA (8 June 1942 – 14 February 2021) was a Welsh snooker player from Tir-y-Berth, Gelligaer, Wales. He was a member of the professional snooker circuit from the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, and remained within the top 16 of the world rankings for 11 consecutive years. He began his professional snooker career by taking the 1977 Masters, which he entered as a reserve player. He won both the 1978 UK Championship and the 1979 Irish Masters. Mountjoy reached the final of the 1981 World Snooker Championship where he was defeated by Steve Davis. He was also runner-up at the 1985 Masters losing to Cliff Thorburn, but by 1988 he had dropped out of the top 16.

Mountjoy enjoyed a resurgence in his 40s, and at the age of 46 he defeated Stephen Hendry in the final of the 1988 UK Championship. He followed up by also winning the next ranking event, the 1989 Classic, 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 number five in 1990–1991. He also won five Welsh Professional Championship 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 a lung surgically removed. He continued to play professionally until 1997, and he was coach to the United Arab Emirates snooker association between 1997 and 1999 and appeared sporadically at the World Snooker Championship until 2002. Mountjoy died in February 2021 after a stroke.

Early life

Mountjoy was born on 8 June 1942,[1][2] in Tir-y-Berth, Gelligaer, Glamorgan, Wales.[3] He was brought up just outside Ebbw Vale and worked for some years as a coal miner, playing snooker in his spare time.[3] At the age of 17 an underground accident trapped him for several hours when the roof collapsed; he was fortunate to escape.[4]

A popular player in the South Wales Valleys as a junior, he won many amateur tournaments including two Welsh Amateur titles and the World Amateur title in 1976,[3] after defeating Paul Mifsud 11–1.[2] After the World Amateur victory he turned professional at the age of 34.[5]

Career

Mountjoy's first professional tournament, which he entered as a late replacement, was the 1977 Masters at the New London Theatre.[3] After defeating former world champions John Pulman, Fred Davis, and Alex Higgins to reach the final, he beat the defending Masters champion and reigning world champion Ray Reardon 7–6 to win the title.[5][6]

At the 1977 World Championship a couple of months later, he defeated 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 UK Snooker Championship, losing to Patsy Fagan 9–12.[7] He won the title at the 1978 UK Championship, however, beating David Taylor 15–9, and he defeated Ray Reardon in the same season to win the Irish Masters 6–5.[6] He won the 1980 Champion of Champions, with a 10–8 victory over John Virgo in the final.[8] Mountjoy also won the 1978 Pot Black event.[9]

After being part of the winning Wales team in the first two snooker World Challenge Cups, in 1979 and 1980, and winning the 1980 Welsh Professional Championship he had an attack of Bell's palsy which partially paralysed his face.[3] Recovering from the attack, he reached the final of the 1981 World Championship, defeating 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.[10] Davis was favourite to win his first world title, and appeared to be racing to an easy victory by winning the first six frames of the match. However, Mountjoy recovered and came close to drawing level on several occasions. 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, Template:Cuegloss the final black. Mountjoy won only one more frame as Davis won the match 18–12.[11]

After that run at the World Championship, he had only a short run of titles; he won the Welsh Professional Championship in 1982[6] and 1984[6] 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 9–6.[12] Mountjoy also reclaimed the Pot Black title in March that year.[9]

He won another Welsh title in 1987 but otherwise struggled to regain his previous form, including a 1–9 defeat to Steve Longworth in the first round of the 1986 UK Championship.[6] By 1988 he was out of the top 16 in the world rankings.[13] In the 1988–89 snooker season, however, he reached the final of the 1988 UK Championship where he met Stephen Hendry. He won 16–12 and gained his first ranking tournament victory, having at one stage scored centuries in three consecutive frames.[14] In January 1989 he won the Classic, beating fellow Welshman Wayne Jones in the final, to win consecutive ranking titles.[15] This was enough for him to return to the top 16 the next season, and by 1990 he was number five in the world.[16] He remained in the top 16 until 1992.

Mountjoy was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1993, having been a smoker for many years.[3] That year, at the age of 50, he defeated Alain Robidoux 10–6 in the first round of the World Championship, only weeks before an operation to remove his left lung. This was his last appearance in the final stages of the championship and for fifteen years he was the last player aged over 50 to appear at The Crucible. He survived the cancer and continued to play snooker until 1997, after which he concentrated on snooker coaching. He would coach in the United Arab Emirates,[17] but did appear in qualifying for the 2002 World Snooker Championship.[18]

Personal life and death

He married Mary (née Richards), a hairdresser and the couple had two children.[19] He died on 14 February 2021, aged 78, following a stroke.[4][20][21]

In a joint statement, World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn and World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association chairman Jason Ferguson said: "Doug was first and foremost a lovely man, who had great friendships with many players on the tour throughout the 1970s and onwards."[22]

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[23] [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 1R 1R 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 9] 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 4] 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 6] Not Held RR RR RR 2R RR Ranking Event
New Zealand Masters Tournament Not Held F QF Not Held A A Tournament Not Held
Australian Masters[nb 11] 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 12] Tournament Not Held W F A A A A NH QF A Tournament Not Held
Belgian Masters Tournament Not Held QF A A Not Held A NH
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 Held means an event was not held.
NR / Non-Ranking Event means an event is/was no longer a ranking event.
R / Ranking Event means an event is/was a ranking event.

