Putting Matthew Stephens and Mark Williams as better long potters than Higgins and O'Sullivan and better break builders? He must have been on the wacky backy when this interview was going down?
Huge thanks for uploading this interview. Willie is unnervingly candid in this interview, and the stories and insight into his and Steve Davis’ mindset are fascinating.
Absolutely brilliant series. We watched them play but to hear their insight into the games they played is wonderful. To think steve davis used to be called boring. Great show.
I always liked Willie Thorne. He was very honest about himself with Steve. I always loved it when him and Denis Taylor were co-commentating on a match. They were the best.
Willie touches on the changes in equipment and centre-ball striking. He's got a point. When players made their living on the winter exhibition circuit, before the days of regular big money tournaments; they'd be playing every week in damp rooms on club tables that weren't always level, with heavy cloths, slow cushions and unresponsive balls that had seen better days. Kicks were the norm rather than the exception. You had to play with side most of the time to get any action on the cueball. Balls would go to the cushions to die there. You rarely see balls on the cushion rail these days. Snooker was less of a stun game than it is today as you had to get run on the ball. A fifty break was really impressive on some of those tables of the '70s. Willie was a hell of a player and it's snooker's great loss that he never won more tournaments. Steve came along and blew many of Willie's generation away.
These are great. Thanks so much for posting them. If possible, could you please include the year of broadcast for these? It would be invaluable for those of us new to snooker.
Totally agree with WT. conditions now makes break building easier and subsequently it appears that the standard of player is better now. Maybe what he said have a tournament as a bit of fun with heavier cloth and heavy balls with no table heater and let’s see who comes out on top.
I couldn't agree more. Give the current players the old conditions and I doubt they've do much better than the older players did. This lot moan like hell about the tables when they don't know how lucky they are.
💯 I’ve always said this. It’s impossible to say which was era was the best. Ask Ronnie to play in Joe Davis era and even he’d struggle to make 50 consistently under those conditions. Even comparing Steve Davis and Hendry era to now it’s night and day. Imagine those two at their best today? I’ve no doubt they’d have won tons more tournaments that anyone else. Imagine how many centuries Hendry would have made in today’s conditions with the high volume of tournaments? He’d be miles ahead of anyone.
I cannot believe Willie made over 175 maximum breaks! And 32 v Gary Lineker alone!! 😮 What a privilege for Lineker to witness them first hand. Then Mark Selby comes along and becomes the first player to make a maximum in the World Final. Is there something in the Leicester water? Thanks for the great upload
@@SnookerBreak Really? He never got one in competition? Wow. I hate to use the pun but that must have always been a Thorne in his side! I suppose making 175 maximums and never winning the World title or having any of them on TV would be a bit like having the most beautiful girlfriend in the world but she won't leave the house!
To be honest, even Ronnie ‘O Sullivan said that making a maximum (a maxi) isn’t really that big of a deal to a pro snooker player. Which, if you consider the number of frames played, is only natural. On the other hand, 175 is quite high. I don’t know whether to believe it or not.
Class is permanent - A prime Davis through his sheer mentality and almost flawless technique would compete at the top end of major tournaments even now.
Davis from 1980 to around 1988 had maybe 2 possibly 3 players that regularly gave him a tough test.. He quite often needed a couple of chances to win frames. But the top 16 journeymen pros of the time given a chance against him rarely beat him.. I think the Steve Davis of 40 years ago playing now would still be a top 16 player but probably wouldn't have been a world champion
Crazy that willy doesnt think john higgins break building is that good compared to the other top players back then. Fast forward to now and john higgins is one of the heaviest scorers in snooker and an absolute genius at break building.
He's always been a good scorer as far as I can remember. I'm not his greatest fan but when it comes to doing a pressure clearance to pinch a frame from behind he is the best ever.
Yes indeed. Different times and cultures then though I suppose. There was nothing shady like this latest lot. Apart from the two that did get life bans the others got off lightly if you ask me. Stephen Lee must be a bit miffed!
