1984 Grand Prix (snooker)

Summary

The 1984 Rothmans Grand Prix was the first edition of the tournament under the Grand Prix name and had replaced the Professional Players Tournament name, which was used first in 1982.[1] Total prize money was £225,000, then the largest in the history of snooker.[2] Unlike the Professional Players Tournament, the BBC televised the event, which was held at the Hexagon Theatre in Reading, England. The venue had previously hosted the World Team Classic since 1981, an event formerly also televised by the BBC. The last-16 televised stages took place between 20 and 28 October 1984.

Rothmans Grand Prix
Tournament information
Dates20–28 October 1984 (1984-10-20 – 1984-10-28)
VenueHexagon Theatre
CityReading
CountryEngland
OrganisationWPBSA
FormatRanking event
Total prize fund£225,000
Winner's share£45,000
Final
Champion Dennis Taylor (NIR)
Runner-up Cliff Thorburn (CAN)
Score10–2
1983
1985

The last-16 matches were played from 20 to 23 October. Dean Reynolds beat Silvino Francisco 5–1, although television replays twice showed him committing fouls that went unnoticed by the referee.[3]

Tony Knowles was the defending champion, however he lost 2–5 to Neal Foulds in the quarter-finals.[4] Foulds met Dennis Taylor in the semi-finals, losing 3–9, having lost all seven frames in the afternoon session.[5] In the other half of the draw, Cliff Thorburn beat Doug Mountjoy 5–3, while Steve Davis beat Dean Reynolds 5–0.[6] Thorburn beat Davis 9–7 in the semi-finals.

Dennis Taylor won his first major tournament after 13 years as a professional by defeating Cliff Thorburn 10–2 in the final, emotionally dedicating the victory to his mother, who had died shortly before the tournament was held. He won the first prize of £45,000.[7]

Main draw edit

[8]

Last 16
Best of 9 frames
Quarter-finals
Best of 9 frames
Semi-finals
Best of 17 frames
Final
Best of 19 frames
            
1   Tony Knowles (ENG) 5
  Ian Williamson (ENG) 2
1   Tony Knowles 2
  Neal Foulds 5
12   Willie Thorne (ENG) 1
  Neal Foulds (ENG) 5
  Neal Foulds 3
11   Dennis Taylor 9
5   Ray Reardon (WAL) 3
11   Dennis Taylor (NIR) 5
11   Dennis Taylor 5
4   Kirk Stevens 2
  Mike Hallett (ENG) 3
4   Kirk Stevens (CAN) 5
11   Dennis Taylor 10
3   Cliff Thorburn 2
3   Cliff Thorburn (CAN) 5
10   Tony Meo (ENG) 4
3   Cliff Thorburn 5
15   Doug Mountjoy 3
15   Doug Mountjoy (WAL) 5
6   Eddie Charlton (AUS) 4
3   Cliff Thorburn 9
2   Steve Davis 7
    Silvino Francisco (RSA) 1
  Dean Reynolds (ENG) 5
  Dean Reynolds 0
2   Steve Davis 5
  David Taylor (ENG) 1
2   Steve Davis (ENG) 5

Final edit

Final: Best of 19 frames. Referee: John Williams
Hexagon Theatre, Reading, England, 28 October 1984.
Dennis Taylor
  Northern Ireland
10–2 Cliff Thorburn
  Canada
6–64, 74–50, 66–52, 33–70, 107–1, 81–38, 74–24, 112–22 (112), 96–27, 79–23, 80–20, 90–33
112 Highest break
1 Century breaks 0

Qualifying edit

Qualifying took place in Bristol earlier in October 1984. The leading 32 players started at the last 64 stage and needed to win two matches to reach the televised stage.[2]

