Fred Davis, one of the all-time snooker and billiards greats, has died aged 84. He died in his sleep at home in Denbigh, north Wales, 97 years to the day since his elder brother Joe, who held the World Snooker Championship for 20 years, was born.

Davis was world champion eight times from 1948 and also captured the World Billiards Championship twice in the same year, 1980, the second time at the age of 67.

Six times former world champion Steve Davis praised his namesake's cheerful image which endeared him to snooker fans worldwide. "Fred always smiled when he was concentrating, which is something I envied him for," he said.

World champion Ken Doherty, who starts the defence of his title at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre tomorrow said: "Fred contributed an awful lot to snooker. He was a great character and a great champion."