The UK Championship Seniors
One of the most prestigious events of the snooker calendar is the UK Championship. It is a title that every professional player aspires to win but few have managed to achieve. The UK Championship was first played in 1977 as an invitational event with Patsy Fagan collecting the trophy from Joe Davis in Blackpool after beating Doug Mountjoy in the final, 12-9. Classed as one of the "Triple Crown" events, there have been multiple winners such Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan and is regarded by many as second only to the World Championship to win. The tournament moved from Blackpool at the Guildhall in Preston in 1978 and to its current home at the Barbican Centre in York in 2011.
In October, World Seniors will hold a UK Championship at the Bonus Arena in Hull, several of the players competing have been former UK Championship contenders. The first of which is Dennis Taylor. Taylor's main swathe of a player in this event ran between 1984-1997 with the Irishman going no further than the third round apart from 1985 in his World Championship win year when he reached the semi-final, losing 9-7 to Willie Thorne. However it is clear that 1985 was defiantly the year for Dennis and he did inflict defeats on Graham Cripsey, 9-2, Neal Foulds ,9-5 and Kirk Stevens, 9-1 before being knocked out of the competition.
John Parrott was very successful in the UK Championship winning the UK and the World Championship in 1991. He beat Jimmy White 16-13 to win the title. Competing in the tournament between 1984-2007, John had a glorious run, being runner up in the following year to his win, 1992, against the same opponent, the tables were turned for Parrot and Jimmy won 16-9. Parrott also made two semi-finals in 1986 and 1993, losing to Neal Foulds, 9-3 and by the same score line to Stephen Hendry. John also made quarter final appearances in 1987, 1988, 1996, 1998 and 2004.
Cliff Thorburn or " The Grinder" as we like to know him as, had his best year in this tournament in 1984, making the semi-final stage, losing to Alex Higgins, 9-7 and three quarter-final appearances in 1986, 1987 and 1988, losing to Neal Foulds, 9-2, Willie Thorne, 9-8 and Stephen Hendry, 9-2. Thorburn is the most successful Canadian player there has been and classically won the 1980 World Championship in 1980, beating his rival Alex Higgins, 18-16 in a close fought final. He is also the first player to have compiled a 147 break at the Crucible.
James Wattana made the semi- finals of the UK Championship in 1991 and 1994, losing to John Parrott, 9-7 and to Ken Doherty, 9-6. He also made two quarter-finals in the intervening years of 1992 and 1993, losing to Jimmy White, 9-2 and to Stephen Hendry, 9-7. James is the first and most successful of any Thai player to compete in overseas tournaments and with three maximums, he is one of only seven players to have scored more than two maximum breaks in competition. His second 147 at the 1992 British Open, was the quickest maximum break made at the time, totalling seven minutes and nine seconds.
Lastly, let’s look at another successful Senior at the UK Championship. Jimmy White, still a player on the main tour at the age of 57, has won this tournament once. His win came in 1992, beating John Parrott, 16-9, revenge for his defeat by him in 1991. With a semi-final place in 1985, losing to Steve Davis, 9-5 and quarter-final appearances in 1984, 1989 and 1990, White is one those players that has won them barring the World Championship that eluded him. With 10 professional and 22 non-professional titles, Jimmy is and always be a a player that is revered on and off the green baize. White was one of the best at the UK Championship and dominated the event for many years and rose to highest ranking of 2 in the 1987/88 and 1988/89 seasons.
In October, World Seniors will hold a UK Championship at the Bonus Arena in Hull, several of the players competing have been former UK Championship contenders. The first of which is Dennis Taylor. Taylor's main swathe of a player in this event ran between 1984-1997 with the Irishman going no further than the third round apart from 1985 in his World Championship win year when he reached the semi-final, losing 9-7 to Willie Thorne. However it is clear that 1985 was defiantly the year for Dennis and he did inflict defeats on Graham Cripsey, 9-2, Neal Foulds ,9-5 and Kirk Stevens, 9-1 before being knocked out of the competition.
John Parrott was very successful in the UK Championship winning the UK and the World Championship in 1991. He beat Jimmy White 16-13 to win the title. Competing in the tournament between 1984-2007, John had a glorious run, being runner up in the following year to his win, 1992, against the same opponent, the tables were turned for Parrot and Jimmy won 16-9. Parrott also made two semi-finals in 1986 and 1993, losing to Neal Foulds, 9-3 and by the same score line to Stephen Hendry. John also made quarter final appearances in 1987, 1988, 1996, 1998 and 2004.
Cliff Thorburn or " The Grinder" as we like to know him as, had his best year in this tournament in 1984, making the semi-final stage, losing to Alex Higgins, 9-7 and three quarter-final appearances in 1986, 1987 and 1988, losing to Neal Foulds, 9-2, Willie Thorne, 9-8 and Stephen Hendry, 9-2. Thorburn is the most successful Canadian player there has been and classically won the 1980 World Championship in 1980, beating his rival Alex Higgins, 18-16 in a close fought final. He is also the first player to have compiled a 147 break at the Crucible.
James Wattana made the semi- finals of the UK Championship in 1991 and 1994, losing to John Parrott, 9-7 and to Ken Doherty, 9-6. He also made two quarter-finals in the intervening years of 1992 and 1993, losing to Jimmy White, 9-2 and to Stephen Hendry, 9-7. James is the first and most successful of any Thai player to compete in overseas tournaments and with three maximums, he is one of only seven players to have scored more than two maximum breaks in competition. His second 147 at the 1992 British Open, was the quickest maximum break made at the time, totalling seven minutes and nine seconds.
Lastly, let’s look at another successful Senior at the UK Championship. Jimmy White, still a player on the main tour at the age of 57, has won this tournament once. His win came in 1992, beating John Parrott, 16-9, revenge for his defeat by him in 1991. With a semi-final place in 1985, losing to Steve Davis, 9-5 and quarter-final appearances in 1984, 1989 and 1990, White is one those players that has won them barring the World Championship that eluded him. With 10 professional and 22 non-professional titles, Jimmy is and always be a a player that is revered on and off the green baize. White was one of the best at the UK Championship and dominated the event for many years and rose to highest ranking of 2 in the 1987/88 and 1988/89 seasons.
Comments
Post a Comment