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1985 Grand Prix (snooker)

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Rothmans Grand Prix
Tournament information
Dates19–27 October 1985 (1985-10-19 – 1985-10-27)
VenueHexagon Theatre
CityReading
CountryEngland
OrganisationWPBSA
FormatRanking event
Highest break John Campbell (AUS) (119)
Final
Champion Steve Davis (ENG)
Runner-up Dennis Taylor (NIR)
Score10–9
1984
1986

The 1985 Rothmans Grand Prix was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place from 19 to 27 October 1985 at the Hexagon Theatre in Reading.[1] A two table set-up meant that the televised stage at Reading could start at the last-32 stage.

The last-32 matches were played from 19 to 22 October. Tony Drago, in his first televised match, beat Eddie Charlton 5–3.[2] Jimmy White beat Joe O'Boye 5–4 after trailing 2–4. Steve Longworth beat David Taylor 5–1.[3] John Campbell made a tournament best break of 119 in the first frame of his match against Doug Mountjoy and took a 4–1 lead, before winning 5–2. Steve Davis beat Danny Fowler 5–1, Fowler making his television debut.[4]

In the last-16 round, Peter Francisco made a century in the first frame of his match against Terry Griffiths. However Griffiths won the next three frames and eventually won 5–2.[5] The following day, Steve Davis beat Alex Higgins 5–0, while Silvino Francisco beat Jimmy White 5–4 after winning the last three frames.[6]

In the quarter-finals Steve Davis beat Silvino Francisco 5–2 despite losing two of the first three frames. Davis met Cliff Thorburn in the semi-finals, Thorburn beating Terry Griffiths 5–1. In the other half of the draw Dennis Taylor beat Cliff Wilson while Tony Knowles beat Kirk Stevens 5–4, the match going to the final black.[7]

The final was a re-match of the 1985 World Championship final between Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor, the defending Grand Prix champion. Davis lead 6–1 at the end of the first session but Taylor fought back to lead 8–7 winning 6 consecutive frames. Eventually it was Davis this time who became champion winning 3 out of the last 4 frames to win 10–9. The match became the longest one-day final in snooker history. It lasted 10 hours and 21 minutes and it finished at 2.14am.[8]

Main draw

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[9][10]

 
Last 32
Best of 9 frames
Last 16
Best of 9 frames
Quarter-final
Best of 9 frames
Semi-finals
Best of 17 frames
Final
Best of 19 frames
 
                  
 
 
 
 
 Dennis Taylor (NIR) 5
 
 
 
 Rex Williams (ENG) 2
 
Northern Ireland Dennis Taylor5
 
 
 
England Tony Meo3
 
 Tony Meo (ENG) 5
 
 
 
 Eugene Hughes (IRL) 3
 
Northern Ireland Dennis Taylor5
 
 
 
Wales Cliff Wilson2
 
 Cliff Wilson (WAL) 5
 
 
 
 George Scott (ENG) 3
 
Wales Cliff Wilson5
 
 
 
Malta Tony Drago2
 
 Tony Drago (MLT) 5
 
 
 
 Eddie Charlton (AUS) 3
 
Northern Ireland Dennis Taylor9
 
 
 
England Tony Knowles6
 
 Tony Knowles (ENG) 5
 
 
 
 Ray Edmonds (ENG) 2
 
England Tony Knowles5
 
 
 
Australia John Campbell2
 
 John Campbell (AUS) 5
 
 
 
 Doug Mountjoy (WAL) 2
 
England Tony Knowles5
 
 
 
Canada Kirk Stevens4
 
 Kirk Stevens (CAN) 5
 
 
 
 Graham Miles (ENG) 2
 
Canada Kirk Stevens5
 
 
 
England Steve Longworth3
 
 Steve Longworth (ENG) 5
 
 
 
 David Taylor (ENG) 1
 
Northern Ireland Dennis Taylor9
 
 
 
England Steve Davis10
 
 Peter Francisco (RSA) 5
 
 
 
 Wayne Jones (WAL) 3
 
South Africa Peter Francisco2
 
 
 
Wales Terry Griffiths5
 
 Terry Griffiths (WAL) 5
 
 
 
 Bob Harris (ENG) 3
 
Wales Terry Griffiths1
 
 
 
Canada Cliff Thorburn5
 
 Joe Johnson (ENG) 5
 
 
 
 Mike Hallett (ENG) 4
 
England Joe Johnson1
 
 
 
Canada Cliff Thorburn5
 
 Cliff Thorburn (CAN) 5
 
 
 
 Mark Wildman (ENG) 2
 
Canada Cliff Thorburn5
 
 
 
England Steve Davis9
 
 Jimmy White (ENG) 5
 
 
 
 Joe O'Boye (NIR) 4
 
England Jimmy White4
 
 
 
South Africa Silvino Francisco5
 
 Silvino Francisco (RSA) 5
 
 
 
 Dave Martin (ENG) 3
 
South Africa Silvino Francisco2
 
 
 
England Steve Davis5
 
 Alex Higgins (NIR) 5
 
 
 
 Neal Foulds (ENG) 3
 
Northern Ireland Alex Higgins0
 
 
 
England Steve Davis5
 
 Steve Davis (ENG) 5
 
 
 Danny Fowler (ENG) 1
 

Final

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Final: Best of 19 frames. Referee: John Smyth
Hexagon Theatre, Reading, England, 27 October 1985.
Steve Davis
 England
10–9 Dennis Taylor
 Northern Ireland
First session: 60–57, 67–53, 67–6, 102–0 (93), 32–88 (60), 67–51, 73–60,
Second session: 11–81, 63–16, 44–74, 28–64, 24–64, 16–113 (62), 8–108 (50), 10–56, 62–26, 60–18, 48–64, 71–30
93 Highest break 62
0 Century breaks 0
1 50+ breaks 3

Qualifying

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The leading 32 players started at the last 64 stage. Matches were over 9 frames. The final qualifying round took place in Bristol in September 1985.[11]

References

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  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 9 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Snooker". The Herald. Glasgow. 21 October 1985. p. 9. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Stevens back in groove". The Herald. Glasgow. 22 October 1985. p. 31. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Campbell cleans up". The Herald. Glasgow. 23 October 1985. p. 30. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Taylor holds off Meo". The Herald. Glasgow. 24 October 1985. p. 24. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  6. ^ "It's a white-wash". The Herald. Glasgow. 25 October 1985. p. 30. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Davis in semi-finals". The Herald. Glasgow. 26 October 1985. p. 19. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  8. ^ Dee, John (1 May 2001). "Ebdon quick to sit on fence". The Sunday Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  9. ^ "1985 Grand Prix Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  10. ^ "Grand Prix". Snooker Scene. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  11. ^ "Snooker". The Herald. Glasgow. 19 September 1985. p. 21. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2024.