As far as saying there just seems to be more better players because there are more, I’m not so sure re the old conditions because there was Hendry, Ronnie, Higgins, McManus, Ebdon, Williams, Doherty, so there were a cluster of players who mastered the old conditions, so it follows that there would be more than double that amount thriving under the newer conditions and indeed more under the old conditions.
This is 99 I think and Willy was right then the conditions have made it too easy for the best players and even the lower players can play elite level occasionally
Maybe it’s a generational change in terms of so many better players now, and if it was all down to conditions why didn’t Davis do better when they improved or did he find the transition too difficult?
A lot of players had money matches in the 70s and 80s. It was common. White and Meo were playing money matches when they were youngsters, playing in different clubs being driven around by London taxi driver Bob Davis. Bill Werbeniuk and Cliff Thorburn toured Canada and America playing for money. Higgins played money matches, and so on etc
£38,000 on Doherty. All the bookies suspended the odds nationally coz W.T had lumped on. Back when bookies were bookies taking massive bets no questions asked.
This position nonsense from Willie, i thought he was a great commentator but not a great player. He is suggesting Hendry and those who copied and followed this more risky playing weren't proficient position wise regardless of his unconvincing qualification comment after. Davis and Hendry were truly exceptional what they done in so short a time, O'Sullivan has surpassed their records but it took him an awful long time to do so. These 3 are the players who one after the other exceed what came before but i reckon there is no likelihood given how long Ronnie took to get their despite many more ranking titles every year and now having played many more seasons it can go up a gear again.
This is essentially Willie Thorpe coping about why he couldn't go a yard against the modern players. Too many balls on cushions back then. LOL What a clown.
Disagree. Corner Pockets on STAR are 78 mm vs 83+ on old tables. Pocket shelf depth is also much reduced and the fall of the slate is much inside than old tables. Old billiards tables had really small middle pockets but that's about it. Clothes are much slicker on 10-15 oz heavy Strachan and any unwanted side leads to more deflection,even with the titanium ferrules.
I never knew these videos of Steve talking with his peers & other legends existed until they began to pop up on my feed recently. Great watches.
I'm glad you're enjoying them.
Great series
@@SnookerBreakwot year we’re these filmed it looks like late 90s judging my Davis hair he had that hairstyle mid late 90s
@@David-be7jn Hello. They were made in 2000 and 2001 so you guessed about right.
best snooker interview ive seen ,what a character willie was ,,,completely self aware and not afraid of calling out his own failings
Legend of the game forever
Willie was very knowledgeable and always enjoyable to hear and watch.
Putting Matthew Stephens and Mark Williams as better long potters than Higgins and O'Sullivan and better break builders? He must have been on the wacky backy when this interview was going down?
Such a smooth voice.
WT is very much missed in the snooker world. Was surely a massive character back in the day.
This is the forerunner to Hendry’s Cue Tips
Much better this. Hendry repeats himself too much.
Huge thanks for uploading this interview. Willie is unnervingly candid in this interview, and the stories and insight into his and Steve Davis’ mindset are fascinating.
You're welcome. If only he was still here.
@@SnookerBreak what happened to the Stephen Hendry interview? You never uploaded it in the end?
@@steveh572 I will. I'm just holding it back for a bit.
@@SnookerBreak cool. Can’t wait! These videos have really got me back interested into snooker history and evolution of the sport.
@@steveh572 Snooker was much more interesting in the '70s.
Its great listening to Willie thorne what a player
Absolutely brilliant series. We watched them play but to hear their insight into the games they played is wonderful. To think steve davis used to be called boring. Great show.
I always liked Willie Thorne. He was very honest about himself with Steve. I always loved it when him and Denis Taylor were co-commentating on a match. They were the best.