Last 64
Best of 9 frames
Last 32
Best of 9 frames
      
  Tony Knowles (ENG) 5
  Vic Harris (ENG) 1
  Tony Knowles 5
  John Dunning 1
  John Dunning (ENG) 5
  Perrie Mans (RSA) 4
  Ian Williamson (ENG) 5
  Bill Werbeniuk (CAN) 2
  Ian Williamson 5
  Joe Johnson 4
  Joe Johnson (ENG) 5
  Paul Medati (ENG) 1
  Willie Thorne (ENG) 5
  Steve Newbury (WAL) 2
  Willie Thorne 5
  Murdo MacLeod 3
  Murdo MacLeod (SCO) 5
  Warren King (AUS) 4
  Neal Foulds (ENG) 5
  Bert Demarco (SCO) 2
  Neal Foulds 5
  Tony Jones 0
  Tony Jones (ENG) 5
  Terry Griffiths (WAL) 3
  Ray Reardon (WAL) 5
  Colin Roscoe (WAL) 1
  Ray Reardon 5
  Cliff Wilson 4
  Cliff Wilson (WAL) 5
  Jim Donnelly (SCO) 2
  Dennis Taylor (NIR) 5
  Paul Watchorn (IRL) 1
  Dennis Taylor 5
  John Virgo 3
  John Virgo (ENG) 5
  Malcolm Bradley (ENG) 0
  Alex Higgins (NIR) 5
  Roger Bales (ENG) 1
  Alex Higgins 3
  Mike Hallett 5
  Mike Hallett (ENG) 5
  Dessie Sheehan (IRL) 1
  Rex Williams (ENG) 5
  Dave Chalmers (ENG) 0
  Rex Williams 3
  Kirk Stevens 5
  Kirk Stevens (CAN) 5
  Tony Chappel (WAL) 3
Last 64
Best of 9 frames
Last 32
Best of 9 frames
      
  Cliff Thorburn (CAN) 5
  Gino Rigitano (CAN) 4
  Cliff Thorburn 5
  John Campbell 1
  John Campbell (AUS) 5
  Wayne Jones (WAL) 4
  Tony Meo (ENG) 5
  Pascal Burke (IRL) 1
  Tony Meo 5
  Dave Martin 1
  Dave Martin (ENG) 5
  Bob Chaperon (CAN) 4
  Doug Mountjoy (WAL) 5
  Eddie McLaughlin (SCO) 4
  Doug Mountjoy 5
  Mark Wildman 0
  Mark Wildman (ENG) 5
  Jack McLaughlin (NIR) 3
  John Parrott (ENG) 5
  Marcel Gauvreau (CAN) 3
  John Parrott 1
  Eddie Charlton 5
  Eddie Charlton (AUS) 5
  Clive Everton (WAL) 1
  Jimmy White (ENG) 5
  Bill Oliver (ENG) 1
  Jimmy White 1
  Silvino Francisco 5
  Silvino Francisco (RSA) 5
  Steve Duggan (ENG) 3
  Peter Francisco (RSA) 5
  John Spencer (ENG) 2
  Peter Francisco 4
  Dean Reynolds 5
  Dean Reynolds (ENG) 5
  Danny Fowler (ENG) 2
  David Taylor (ENG) 5
  Dene O'Kane (NZL) 1
  David Taylor 5
  John Rea 1
  John Rea (SCO) 5
  Eugene Hughes (IRL) 4
  Graham Miles (ENG) 5
  Tommy Murphy (NIR) 3
  Graham Miles 0
  Steve Davis 5
  Steve Davis (ENG) 5
  Mario Morra (CAN) 2

References edit

  1. ^ Turner, Chris. "Professional Players Tournament, Grand Prix, LG Cup". cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Black day for White". The Glasgow Herald. 17 October 1984. p. 28.
  3. ^ "Reynolds reaches the last eight - nudge, nudge". The Glasgow Herald. 24 October 1984. p. 21.
  4. ^ "Sport in brief". The Glasgow Herald. 25 October 1984. p. 18.
  5. ^ "Taylor is on song". The Glasgow Herald. 27 October 1984. p. 18.
  6. ^ "Snooker". The Glasgow Herald. 26 October 1984. p. 26.
  7. ^ "Tearful Taylor wins first title in 13 years". The Glasgow Herald. 29 October 1984. p. 14.
  8. ^ "Grand Prix". Snooker Scene. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2012.