Editing Steve Davis (section)

==Career==
===Early career (1970–1979)===
Davis was born on 22 August 1957 in [[Plumstead]], London,<ref name="ws profile" /> the elder of two boys; Keith being his younger brother.<ref>{{Cite episode | title = Series 1 | series = Gods of Snooker | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000w76x/gods-of-snooker-series-1-episode-2 | access-date = 26 January 2024 | network = BBC Television | date = 9 May 2021 | season = 1 | number = 2 | time = 18:16 }}</ref> Davis's father Bill, a keen player, introduced him to snooker at the age of 12 and took him to play at his local [[working men's club]]. Bill gave Steve an instructional book: ''How I Play Snooker'' by the unrelated [[Joe Davis]].<ref name="fFFxS" /><ref name="YbCBq" /> They studied the book, Davis later basing his technique on it during the 1970s.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Davis |first1=Steve |last2=Hardy |first2=Lance |title=Interesting – My autobiography |publisher=Ebury Press |location=London |year=2016 |pages=15–18 |isbn=978-0091958657}}</ref> He began playing at the Lucania Snooker Club in [[Romford]]. The club manager brought his talent to the attention of [[Barry Hearn]] (chairman of the Lucania chain of [[Billiard hall|snooker hall]]s) when Davis was 18 and Hearn became his friend and manager.<ref name="Times1" /><ref name="dyVmX" /> Paid £25 a match by Hearn, Davis toured the United Kingdom and participated in challenge matches against established professionals such as [[Ray Reardon]], [[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]] and [[Alex Higgins]]. Around this time he was nicknamed "Nugget" because, according to Hearn, "you could put your case of money on him and you knew you were going to get paid."<ref name="Times1" />

Davis won the English Under-19 [[English billiards|Billiards]] Championship in 1976.<ref name="gsc" /> One of his last wins as a snooker amateur was against [[Tony Meo]], another future professional, in the final of the 1978 [[Pontins Spring Open]].<ref name="HWWbU" /> He defended his title a year later, defeating future rival [[Jimmy White]] 7–4 in the final.<ref name="GSC Pontin's" /> Davis applied in 1978 to become a professional and was initially rejected,<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Edmonds now professional |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=July 1978 |page=6}}</ref> before being accepted with effect from 17 September 1978, becoming the youngest of the professional players.  He made his professional television debut on [[Pot Black]], where he played against [[Fred Davis (snooker player)|Fred Davis]].<ref name="NAQHl" /><ref name="WfpqM" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Everton |first=Clive |title=Pot Black has a new Davis |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=23 October 1978 |page=17}}</ref> He played in his first [[World Snooker Championship]] in [[1979 World Snooker Championship|1979]], having won two qualifying matches,<ref name="P5tUM" /> but lost 11–13 to [[Dennis Taylor]] in the first round proper.<ref name="firstroundloss" />

===Early success (1980–1984)===
At the [[1980 World Snooker Championship]] he reached the quarter-finals, defeating [[Patsy Fagan]] and defending champion [[Terry Griffiths]] before losing to Alex Higgins 9–13.<ref name="terryg" /><ref name="4lOmt" /> He won his first major title that year, the [[1980 UK Championship]], beating Griffiths 9–0 in the semi-finals and Higgins 16–6 in the final.<ref name="P5tUM" /><ref name="fpgnx" /> After winning his first title, he won the [[1980 Classic (1980/1981)|Wilson's Classic]] in 1980, the [[1981 Yamaha Organs Trophy|Yamaha Organs]] and [[1981 English Professional Championship|English Professional]] in 1981,<ref name="gsc" /> and was the [[bookmaker]]s' favourite to win the [[1981 World Snooker Championship]] despite being [[Seed (sports)|seeded]] 13th.<ref name="wc1981seeded" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Friskin |first=Sydney |title=Davis can beat the system |work=The Times |location=London |date=7 April 1981 |page=10}}</ref> Davis reached the final by defeating White in the first round, Higgins in the second round, Griffiths in the quarter-finals and defending champion [[Cliff Thorburn]] in the semi-final.<ref name="SBQjO" /> In the final, he won 18–12 against [[Doug Mountjoy]] to take his first world championship.<ref name="hpjam" /><ref name="Snooker Database WSC" /> 

