1981 World Team Classic

Last updated
State Express World Team Classic
Tournament information
Dates24 October – 1 November 1981 (1981-10-24 1981-11-01)
Venue Hexagon Theatre
City Reading
CountryEngland
Format Non-ranking event
Total prize fund£40,000
Winner's share£12,000
Highest breakFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Terry Griffiths  (WAL), 127
Final
Champion Flag of England.svg England
Runner-up Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales
Score4–3 (matches)
1980
1982

The 1981 World Team Classic sponsored by State Express was the new name of the team snooker tournament. It moved to the Hexagon Theatre in Reading with seven teams competing as the Irish players were divided. Scotland competed for the first time which they lost to the Republic of Ireland in a play off to reach the round robin stage of the competition. All matches including the final were now played in the best of six matches with a tie break frame between the captains if it stayed 3–3. England won their first title with captain Steve Davis winning three of the four matches against Eddie Charlton of Australia, Dennis Taylor of Northern Ireland and Ray Reardon of Wales in the final.

Contents

Terry Griffiths made the highest break of the tournament, 123. [1]

Main draw

Teams and results are listed below. [1]

Teams

CountryPlayer 1 (Captain)Player 2Player 3
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Ray Reardon Terry Griffiths Doug Mountjoy
Flag of England.svg  England Steve Davis John Spencer David Taylor
Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland Alex Higgins Dennis Taylor Tommy Murphy
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Cliff Thorburn Bill Werbeniuk Kirk Stevens
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Eddie Charlton Paddy Morgan Ian Anderson
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Patsy Fagan Dessie Sheehan Eugene Hughes
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Eddie Sinclair Matt Gibson Ian Black

Qualifying round

Team 1ScoreTeam 2Date
Flag of Ireland.svg Republic of Ireland 4–2 Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland

Group A

Team 1ScoreTeam 2Date
Flag of England.svg England 4–3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
Ulster Banner.svg Northern Ireland 4–1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
Flag of England.svg England 4–3 Ulster Banner.svg Northern Ireland

Group B

Team 1ScoreTeam 2Date
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales 4–2 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales 4–0 Flag of Ireland.svg Republic of Ireland
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada 4–2 Flag of Ireland.svg Republic of Ireland

Semi-finals

Team 1ScoreTeam 2Date
Flag of England.svg England 4–2 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales 4–3 Ulster Banner.svg Northern Ireland

Final

Final: Best of 7 matches.
Hexagon Theatre, Reading, England. 1 November 1981.
Flag of England.svg  England
Steve Davis, John Spencer, David Taylor
4–3Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Ray Reardon, Terry Griffiths, Doug Mountjoy
Spencer v Reardon: 37–63, 91–45, 54–66
Davis v Mountjoy: 87 (60)–45, 100–14
Taylor v Griffiths: 77–48, 33–72 (53), 64–71 (50)
Spencer v Griffiths: 75–63, 7–114, 105–0
Taylor v Mountjoy: 30–77, 34–94
Davis v Reardon: 80–32, 59–11, Play off: 69–52
103 (Spencer)Highest break63 (Mountjoy)
1Century breaks0
350+ breaks4

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References

  1. 1 2 "World Team Classic". Snooker Scene. December 1981. pp. 5–11.