Steve James (snooker player)
Encyclopedia
Stephen James is an English
professional snooker
player.
10–6 in the final. His world ranking peaked at number seven the following season, the best of his five seasons in the top sixteen.
On 14 April 1990, in his match against Alex Higgins
at the World Snooker Championship
in Sheffield
, James became the first and only player to produce a 16-red total clearance in competitive play. In other words, he potted 16 reds and 16 colours consecutively, followed by all the coloured balls in order: a situation that was only possible because he was awarded a free ball before any red had been potted.
A year later he reached the semi-finals of the World Snooker Championship
, beating defending champion Stephen Hendry
in the quarter-finals (it would be 6 years before anyone else would beat Hendry in the tournament; Irishman Ken Doherty
had the honour in 1997). He was beaten in the semi-final by Jimmy White
, with whom he shares his birthday (James is one year older).
James became wealthy through snooker, but was banned from driving in 1996, and in 1998 declared himself bankrupt after spending £700,000 on "fast living", even having to sell his practice table. His financial problems saw him turn to drinking heavily.
A diabetic, James missed the British Open in 2004 due to a kidney infection.
He was the first player ever to score two centuries on his Crucible debut, including a 140, the second highest by a debutant of all time. In addition to 1991, he reached the quarter-finals on his debut in 1988, and the last 16 on three further occasions
Now he works down Ray's Snooker Club in Halesowen.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional snooker
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
player.
Career
A former postman, the high point of his career was his sole ranking title – the Mercantile Credit Classic in 1990, beating Australian Warren KingWarren King (snooker player)
Warren King is a former professional Australian snooker player. His best run in a ranking event was to the final of the Mercantile Credit Classic in 1990, where he lost 10-6 to Steve James. He never managed to get into the top 32, his highest ranking being 35...
10–6 in the final. His world ranking peaked at number seven the following season, the best of his five seasons in the top sixteen.
On 14 April 1990, in his match against Alex Higgins
Alex Higgins
Alexander Gordon "Alex" Higgins , also known by his nickname of Hurricane Higgins, was a Northern Irish professional snooker player who was twice World Champion and twice runner-up. Higgins earned the nickname The Hurricane because of his speed of play...
at the World Snooker Championship
World Snooker Championship
The World Snooker Championship is the leading professional snooker tournament in terms of both prize money and ranking points. The first championship was held in 1927; since 1977, it has been played at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England...
in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, James became the first and only player to produce a 16-red total clearance in competitive play. In other words, he potted 16 reds and 16 colours consecutively, followed by all the coloured balls in order: a situation that was only possible because he was awarded a free ball before any red had been potted.
A year later he reached the semi-finals of the World Snooker Championship
World Snooker Championship
The World Snooker Championship is the leading professional snooker tournament in terms of both prize money and ranking points. The first championship was held in 1927; since 1977, it has been played at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England...
, beating defending champion Stephen Hendry
Stephen Hendry
Stephen Gordon Hendry, MBE is a Scottish professional snooker player. In 1990, he was the youngest-ever snooker World Champion, at the age of 21. He has won the World Championship a record seven times and was snooker's world number one for eight consecutive years between 1990 and 1998, and again...
in the quarter-finals (it would be 6 years before anyone else would beat Hendry in the tournament; Irishman Ken Doherty
Ken Doherty
Ken Doherty is an Irish professional snooker player. He is the only player ever to have been world amateur and world professional champion...
had the honour in 1997). He was beaten in the semi-final by Jimmy White
Jimmy White
James Warren "Jimmy" White MBE is an English professional snooker player. Nicknamed the "Whirlwind" and popularly referred to as the "People's Champion", White is a multiple World Championship finalist renowned for losing each of the six finals he contested.White's extensive list of achievements,...
, with whom he shares his birthday (James is one year older).
James became wealthy through snooker, but was banned from driving in 1996, and in 1998 declared himself bankrupt after spending £700,000 on "fast living", even having to sell his practice table. His financial problems saw him turn to drinking heavily.
A diabetic, James missed the British Open in 2004 due to a kidney infection.
He was the first player ever to score two centuries on his Crucible debut, including a 140, the second highest by a debutant of all time. In addition to 1991, he reached the quarter-finals on his debut in 1988, and the last 16 on three further occasions
Ranking
Mercantile Credit Classic 1990Now he works down Ray's Snooker Club in Halesowen.