Davis completed a 9–0 [[whitewash (sport)|whitewash]] victory over Dennis Taylor in the [[1981 International Open|International Open]] final and retained the [[1981 UK Championship|UK Championship]] with a 16–3 win over Griffiths in the final, winning five events in 1981.<ref name="PpNVw" /> In January 1982, Davis compiled the first televised [[maximum break]] at the [[1982 Classic (snooker)|Classic]] at Queen Elizabeth Hall in [[Oldham]] against John Spencer.<ref name="DgmoS" /> As [[Lada]] were sponsoring the event, they offered Davis a car for completing the break.<ref name="iyQr8" /> He reached the final, but lost 8–9 to Griffiths in the final.<ref name="tXO2D" /> However, later that month Davis defeated Griffiths 9–5 in the [[1982 Masters (snooker)|Masters final]], to win his first title.<ref name="BBC masters history" />

His 18-month period of dominance ended at the [[1982 World Snooker Championship]], where he lost 1–10 to [[Tony Knowles (snooker player)|Tony Knowles]] in the first round.<ref name="firstroundloss" /> Despite this, he finished the season as the [[world snooker rankings|world number one]] for the first time.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ranking History |url=http://www.snooker.org/rnk/history.asp?sort=1983/1984&order=asc |publisher=Snooker.org |access-date=6 February 2011 |archive-date=11 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311131545/http://www.snooker.org/rnk/history.asp?sort=1983/1984&order=asc |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Hayton |first=Eric |title=The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker |year=2004 |publisher=Rose Villa Publications |location=Lowestoft |isbn=0-9548549-0-X |pages=119–123}}</ref> Davis lost to Griffiths in the quarter-finals  of the [[1982 UK Championship]] later that year.<ref name="D6gCN" /> After those two defeats, he won the [[World Doubles Championship]] with partner Tony Meo.<ref name="gsc" /> He overcame Thorburn 18–6 in the [[1983 World Snooker Championship]], regaining the title with a {{cuegloss|session to spare}} in the final.<ref name="jpL8X" /> Davis led 7–0 against Higgins in the [[1983 UK Championship]] final, but lost on a {{cuegloss|deciding frame}} 15–16.<ref name="pcoWx" /> At the [[1984 World Snooker Championship]], he was the first player to retain his title at the [[Crucible Theatre]] – the event's venue since 1977 – by defeating Jimmy White 18–16 in the final, winning his third world championship.<ref name="zNQ2F" /> Davis also won the [[1984 UK Championship]], beating Higgins 16–8 in the final.<ref name="UKchampionshipwin" />

===1985 World Snooker Championship===
{{main|1985 World Snooker Championship|1985 World Snooker Championship final}}
At the [[1985 World Snooker Championship]], Davis defeated [[Neal Foulds]], David Taylor, Griffiths and Reardon en route to the [[1985 World Snooker Championship final|championship final]], where his opponent was Dennis Taylor.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Interesting – My autobiography |last1=Davis|first1=Steve |publisher=Ebury Press |isbn=978-0091958657 |year=2016 |location=London |last2=Hardy|first2=Lance |pages=30–35}}</ref> Davis won all of the frames in the first {{cuegloss|session}}, and the first of the evening, to lead 8–0 but Taylor recovered to trail 7–9. Taylor levelled the match for the first time at 11–11; after Davis took the lead again, Taylor fought back a second time from 12–15 to level at 15–15 and a third time from 15–17 to 17–17, forcing a deciding frame. With the scores close, Taylor potted the final {{cuegloss|colour ball|colours}} to leave the {{cuegloss|black ball}}. With Davis leading 62–59 in the frame at that point, the player who potted the black ball would win the championship. After several failed attempts to pot it by each player, Taylor potted the ball to win the title. The final was watched by 18.5&nbsp;million viewers, setting all-time records for [[BBC Two]] and for a post-midnight audience on British television.<ref name="GFHQG" /> The final, later called the "black ball final", was voted the [[100 Greatest (TV series)|ninth-greatest sporting moment of all time]] in a 2002 [[Channel 4]] poll; Davis's disbelief and Taylor's triumphant, pointing finger have been replayed many times on television.<ref name="qTOO7" />

