What an amazing match and final frame! I have to say, I gave Davis no chance. I even said "Higgins has the easiest draw and a bypass to the quarter final"

Well, I take it back. I don't think anyone could have seen that coming. Despite John Higgins' legendary luck coming into force in the final frame, Davis made one of the greatest finishes under pressure I have ever seen in my life. Higgins lost his head and the plot as Davis' bottle remained as solid as a rock.

At over 50 years of age, Davis has just beaten one of the greatest players of all time, at the peak of his career. It really is as extraordinary as it sounds. I think it is the biggest shock in Snooker history or way way way up there.

I am going to watch this match again and again. Seeing Steve play so well and finish off Higgins has made my entire year. It is great to see such a legend and nice guy get some form. Now, if only Jimmy could....

It goes to show you how important safety is, especially in the latter of your career.

Well done Steve Davis! You are a legend and I don't think I will ever forget that.

I would never have expected this, which has made Steve's win even better. I'm so happy for him, great effort (and amazing last frame), well done, Steve! Way to go!

I've just got home and seen Steve Davis has won!

I will surely rewatch it, and Congratulations to Steve Davis!

What I have seen of it, session one and two were so extraordinarily great!

I'm happy for him and thanks Steve for such a wonderful moment of snooker!

Wow! Yay! I'm so glad to see Davis won! This is so great! Unfortunately I wasnt home to see it but I will have to find the last session on youtube or something. Yay again!

I've just rewatched the final frame, wow, how exciting.

It seems Steve has stayed calm and focussed, but in between he blows his cheeks and at the end he looks comsumed, I thought he would faint....

Good to see that he lets his emotions show, how relieved he was....

I really admire Davis for staying so focused. I've seen ending of the final frame and haha I thought he was about to faint as well!

I have to say i agree with most things dan has said.
But this 1 match has had more publicity in one day than any other match this week which is good and bad (i.e father's for justice trying to push in on a steve interview). I was really shocked to see a report on it in news bulltin as well.
Anyway well done steve !!!!

What I'd like to know is this.... is Davis the greatest ever? All the arguing is about Hendry & Ronnie, but I find it hard to imagine either of them knocking out a World Champion at the age of 52, I just don't think they could do it. Unfortunately, I missed Davis' heyday, so I'm just speculating.

I see Hendry's missing off the banner now I know this is a Ronnie fansite, but might I suggest putting Hendry amongst the players below Ronnie? I mean, the man himself will tell you how much he respects Hendry. It's not like he ever did anything that out of the way to Ronnie, it doesn't really make sense if you've all the greats and then some, but miss someone like Hendry not trying to be smart or anything.

As for John Higgins: I think people have gone a bit crazy in their praise of him over the last year, I'll say that. But I still rate him very highly, and say he's a class act. About 4th of all time. The reason Higgins wins so many deciding frames is not ALL down to luck, in fact I would say it has more to do with Higgins being so good under pressure. Normally. Today he looked rattled. Fair play Davis though, great match, really enjoyed it. But lets not be too hard on Higgins: he's a great player, a great ambassador, and having met him myself I must say he's a nice bloke too. Okay, maybe he doesn't entertain like a Ronnie, White or Williams, but entertainment is not what it's all about.

O'Sullivan, I think he'll be disappointed today. He looked really sharp for the first 5 frames or so, but Williams pegged it back nicely. Could be a great game in store, and I hope Ronnie can pull through. I think four world titles would be a fair reflection on him, three isn't in all honesty. But it's up to him to do it, nobody else is going to do it for him.

Robertson, I wouldn't say he was lucky today. More he blew Gould away, always looked in control during the last session against a top notch qualifier. Even if those incidents hadn't happened, I think Gould wouldn't have done the job, as he looked very anxious from the word go.

Dott really looked the part. Selby blew Doherty away. I think Selby's the favourite at this stage, and if Ding can prove himself by beating a top player at the Crucible, then he'll be tough to stop.

Anyway, great day for snooker, and for Steve Davis.

Davis is a better all round player than Hendry and so are O'Sullivan and Higgins. Higgins and O'Sullivan (if they choose to) could carry on winning tournaments for another 5-10 years. They have a safety game and are not 1 trick pony's. Hendry was an amazing playerwith his long potting and break building, on par with O'Sullivan overall, or as I have it, slightly below. In any case, definately in the top 2 for break building. But what happens when your confidence lacks and you have no safety game to fall back on? Hendry happens.



Hold your horses, before you steam at me like I am sure some at SI are, note I have posted elsewhere clearly that this is a temporary banner and Hendry is to be put back on, albeit at the bottom. Failing that it will just be Ronnie banner. I have no intention of leaving Hendry off the banner, that would be criminal.



I rate him 4th of all time also, or possibly even 3rd. It depends on a number of arguments all based on era and since Davis was in a weaker era than hendry who was in a weaker era than Higgins' I find it hard to class him. I think he is 3rd ybh, his safety game is up there with Davis but his break building is far superior. The only thing left is consistency, and on that, I can't say.



Not all of em have been but certainly some have, he admitted himself that he has had a lot of run of the ball.




Of course.



Doersn't help when you get the hardest draw possible, which is another reason why Title arguments are completely flawed.



Can't agree with Ding, I can't see him winning it this year, he does not have the composure and he throws toys out of pram when losing. I also think should he meet O'Sullivan, he will crumble. But he is a pretty safe bet to get to the final along with Robertson.

Also about Higgins, he has been getting away with mistakes for tons of matches recently, and the band wagon was rolling (oneball along with it) that Higgins was unstoppable and this and that, but Snooker isn't as simple as that. I think Higgins just gave up a golden opportunity to become 4 time world champ, but he didn't play bad, he played pretty solid, Davis on other hand, best I have seen him in years and I said to someone else that he seemed to be keeping his head down a lot longer too...

Spewing cause I didnt get to watch Williams ROS match...

From what Ive heard it was a cracker...This is the sort of thing thats going to resurrect the game..Check the breaks out speaks for itself > Nt taking the gloss of any of the other matches...theyve all been top quality from what I could gather...Especially the Daviss toppling of Higgins. Not to mention all the other upsets. Only hope Hendry comes to the fore as well.

I think you both underestimate JH ability though.. In my estimation he is and has been playing to 45% capacity for a few years..To get to the number one spot is a feat in itself. Hes proved beyond a shadow of doubt that he more than capable of taking out a few more world titles.
Consistencys the key which is a trait he definitely possesses..as long as he keeps knocking on the door, when he finds his line hell be one of the hardest to beat.

You know there are a good five to seven players Im really excited about and the fact were witnessing a huge tussle amongst them is testiment to the talent that exists ..They all appear to be extremely motivated moreso than ever before. Hearn has brought hope into the arena and a new zest to compete > Obviously the dollar signs have something to do with it as well as the hiug imbalance in the draw. In the top half players see opportunity and in the bottom players find theyre in a jungle and must succeed in a struggle for survival.

Roll out the remaining matches so we can continue witnessing this incredible spectacle.

no it wouldn't...leave him off!

Things seem to have changed by now, allsnookered