One of the greatest non-UK Players is Perrie Mans. Pierre “Perrie” Mans is South African and first rose to fame when he won the South African Professional Championship in 1965, a title he would go on to win 19 times. Mans, a former Amateur champion, decided to move his career to the UK and won the first televised Pot Black in 1977, beating Fred Davis.
Perrie continued his winning streak by reaching the final of the World Championship in 1978 but was beaten by Ray Reardon 25-18.This didn’t deter Mans and he went on to win the Heidelberg 100 event in 1978 and his famous victory in the 1979 Masters final when he beat Alex Higgins 8-4.
Mans was a low score frame winner, amassing only a top break of 48 when he won the Masters yet his long range potting and safety play was immaculate. Mans beat all the greats and even some players such as Ron Gross and Les Dodd. Like Graham Miles, Perrie is an unsung hero of snooker and really was a pioneer of the non-UK game. Mans was one of the first left-hand players and wore colourful waistcoat, only hanging up his cue finally in 1987.
Mans was a player that only briefly touched the game with his genius but that brief moment is forever remembered in a snooker fan’s memory. The lad from South Africa was fearless and even beat Steve Davis at the height of his success at the Masters in 1981. Perhaps not widely remembered by all, perhaps this blog will bring back a little of the Mans’ magic.
