In 1998, snooker player rounded off a memorable year by beating swimmer Adrian Moorhouse and golfer Sandy Lyle to the BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) Award in a poll of ‘Radio Times’ readers. In so doing, he became the first and, at the time of writing, only snooker player to lift the coveted silver-plated trophy. The main presentation was due to be made by Sir Arthur Gold, chairman of the British Olympic Association, but Davis was unable to attend the awards ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre.
Following an introduction by host Des Lynam, he was, instead, presented with a replica of the SPOTY trophy by his opponent, Terry Griffths (the beaten finalist in the 1988 World Snooker Championship), during a match in the Norwich Union Grand Prix at the Beach Plaza Hotel in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Slightly non-plussed at the prospect of making an acceptance speech, Davis said, “I’m absolutely delighted to have won this, but very disappointed to not be there as well.”
In November 1987, Davis won the UK Championship at the Guild Hall in Preston, beating Jimmy White 16-14 in the final. In January 1998, he won the Masters at the Wembley Conference Centre in London, whitewashing Mike Hallett in the final and, in May 1988, won the final ranking event of the 1987/88 season, the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, beating the aforementioned Terry Griffths 18-11 in the final. Davis was winning the fifth of his six world championships – he would successfully defend the title in 1989 to equal the modern-era record set by Ray Reardon in 1978 – but victory in Sheffileld also made him the first player to win all three ‘Triple Crown’ events in the same season.
Davis finally announced his retirement in April 2016, at the age of 58, having lost to Fergal O’Brien in qualifying for the World Snooker Championship. Reflecting on his decision, he said, “”The Fergal O’Brien match was my last and I told Barry Hearn [his manager] it was time to call it a day. My father passed away recently and it was natural time to stop playing.” Davis finished his career with 28 ranking titles, which, at the time, placed him co-second on the all-time list, alongside Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins.