Former snooker star Cliff Thorburn worked on a farm for £9 a day before becoming a world champion
World snooker champion Cliff Thorburn revealed the struggles he faced before rising to fame in the sport. In 1969, the Canadian snooker legend worked on a farm harvesting tobacco for just £9 a day.
Thorburn described the job as grueling, and while working, he continued to play snooker in his free time. One day, fed up with the monotonous work, he told his boss he was quitting. The news did not go over well, and his employer even chased after him, forcing Thorburn to make a quick escape.
At the time, Thorburn had saved £170 from his earnings, which he used that same evening as an entry fee for a snooker tournament. This bold move marked a turning point in his life, although it took several years before he achieved significant success in the sport.
Thorburn turned professional in 1972, but his first major breakthrough came in 1977 when he reached the World Championship final. The pinnacle of his career came in 1980 when he won the World Snooker Championship, becoming the first Canadian to claim the title.
In total, Thorburn secured 24 titles across various tournaments and reached the world number one ranking during the 1981/82 season. His journey from a farm laborer to a snooker icon remains one of the most inspiring stories in sports history.
Yasmine Green
Dailysports's expert
Translated by the editors
