Cliff thorburn

Snooker's original 'Grinder' Cliff Thorburn is ready to pack away his cue for the last time - after a life of turbulence and triumph that merits a Hollywood blockbuster to do it justice.

Cliff thorburn wife

Thorburn enjoyed huge success on the green baize in the s, winning 20 titles. The moustachioed, gravel-voiced Canadian was also one of the most popular and instantly-recognisable faces at a time when players acquired almost rock star status. At 73, the man born in British Columbia takes on a player 32 years his junior on Wednesday, Kuldesh Johal, in the UK Seniors Championship in Hull, in what will prove to be his last hurrah if he loses.

But Thorburn has lived an exciting, glorious and occasionally dangerous life to the full. His early years after leaving school at 16 were spent travelling across Canada playing for money in pool halls, staking himself with jobs as a bin-man and dishwasher. My friends told me to lose all the money we had won, which I wasn't happy about.

But eventually I saw we had to lose at least some of it - or get robbed. In one place two guys were smashing cues over each other's backs then started throwing the balls at each other. Everyone hit the floor and ducked behind tables. After winning money against a guy called Cornbread Red in Detroit, backed by a nasty piece of work, we had to be escorted to our car.

The Canadian middle celebrates the first ever maximum break at the iconic Crucible.