Template:Reflist

Career finals

Ranking finals: 4 (2 titles)

Legend
World Championship (0–1)
UK Championship (1–0)
Other (1–1)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score Ref
Runner-up 1. 1981 World Snooker Championship Template:Flagicon Steve Davis 12–18 [24]
Winner 1. 1988 UK Championship (2) Template:Flagicon Stephen Hendry 16–12 [14]
Winner 2. 1989 The Classic Template:Flagicon Wayne Jones 13–11 [25]
Runner-up 2. 1989 Dubai Classic Template:Flagicon Stephen Hendry 2–9 [26]

Non-ranking finals: 28 (15 titles)

Legend
UK Championship (1–1) [27]
The Masters (1–1)
Other (13–11)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score Ref
Runner-up 1. 1977 Pot Black Template:Flagicon Perrie Mans 0–1 [28]
Winner 1. 1977 The Masters Template:Flagicon Ray Reardon 7–6 [29]
Runner-up 2. 1977 Welsh Professional Championship Template:Flagicon Ray Reardon 8–12 [30]
Runner-up 3. 1977 UK Championship Template:Flagicon Patsy Fagan 9–12 [31]
Runner-up 4. 1978 Irish Masters Template:Flagicon John Spencer 3–5 [32]
Winner 2. 1978 Pot Black Template:Flagicon Graham Miles 2–1 [28]
Winner 3. 1978 Golden Masters Template:Flagicon Ray Reardon 4–2 [33]
Winner 4. 1978 UK Championship Template:Flagicon David Taylor 15–9 [34]
Runner-up 5. 1979 Pot Black Template:Flagicon Ray Reardon 1–2 [28]
Winner 5. 1979 Irish Masters Template:Flagicon Ray Reardon 6–5 [32]
Winner 6. 1979 Pontins Professional Template:Flagicon Graham Miles 8–4 [35]
Winner 7. 1980 Welsh Professional Championship Template:Flagicon Ray Reardon 9–6 [30]
Runner-up 6. 1980 Irish Masters Template:Flagicon Terry Griffiths 9–10 [32]
Winner 8. 1980 Champion of Champions Template:Flagicon John Virgo 10–8 [36]
Winner 9. 1982 Welsh Professional Championship (2) Template:Flagicon Terry Griffiths 9–8 [30]
Runner-up 7. 1983 Welsh Professional Championship (2) Template:Flagicon Ray Reardon 1–9 [30]
Winner 10. 1983 Pontins Professional (2) Template:Flagicon Ray Reardon 9–7 [37]
Runner-up 8. 1983 New Zealand Masters Template:Flagicon Bill Werbeniuk 0–1 [38]
Winner 11. 1983 Hong Kong Masters Template:Flagicon Terry Griffiths 4–3 [39]
Winner 12. 1984 Welsh Professional Championship (3) Template:Flagicon Cliff Wilson 9–3 [30]
Runner-up 9. 1984 Hong Kong Masters Template:Flagicon Steve Davis 2–4 [39]
Runner-up 10. 1985 The Masters Template:Flagicon Cliff Thorburn 6–9 [40]
Runner-up 11. 1985 Welsh Professional Championship (3) Template:Flagicon Terry Griffiths 4–9 [30]
Winner 13. 1985 Pot Black (2) Template:Flagicon Jimmy White 2–0 [28]
Runner-up 12. 1986 Welsh Professional Championship (4) Template:Flagicon Terry Griffiths 3–9 [30]
Winner 14. 1987 Welsh Professional Championship (4) Template:Flagicon Steve Newbury 9–7 [30]
Winner 15. 1989 Welsh Professional Championship (5) Template:Flagicon Terry Griffiths 9–6 [30]
Runner-up 13. 1990 Welsh Professional Championship (5) Template:Flagicon Darren Morgan 7–9 [30]

Pro-am finals: 4 (2 titles)

Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score Ref
Winner 1. 1974 Pontins Spring Open Template:Flagicon John Spencer 7–4 [41]
Winner 2. 1976 Pontins Spring Open (2) Template:Flagicon Lance Pibworth 7–1 [41]
Runner-up 1. 1977 Warners Open Template:Flagicon Template:Sortname 4–5 [42]
Runner-up 2. 1984 Pontins Spring Open Template:Flagicon Neal Foulds 4–7 [41]

Team finals: 5 (2 titles)

Outcome No. Year Championship Team/partner Opponent(s) in the final Score Ref
Winner 1. 1979 World Challenge Cup Template:Flagicon Wales Template:Flagicon England 14–3 [43]
Winner 1. 1980 World Challenge Cup (2) Template:Flagicon Wales Template:Flagicon Canada 8–5 [43]
Runner-up 1. 1981 World Team Classic Template:Flagicon Wales Template:Flagicon England 3–4 [43]
Runner-up 2. 1982 World Doubles Championship Template:Flagicon Terry Griffiths Template:Flagicon Steve Davis
Template:Flagicon Tony Meo 		3–4 [44]
Runner-up 3. 1983 World Team Classic (2) Template:Flagicon Wales Template:Flagicon England 2–4 [43]

Amateur finals: 4 (3 titles)

Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score Ref
Runner-up 1. 1966 Welsh Amateur Championship Template:Flagicon Lynn O'Neill 5–9 [45]
Winner 1. 1968 Welsh Amateur Championship Template:Flagicon John Terry 6–5 [45]
Winner 2. 1976 Welsh Amateur Championship (2) Template:Flagicon Alwyn Lloyd 8–6 [45]
Winner 3. 1976 World Amateur Championship Template:Flagicon Paul Mifsud 11–1 [46]

References

Template:Reflist Template:Reflist

External links

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Template:UK Championship winners Template:Masters winners

  1. ↑ 'Snooker. Mountjoy takes two frames to level scores'. The Times, 12 February 1977. Retrieved 12 November 2024
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  27. ↑ The UK Championship did not become a ranking event until 1984
  28. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  45. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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