===Later World Snooker Championship victories (1985–1989)===
Davis and Taylor met again in the final of the [[1985 Grand Prix (snooker)|1985 Grand Prix]], but this time Davis won in a deciding frame. At 10 hours 21 minutes, it was the longest one-day final in snooker history.<ref name="HJaxc" /> Davis trailed [[Willie Thorne]] 8–13 in the [[1985 UK Championship]] final. Thorne missed a {{cuegloss|blue ball|blue}} off the spot, which would have given him a 14–8 lead; Davis won the frame and seven of the next eight to win 16–14.<ref name="zbbYK" /> Davis also won the [[1986 British Open]], with a 12–7 win over Thorne.<ref>{{cite web |title=British Open |url=http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124071502/http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=14 |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 January 2013 |publisher=Snooker Scene |access-date=2 March 2018}}</ref> At the [[1986 World Snooker Championship|1986 World Championship]], Davis defeated White 13–5 in the quarter-finals and Thorburn 16–12 in the semi-finals.<ref name="Di9E4" /> His opponent in the final was [[Joe Johnson (snooker player)|Joe Johnson]], who started the tournament as an outsider to win, with [[Fixed-odds betting|odds]] of 150–1. Davis lost the match, 12–18.<ref name="jOU19" /> At the end of 1986, he beat Foulds 16–7 to retain the [[1986 UK Championship]].<ref name="UKchampionshipwin" />

Davis began 1987 by winning the [[1987 Classic (snooker)|Classic]] 13–12 against defending champion Jimmy White.<ref name="Snooker Scene Classic" /> At the [[1987 World Snooker Championship]], he defeated Griffiths 13–5 in the quarter-final and White 16–11 in the semi-final.<ref name="yPq4f" /> Meeting Johnson again in the final, he established a 14–10 lead after three sessions. Johnson reduced Davis's lead to 14–13, but Davis took four of the next five frames to win the match 18–14 and regain the title, his fourth world championship.<ref name="wOfDf" /> In December he retained his [[1987 UK Championship|UK title]] with a 16–14 win against White in the final.<ref name="UKchampionshipwin" /> Davis retained the [[1988 Classic (snooker)|Classic in 1988]] before claiming his second [[1988 Masters (snooker)|Masters]] title: in the final he completed a 9–0 whitewash of [[Mike Hallett]], the only such result in the event's history.<ref name="BBC masters history" /> He also won the [[World Cup (snooker)|World Cup]] with England and secured his fourth [[1988 Irish Masters|Irish Masters]] title. In [[1988 World Snooker Championship|that year's World Championship]] Davis defeated Hallett 13–1, [[Tony Drago]] 13–4 and Thorburn 16–8 en route to the final, where he met Griffiths. Davis established a 5–2 lead after the first session, but Griffiths levelled at 8–8 after the second. On the second day of the match, Davis took ten out of thirteen frames to win his fifth world title 18–11.<ref name="okRrh" />

He won the first ranking event of the [[1988–89 snooker season]], a 12–6 victory over White in the [[1988 International Open|International Open]]. During the same match, Davis became the first player to make three consecutive century breaks in a major tournament.<ref name="r7JLP" /> In October, he won the [[1988 Grand Prix (snooker)|Grand Prix]] final 10–6 against Alex Higgins and held the World, UK, Masters, Grand Prix, Classic and Irish Masters titles simultaneously. His four-year unbeaten run in the [[1988 UK Championship|UK Championship]] ended in December with a 3–9 semi-final loss to Hendry.<ref name="IWB7h" /> Davis did not win another major title until the [[1989 World Snooker Championship|1989 World Championship]], where he beat Hendry 16–9 in the semi-finals before the most decisive victory in a world final of the modern era: an 18–3 win against [[John Parrott]], for his sixth world championship.<ref name="1cra4" /> He retained the [[1989 Grand Prix (snooker)|Grand Prix]] in October, beating [[Dean Reynolds]] 10–0 in the final – the first whitewash in a ranking-event final.<ref name="iIlsL" /> By the end of the 1980s, Davis was snooker's first millionaire.<ref name="gsc" />

