For the California governor often called "Joe Davis" by his critics, see Gray Davis. Joe Davis, OBE (born 15 April, 1901 in Whitwell, Derbyshire, England; died 10 July, 1978 in Hampshire, England) was an English professional player of English billiards and later snooker. Joe's brother Fred, twelve years his junior, was also a snooker player and multiple World Champion. When Joe met Fred in the world championship final of 1940, Joe won 37-36. Joe Davis became a professional billards player at the age of 18, having won the Chesterfield Championship aged 13. In 1926 he reached his first World Billiards final. After developing an interest in snooker he helped to organise the first snooker world championship in 1927 and won the tournament by beating Tom Dennis 20-10, for which he won £6 10s. He went on to win every world championship until 1946, when he retired from the event. He continued to play professionally until 1964. Davis was