Cliff Thorburn reflects on gun ordeal and drug ban with star set to retire at 73

Legendary snooker star Cliff ‘The Grinder’ Thorburn is set to retire after a storied career and life in the game.

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Snooker legend Cliff Thorburn is set to retire from the game following a career of ups, downs, guns, drugs, and glory.

In the 1980s, Thorburn experienced tremendous success. The Canadian became one of the most popular sports stars around, with a recognisable face supported chiefly by his unmistakable moustache.

The 73-year-old will face Kuldesh Johal in the UK Seniors Championship on Wednesday – a player 32 years younger than ‘The Grinder’ – and Thorburn is set to hang up his cue if he comes up short.

Losing isn’t really part of Thorburn’s vocabulary, particularly after he found success 40 years ago. He has lived a life of of triumph, celebrity, and danger all mixed into one glorious career that began in 1973. After leaving school at 16, Thorburn spent time travelling across Canada where he earned money as a bin-man, dishwasher and snooker extraordinaire.

“There were certainly some moments,” the icon said when thinking over his countless experiences. “I played at a place once in Oakland where I was winning and the backer of the other guy opened up his jacket and showed a gun.

“He said, ‘Ain’t nobody leaves here with my player’s money’. My friends told me to lose all the money we had won, which I wasn’t happy about. But eventually I saw we had to lose at least some of it – or get robbed.

“I didn’t play down in the States much after that. In one place two guys were smashing cues over each other’s backs then started throwing the balls at each other. Everyone hit the floor and ducked behind tables.

“After winning money against a guy called Cornbread Red in Detroit, backed by a nasty piece of work, we had to be escorted to our car.”

Thorburn’s burgeoning career found momentum when he performed admirably against John Spencer in a number of exhibition matches, and the Canadian was recommended to join the pro tour in 1973. He assumed his days of bar fighting and cue smashing were over, until he clashed with Alex Higgins – and the table wasn’t big enough for the both of them.

Their personalities and styles clashed in a way that spawned a bitter rivalry. In the 1980 ‘SAS final’, Thorburn clinched his first and what would prove to be his only world championship at the Crucible, defeating Higgins 18-16. Higgins reportedly had a celebratory cake wheeled to his dressing room when the score was tied at 16-16 – and Thorburn duly planted his face in it.

“Alex was a heck of player, but he knew what he could get away with and aggravation just seemed to follow him around,” Thorburn added. “I don’t know why he was the way he was and I still wonder how he could play so well. But I think I bothered him.

“In many ways he was my toughest opponent – I lost a lot of close matches to him, at least it felt like too many. And then of course I would add Steve Davis.”

At the 1983 Irish Open, their animosity came to a head. Thorburn punched Higgins and floored him, only for the Northern Irishman to retaliate by kicking his adversary in the groin while declaring, “You’re a Canadian c*** who is s*** at snooker!”

While the Canadian would fail to recapture the world title, he experienced a tremendous high at the Crucible in 1983. During his second-round clash against Terry Griffiths, Thorburn made the first ever maximum 147 break at the iconic venue.

He admitted the biggest regret of his career was his drugs scandal. Traces of cocaine were found in a urine sample in 1988, and Thorburn was banned for two tournaments, handed a £10,000 fine and docked ranking points by the WPBSA.

A fast-paced man from a rock and roll age, Thorburn is now enjoying his peaceful retirement in Ontario town Markham. His life now revolves around playing golf, spending time with his family and sometimes coaching budding snooker players. While it is a far cry from his former lifestyle, the downtime allows Thorburn the opportunity to reflect on his style – including the mastery of safety play that become his USP.

“You see a lot of flash shots being played by the kids today,” he said. “That’s great, but you need something to fall back on. I always felt safety play was rocket science.

“And I still think it is a pre-requisite to first turn pro and then win things. Throwing a cue at everything wins you nothing.”