Cue sports like pool, snooker and billiards have produced some monumental upsets and shock defeats over the years. Underdog players have toppled legendary champions and massive odds to pull off improbable victories.
This article recounts 10 of the most stunning upsets across various cue disciplines that shook the sporting world. These matches underscore that even the very best can falter against inspired opposition on any given day.
10. Marco Fu Stuns Ronnie O’Sullivan (2018 Snooker World Open)
Going into the 2018 World Open final, Ronnie O’Sullivan held a dominant 25-0 head-to-head record against veteran Marco Fu. However, Fu played inspired snooker to stun his nemesis and win 10-9 after trailing 7-9. Breaks of 71, 52, 70 and 131 allowed Fu to claim his first ranking title in over five years and hand O’Sullivan a shocking loss.
9. Neal Foulds Beats Steve Davis (1981 UK Championship)
At the 1981 UK Championship, unknown qualifier Neal Foulds faced the dominant Steve Davis in Davis’ prime period of utter dominance. The 17-year-old Foulds miraculously won 16-15 after Davis led 7-0 and 13-10, sinking gritty clearance after clearance to pull off a massive career-launching upset.
8. Stuart Bingham Unseats Ding Junhui (2015 World Championship)
Ding Junhui entered the 2015 World Championship final seeking his maiden world crown against Stuart Bingham who was appearing in his first-ever Triple Crown final. As +400 betting underdogs, Bingham played flawless matchplay snooker to deny Ding’s dream and win 18-14 for a popular upset triumph.
7. Doherty Slays Reigning Champ Davis (1990 World Championship)
In 1990, Steve Davis sought his 6th world title in 7 years but faced Irish upstart Ken Doherty in the quarterfinals. The underdog Doherty kept pace with Davis before winning a dramatic deciding frame to dethrone the great Davis 13-12. Doherty propelled himself to a final appearance while Davis’ supremacy ended.
6. Robin Hood Stuns Mosconi (1939 World Championship)
Willie Mosconi entered the 1939 World Championship seeking a 5th straight crown before young upstart Leroy “Robin Hood” Foster faced him. In a mammoth 5-day match, Foster withstood Mosconi’s onslaught to win the final 3 games and secure a titanic 21-18 upset over America’s pool king.
5. Hendry Ambushed by White (1992 UK Championship)
The 1992 UK Championship final pitted undisputed world #1 Stephen Hendry against his boyhood idol Jimmy White. As heavy -333 favorite, Hendry led White 7–0 and looked imperious before White launched an exhilarating comeback. White won 10 of the last 12 frames to ambush Hendry and claim a fairytale 16–14 upset.
4. Cliff Thorburn Stuns McLeod (1983 World Snooker Championship)
Bill Werbeniuk’s unexpected 1983 World Championship quarterfinal exit opened the draw, but no one foresaw previously unknown Canadian Cliff Thorburn advancing. However, Thorburn became an overnight sensation by reaching the final and upsetting hot favorite Rex Williams 25-18. His improbable run remains among snooker’s greatest shocks.
3. Masato Ono Conquers Strickland (1994 World 9-Ball Championship)
Entering the 1994 World 9-Ball final, underdog Masato Ono of Japan faced off against red-hot American star Earl Strickland who had demolished opponents all tournament. But Ono outclassed Strickland 19–17 and won the trans-Pacific showdown to claim 9-ball’s biggest title as a +1200 underdog and launch his legend in Japan.
2. Dennis Taylor Beats Steve Davis (1985 World Snooker Championship)
The 1985 World Championship delivered snooker’s most famous upset as Steve Davis targeting a 6-peat faced off against heavy underdog Dennis Taylor. After an epic back-and-forth match, Taylor sank a career-defining winning putt on the final black at 17-17 to win 18-17 and deny Davis in front of record TV viewership.
1. James “Cisero” Murphy Fells Mosconi (1942 World Championship)
In 1942 Willie Mosconi ruled pool and hadn’t lost in 7 straight years entering the World Championship. However, unheralded Oklahoman James “Cisero” Murphy dared upset Mosconi’s dynasty. In a grueling 5-day match at New York’s Rye Billiards Club, Murphy outlasted the exhausted champ to win the title’s final 5 games and capture a legendary 21-18 upset.
