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Douglas James Mountjoy (8 June 1942 – 14 February 2021) was a Welsh snooker player from Tir-y-Berth, Gelligaer, Wales. He was a member of the professional snooker circuit from the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, and remained within the top 16 of the world rankings for 11 consecutive years. He began his professional snooker career by taking the 1977 Masters, which he entered as a reserve player. He won both the 1978 UK Championship and the 1979 Irish Masters. Mountjoy reached the final of the 1981 World Snooker Championship where he was defeated by Steve Davis. He was also runner-up at the 1985 Masters losing to Cliff Thorburn, but by 1988 he had dropped out of the top 16.
Mountjoy enjoyed a resurgence in his 40s, and at the age of 46 he defeated Stephen Hendry in the final of the 1988 UK Championship. He followed up by also winning the next ranking event, the 1989 Classic, and by the end of the 1988–89 season he was back in the top 16, where he remained until 1992. His world ranking peaked at number five in 1990–1991. He also won five Welsh Professional Championship titles during his career.
Diagnosed with lung cancer in 1993, Mountjoy qualified for the World Championship at the age of 50, just weeks before having a lung surgically removed. He continued to play professionally until 1997, and he was coach to the United Arab Emirates snooker association between 1997 and 1999 and appeared sporadically at the World Snooker Championship until 2002. Mountjoy died in February 2021 after a stroke.
A popular player in the South Wales Valleys as a junior, he won many amateur tournaments including two Welsh Amateur titles and the World Amateur title in 1976, after defeating Paul Mifsud 11–1. After the World Amateur victory he turned professional at the age of 34.
At the 1977 World Championship a couple of months later, he defeated Higgins again in the first round but lost to Dennis Taylor in the quarter-final 11–13. At the end of 1977, he reached the final of the first UK Snooker Championship, losing to Patsy Fagan 9–12. He won the title at the 1978 UK Championship, however, beating David Taylor 15–9, and he defeated Ray Reardon in the same season to win the Irish Masters 6–5. He won the 1980 Champion of Champions, with a 10–8 victory over John Virgo in the final. Mountjoy also won the 1978 Pot Black event.
After being part of the winning Wales team in the first two snooker World Challenge Cups, in 1979 and 1980, and winning the 1980 Welsh Professional Championship he had an attack of Bell's palsy which partially paralysed his face. Recovering from the attack, he reached the final of the 1981 World Championship, defeating Eddie Charlton, Dennis Taylor and, in the semi-final, Ray Reardon (against whom he made a 145 break, a championship record at the time). He then played Steve Davis in the final. Davis was favourite to win his first world title, and appeared to be racing to an easy victory by winning the first six frames of the match. However, Mountjoy recovered and came close to drawing level on several occasions. Trailing 11–13, and with the score at 60–63 in the 25th frame, he looked certain to cut Davis's lead to one frame but missed a simple blue from its spot; Davis went on to clear the colours, the final black. Mountjoy won only one more frame as Davis won the match 18–12.
After that run at the World Championship, he had only a short run of titles; he won the Welsh Professional Championship in 1982 and 1984 to go with his 1980 title. He was back in the final of a major again in the 1985 Masters tournament, losing to Cliff Thorburn 9–6. Mountjoy also reclaimed the Pot Black title in March that year.
He won another Welsh title in 1987 but otherwise struggled to regain his previous form, including a 1–9 defeat to Steve Longworth in the first round of the 1986 UK Championship. By 1988 he was out of the top 16 in the world rankings. In the 1988–89 snooker season, however, he reached the final of the 1988 UK Championship where he met Stephen Hendry. He won 16–12 and gained his first ranking tournament victory, having at one stage scored centuries in three consecutive frames. In January 1989 he won the Classic, beating fellow Welshman Wayne Jones in the final, to win consecutive ranking titles. This was enough for him to return to the top 16 the next season, and by 1990 he was number five in the world.
Mountjoy was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1993, having been a smoker for many years. That year, at the age of 50, he defeated Alain Robidoux 10–6 in the first round of the World Championship, only weeks before an operation to remove his left lung. This was his last appearance in the final stages of the championship and for fifteen years he was the last player aged over 50 to appear at Crucible Theatre. He survived the cancer and continued to play snooker until 1997, after which he concentrated on snooker coaching. He would coach in the United Arab Emirates, but did appear in qualifying for the 2002 World Snooker Championship.
