Steve Davis has given his assessment of the BBC’s snooker pundits. The six-time world champion offered his views on his colleagues as the World Snooker Championship continues in Sheffield.
Davis on Higgins’s Memory and Hendry’s YouTube Success
Davis spoke of John Higgins, mentioning they started together as part of the presentation team with Hazel Irvine. He described Higgins as an “absolute force of nature” due to his knowledge. Davis noted Higgins’s ability to remember results and stats, adding, “It’s not an accident he was on A Question of Sport. He’s got a photographic memory for remembering results and stats.” Davis said he feels on “safe ground” with Higgins because he struggles to remember previous tournaments.
Turning to Stephen Hendry, Davis acknowledged his YouTube presence. “He’s turned into this wonderful YouTube sensation,” Davis said. He added, “I like commentating with Stephen because he doesn’t sit on the fence. He tells it like it is. He’s a bit like the Andy Gray of snooker. Anybody that misses any ball – he could have done better. But he absolutely praises great attacking play, too. He doesn’t like the players who play too safe.”
Taylor’s Telestrator Skills and Doherty’s Positivity
Davis called Dennis Taylor “one of the legends of the commentary box.” He praised Taylor’s skills using the telestrator, noting, “The best line drawer on the telestrator on the planet. Whenever Dennis draws a line, you know the ball’s going to go right along it.” Davis also highlighted Taylor’s experience and knowledge of the game, saying, “A totally experienced campaigner in the commentary box and obviously knows the game inside out. Even though me and Dennis are a little bit older now, we still enjoy watching the game and Dennis really does enjoy it. You never get a dull moment with him.”
Davis also commented on Ken Doherty. “One of the great things about Ken is he’s always a positive thinker, he’s never had a bad day,” Davis said. He added, “He still plays the game at a high level. So his knowledge of the game is really high. And if you can’t enjoy being in the commentary box with Ken, then it’s your problem not his.”
The World Snooker Championship is being broadcast on the BBC.