Willie touches on the changes in equipment and centre-ball striking. He's got a point. When players made their living on the winter exhibition circuit, before the days of regular big money tournaments; they'd be playing every week in damp rooms on club tables that weren't always level, with heavy cloths, slow cushions and unresponsive balls that had seen better days. Kicks were the norm rather than the exception. You had to play with side most of the time to get any action on the cueball. Balls would go to the cushions to die there. You rarely see balls on the cushion rail these days. Snooker was less of a stun game than it is today as you had to get run on the ball. A fifty break was really impressive on some of those tables of the '70s. Willie was a hell of a player and it's snooker's great loss that he never won more tournaments. Steve came along and blew many of Willie's generation away.
A wonderful set of videos. Brilliant for fans of the game!
19:32 Thanks for sharing these videos. It was great to see inside the Willie Thorne Snooker Centre again. Great memories.
You're welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Really like this series, thanks for the upload 👌👍
I loved this. Sadly, he's no longer with us but what a character.
Absolutely. Much missed.
WT was on fire here. What an amazing insight to the game this man had. RIP.
Rip willy always enjoyed when he was on commentary with virgo an taylor
When it came to explaining shot selections and talking the audience thought a break, Willie was the best snooker commentator by far.
Fantastic - thanks so much for the upload, I miss the Great WT.
Don't we all. You're welcome.
Has to be one of the best commentators ever!!
Thanks for getting these interview back on TH-cam ,they are Gold dust.
You're welcome. I wish he'd do a new series.
These are great. Thanks so much for posting them. If possible, could you please include the year of broadcast for these? It would be invaluable for those of us new to snooker.
Hello. This one was from 2000. I'll add it in the descriptions from now on. Glad you're enjoying them.
Thanks
Excellent interview
Great video. And wow didnt Willie get everything spot on in the early days.
I was waiting for the Mercentile Classic to be brought up...😂
Inevitable, wasn't it.
Saying the exact same as Knowles did re the transition from the old tables and the one shot game.
Totally agree with WT. conditions now makes break building easier and subsequently it appears that the standard of player is better now. Maybe what he said have a tournament as a bit of fun with heavier cloth and heavy balls with no table heater and let’s see who comes out on top.
I couldn't agree more. Give the current players the old conditions and I doubt they've do much better than the older players did. This lot moan like hell about the tables when they don't know how lucky they are.
💯 I’ve always said this. It’s impossible to say which was era was the best. Ask Ronnie to play in Joe Davis era and even he’d struggle to make 50 consistently under those conditions. Even comparing Steve Davis and Hendry era to now it’s night and day. Imagine those two at their best today? I’ve no doubt they’d have won tons more tournaments that anyone else. Imagine how many centuries Hendry would have made in today’s conditions with the high volume of tournaments? He’d be miles ahead of anyone.
Thorne was both a great player and a great commentator. Just like Davis, Pulman, Spencer, Taylor, Hendry, et al
I cannot believe Willie made over 175 maximum breaks! And 32 v Gary Lineker alone!! 😮 What a privilege for Lineker to witness them first hand. Then Mark Selby comes along and becomes the first player to make a maximum in the World Final. Is there something in the Leicester water? Thanks for the great upload
You're welcome. It's a shame he never got a 147 on TV though...
@@SnookerBreak Really? He never got one in competition? Wow. I hate to use the pun but that must have always been a Thorne in his side! I suppose making 175 maximums and never winning the World title or having any of them on TV would be a bit like having the most beautiful girlfriend in the world but she won't leave the house!
@edmundpower1250 He did get one in the 1987 UK but it wasn't televised.
lol on his bucket pocketed table in his own club though.
To be honest, even Ronnie ‘O Sullivan said that making a maximum (a maxi) isn’t really that big of a deal to a pro snooker player. Which, if you consider the number of frames played, is only natural.
On the other hand, 175 is quite high. I don’t know whether to believe it or not.
brilliant vid
When was this series on TV I can't remember it
They were on around 2000 and 2001.
¡Un grande Constantino Romero! Te doblaba a Clint Eastwood como te ganaba un campeonato mundial de snooker.