In a joint statement, World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn and World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association chairman Jason Ferguson said: "Doug was first and foremost a lovely man, who had great friendships with many players on the tour throughout the 1970s and onwards."
| Ranking | New players on the Main Tour do not have a ranking. | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 24 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 26 | 30 | 26 | 36 | 59 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dubai ClassicThe event was also called the Dubai Masters (1988/1989), Dubai Classic (1989/90–1994/1995) and Thailand Classic (1995/1996) | Tournament Not Held | NR | F | QF | 1R | 2R | WD | LQ | LQ | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand PrixThe event was also called the Professional Players Tournament (1982/83–1983/1984) | Tournament Not Held | 1R | 1R | QF | 2R | 3R | 1R | 3R | QF | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UK Championship | NH | Non-Ranking Event | 2R | 2R | 2R | 1R | W | 1R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 1R | LQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| German Masters | Tournament Not Held | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Welsh Open | Tournament Not Held | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | LQ | 1R | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International OpenThe event was also called the Goya Matchroom Trophy (1985/1986) | Tournament Not Held | NR | 1R | QF | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 1R | Not Held | 1R | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| European Open | Tournament Not Held | 3R | QF | QF | 2R | 3R | LQ | 1R | LQ | LQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thailand MastersThe event was also called the Thailand Masters (1983/1984–1986/1987 & 1991/1992) and the Asian Open (1989/1990–1992/1993) | Tournament Not Held | Non-Ranking Event | Not Held | 3R | 3R | 1R | 1R | LQ | 1R | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| British OpenThe event was also called the British Gold Cup (1979/1980), Yamaha Organs Trophy (1980/1981) and International Masters (1981/1982–1983/1984) | Not Held | Non-Ranking Event | 1R | 1R | 3R | 1R | 3R | 3R | 2R | QF | 1R | QF | 1R | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Championship | QF | 1R | 1R | 2R | F | 2R | 2R | QF | 2R | 2R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 2R | LQ | LQ | LQ | LQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scottish Masters | Tournament Not Held | QF | A | A | A | A | A | A | NH | A | QF | A | A | A | A | A | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Masters | W | QF | SF | A | QF | QF | SF | 1R | F | 1R | QF | 1R | A | QF | 1R | 1R | LQ | LQ | A | A | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seniors Pot Black | Tournament Not Held | QF | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Irish MastersThe event was also called the Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament (1974/1975–1976/1977) | A | F | W | F | QF | QF | QF | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pontins Professional | RR | RR | W | A | SF | SF | W | QF | A | A | A | A | QF | A | SF | SF | A | A | A | A | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| European LeagueThe event was also called the Professional Snooker League (1983/1984) and the Matchroom League (1986/1987 to 1991/1992) | Tournament Not Held | RR | Not Held | A | A | A | RR | RR | A | A | A | A | A | A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian MastersThe event was also called the Canadian Open (1978/1979–1980/1981) | Non-Ranking Event | Tournament Not Held | Non-Ranking | 2R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hong Kong OpenThe event was also called the Australian Masters (1979/1980–1987/1988 & 1995/1996) and Australian Open (1994/1995) | Not Held | Non-Ranking Event | NH | 3R | Tournament Not Held | NR | NH | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classic | Not Held | Non-Ranking Event | 1R | 1R | SF | 1R | 2R | W | 1R | 2R | 1R | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Strachan Open | Tournament Not Held | 1R | MR | NR | Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former non-ranking tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Masters | A | 1R | A | A | A | Tournament Not Held | A | A | A | R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Holsten Lager International | Not Held | 1R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward Chemicals Tournament | Not Held | RR | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Golden Masters | NH | W | SF | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Padmore Super Crystalate | Not Held | QF | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bombay International | Not Held | A | RR | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pontins Camber Sands | Not Held | SF | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Champion of Champions | Not Held | SF | NH | W | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International Open | Tournament Not Held | 2R | Ranking Event | Not Held | Ranking Event | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern Ireland Classic | Tournament Not Held | SF | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classic | Not Held | QF | A | A | QF | Ranking Event | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tolly Cobbold Classic | Not Held | RR | A | A | A | QF | A | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thailand Masters | Tournament Not Held | SF | A | A | A | Not Held | Ranking Event | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UK