Cliff Thorburn emerged from Gibsons Bowladrome on Yates Street to become one of the greatest snooker players the world has ever seen. Cliff honed his skills in the pool halls across Canada until he became the best in North America. With steely ambition and mental strength, Thorburn turned pro in 1973 and made it to the 1977 World snooker final held in England. In 1980 he became the first and only overseas player to win the World Professional title that was watched by nearly 20 million TV viewers in Britain. Three years later Cliff enjoyed his most famous moment - a sole maximum 147 break in a World championship. Ranked in the top four of his sport he has won every major tournament once, the Benson & Hedges Masters three times as well as thirteen Canadian or North American titles.