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Joe Davis, OBE (15 April 1901 - 10 July 1978), was an English professional snooker and billiards player, generally regarded as the father of modern snooker, and one of the greatest players of all time.

Born in Whitwell, Derbyshire, Joe Davis became a professional billards player at the age of 18, having won the Chesterfield Championship aged 13 and in 1926 reached his first World Billiards final. He soon developed an interest in snooker, though. He helped to organise the first snooker world championship in 1927 and won the tournament by beating Tom Dennis 20-10, for which he won £6 10s. He went on to win every world championship until 1946, when he retired from the event, but continued to play professionally until 1964.

Davis was also the World Professional Billiards Champion from 1928 until 1932.

In the 1950s, Joe Davis attempted to popularise a new game called Snooker Plus. This game had two extra coloured balls, an orange and a purple, but it never took off.

He achieved the first officially recognised maximum break of 147 in 1955 in an exhibition match at Leicester Square Hall, the country's mecca for billiards enthusiasts, and was officially beaten on level terms just four times in his career.

Joe's brother Fred, twelve years his junior, was also one of the greatest players of his era, and was himself a multiple world champion. When Joe met Fred in the world championship final of 1940, Joe won 37-36.

He was awarded an OBE in 1963.

Joe Davis died two months after collapsing while watching his brother play Perrie Mans in the 1978 world snooker championship semi-final.

His home, in Whitwell, Derbyshire, still bears a plaque commemorating him.

Joe Davis is no relation to snooker player Steve Davis.

Currently, his grandson, Joe Davis III, lives in San Jose, California.

• Joe Davis

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County:  Derbyshire

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