The 1980–81 snooker season was a series of snooker tournaments played between 18 June 1980 and 16 May 1981. The following table outlines the results for the ranking and the invitational events. __TOC__
New professional players In February 1980, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) accepted the application of Tony Knowles to become a professional from the 1980–81 season, and rejected Eugene Hughes and Ian Williamson. Jimmy White, the 1979 English Amateur Champion, opted to remain as an amateur until after the 1980 World Amateur Championship; he became a professional after winning it in November 1980. Dave Martin won the 1980 Professional Ticket Event. Jim Rempe became a professional in 1980 and played in the 1980 World Challenge Cup but he did not participate in a singles event until the 1985 Matchroom Trophy. Knowles, White, and Martin all made their World Snooker Championship debuts at the 1981 edition.
The new professionals were, therefore:
Calendar DateDates use the mm-dd date format. Rank Tournament name Venue City Winner Runner-up Score Reference NR Australian Masters Channel 10 Television Studios Sydney John Spencer Dennis Taylor The final was decided on aggregate score over three frames. 08–13 08–31 NR Canadian Open Toronto Cliff Thorburn Terry Griffiths 17–10 10–02 10–12 NR Champion of Champions New London Theatre London John Virgo 10–8 10–18 10–26 TE World Challenge Cup New London Theatre London 8–5 11–16 11–29 NR UK Championship Guild Hall Preston Steve Davis Alex Higgins 16–6 12–01 12–02 NR The Classic Blighty's Farnworth Steve Davis Dennis Taylor 4–1 12–07 12–13 TQ Professional Ticket Event Snooker Centre Sheffield Dave Martin Eugene Hughes 9–6 12–28 12–31 NR Pot BlackEvent was played and recorded in December 1980, but broadcast in the spring of 1981. BBC Studios Birmingham Cliff Thorburn Jim Wych 2–0 01–27 02–01 NR The Masters Wembley Conference Centre London Alex Higgins Terry Griffiths 9–6 02–05 02–08 NR Welsh Professional Championship Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre Ebbw Vale Ray Reardon Cliff Wilson 9–6 02–18 02–21 NR Irish Masters Goff's Kill Terry Griffiths Ray Reardon 9–7 02–24 02–25 NR Tolly Cobbold Classic Corn Exchange Ipswich Graham Miles Cliff Thorburn 5–1 03–02 03–08 NR Yamaha Organs Trophy Assembly Rooms Derby Steve Davis David Taylor 9–6 03–12 03–14 NR Irish Professional Championship Riverside Theatre Coleraine Dennis Taylor Patsy Fagan 03–08 03–15 NR English Professional Championship Haden Hill Leisure Centre Birmingham Steve Davis Tony Meo 9–3 03-?? 03-?? NR Cumbernauld Theatre Kildrum Ian Black Matt Gibson 11–7 04–07 04–20 WR Crucible Theatre Sheffield Steve Davis 18–12 05–09 05–16 NR Pontins Professional Pontins Prestatyn Terry Griffiths Willie Thorne 9–8
WR = World ranking event NR = Non-ranking event TE = Team event TQ = Tour qualifier
Official rankings
The top 16 of the world rankings.
No. Ch. Name 1 Ray Reardon 2 Cliff Thorburn 3 Eddie Charlton 4 Alex Higgins 5 Terry Griffiths 6 Dennis Taylor 7 Perrie Mans 8 Fred Davis 9 David Taylor 10 Bill Werbeniuk 11 Kirk Stevens 12 John Virgo 13 Steve Davis 14 Doug Mountjoy 15 John Spencer 16 Graham Miles
Notes
References