The Black Ball final, one of the most iconic Snooker moments to happen at the Crucible, was watched by over 18.5 million viewers on BBC TV back in 1985.
40 years later, the drama will be relived in the very same spot - with Front of House Manager Debbie Fairest coordinating the event, 40 years after she worked the original match!
Debbie was working as an usher at the Crucible in 1985 when the infamous match played out. Reflecting on that evening, Debbie said:
"I remember it was a very long night, I was working at Red Door and ended up sitting on the central stairs into the auditorium with the theatre manager (Earl Webster). The atmosphere was very tense.
I started working at the theatre in November 1982 when I was 16, my first snooker was 1983 and I was 18 for the Black Ball Final."
She has been a member of staff at Sheffield Theatres for 43 years, only 'breaking service' for a couple of years in 1991, and currently holds post as Front of House manager at Sheffield Theatres.
The Black Ball Final 2025 is the official celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the 1985 Black Ball final, featuring Steve Davis OBE and Dennis Taylor with surprise guests. Join fellow Snooker lovers for a night of nostalgia, stories and trick shots alongside the official rematch - with a once in a lifetime surprise finish to the evening.