===Last ranking event win (1990–1995)===
Davis began the 1990s by winning the [[1990 Irish Masters|Irish Masters]] for the fifth time, defeating Taylor 9–4.<ref>{{cite web|title=Irish Masters|url=http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124071613/http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=25|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 January 2013|publisher=Snooker Scene|access-date=21 November 2017}}</ref><ref name="Irish Masters"/>
Davis was denied an eighth consecutive appearance in the [[1990 World Snooker Championship]] final by Jimmy White, who won their semi-final 16–14.<ref name="SArfZ" /> He was succeeded as world number one by new world champion [[Stephen Hendry]], at the end of the [[1989–90 snooker season]], Davis having held the spot for seven consecutive seasons.<ref name="Snooker.org Ranking History" /> The following season, Davis reached the final of the [[1990 UK Championship|UK Championship]] again and played Hendry, losing on a deciding frame 15–16.<ref name="euro_Stev">{{Cite web |title=Steve Davis tells Ronnie: I hated Stephen Hendry in the 1990s |work=Eurosport UK |date=5 May 2015 |access-date=18 May 2021 |url=https://www.eurosport.co.uk/snooker/steve-davis-tells-ronnie-i-hated-stephen-hendry-in-the-1990s_sto4705087/story.shtml |archive-date=9 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409115817/http://www.eurosport.co.uk/snooker/steve-davis-tells-ronnie-i-hated-stephen-hendry-in-the-1990s_sto4705087/story.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> Davis won the [[1991 Irish Masters|Irish Masters]] again, defeating Parrott 9–5 in the final.<ref name="Irish Masters"/> At the [[1991 World Snooker Championship|world championship]], Davis reached the semi-final but lost to Parrott 16–10.<ref>{{cite web |title=Embassy World Championship |url=http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=36 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124071753/http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=36 |archive-date=24 January 2013 |publisher=Snooker Scene |access-date=14 June 2012}}</ref>

Davis won the [[1992 Classic (snooker)|Classic]], defeating Hendry 9–8, and then won the [[1992 Asian Open|Asian Open]] by beating [[Alan McManus]] 9–3.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asian Open |url=http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124071459/http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=13 |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 January 2013 |publisher=Snooker Scene |access-date=1 March 2018}}</ref><ref name="CUESPORT"/> He did not win a match at the [[1992 World Snooker Championship]], however, as he was beaten 4–10 by [[Peter Ebdon]], the first time he had lost in the opening round in nine years.<ref name="news_BBCS">{{cite web |title=Peter Ebdon |work=BBC Sport|date= 21 January 2002|access-date=18 May 2021 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/1766317.stm}}</ref> He won the [[1993 European Open (1992/1993)|European Open]] in 1993 where he completed a 10–4 victory against Hendry in the final.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hayton |first=Eric |title=Cuesport Book of Professional Snooker |page=163}}</ref> Davis won a seventh Irish Masters event in 1993, where he defeated McManus 9–4.<ref name="Irish Masters"/> At the [[1993 World Snooker Championship]], Davis defeated Ebdon, who had defeated him the year previously 10–3, but lost again to McManus in the second round 13–11.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Snooker: Revenge is sweet for Davis: Old guard take their stand |work=[[The Independent]] |date= 23 October 2011|access-date=31 May 2021 |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/snooker-revenge-is-sweet-for-davis-old-guard-take-their-stand-against-the-challenge-of-a-new-generation-1456782.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/snooker-revenge-is-sweet-for-davis-old-guard-take-their-stand-against-the-challenge-of-a-new-generation-1456782.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Snooker: Taylor cut out to be the marathon man: Griffiths ground down |work=The Independent |date=23 October 2011 |access-date=31 May 2021 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/snooker-taylor-cut-out-to-be-the-marathon-man-griffiths-ground-down-in-crucible-1457569.html |archive-date=25 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925232550/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/snooker-taylor-cut-out-to-be-the-marathon-man-griffiths-ground-down-in-crucible-1457569.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Davis won his eighth (and final) Irish Masters event in 1994 with a deciding frame win over McManus.<ref name="Irish Masters">{{cite web |last=Turner |first=Chris |title=Irish Masters |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/irishmast.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155735/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/irishmast.html |archive-date=16 February 2012 |publisher=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive |access-date=18 November 2010}}</ref> Davis progressed past the second round for the first time in three years at the [[1994 World Snooker Championship]], defeating [[Dene O'Kane]], [[Steve James (snooker player)|Steve James]] and Wattana but was defeated by Hendry 9–16 in the semi-final.<ref name="GoeIt" /><ref name="XTdpz" /> Over the next two seasons, Davis won consecutive [[Welsh Open (snooker)|Welsh Open]] titles. At the [[1994 Welsh Open (snooker)|1994 event]], he completed three consecutive whitewash 5–0 victories and won the final 9–6 over McManus.<ref>{{cite web |title=Welsh Open |url=http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=35 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124071817/http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=35 |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 January 2013 |publisher=Snooker Scene |access-date=6 December 2017}}</ref> The following season at the [[1995 Welsh Open (snooker)|1995 event]], he defeated [[John Higgins]] 9–3 in the final.<ref>{{cite web |title=1995 Regal Welsh |url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/welsh_res.shtml |publisher=Snooker.org |access-date=3 January 2011 |archive-date=30 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430033953/http://www.snooker.org/Trn/welsh_res.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> This victory was his last [[Snooker world rankings|ranking]] title of his career.<ref name="welshopen" />

