Joe Johnson (Snooker)

1 Biography
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3 References
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[edit] Biography

Joe Johnson (born 29 June 1952) is an English professional snooker player.

Joe Johnson would be a relative unknown had he not been the surprise winner of the 1986 World Championship. Arriving at the Crucible as a 150-1 outsider, he beat Terry Griffiths in the quarter-finals and Tony Knowles in the semis, to meet Steve Davis, then at the peak of his ability, in the final. Johnson defied all odds and amazingly won 18-12. The following year, he reached the final again to meet Davis a second time, but this time lost 18-14. He reached number 5 in the world ranking, largely as a result of his success at the Crucible.

Johnson never again came close to this success and rapidly descended the rankings. He suffered heart and eye problems during the 1990s, but still plays professional snooker, and is currently the oldest player on the circuit.

Joe Johnson remains the player who most nearly beat the "Crucible Curse"; namely that a first time winner never successfully defends his title. Johnson's defence saw him both reach the final and come within 4 frames of victory. Ken Doherty who won in 1997 got to the final the following year but lost by a greater margin than Johnson. No other player has reached the final at his first attempt at defending his Crucible crown.