**Steve Davis: From Snooker Legend to Unexpected New Horizons**
Steve Davis, once immortalised as snooker’s ultimate “boring” tactician, has seen his post-retirement life take a series of surprising turns. The six-time world champion, whose measured and meticulous approach defined snooker’s golden age in the 1980s, now boasts a CV which many would never have imagined during his sporting heyday.
For much of his illustrious career, Davis cut a restrained, almost clinical figure at the snooker table. Ascending to prominence in the late 1970s, the London-born cue master became the sport’s dominant force, claiming a record-equalling six World Championship titles and holding the world number one spot for seven consecutive seasons. Battling colourful contemporaries like Jimmy White, Davis was often cast as the antithesis of their flamboyant styles; the satire show Spitting Image even nicknamed him “Interesting” as a playful jibe at his seemingly reserved demeanour.
Yet, with the passing of time, Davis has embraced the persona, expanding his horizons far outside the confines of the snooker world. Since waving farewell to his competitive career in 2016, Davis has become a prominent voice in the BBC’s snooker commentary team, but his interests and exploits spill far beyond TV studios.
Astonishingly, one of the biggest plot twists in Davis’ story is his transformation into a successful DJ and musician. A lifelong devotee of progressive rock with a personal record collection numbering over 10,000, Davis co-founded the electronic band The Utopia Strong with musician Kavus Torabi. The group has released two albums, and Davis has graced major stages from Glastonbury Festival to Wembley Stadium, even playing as a support act for Blur. “I didn’t know my life would turn out like this,” Davis once reflected in an interview. “You just don’t know what is going to happen.”
His foray into music actually began earlier, presenting a soul and rock show on Brentwood’s Phoenix FM back in 1996. Prior to his DJ career, he’d enjoyed a brush with pop culture, collaborating on the humorous ‘Snooker Loopy’ track alongside icons like Dennis Taylor under the moniker The Matchroom Mob.
Outside of the limelight, Davis has dabbled in other competitive arenas, representing the UK in the World Pool League and serving as president of the British Chess Federation from 1996 to 2001. His versatility, it seems, knows few boundaries.
Davis’ personal life has also played out in public view. In 1990, he married Judy Greig, a former Concorde flight attendant, with whom he shares two sons. The couple divorced in 2005 after 15 years together, a rupture Davis attributed to the relentless focus and selfishness required at the highest echelons of sport. “Perhaps I was giving the table a bit too much attention,” he later reflected, candidly admitting that “it’s not easy to live with a sporting professional.”
Their split followed tabloid claims in the mid-1990s alleging Davis’ affair with Cheree Palla, a then-19-year-old dancer, when Davis was 39. Palla, now running her own business, shared salacious details with a national newspaper, but Davis seemed unfazed by the scandal’s impact. “I wasn’t a politician, I was a snooker player—an ambassador for my sport,” he remarked, suggesting the controversy left few lasting scars.
After the end of his marriage, Davis found long-term companionship with Jeannie Nash, an accounts worker 16 years his junior, and continued to build his reputation beyond the baize.
Financially, Davis remains one of snooker’s most successful figures. Prize money from his playing days amounted to over £5.6 million, and endorsement deals brokered by legendary manager Barry Hearn saw him at one point become the UK’s highest-earning sports personality. Today, after decades of snooker, punditry, music, and other business ventures, his estimated net worth is a staggering £26.5 million.
In tracing Steve Davis’ journey, it becomes clear that the man once labelled “boring” is anything but. From the rigours of competitive snooker to musical experimentation and personal tribulations, Davis stands as proof that life beyond sport can take unexpected — and fascinating — turns.