- The Guardian, Wednesday 21 April 2010
Steve Davis celebrates beating Mark King at the Crucible. Photograph: Craig Brough/Action Images
Steve Davis, aged 52, became the oldest player for 21 years to win a match on snooker's most famous stage by beating Mark King, the No16 seed, 10-9 to reach the last 16 of the World Championship at the Crucible last night.
The late Eddie Charlton was 59 when he won one in 1989; Doug Mountjoy won one at the age of 50 in 1993. The respect and affection in which Davis is held was evident from the ovations his entrances received.
He does not pot as well from distance or as surely at close quarters as he did in winning his six world titles in the 80s and, as a self-confessed part-timer, has not had much of a season before making a special effort to get his game in shape for his 30th Crucible.
King is a grafter rather than a dasher and as Davis leans heavily on his consummate tactical skills several frames were dogfights, but Davis won four in a row to lead 8-6.
King arrived at 8‑8 with a gritty 54 from 26 behind; Davis went one up with two to play with 91, his highest break of the match, and almost rescued the next frame from 0‑70 but with the air of inevitability which had hung in the air all evening, a decider was required.
Chances are hard to come by; scoring was slow but when Davis potted the red which left King needing a snooker, he gave rein to a display of elemental emotion that he would never permitted himself in his heyday, so much effort he had invested in his heartwarming triumph.
Davis will face three-time world champion and current holder John Higgins in the second round.
Graeme Dott, who beat Peter Ebdon for the 2006 title here, led him 7-2 at the close.
