Kind of amusing seeing the first match post 2022... I like listening to cricket commentary on BBC sport and whenever Phil Tuffnel joins the team he always introduces himself like Phil Cornwell's character does here. Always makes me chuckle
Well I remember when the keyboard player from Sparks tried to turn professional………… if I recall correctly it only took 3 minutes for Duran to make sure he never played piano again.
Some classic 90s match ups. The sport never recovered from the match fixing scandals of the late 2000s. The modern pro-mercenary starers lack the charisma and flair of the 70s-90s golden age legends.
Anan Nanak's loss to Kampagnola was heartbreaking in the semi finals, but I'm glad he was a good sport about it. He fought hard to make to the semi-finals, and even through the wind delay, he didn't break his stare. I met him in 2002 a few months before he passed, the sweetest old man I ever met. My sister still has his signature on her prosthetic!
I met the Russian in 1976 when he came to the UK for a series of exhibition matches. They were open to all-comers and he was relentless, one poor chap had a stroke after 35 mins of action. Another had fainted, unforgettable.
What does everybody think of this 16 year old wonderkid, Jack Goebbels, who came from nowhere to make this year's final and is now being hyped in all the tournaments? He's been staring since he was 18 months old, won his first junior tournament at 4 and apparently spends up to 8 hours a day just staring.
He’s certainly an exciting prospect. Reminds me a little of how Jose Cordales exploded onto the staring map in the mid-90s. I just hope it doesn’t end the same way, what a tragedy that was.
Classic from Barry Davies. Clifton was a legend, I remember being introduced to him just before the UK Championships in 1961 in Kettering. He said he had a migraine and I said stay in your dressing room in the dark for a couple of hours. It seemed to work as he went on to win against a young up and coming Kiang.
I met John Duran in a Camden bar once, absolute legend, me and mate we pushing each other to go and say something to him, he noticed and came over and offered to buy us a drink, sat with us for about an hour chatting, so down to earth, really happy he got through the other side of his alcohol problems in later life. Will never forget that day.
I think his surprise win in the 45th world championship really got to his head. He's not a natural talent but always great to watch and knocked out some big names that year after being given a wildcard entry. Right to the final everyone was giving him no chance and everyone thought finally Solowka was going to get his win after all these years but Duran just wouldn't blink. A little fact that hardly anyone realised is that Duran didn't blink until the moment he lifted the trophy.
@@garethmills4383 I remember there being a lot of speculation at the time and actually still to this day that he used performance enhancing substances, we will never know for sure, thankfully the testing regime is much better today than it was back then.
Richard Gere was a massive fan of staring. In fact he set up a 'Staring Academy' in Los Angeles. But all the years staring has made him go blind. Damn shame,great actor.
Showing my age now, but can anyone remember the first Andrew Dudley's World Stare Out Champion game? I had it on the Acorn Electron. I got the board game the same year. What a Christmas that was!!
Further to Harry Flashmans comment below I believe the Lithuanian in question was the infamous Slobodan Mittzcov and he ‘won’ the 33rd WSOC. He hid his glass eyes behind sunglasses until lights on (having feigned disability so his wheelchair could be pushed to the table by his entourage of swarthy bodyguards). He beat Giggles Clifton in straight sets in a little under 17 hours. By no means a classic. However at the end of year prize giving ceremony, Giggles sprayed champagne into his eyes, as is the tradition, but Mittzcov didn’t blink! Everyone thought he was just showing off until Ted Stead (3rd on the night) slapped him on the back a little too hard and BOTH his glass eyes flew out, one concussing a nearby official as they scattered on the floor. All hell broke loose and Mittzcov was rightly stripped of the title. Glassgate became one of the most disgraceful episodes in staring history. As a footnote; following the pandemonium that night the 2 glass eyes were never found and are now believed to be in the hands of a staring collector after changing hands on the black market for well over £2M. And people say there is no entertainment in staring…..
I've been hoping that the current popularity of what they call "binge-watching" would bring some new blood into the sport, but this current generation just doesn't seem to have the discipline to go with the stamina. And you've got to have both. You have *absolutely* got to have both.
I remember as far back as the 15th world champs. Going to the pictures with my old mum , god bless ‘er. Obviously I only went for the Pathe news reel to see if Scottish hero, Finn McKerron at the ripe old age of 32, could ever be beaten. Of course that was in the black & white days (which is still my preferred way of viewing there was none of this new fangled ultra slow motion 3d,4k nonsense then). Anyway old stager, McKerron (“the Starey Highlander”) won again in that famous & controversial“dry eye” final against Steve “deadeyes’ Anderson, a final which is still mulled over today by fans - some of whom weren’t even born back then - amazing. But what’s sometimes overlooked in all the excitement is that that was the year we saw the beginnings of what would become the Yoshi Nakamoto era that changed the face of the sport forever. The unheralded Nakamoto won the juniors that year…….imagine that! . Heady days indeed.
Staring was very popular, back in the day. Lost it's way when they found out that the Lithuanian guy (can't remember his name), was stripped of the world title having found out he had two glass eyes. How it was never picked up on, I'll never know.
