BAIZE OF GLORY
We potted a great double
IT WAS the one and only time that two snooker players have been bagpiped into the Crucible Theatre.
Alan McManus still smiles at the memory.
The Glaswegian star was going into battle with fellow Scot Stephen Hendry in the semi-finals of the world championship in 1993.
With it being an all-tartan affair, snooker chiefs decided it would be fitting if a piper played Scotland the Brave to greet the pair’s arrival when they walked through the red curtains of the old Sheffield arena.
McManus, 46, who still plays on the snooker circuit, has a treasure chest of memories from his 27 years as a professional – mostly wearing a tartan waistcoat and trews).
He said: “It was the first time two Scots had played each other in the last four of the world championships so it was a nice touch given the unique occasion.
“The last thing anyone expected to see at the Crucible was a piper. I think the crowd liked it. When I think about it, it still makes me smile.”
Unfortunately for McManus, who has appeared in three losing world semi-finals during his distinguished career, Hendry dominated in their historic showdown – winning 16-8.
However, the following year McManus defeated Hendry 9-8 in one of the all-time great Masters finals – the first time Hendry had lost at Wembley in five golden years.
McManus has also lifted the Dubai Classic and the Thailand Open – both ranking tournaments – and partnered Hendry and John Higgins to their 1996 World Cup triumph. But he admits there is nothing like the Crucible Theatre.
McManus, who is an analyst and commentator for ITV4 when he’s not playing on the green baize, said: “It’s very special. You always look forward to the Crucible. You’re so close to the fans which makes for a tremendous atmosphere.
“There’s excitement but also a feeling of tension and pressure because it’s the biggest snooker event on the planet and you want to do well.
“I’ve played a lot of games there and one of my favourites was when I beat John Parrott 13-12 in the 1992 quarter-finals. It was a magic game and a brilliant match.
“I have played John Higgins four times at the Crucible and I’m 3-1 up so I remember those ones fondly, too.
“Until you play there, you don’t realise what it’s like.
“When you are standing behind the curtain, getting ready to come out, you are so nervous. But it’s where every snooker player wants to be.” ● John Docherty covered 25 world snooker championships for the Record. IT IS the world centre of a sporting cult... The Crucible attracts the greatest names in snooker for the sport’s world championships and hundreds of millions around the globe tune in to watch the action on television. Now, a leading sportswriter has immortalised the greatest moments in the venue’s history – including two agonising final losses for “People’s Champion” Jimmy “Whirlwind” White at the hands of his Scottish nemesis, Stephen Hendry. Hector Nunns, who has covered snooker for 15 years, wanted to celebrate 40 years of legendary matches at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, home of the sport’s world championship since 1977. He said: “It was a labour of love. I wanted to write a book that is a celebration of the venue. I picked out 19 of the greatest matches at the Crucible and two of them featured Scots – Stephen Hendry and John Higgins. “Hendry really set the bar when he became the youngest-ever champion in 1990. The rivalry