===Masters champion for the last time (1996–2000)===
In 1996, Davis reached the quarter-finals of both the [[1996 Masters (snooker)|Masters]] and [[1996 World Snooker Championship|World Championship]], losing to McManus and Ebdon, respectively.<ref name="RvoKO" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Embassy World Championship |url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/9596/wc_res.shtml |publisher=Snooker.org |access-date=24 April 2011 |archive-date=12 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012220206/http://snooker.org/trn/9596/wc_res.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Embassy World Championship">{{cite web |title=Embassy World Championship |url=http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=36 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124071753/http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=36 |archive-date=24 January 2013 |publisher=Snooker Scene |access-date=7 May 2012}}</ref><ref name="inde_Agam">{{Cite web |title=A gamble that paid off for Ebdon |work=The Independent |date=23 October 2011 |access-date=18 May 2021 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/a-gamble-that-paid-off-for-ebdon-1268069.html |archive-date=18 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518102723/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/a-gamble-that-paid-off-for-ebdon-1268069.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The following year, at the [[1997 Masters (snooker)|1997 Masters]], Davis reached the final, defeating McManus, Ebdon and Doherty.<ref>{{cite web|title=Benson & Hedges Masters 1997|url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/9697/bh_res.shtml|publisher=Snooker.org|access-date=21 June 2021|archive-date=4 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104215828/http://www.snooker.org/trn/9697/bh_res.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Trailing O'Sullivan 4–8 in the final, Davis won six frames in a row, securing a 10–8 victory.<ref name="bbcpo" /> The win was Davis's last fully professional title of his career, his third Masters title.<ref name="ws profile" /> At the [[1997 World Snooker Championship|world championship]] later that year, Davis defeated [[David McLellan (snooker player)|David McLellan]] in the opening round, before losing to Doherty 3–13.<ref>{{cite web |title=Embassy World Championship 1997 |url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/9697/wc_res.shtml |publisher=Snooker.org |access-date=28 October 2010 |archive-date=13 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013214657/http://snooker.org/trn/9697/wc_res.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> He also reached the second round in the [[1998 World Snooker Championship|1998 event]], where he defeated [[Simon Bedford]], but lost to Williams 6–13.<ref name="Embassy World Championship"/>