Interesting fact. The referee on the John Duran quarter final (Jacob Microberg) is the uncle of the head masseuse of Workington Town FC of the Northern Premier League.
This 43rd tournament certainly was historic,but does anyone else remember how exciting the regional qualifiers were? My grandad took me to any and all we could attend,all the way through the mid 70's,when I was just a lad,raised on spam and a drip feed of brown ale. Many a breathlessly tense stare battle was witnessed through those thin strata of stale cigarette smoke. Truly a golden era.
Agreed. I think the cigarette smoke actually assisted the great English club starers of this era. Forgetting about the eye cancer for a second, it trained the optic nerve into a solid dependable weapon. This is why the modern game, certainly since the smoking ban of the 90’s, lacks the intensity of the classics. And don’t get me started on these new fangled Optrex sponsored games. Eye drops? At the WSOC!! Pathetic.
@@MaximusMeridius-tg1kz It's gone too corporate now. I refuse to watch it anymore , money has ruined the game and it's become so Americanised. Still can watch the classics online but it's not the same.
I used to record this on cassette tape from the radio but having to pause it whenever the blinking rest began in the beginners contest. That little white card would come down and I’d hit that pause button. Those were the days 😊 Salovka posters were all over my bedroom until i heard Ted ‘the head’ Stead’s staring. That was it. I’ll alway be a Salovka fan, but Stead is the man for me…him and his huge knockers.
Money ruined this sport
Some brilliant staring combats here. Superb.
Kind of amusing seeing the first match post 2022... I like listening to cricket commentary on BBC sport and whenever Phil Tuffnel joins the team he always introduces himself like Phil Cornwell's character does here. Always makes me chuckle
When are we getting the Stareolympics
Well I remember when the keyboard player from Sparks tried to turn professional………… if I recall correctly it only took 3 minutes for Duran to make sure he never played piano again.
What happens if it rains? Do they put the roof on?
BBC are bringing back...women only allowed
Some classic 90s match ups. The sport never recovered from the match fixing scandals of the late 2000s. The modern pro-mercenary starers lack the charisma and flair of the 70s-90s golden age legends.
First recorded stare was Mrs Lincoln at John Wilkes Booth's tiny weapon.
Don’t know why I’m staring at the image?! Very funny.
Anan Nanak's loss to Kampagnola was heartbreaking in the semi finals, but I'm glad he was a good sport about it. He fought hard to make to the semi-finals, and even through the wind delay, he didn't break his stare. I met him in 2002 a few months before he passed, the sweetest old man I ever met. My sister still has his signature on her prosthetic!
so funny
Too many starers are selling out to the lure of Saudi money and their Super League! To the purists, staring's not what it used to be!
I met the Russian in 1976 when he came to the UK for a series of exhibition matches. They were open to all-comers and he was relentless, one poor chap had a stroke after 35 mins of action. Another had fainted, unforgettable.
What does everybody think of this 16 year old wonderkid, Jack Goebbels, who came from nowhere to make this year's final and is now being hyped in all the tournaments? He's been staring since he was 18 months old, won his first junior tournament at 4 and apparently spends up to 8 hours a day just staring.
He’s certainly an exciting prospect. Reminds me a little of how Jose Cordales exploded onto the staring map in the mid-90s. I just hope it doesn’t end the same way, what a tragedy that was.
@@paulprice007 Dam shame about Jose, he was certainly a champ.
Brilliant!! 😂
This is a riot!
Sublime.
There has always been a question mark, regarding the Eastern European stearers!!!!
Classic from Barry Davies. Clifton was a legend, I remember being introduced to him just before the UK Championships in 1961 in Kettering. He said he had a migraine and I said stay in your dressing room in the dark for a couple of hours. It seemed to work as he went on to win against a young up and coming Kiang.
Back in 1980's 2 years of evening classes, taught me all I needed in life, still wake up every day with that I want to stare zeal.
2023 and still funny. Those youngsters will be fully experienced Starers by now
Come on Ziggy. 😅😅😅😅😅😅
I met John Duran in a Camden bar once, absolute legend, me and mate we pushing each other to go and say something to him, he noticed and came over and offered to buy us a drink, sat with us for about an hour chatting, so down to earth, really happy he got through the other side of his alcohol problems in later life. Will never forget that day.
I think his surprise win in the 45th world championship really got to his head. He's not a natural talent but always great to watch and knocked out some big names that year after being given a wildcard entry. Right to the final everyone was giving him no chance and everyone thought finally Solowka was going to get his win after all these years but Duran just wouldn't blink. A little fact that hardly anyone realised is that Duran didn't blink until the moment he lifted the trophy.
@@garethmills4383 I remember there being a lot of speculation at the time and actually still to this day that he used performance enhancing substances, we will never know for sure, thankfully the testing regime is much better today than it was back then.
The writing is brilliant.
It was so close at the end there, but I knew he could pull it out. Such a legend. Thanks for preserving this bit of Staring history. 👀
It's a sight for sore eyes, no doubt!
