Steve Davis says perceptions of snooker failing in the UK and Ireland "couldn't be further from the truth".
The six-time world champion, who was also famous for the dramatic 1985 final against Dennis Taylor, told Off The Ball that snooker is still in good health.
"Worldwide the game is in incredibly good health and there'll be more people tuning in to watch Junhui's first round match in the World Championship this year than watched the final between Dennis Taylor and myself. There'll be 60 million people tuned in through the night and early hours of the morning in China," he said.
Steve Davis' autobiography
"Around the world, I'd probably say 100-fold more people are watching snooker than watched in the '80s, astonishingly. But in the UK and Ireland, it would be perceived to be failing as a sport. But it couldn't be further from the truth."
Davis has a new autobiography out called Interesting: My Autobiography which details his entire career and he spoke to Off The Ball about how he first gained interest in the sport as well as his journey to the pinnacle of snooker.
The full interview is also available on Soundcloud.
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