He won the Embassy World Snooker Championship 6 times during the 1980s, after turning professional in 1978. He is still considered one of the world's best players; he also works as a television commentator and appears on panel games.
Davis became known for his coolness and impeccable conduct in high-pressure situations, and was generally considered boring. As a result of his portrayal in the television satire series, Spitting Image, he earned the ironic nickname, "Interesting Davis".
In 1988, Davis became the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.