The 1987 Mercantile Credit Classic was the eighth edition of the professional snooker tournament which took place from 2âÂÂ11 January 1987. The tournament was played at the Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool, Lancashire. Television coverage was by ITV with weekday afternoon coverage on Channel 4.
Qualifying took place in November 1986. The leading players started at the last-64 stage and had to win two matches to reach the last-16 televised stage in January. Only five of the leading 16 seeded players reached the last-16 including defending champion Jimmy White and Steve Davis
In the first semi-final Jimmy White beat Dean Reynolds in the deciding frame after fluking a red and then making a break of 74. Steve Davis beat Stephen Hendry 9âÂÂ3 in the second semi-final.
Defending champion Jimmy White made it to the final again but lost to Steve Davis in another 13âÂÂ12 result. Davis won the first prize of ã50,000 while White took the runners-up prize of ã30,000 and another ã5,000 for the high break prize for his break of 126 in the semi-finals.
The final attracted an average of 9.2million viewers on ITV, peaking at 15.2million.
(Including qualifying rounds)