1991 World Masters

The World Masters, known for sponsorship reasons as the Mita/Sky World Masters, was a snooker tournament held between 13 and 26 January 1991. Conceived by promoter Barry Hearn, the tournament had a similar format to the Grand Slam events in tennis, with men's singles, men's doubles, women's singles, women's doubles, mixed doubles and a junior competition.^[1] As in tennis, players had to win a match by two clear frames. If a match was tied going into a final frame, an additional two frames would be played. If the players were still level, there would be a tie break deciding frame with just one red and all the colours.

There was controversy when Alex Higgins was invited to participate, despite being banned from snooker for the whole of the 1990/1991 season for punching an official at the 1990 World Championship, as the World Masters was not a WPBSA-run event. A number of players, among them reigning world champion Stephen Hendry, were unhappy with Higgins' inclusion and threatened to boycott the event if he appeared in it. Higgins voluntarily withdrew, and Hendry took his place in the tournament.

Staged at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, it carried a record amount of prize money of £1,000,000 ; the winner of the men's singles won £200,000, more than the world champion would receive that year.^[1][2] During the tournament James Wattana made the ninth official maximum break against Paul Dawkins.^[3] However, the break was not filmed due to it being on one of the outside tables. Meanwhile, a 13-year-old Quinten Hann became the youngest player to make a televised century break. The tournament was subsequently unable to find sponsorship, and was not staged again.^[1]

The tournament was televised by the original incarnation of Eurosport. Coverage was presented by Dickie Davies, who had presented snooker on ITV until 1989. Matthew Lorenzo was the 'roving reporter'. The commentary team was Peter Brackley, Mike Watterson, Jim Wych, Paul Wade, Willie Jameson and Phil Yates. Alternative commentary was available in other languages across continental Europe, including from long-time commentator Rolf Kalb in Germany.

^[1]

Event	Winner(s)	Runner(s)-up	Final score
Men's Singles	Jimmy White	Tony Drago	10–6
Women's Singles	Karen Corr	Stacey Hillyard	6–2
Men's Doubles	Mike Hallett Stephen Hendry	Brady Gollan Jim Wych	8–5
Women's Doubles	Allison Fisher Stacey Hillyard	Karen Corr Ann-Marie Farren	5–2
Mixed Doubles	Steve Davis Allison Fisher	Jimmy White Caroline Walch	6–3
Juniors (under-16s)	John Higgins	Mark Williams	6–1

