Legends Tour Breaks Off
The Snooker Legends Tour ‘broke’ off to a full house at The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield this week in a ‘Masters Golf’ style curtain-raiser for the world championship which breaks off on Saturday.
Much of the talk had been about Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins who had been taken into a Belfast hospital only eight days earlier suffering from pneumonia, but with his first appearance for 16 years only two days away the ‘Hurricane’ checked himself out of hospital and made the trip across the water so as not to disappoint his adoring fans. The rolled up cuff on the bottle green shirt, a throw back to his 1982 final, clearly showed his hospital identity band, he really is a man of remarkable spirit, even with his obviously failing health.
The evening was billed as a night of nostalgia; and it didn’t disappoint with not only the return of Alex also World Champions, Cliff Thorburn and John Parrott as well as the peoples champion Jimmy ‘Whirlwind’ White.
The blood red set, inspired by the old Embassy colours and some old footage of Cliff, Alex and Jimmy set the scene and the Black and White Rag, the theme to ‘Pot Black’ indicated it was time to begin.
First out, and a vital cog in this whole production, was the 1979 UK Champion John Virgo. As well as announcing the match ups, John entertained the crowd superbly with his trick shots. Various audience members were given the chance to play some shots with ‘JV’ in the hallowed arena and how the audience revelled in some of the attempts.
John then moved on to introduce referee, Michaela Tabb, just two days after returning the Far East, where she officiated Mark Williams’ win in the China Open final.
John Parrott took on Jimmy White in the first ‘semi-final, a rematch of their 1991 World Championship Final, which Liverpool’s finest, won 18-11.
The format was slightly shorter this time around. The best-of-two-frames with a re-spotted black if the match ended one all would decide the winner.
Jimmy got in first with a run of 74 to the yellow, the audience almost expectant of a century.
Parrott, fresh from his duties with the BBC at the Grand National Meeting in Aintree, captured the next frame with a 50 so it was ‘sudden death’. A re-spotted black decider that is, rather than a need to call 999.
John ‘broke’ and gave Jimmy first chance but a rattled black, missing the chance to gain revenge for that final defeat, and allowing JP to secure his place in the final.
Rewind to the 1980 final, the moment most of the audience had been waiting for. Enter ‘The Grinder’ and ‘The Hurricane’.
As Alex entered the arena a quick doff of his hat proved that despite all his trials and tribulations the storm was far from tranquil.
An edgy first frame, only interrupted by Alex’s berating of the returning Crucible photographer, David Muscroft, saw Cliff take it on the colours.
The match had a slightly more serious feel than the first one, with jokes and audience interaction kept to a minimum, it was obvious to see that 30 years on, and despite so much water under the bridge, these two adversaries were desperate to beat each other.
Cliff won the second frame more comfortably and set up a meeting with John Parrott in the final.
At the start of the second half Jimmy and Alex took partners for a light hearted frame of doubles. John Virgo commentated throughout with his thoughts and observations on the two guest players, and once again the theatre was full of applause.
After a few safety exchanges Jimmy got in and a run of 94 took him to a straight black for the century. The Whirlwind then stepped aside and invited the raffle winner Roy Butcher to stroke in the black for his first, and I’m sure only, crucible century. It was a marvellous moment.
The final became a one frame shoot out and John Parrott and Cliff Thorburn put on a great show. John Parrott got in and made a 70 to take the trophy, presented by Michaela Tabb, and the audience stood to applaud not only his victory but what had been a great night.
After the event all the players lined up in the foyer to meet the fans and sign the memorabilia, a lot of people capped off a memorable night by meeting their heroes. This was the first of a 16 night tour; all details can be found on www.snookerlegends.co.uk