For the [[1998–99 snooker season|1998–99 season]], Davis's best result was reaching the quarter-finals at the [[1998 UK Championship]], the first time he had progressed past the third round in five years, but lost to [[Paul Hunter]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Liverpool Victoria UK Championship 1998|url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/9899/uk98_res.shtml|publisher=Snooker.org|access-date=13 October 2010|archive-date=16 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216233018/http://www.snooker.org/TRN/9899/uk98_res.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=UK Championship|url=http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=34|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124071813/http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=34|archive-date=24 January 2013|publisher=Snooker Scene|access-date=5 February 2013}}</ref> He also reached the same stage at the [[1999 Welsh Open]], but lost to Williams.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/9899/wo99_res.shtml|title=WWW Snooker: Welsh Open 1999|website=snooker.org|access-date=21 June 2021|archive-date=4 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604104428/http://www.snooker.org/TRN/9899/wo99_res.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> However, at the [[1999 World Snooker Championship]], he lost in the first round on a deciding frame to [[Joe Perry (snooker player)|Joe Perry]]. Davis did reach the quarter-finals of the [[1999 British Open (1999/2000)|1999 British Open]] in [[1999–2000 snooker season|1999–2000]],<ref>{{cite web|title=British Open 1999 (autumn)|url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/9900/bo99_res.shtml|publisher=snooker.org|access-date=12 January 2018|archive-date=12 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112105111/http://www.snooker.org/trn/9900/bo99_res.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=British Open|url=http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124071502/http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=14|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 January 2013|publisher=Snooker Scene|access-date=12 January 2018}}</ref> but only won one match at the [[2000 World Snooker Championship]], defeating [[Graeme Dott]], but losing to Higgins 11–13.<ref>{{cite web |title=2000 Embassy World Championship Draw |url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/9900/wc2000_draw.shtml |publisher=Snooker.org |access-date=31 March 2011 |archive-date=12 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112174253/http://snooker.org/Trn/9900/wc2000_draw.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> After this loss, Davis fell out of the top 16 in the world rankings for the [[Snooker world rankings 2000/2001|2000–01 season]] for the first time since 1980 and would not play in the Masters for the first time since he first qualified.<ref name="Snooker.org Ranking History" />

===Fall out of the top 16 (2000–2005)===
Davis's best result during the season was a quarter-final appearance at the [[2001 Irish Masters]] losing to O'Sullivan.<ref name="Irish Masters"/> Davis failed to qualify for the [[2001 World Snooker Championship]], losing 6–10 to [[Andy Hicks]] in the last qualifying round.<ref>{{cite news |last=King |first=Steve |title=End of an era as Davis misses out on Crucible |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-18782434.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410070336/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-18782434.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 April 2016 |newspaper=The Scotsman  |access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref> This was the first time Davis would be absent from the event since his debut in 1979.<ref name="p1w5l" /><ref name="UFJfv" />  After the loss, he contemplated retirement, but said that it would be the "easy thing to do".<ref name="iZWJH" /> Since he still enjoyed the challenge of professional play he continued into the [[2001–02 snooker season]] and reached the semi-finals of the [[2002 LG Cup (snooker)|2002 LG Cup]] and the quarter-finals of the [[2003 Irish Masters]] the following season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Irish Masters |url=http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124071613/http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=25 |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 January 2013 |work=Snooker Scene |access-date=20 November 2017}}</ref><ref name=TimesDavis>{{Cite news |url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A92820560/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=6981602b |title=Marathon night when fans lost interest in Davis; Snooker |last=Yates |first=Phil |date=14 October 2002 |work=The Times |access-date=16 February 2019 |page=14 |via=Academic OneFile |url-access=subscription |archive-date=19 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519094315/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA92820560&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=6981602b |url-status=live}}</ref> However, Davis was unable to qualify for the [[2002 World Snooker Championship]], losing 8–10 to [[Robin Hull]] in the final round of qualification.<ref name="SCFIN">{{cite magazine|title=Parrott qualifies for Crucible but Davis out |magazine=Snooker Scene |pages=28–29 |publisher=Everton's News Agency |issue=April 2002}}</ref>

Despite this, his previous results were enough to regain his place in the top 16 for the [[Snooker world rankings 2003/2004|2003–2004 season]], starting ranked 11th in the world.<ref name="Snooker.org Ranking History" /> Despite not progressing past the third round in any other events, Davis reached the final at the [[2004 Welsh Open (snooker)|2004 Welsh Open]]. This was nine years after he last won a ranking event at the 1995 Welsh Open. He defeated [[Mark King (snooker player)|Mark King]], Higgins, Milkins and Marco Fu and met O'Sullivan in the final.<ref>{{cite web|title=Welsh Open 2004|url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/0304/wo2004_res.shtml|publisher=Snooker.org|access-date=3 January 2011|archive-date=18 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718204033/http://www.snooker.org/trn/0304/wo2004_res.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> In the best of 17 frames match, he led 8–5, but lost 8–9.<ref name="theg_Snoo">{{Cite web |title=Snooker: O'Sullivan wins Welsh Open |author=Everton, Clive |work=The Guardian |date=26 January 2004 |access-date=18 May 2021 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2004/jan/26/snooker.cliveeverton |archive-date=18 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518131538/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2004/jan/26/snooker.cliveeverton |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="1URu3" /> He reached the quarter-finals of the [[2005 World Snooker Championship]], losing to eventual winner [[Shaun Murphy]].<ref name="7eaVp" />