Would have been interesting to see 80s version of Davis playing right now.
Yes indeed it would. I'm sure he would have done just fine too... unlike some of the so-called stars of today who fall to pieces at The Crucible!
Class is permanent - A prime Davis through his sheer mentality and almost flawless technique would compete at the top end of major tournaments even now.
Davis from 1980 to around 1988 had maybe 2 possibly 3 players that regularly gave him a tough test.. He quite often needed a couple of chances to win frames. But the top 16 journeymen pros of the time given a chance against him rarely beat him.. I think the Steve Davis of 40 years ago playing now would still be a top 16 player but probably wouldn't have been a world champion
Now that race about Selby it's come full circle again
Good shit
It's funny Willie Thorne said 5:45
In 2024 John Higgins became the second player in snooker history to make 1000 pro century breaks.
Crazy that willy doesnt think john higgins break building is that good compared to the other top players back then. Fast forward to now and john higgins is one of the heaviest scorers in snooker and an absolute genius at break building.
He's always been a good scorer as far as I can remember. I'm not his greatest fan but when it comes to doing a pressure clearance to pinch a frame from behind he is the best ever.
Interesting the talk of betting in the context of the bans just handed out
Yes indeed. Different times and cultures then though I suppose. There was nothing shady like this latest lot. Apart from the two that did get life bans the others got off lightly if you ask me. Stephen Lee must be a bit miffed!
As far as saying there just seems to be more better players because there are more, I’m not so sure re the old conditions because there was Hendry, Ronnie, Higgins, McManus, Ebdon, Williams, Doherty, so there were a cluster of players who mastered the old conditions, so it follows that there would be more than double that amount thriving under the newer conditions and indeed more under the old conditions.
This is 99 I think and Willy was right then the conditions have made it too easy for the best players and even the lower players can play elite level occasionally
A very young STEPHEN LEE
Maybe it’s a generational change in terms of so many better players now, and if it was all down to conditions why didn’t Davis do better when they improved or did he find the transition too difficult?
Funny that Mountjoy 7-2 Thorne … but Mountjoy wasn’t pro standard, and he won the UK, and was World runner up.
all of this talk of willie playing for money, it must of led to his huge gambling problems later in life
A lot of players had money matches in the 70s and 80s. It was common. White and Meo were playing money matches when they were youngsters, playing in different clubs being driven around by London taxi driver Bob Davis. Bill Werbeniuk and Cliff Thorburn toured Canada and America playing for money. Higgins played money matches, and so on etc
£38,000 on Doherty. All the bookies suspended the odds nationally coz W.T had lumped on. Back when bookies were bookies taking massive bets no questions asked.
Shaun Murphy tries to be Willie Thorn 2.0
Sadly missed willie
Willie talks some.....
Nah, only Gary Lineker was "best of friends" with Willie Thorne.
funny story bout parrott 😪😂
This position nonsense from Willie, i thought he was a great commentator but not a great player. He is suggesting Hendry and those who copied and followed this more risky playing weren't proficient position wise regardless of his unconvincing qualification comment after.
Davis and Hendry were truly exceptional what they done in so short a time, O'Sullivan has surpassed their records but it took him an awful long time to do so.
These 3 are the players who one after the other exceed what came before but i reckon there is no likelihood given how long Ronnie took to get their despite many more ranking titles every year and now having played many more seasons it can go up a gear again.
This is essentially Willie Thorpe coping about why he couldn't go a yard against the modern players. Too many balls on cushions back then. LOL What a clown.
And now pockets changed into absolute buckets as well
Disagree. Corner Pockets on STAR are 78 mm vs 83+ on old tables.
Pocket shelf depth is also much reduced and the fall of the slate is much inside than old tables. Old billiards tables had really small middle pockets but that's about it.
Clothes are much slicker on 10-15 oz heavy Strachan and any unwanted side leads to more deflection,even with the titanium ferrules.
hes dead
And...
Mr 147