	Last 64 Best of 11 had to win by two frames, 13th frame was sudden death					Last 32 Best of 11 had to win by two frames, 13th frame was sudden death					Last 16 Best of 13 had to win by two frames, 15th frame was sudden death					Quarter-finals Best of 15 had to win by two frames, 17th frame was sudden death					Semi-finals Best of 17 had to win by two frames, 19th frame was sudden death					Final Best of 19 frames
	Stephen Hendry		6
	Udon Khaimuk		0
						Stephen Hendry		4
						James Wattana		6
	James Wattana		6
	Rene Dikstra		0
											James Wattana		7
											Joe Johnson		4
	Joe Johnson		6
	Mike Colquitt		4
						Joe Johnson		7
						Alain Robidoux		5
	Alain Robidoux		6
	Kieran McAlinden		2
																James Wattana		8
																Peter Francisco		2
	Peter Francisco		6
	David Taylor		4
						Peter Francisco		6
						Nigel Bond		3
	Nigel Bond		6
	Steve James		4
											Peter Francisco		7
											Tony Chappel		4
	Tony Chappel		6
	Bob Chaperon		2
						Tony Chappel		6
						Jason Prince		3
	Jason Prince		6
	Dean Reynolds		2
																					James Wattana		8
																					Jimmy White		10
	Jonathan Birch		6
	Sim Siak Chong		0
						Jonathan Birch		7
						Ken Doherty		5
	Ken Doherty		6
	Doug Mountjoy		1
											Jonathan Birch		4
											Steve Longworth		7
	Stefan Mazrocis		6
	Dave Harold		3
						Stefan Mazrocis		2
						Steve Longworth		6
	Steve Longworth		6
	Jim Rempe		0
																Steve Longworth		6
																Jimmy White		8
	Neal Foulds		6
	Claudio Ravagnani		0
						Neal Foulds		4
						Brady Gollan		6
	Brady Gollan		6
	Steve Newbury		4
											Brady Gollan		0
											Jimmy White		7
	Jimmy White		6
	Mark Johnston-Allen		3
						Jimmy White		6
						Danny Fowler		2
	Danny Fowler		6
	Kirk Stevens		4
																										Jimmy White		10
																										Tony Drago		6
	Steve Davis		6
	Les Dodd		3
						Steve Davis		6
						Euan Henderson		3
	Euan Henderson		6
	Joe Swail		3
											Steve Davis		7
											Tony Meo		5
	Paul Davies		6
	Cliff Thorburn		2
						Paul Davies		2
						Tony Meo		6
	Tony Meo		6
	Mohammed el Kamah		0
																Steve Davis		5
																Darren Morgan		8
	Darren Morgan		6
	Eugene Hughes		4
						Darren Morgan		6
						Dennis Taylor		4
	Dennis Taylor		6
	Dave Finbow		3
											Darren Morgan		8
											Mike Hallett		7
	Silvino Francisco		6
	Stephen O'Connor		2
						Silvino Francisco		2
						Mike Hallett		6
	Mike Hallett		6
	Jyri Virtanen		1
																					Darren Morgan		7
																					Tony Drago		9
	Nick Dyson		7
	Warren King		5
						Nick Dyson		3
						Terry Griffiths		6
	Terry Griffiths		6
	Jason Whittaker		2
											Terry Griffiths		8
											Willie Thorne		7
	Willie Thorne		7
	Mark Bennett		6
						Willie Thorne		6
						Wayne Jones		3
	Wayne Jones		6
	Paul Mifsud		2
																Terry Griffiths		8
																Tony Drago		9
	Mike Henson		7
	BVS Murthy		6
						Mike Henson		3
						Gary Wilkinson		6
	Gary Wilkinson		6
	Alan McManus		2
											Gary Wilkinson		5
											Tony Drago		7
	Tony Drago		6
	Tony Jones		3
						Tony Drago		6
						John Parrott		2
	John Parrott		6
	George Loizides		0

Sources: Rothmans Snooker Yearbook 1991–92,^[4] Snooker Scene^[5]

	First Round					Second Round					Quarter-finals					Semi-finals					Final
	Stacey Hillyard		3
	Sheri Richardson		0
						Stacey Hillyard		3
						June Banks		0
	June Banks		4
	Fran Lovis		2
											Stacey Hillyard		5
											Lynette Horsburgh		4
	Kim Shaw		4
	Renate Newesil		0
						Kim Shaw		0
						Lynette Horsburgh		3
	Lynette Horsburgh		4
	Natalie Stelmach		3
																Stacey Hillyard		5
																Allison Fisher		2
	Caroline Walch		4
	Elaine Roehr		2
						Caroline Walch		0
						Georgina Aplin		3
	Georgina Aplin		3
	Bonnie Hoffman		0
											Georgina Aplin		1
											Allison Fisher		4
	Maria Tart		3
	Lorraine Field		0
						Maria Tart		1
						Allison Fisher		3
	Allison Fisher		3
	Sanna Walle		0
																					Stacey Hillyard		2
																					Karen Corr		6
	Ann-Marie Farren		3
	Julie Kelly		0
						Ann-Marie Farren		3
						Lisa Gordon		0
	Lisa Gordon		4
	Lisa Quick		2
											Ann-Marie Farren		4
											Sharon Dick		0
	Mandy Fisher		w.o.
	Valerie Hess		scr.
						Mandy Fisher		2
						Sharon Dick		4
	Sharon Dick		3
	Maryann McConnell		0
																Ann-Marie Farren		3
																Karen Corr		5
	Margaret Campion		3
	Christine Leclercq		0
						Margaret Campion		1
						Tessa Davidson		3
	Tessa Davidson		3
	Sue Mikkewsen		0
											Tessa Davidson		2
											Karen Corr		4
	Sarah Smith		3
	Anja Vandenbussche		0
						Sarah Smith		0
						Karen Corr		3
	Karen Corr		3
	Debbie Reynolds		0

Prize money was awarded as follows:^[5]

• Winner (Karen Corr) £15,000
• Runner-up (Stacey Hillyard) £5,000
• Losing semi-finalists £3,000
• Losing quarter-finalists £1,500
• Second round losers £1,000
• First round losers £500
• Highest break (Ann-Marie Farren, 62) £2,000

• When Snooker went all Wimbledon