===Later career (2005–2010)===
[[File:Steve Davis at Sports Club Turku, Finland.jpg|thumb|alt=Davis leaning over a table for a shot|Davis during a 2008 match against Ville Pasanen]]
Davis reached his 100th major career final at the [[2005 UK Championship]] in [[York]],<ref name="ws profile" /> his first appearance in the event's final since 1990.<ref name="UKchampionshipwin" /> He beat defending champion [[Stephen Maguire]] and Hendry before he lost 6–10 to [[Ding Junhui]] in the final.<ref name="slife" /><ref name="TrqsN" /> Davis brushed off suggestions of retirement before the [[2006 World Snooker Championship|World Championships]],<ref name="xKYZQ" /> and reached the second round where he lost to Murphy.<ref name="NKB7l" /> His performances during the [[2006–07 snooker season|2006–07]] season, including reaching the [[2006 UK Championship]] quarter-finals and the [[2007 Welsh Open (snooker)|Welsh Open]] semi-finals, ensured that Davis was still a top-16 player at the age of 50.<ref name="RomfordRecorder" /> Although Davis dropped out of the top sixteen a year later, he reached successive quarter-finals at the [[2008 Shanghai Masters|Shanghai Masters]] and [[2008 Grand Prix (snooker)|Grand Prix]] in 2008.<ref name="k3Idl" /> At the [[2009 World Snooker Championship]], Davis lost 2–10 to Neil Robertson in the first round.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Snooker: Heavy first-round defeat may make Steve Davis's 29th Crucible appearance his last |last=Everton |first=Clive |work=The Guardian |date=22 April 2009 |access-date=2 May 2020 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/22/snooker-world-championship-steve-davis |archive-date=15 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015152223/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/22/snooker-world-championship-steve-davis |url-status=live}}</ref> At the [[2009 UK Championship]], he defeated [[Michael Judge]] 9–7 to set up a first-round match against Hendry which he lost 6–9.<ref name="9pFk8" /><ref name="UOy1V" />

He qualified for the [[2010 World Snooker Championship]], his 30th time at the event, by defeating [[Adrian Gunnell]] 10–4.<ref name="OsnFF" /> In the first round, Davis beat Mark King 10–9; at 52, he was the oldest player to win a match at the Crucible since [[Eddie Charlton]] defeated Cliff Thorburn in 1989.<ref name="fz6AV" /> In the second round, against defending champion John Higgins, Davis won 13–11, a win commentator [[Clive Everton]] called "the greatest upset in the 33 years the Crucible has been hosting the championship."<ref name="IcMm9" /> This made him the oldest world quarter-finalist since Charlton in 1983. In the quarter-final match against Australian [[Neil Robertson]], Davis lost 5–13.<ref name="cgWSd" /> Despite having his best run at the World Championship for five years and reaching the quarter-finals for only the second time since 1994, this was his last appearance at the Crucible; he failed to qualify for the tournament again before his retirement.<ref name="28titles" /> O'Sullivan equalled Davis's record of 30 Crucible appearances in [[2022 World Snooker Championship|2022]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=World Snooker Championship: Ronnie O'Sullivan continues quest for seventh title as he marks 30th year at Crucible |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |date=16 April 2022 |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/61107211 |access-date=16 April 2022 |archive-date=31 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531134220/https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/61107211 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Davis participated in the [[Players Tour Championship 2010/2011|Players Tour Championship]] in 2010; his best result was at the [[Euro Players Tour Championship 2010/2011 – Event 1|Paul Hunter Classic]], where he reached the quarter-finals before losing 1–4 to Shaun Murphy.<ref name="oD8nf" /> He finished 67th on the [[Players Tour Championship 2010/2011#Order of Merit|Order of Merit]].<ref name="r0oMA" /> He reached the final of the [[2010 World Seniors Championship]], losing 1–4 to Jimmy White.<ref name="World Seniors 2010" /> He narrowly reached the last qualifying round of the [[2011 World Snooker Championship]] by defeating [[Jack Lisowski]] 10–9 before losing 2–10 to [[Stephen Lee (snooker player)|Stephen Lee]].<ref name="LL6em" />