Championship | NH | F | W | 2R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 2R | Ranking Event | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| British Open | Not Held | RR | RR | RR | 2R | RR | Ranking Event | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New Zealand Masters | Tournament Not Held | F | QF | Not Held | A | A | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Australian MastersThe event was also called the Hong Kong Open (1989/1990) and Australian Open (1994/1995) | Not Held | A | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | A | A | A | NH | R | Tournament Not Held | A | A | NH | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Norwich Union Grand Prix | Tournament Not Held | QF | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| F | Not Held | W | SF | W | F | W | F | F | W | SF | W | F | A | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hong Kong ChallengeThe event was also called the Hong Kong Masters (1983/1984–1988/1989) | Tournament Not Held | W | F | A | A | A | A | NH | QF | A | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Belgian Masters | Tournament Not Held | QF | A | A | Not Held | A | NH | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shoot-Out | Tournament Not Held | 1R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Matchplay | Tournament Not Held | A | QF | 1R | A | A | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Masters | Tournament Not Held | 1R | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pot Black | F | W | F | SF | A | SF | A | 1R | W | 1R | Tournament Not Held | SF | A | A | Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tournament Not Held | QF | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LQ | lost in the qualifying draw | #R | lost in the early rounds of the tournament (WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin) | QF | lost in the quarter-finals |
| SF | lost in the semi-finals | F | lost in the final | W | won the tournament |
| DNQ | did not qualify for the tournament | A | did not participate in the tournament | WD | withdrew from the tournament |
| means an event was not held. |
| means an event is/was no longer a ranking event. |
| means an event is/was a ranking event. |
| World Championship (0–1) |
| UK Championship (1–0) |
| Other (1–1) |
| Runner-up | 1. | 1981 | World Snooker Championship | Steve Davis | 12–18 | |
| Winner | 1. | 1988 | UK Championship (2) | Stephen Hendry | 16–12 | |
| Winner | 2. | 1989 | The Classic | Wayne Jones | 13–11 | |
| Runner-up | 2. | 1989 | Dubai Classic | Stephen Hendry | 2–9 |
| UK Championship (1–1) The UK Championship did not become a ranking event until 1984 |
| The Masters (1–1) |
| Other (13–11) |
| Runner-up | 1. | 1977 | Pot Black | Perrie Mans | 0–1 | |
| Winner | 1. | 1977 | The Masters | Ray Reardon | 7–6 | |
| Runner-up | 2. | 1977 | Welsh Professional Championship | Ray Reardon | 8–12 | |
| Runner-up | 3. | 1977 | UK Championship | Patsy Fagan | 9–12 | |
| Runner-up | 4. | 1978 | Irish Masters | John Spencer | 3–5 | |
| Winner | 2. | 1978 | Pot Black | Graham Miles | 2–1 | |
| Winner | 3. | 1978 | Golden Masters | Ray Reardon | 4–2 | |
| Winner | 4. | 1978 | UK Championship | David Taylor | 15–9 | |
| Runner-up | 5. | 1979 | Pot Black | Ray Reardon | 1–2 | |
| Winner | 5. | 1979 | Irish Masters | Ray Reardon | 6–5 | |
| Winner | 6. | 1979 | Pontins Professional | Graham Miles | 8–4 | |
| Winner | 7. | 1980 | Welsh Professional Championship | Ray Reardon | 9–6 | |
| Runner-up | 6. | 1980 | Irish Masters | Terry Griffiths | 9–10 | |
| Winner | 8. | 1980 | Champion of Champions | John Virgo | 10–8 | |
| Winner | 9. | 1982 | Welsh Professional Championship (2) | Terry Griffiths | 9–8 | |
| Runner-up | 7. | 1983 | Welsh Professional Championship (2) | Ray Reardon | 1–9 | |
| Winner | 10. | 1983 | Pontins Professional (2) | Ray Reardon | 9–7 | |
| Runner-up | 8. | 1983 | New Zealand Masters | Bill Werbeniuk | 0–1 | |
| Winner | 11. | 1983 | Hong Kong Masters | Terry Griffiths | 4–3 | |
| Winner | 12. | 1984 | Welsh Professional Championship (3) | Cliff Wilson | 9–3 | |
| Runner-up | 9. | 1984 | Hong Kong Masters | Steve Davis | 2–4 | |
| Runner-up | 10. | 1985 | The Masters | Cliff Thorburn | 6–9 | |
| Runner-up | 11. | 1985 | Welsh Professional Championship (3) | Terry Griffiths | 4–9 | |
| Winner | 13. | 1985 | Pot Black (2) | Jimmy White | 2–0 | |
| Runner-up | 12. | 1986 | Welsh Professional Championship (4) | Terry Griffiths | 3–9 | |
| Winner | 14. | 1987 | Welsh Professional Championship (4) | Steve Newbury | 9–7 | |
| Winner | 15. | 1989 | Welsh Professional Championship (5) | Terry Griffiths | 9–6 | |
| Runner-up | 13. | 1990 | Welsh Professional Championship (5) | Darren Morgan | 7–9 |
| Winner | 1. | 1974 | Pontins Spring Open | John Spencer | 7–4 | |
| Winner | 2. | 1976 | Pontins Spring Open (2) | Lance Pibworth | 7–1 | |
| Runner-up | 1. | 1977 | Warners Open | 4–5 | ||
| Runner-up | 2. | 1984 | Pontins Spring Open | Neal Foulds | 4–7 |
| Winner | 1. | 1979 | World Challenge Cup | Wales | England | 14–3 | |
| Winner | 1. | 1980 | World Challenge Cup (2) | Wales | Canada | 8–5 | |
| Runner-up | 1. | 1981 | World Team Classic | Wales | England | 3–4 | |
| Runner-up | 2. | 1982 | World Doubles Championship | Terry Griffiths | Steve Davis Tony Meo | 3–4 | |
| Runner-up | 3. | 1983 | World Team Classic (2) | Wales | England | 2–4 |
| Runner-up | 1. | 1966 | Welsh Amateur Championship | Lynn O'Neill | 5–9 | |
| Winner | 1. | 1968 | Welsh Amateur Championship | John Terry | 6–5 | |
| Winner | 2. | 1976 | Welsh Amateur Championship (2) | Alwyn Lloyd | 8–6 | |
| Winner | 3. | 1976 | World Amateur Championship | Paul Mifsud | 11–1 |
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