He learnt on a 6x3 foot table at home, then played and practised at the YMCA for 23 years, before winning his first English Amateur Championship title.

[6][7] Following an appeal by the Billiards and Snooker Control Council (B&SCC) for funds to send Driffield to Calcutta for the 1952 world championship, he travelled to India a couple of weeks before the competition began.

[8][9][10] In 1958, having won further English Amateur titles, Driffield was the world championship runner-up to Wilson Jones.

Following his English Amateur title victory in 1967, Driffield played at the 1967 world championship in Colombo and was, as in 1952, the only unbeaten player, and the champion.

[17] He also won a tournament in 1972 called the World Open, beating Paddy Morgan 3,055–2,404 in a ten-hour final.