Who added the laugh track to this serious event
Richard Gere was a massive fan of staring. In fact he set up a 'Staring Academy' in Los Angeles. But all the years staring has made him go blind. Damn shame,great actor.
Ukraine v Russia in the opener.
Brilliant. Getting the great Barry Davies on board was a genius move.
Ohhh look he's done it again!!! This is really staring out of the top drawer.
lol at the comments 😆
Why are they cracking up saying the name Ted "the Head" Stead ?
It's the "you need very big knockers for that". 'Knockers' is British slang for breasts.
Showing my age now, but can anyone remember the first Andrew Dudley's World Stare Out Champion game? I had it on the Acorn Electron. I got the board game the same year. What a Christmas that was!!
Ahhh Benny kyang.... My hero
It's not the game it was. Too much money in it these days.
Further to Harry Flashmans comment below I believe the Lithuanian in question was the infamous Slobodan Mittzcov and he ‘won’ the 33rd WSOC. He hid his glass eyes behind sunglasses until lights on (having feigned disability so his wheelchair could be pushed to the table by his entourage of swarthy bodyguards). He beat Giggles Clifton in straight sets in a little under 17 hours. By no means a classic. However at the end of year prize giving ceremony, Giggles sprayed champagne into his eyes, as is the tradition, but Mittzcov didn’t blink! Everyone thought he was just showing off until Ted Stead (3rd on the night) slapped him on the back a little too hard and BOTH his glass eyes flew out, one concussing a nearby official as they scattered on the floor. All hell broke loose and Mittzcov was rightly stripped of the title. Glassgate became one of the most disgraceful episodes in staring history. As a footnote; following the pandemonium that night the 2 glass eyes were never found and are now believed to be in the hands of a staring collector after changing hands on the black market for well over £2M. And people say there is no entertainment in staring…..
Eastern Europe has always produced incredible staring talent
And now all we get is this 20-20 hour stuff.
I've been hoping that the current popularity of what they call "binge-watching" would bring some new blood into the sport, but this current generation just doesn't seem to have the discipline to go with the stamina. And you've got to have both. You have *absolutely* got to have both.
I remember as far back as the 15th world champs. Going to the pictures with my old mum , god bless ‘er. Obviously I only went for the Pathe news reel to see if Scottish hero, Finn McKerron at the ripe old age of 32, could ever be beaten. Of course that was in the black & white days (which is still my preferred way of viewing there was none of this new fangled ultra slow motion 3d,4k nonsense then). Anyway old stager, McKerron (“the Starey Highlander”) won again in that famous & controversial“dry eye” final against Steve “deadeyes’ Anderson, a final which is still mulled over today by fans - some of whom weren’t even born back then - amazing. But what’s sometimes overlooked in all the excitement is that that was the year we saw the beginnings of what would become the Yoshi Nakamoto era that changed the face of the sport forever. The unheralded Nakamoto won the juniors that year…….imagine that! . Heady days indeed.
9:34 - can't believe the commentators missed this! You'd never get away with it in the age of VAR.
Staring was very popular, back in the day. Lost it's way when they found out that the Lithuanian guy (can't remember his name), was stripped of the world title having found out he had two glass eyes. How it was never picked up on, I'll never know.
Interesting fact. The referee on the John Duran quarter final (Jacob Microberg) is the uncle of the head masseuse of Workington Town FC of the Northern Premier League.
This 43rd tournament certainly was historic,but does anyone else remember how exciting the regional qualifiers were? My grandad took me to any and all we could attend,all the way through the mid 70's,when I was just a lad,raised on spam and a drip feed of brown ale. Many a breathlessly tense stare battle was witnessed through those thin strata of stale cigarette smoke. Truly a golden era.
Agreed. I think the cigarette smoke actually assisted the great English club starers of this era. Forgetting about the eye cancer for a second, it trained the optic nerve into a solid dependable weapon. This is why the modern game, certainly since the smoking ban of the 90’s, lacks the intensity of the classics. And don’t get me started on these new fangled Optrex sponsored games. Eye drops? At the WSOC!! Pathetic.
@@MaximusMeridius-tg1kz It's gone too corporate now. I refuse to watch it anymore , money has ruined the game and it's become so Americanised. Still can watch the classics online but it's not the same.
I used to record this on cassette tape from the radio but having to pause it whenever the blinking rest began in the beginners contest. That little white card would come down and I’d hit that pause button. Those were the days 😊 Salovka posters were all over my bedroom until i heard Ted ‘the head’ Stead’s staring. That was it. I’ll alway be a Salovka fan, but Stead is the man for me…him and his huge knockers.
Classic, this inspired me to take staring more seriously 😅😅😅
VAR has ruined the sport.
absolutely LOVE the little childish giggle after "well you need absolutely big knockers for that" 😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
5:21 is such a good parody of Aggers ‘couldn’t quite get his leg over’ commentary 😂🤣😂
"...you'd need very big knockers for that, John..!" Indeed!
Haha ukraine vs Russia - better than simpsons predictions