===Retirement (2010–2016)===
[[File:Steve Davis at German Masters Snooker Final (DerHexer) 2012-02-05 21.jpg|thumb|alt=Davis, bent over the table, lining up a shot|Davis playing a [[trick shot]] exhibition during the interval of the [[2012 German Masters]] final]]
Davis began the [[2011–12 snooker season|2011–12 season]] ranked world number 44, his lowest ranking position since turning professional.<ref name="Snooker.org Ranking History" /><ref name="rI6Ao" /> He reached the final of the [[2011 World Seniors Championship]], where he lost 1–2 to [[Darren Morgan]].<ref name="BBCSport07112011" /> He participated in the [[Players Tour Championship 2011/2012|2011–12 Players Tour Championship]]; his best result was in the [[Players Tour Championship 2011/2012 – Event 6|Warsaw Classic]], where he reached the semi-finals before losing 3–4 to [[Ricky Walden]],<ref name="K9ZqU" /> and finished at number 26 on the [[Players Tour Championship 2011/2012#Order of Merit|Order of Merit]].<ref name="RfGPX" /> He qualified for the [[2011 UK Championship]] by defeating [[Ian McCulloch (snooker player)|Ian McCulloch]] and [[Andrew Higginson]],<ref name="aSavw" /> but lost 1–6 in the first round to O'Sullivan.<ref name="Af1dj" /> He reached the last 16 of the [[2012 Welsh Open (snooker)|Welsh Open]], losing 0–4 to Murphy.<ref name="pvJs0" /><ref name="BFKng" /> Davis did not qualify for the main stage of the [[2012 World Snooker Championship|World Snooker Championship]], losing 7–10 to [[Ben Woollaston]].<ref name="FTLaG" /><ref name="7YKfj" />

He qualified for the [[2012 Shanghai Masters]],<ref name="NbdXq" /><ref name="PjGGS" /> where he lost 4–5 to Walden;<ref name="j8gfj" /> he then qualified for the final stages of the [[2012 UK Championship]],<ref name="01n1q" /> but lost in the first round 2–6 to [[Ali Carter]].<ref name="Sq8pF" /> He again participated in the [[Players Tour Championship 2012/2013|Players Tour Championship]]; his best results were in the [[Players Tour Championship 2012/2013 – Event 4|Kay Suzanne Memorial Trophy]] and the [[European Tour 2012/2013 – Event 5|Scottish Open]], where he reached the last 16 before losing 3–4 to John Higgins and 1–4 to Ding Junhui.<ref name="CCbT0" /><ref name="elqvb" /> He placed 52nd on the tour's [[Players Tour Championship 2012/2013#Order of Merit|Order of Merit]].<ref name="KGOC5" /> He finished the season in the qualifying stage of the [[2013 World Snooker Championship|World Championship]], losing 7–10 to Maflin.<ref name="DWzU0" /> He won his first [[2013 World Seniors Championship|World Seniors Championship]] in 2013 by defeating [[Nigel Bond]], 2–1.<ref name="2013 World Seniors Sky Sports" /> After being beaten by [[Craig Steadman]] 8–10 in the second round of the [[2014 World Snooker Championship]] qualification, Davis finished the season outside the top 64 on the money list and dropped off the main professional tour after 36 years.<ref name="Steve Davis retires" />

Davis received an invitational tour card for tournaments in the 2014–15 season.<ref name="usLvt" /> He played in the [[2014 Champion of Champions]] event after qualifying with the 2013 World Seniors Championship,<ref name="dgJl3" /> losing 1–4 to [[Mark Selby]] in the group semi-final.<ref name="04tU7" /> He entered the [[2016 World Snooker Championship]] qualifiers but lost to [[Fergal O'Brien]] in his last professional match. During a live [[BBC]] broadcast on 17 April 2016, Davis announced his retirement from professional snooker, citing the recent death of his father as the main reason. He entered the Crucible Theatre holding the World Championship trophy and received a standing ovation from the audience.<ref name="retire" /> Over the course of his career, Davis won over £5.5&nbsp;million in prize money.<ref name="Steve Davis retires" /><ref name="retirement announcement" /> {{As of|2021}}, he continues to play exhibitions and is a pundit and commentator for the BBC's snooker coverage of Triple Crown events.<ref name="retire" />