24 Facts About Dennis Taylor

Dennis Taylor was born on 19 January 1949 and is a Northern Irish retired professional snooker player and current commentator.

Dennis Taylor made the highest of his career at the 1987 Carling Challenge, a 141.

Dennis Taylor began commentating on the sport in the 1980s and has been a regular commentator on BBC snooker broadcasts since his retirement from the professional tour in 2000.

Dennis Taylor competed on the World Seniors Tour until he announced the end of his competitive playing career in 2021, aged 72.

In 1966, Dennis Taylor left Coalisland to look for work in England and moved in with his aunt near Blackburn.

Dennis Taylor landed a job cutting out carpet patterns for cars, but left abruptly after nearly severing his little finger.

Dennis Taylor then worked 12-hour shifts at the Waterside paper mill, followed by a position as a weighbridge clerk and then for Relayvision, a television rental firm.

Dennis Taylor left his snooker cue at home, feeling he was unable to compete against more experienced English players, but found he was of equal skill at his local club.

Dennis Taylor played exhibition matches with professional and future champion John Spencer, who praised his abilities and gave him encouragement.

Dennis Taylor won the 1968 British Junior Billiards Championship and the East Lancashire championship in 1970, which he won four times in five years.

Dennis Taylor was chosen to join the English amateur team against Wales and Scotland after making a 136 break, then a record for an amateur.

Dennis Taylor reached his highest world ranking for the following season, second behind Steve Davis.

Dennis Taylor reached the semi-final for a third time in 1984, losing to Davis.

Dennis Taylor's mother died of a heart attack as he was beginning the new season at the 1984 Jameson International.

Dennis Taylor retired from the event before his quarter-final match against Silvino Francisco.

Dennis Taylor potted a long, which he says was one of his best ever shots under pressure.

On his return to Northern Ireland, Dennis Taylor was awarded the key to the city of Coalisland.

Dennis Taylor reached his fourth ranking event final at the 1985 Grand Prix, later that year.

In 1987, Dennis Taylor reached the final of the Masters for the only time in his career, where he played countryman Alex Higgins.

Dennis Taylor made the highest break of his career, a 141, at the 1987 Carling Challenge, which he won, defeating Joe Johnson in the final.

Dennis Taylor was known for the distinctive glasses he wore during matches, which had large frames and an unusual 'upside-down' structure that enabled a player to look through the lenses even when down on a shot.

In May 2021 after losing his match with Barry Pinches at the 2021 World Seniors Championship, Dennis Taylor announced that the match was his last competitive game.

Dennis Taylor made regular guest appearances on snooker television game show Big Break.

In February 1990, Dennis Taylor opened the Royal Mail sorting office in Blackburn, Lancashire before playing a single-frame challenge match.