23 Facts About Mike Watterson

George Michael Edwin Watterson was an English professional snooker player, businessman, sports promoter and television commentator.

Mike Watterson established the UK Snooker Championship and moved the World Championship to the Crucible Theatre, where it has remained ever since.

Mike Watterson created the World Professional Darts Championship, staged the first floodlit cricket in Britain and had a stint as chairman of Derby County.

George Michael Edwin Mike Watterson was born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire on 26 August 1942, the son of steelworker George Mike Watterson and Olive, and was the third of four children.

Mike Watterson was a salesman with the Sheffield-based Vauxhall dealers, Bentley Brothers, and was one of the first people in the country to sell the Vauxhall Viva when it was introduced in 1963.

Mike Watterson laid the blame for this on the late former WPBSA chairman and snooker manager Del Simmons, as well as his former employee Paul Hatherell, and former player come WPBSA chairman Rex Williams.

Mike Watterson said that when he lost the World Championship, it was like someone had killed one of his children.

Mike Watterson created the BDO World Darts Championship, an idea he came up with while sat in a barber's chair in 1977.

Imperial Tobacco, who already sponsored the World Snooker Championship with their Embassy brand were interested and with Mike Watterson promoting the event Imperial signed up to the darts version, which they were to sponsor for 25 years.

Once again, Mike Watterson arranged the sponsorship and TV contract with the BBC.

Mike Watterson created the system of sets and legs, creating a climax every 20 minutes and thereby maintaining the interest of TV viewers, which is used in darts and bowls to this day.

Mike Watterson changed the format to 21 ends, to three sets of first to seven ends.

Mike Watterson took over promotion of ITV's Pro-Celebrity Snooker, held in Leeds, securing new backing after Canadian Club withdrew their sponsorship.

Mike Watterson served as Chairman of Derby County Football Club in the early 1980s, which saw him bring Brian Clough's former assistant manager at arch rivals Nottingham Forest, Peter Taylor out of retirement to become manager of the team.

Battles in the boardroom and a growing hooligan fan problem led to Mike Watterson leaving within a few years.

Mike Watterson represented England in the Home Internationals series in 1979 and 1980, and became a professional player in 1981.

Mike Watterson's highest ranking achieved as a professional was 34th.

Mike Watterson commentated on the British Open and International Open for several years, when the coverage moved from ITV to Sky.

When Sky moved its sports programming from Eurosport to Sky Sports, which it owned outright, Mike Watterson continued in the role.

Mike Watterson stepped down from Sky in 1994 to spend more time enjoying his property in Spain during the winter months, briefly returning to commentary with Eurosport for a short while after that.

Mike Watterson felt deeply hurt by the way snooker disposed of his services in the early-mid-1980s and never returned to business full-time again.

Mike Watterson continued to hold a significant share portfolio and owned property in Britain and Spain.

Mike Watterson remained in regular contact with his friend, snooker commentator and journalist Clive Everton.