Alexander Gordon Higgins was a Northern Irish professional snooker player and a two-time world champion who is remembered as one of the most iconic figures in the sport's history. Nicknamed "Hurricane Higgins" for his rapid play, and known as the "People's Champion" for his popularity and charisma, he is often credited as a key factor in snooker's success as a mainstream televised sport in the 1980s.
Graham Miles was an English snooker player.
Raymond Reardon is a Welsh retired professional snooker player. He turned professional in 1967 aged 35 and dominated the sport in the 1970s, winning the World Snooker Championship six times and more than a dozen other tournaments. Reardon was World Champion in 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1978, and runner-up in 1982. He won the inaugural Pot Black tournament in 1969, the 1976 Masters and the 1982 Professional Players Tournament.
John Spencer was an English professional snooker player and a three-time World Snooker Champion. Born in Radcliffe, Lancashire, he started playing snooker on a full-sized table at age 14, and made his first century break at age 15. After starting National Service at age 18, he did not play snooker again until he was 29. He won the English Amateur Championship in 1966 and turned professional in February 1967, aged 31.
Doug Mountjoy was a Welsh snooker player from Tir-y-Berth, Gelligaer, Wales. He was a member of the professional snooker circuit from the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, and remained within the top 16 of the world rankings for 11 consecutive years. He began his professional snooker career by taking the 1977 Masters, which he entered as a reserve player. He won both the 1978 UK Championship and the 1979 Irish Masters. Mountjoy reached the final of the 1981 World Snooker Championship where he was defeated by Steve Davis. He was also runner-up at the 1985 Masters losing to Cliff Thorburn, but by 1988 he had dropped out of the top 16.
Patsy Fagan is an Irish former professional snooker player. Having been runner-up in the 1974 English Amateur Championship, he turned professional in October 1976. He experienced early success with victories at the 1977 UK Championship and the 1977 Dry Blackthorn Cup but following a car accident, developed a psychological block when using the rest which affected his playing and he did not win another title. He lost his professional status in 1989 following a 2–9 playoff defeat by Brady Gollan and now works as a snooker coach. His highest career ranking was 11, in 1978/79.
The 1981 World Snooker Championship, was a ranking professional snooker tournament which took place from 7 April to 20 April 1981 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England. The tournament was the 1981 edition of the World Snooker Championship, and was the fifth consecutive world championship to take place at the Crucible Theatre since 1977. It was sanctioned by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. The total prize fund for the tournament was £75,000, of which £20,000 went to the winner.
The 1978 World Snooker Championship was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 17 and 29 April 1978 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England, the second consecutive year the tournament had been held at the venue. A qualifying competition was held at Romiley Forum, Stockport, from 27 March to 7 April. The tournament was promoted by Mike Watterson on behalf of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. It had a total prize fund of £24,000, of which £7,500 went to the champion.
The 1977 World Snooker Championship was a professional snooker tournament that took place from 18 to 30 April 1977 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. John Spencer won his third World Snooker Championship title by defeating Cliff Thorburn by 25 frames to 21 in the final. It was the first time that the championship was held at the Crucible, which has remained as the venue for the Championship since then. The tournament was sponsored by cigarette manufacturer Embassy.
Roy Andrewartha was a Welsh professional snooker player.
The 1979 Irish Masters was the fifth edition of the professional invitational snooker tournament, which took place from 1 to 3 February 1979. The tournament was played at Goffs in Kill, County Kildare, and featured four professional players.
The 1977 Dry Blackthorn Cup was a professional invitational snooker tournament on 21 December 1977. Created by promoter Mike Barrett, it was played at the Wembley Conference Centre in London and featured four professional players. The participants included three players who between them had won each edition of the World Snooker Championship since 1969: John Spencer, Ray Reardon and Alex Higgins (1972). The fourth player was Patsy Fagan, who had won the 1977 UK Championship earlier in the month.
The 1983 Pontins Professional was the tenth edition of the professional invitational snooker tournament which took place in May 1983 in Prestatyn, Wales.
The 1977 Pontins Professional was the fourth edition of the professional invitational snooker tournament which took place in May 1977 in Prestatyn, Wales.
The 1978 Pontins Professional was the fifth edition of the professional invitational snooker tournament which took place from April to May 1978 in Prestatyn, Wales.
The 1979 Pontins Professional was the sixth edition of the professional invitational snooker tournament which took place between 5 and 12 May 1979 in Prestatyn, Wales.
The 1984 Senator Windows Professional Snooker League was a professional non-ranking snooker tournament that was played from November 1983 to April 1984.
The Golden Masters was a professional invitational snooker tournament held for two editions in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. Sponsored by McEwan's lager, both tournaments were won by Welsh players.
The 1979 McEwans Golden Masters was an invitational snooker tournament which took place on 9 June 1979 at the Queen's Hall in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. Similar to the previous year, the tournament featured four professional players - Ray Reardon, Dennis Taylor, Doug Mountjoy and Graham Miles.
The 1973 Men of the Midlands was a professional invitational snooker tournament, that took place in January and February 1973 The tournament was won by Alex Higgins, who defeated Ray Reardon 5–3 in the final.
Doug Mountjoy 
