The 1990 World Snooker Championship, was a professional snooker tournament that took place between 13 and 29 April 1990 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England. There was a total prize fund of ã620,800. Organised by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, it was the tenth and final ranking event of the 1989âÂÂ90 snooker season and the fourteenth consecutive World Snooker Championship to be held at the Crucible, the first tournament at this location having taken place in 1977.
The defending champion was Steve Davis, who won the previous year's final 18âÂÂ3 over John Parrott. Davis reached the semi-finals of the event, where he was defeated 14âÂÂ16 by Jimmy White. White contested the final against Stephen Hendry, who defeated Parrott in the other semi-final 16âÂÂ11. Hendry led 9âÂÂ7 after the first day's play and won the first four frames of the second day to lead 13âÂÂ7, before White reduced the gap to four frames. At 16âÂÂ12, Hendry compiled breaks of 81 and 71 to win the match 18âÂÂ12, claiming his first world title. In so doing, he became the youngest-ever world champion at the age of 21 years and 106 days. There were 18 century breaks made during the tournament, the highest of which was 140 made by Parrott.
The first four rounds of the qualifying competition were played at the Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool from 22 to 27 January 1990, and the fifth and final round was played at Preston Guild Hall from 26 to 27 March. From this, 16 players qualified for the main event, where they met the 16 invited seeded players. The tournament was broadcast in the United Kingdom by the BBC, and was sponsored by the Embassy cigarette company. As champion, Hendry received ã120,000 out of the total prize fund.
The World Snooker Championship is an annual professional snooker tournament organised by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA). The cue sport of snooker was invented in the late 19th century by British Army soldiers stationed in India, and later became popular in the British Isles. However, in the modern era, which started in 1969 when the World Championship reverted to a knockout format, it has become increasingly popular worldwide, especially in East and Southeast Asian nations such as China, Hong Kong and Thailand.
The 1990 championship featured 32 professional players competing in one-on-one snooker matches in a single-elimination format, each round being played over a pre-determined number of , and each match divided into two or more s containing a set number of frames. These competitors in the main tournament were selected using a combination of the top players in the snooker world rankings and the winners of a pre-tournament qualification stage. The top 16 players in the world rankings automatically qualified for the event, the remaining 16 players coming through the qualification rounds. It was the tenth and final ranking event of the 1989âÂÂ90 snooker season, and the fourteenth consecutive World Snooker Championship to be held at the Crucible, the first tournament there having taken place in 1977. The defending champion in 1989 was Steve Davis, who had defeated John Parrott 18âÂÂ3 in the final of the 1988 World Snooker Championship to win his sixth world title. The tournament was sponsored by cigarette brand Embassy, and was also referred to as the Embassy World Snooker Championship. The tournament was broadcast in the United Kingdom by the BBC.
The winner of the event received from a total prize fund of . The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:
The first four rounds of the qualifying competition were played at the Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool from 22 to 27 January 1990, and the fifth round was played at Preston Guild Hall from 26 to 27 March. All qualifying round matches were the best-of-19 frames. Bill Werbeniuk, who had been expelled from the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association for refusing to pay a fine relating to the use of Beta blockers, was permitted to compete in a tournament for the first time since September 1988. He lost 1âÂÂ10 to Nigel Bond. Bond was one of nine first-season professionals in the championship; all nine won their first-round matches, including James Wattana who eliminated Joe Grech 10âÂÂ4.
In the second round, Marcel Gauvreau defeated 1957 runner-up Jackie Rea after needing two in the . Eight-time champion Fred Davis, aged 76, was eliminated 6âÂÂ10 by Ian Brumby. In the third round, Murdo MacLeod recovered from 2âÂÂ7 behind to defeat Nick Dyson 10âÂÂ9. In another match that went to the deciding frame, Mick Price won the last three frames to defeat Steve Duggan. Brady Gollan beat Kirk Stevens 10âÂÂ6, and Andrew Cairns defeated six-time champion Ray Reardon 10âÂÂ8. Round four saw three-time former champion John Spencer eliminated 8âÂÂ10 by Wattana. Jim Chambers defeated 1974 runner-up Graham Miles 10âÂÂ5.
In the final qualifying round, Darren Morgan, Mark Bennett and Danny Fowler all recovered from 7âÂÂ9 down, to defeat Bob Chaperon, Rex Williams and Barry West respectively. Nigel Gilbert made the highest break of the qualifying competition, 135, in the eleventh frame of his 10âÂÂ6 win against David Roe. Bond and Price had both made breaks of 131 that were the highest before this. Silvino Francisco lost 7âÂÂ10 to Gary Wilkinson and thus failed to qualify for the main event for the first time since 1982. Two-time world champion Alex Higgins qualified for the Crucible by beating Wattana 10âÂÂ6, after missing out the previous year.
The first round took place between 13 and 18 April, each match played over two sessions as the best of 19 frames. Eight different nationalities were represented, and there were four debutants at the main event this year: Gilbert, Gollan, Tony Chappel and Alain Robidoux, who all lost in the opening round. Chappel, in what turned out to be his only appearance at the main tournament, and Gilbert who both lost 4âÂÂ10, to Tony Knowles and Terry Griffiths respectively. Gollan, who had won five matches just to qualify, led Doug Mountjoy 8âÂÂ7 before losing the last three frames. Robidoux and Stephen Hendry were level at 7âÂÂ7 in their first round match when the referee announced that Robidoux had committed a by making a . Hendry compiled a break of 58 to win that frame, and added the following two frames to progress 10âÂÂ7.
Defending champion Steve Davis lost the first frame to Eddie Charlton but won 10âÂÂ1. Higgins lost 5âÂÂ10 to Steve James in the first round. In the eleventh frame, James was awarded a free ball in a frame before any reds had been potted. In taking a baulk colour as an extra and compiling a total clearance of 135; the break became the first in a professional tournament. After losing the match, Higgins remained in his seat in the arena for some time, ordering several vodka and orange drinks, slouched in his chair and twitching. Afterwards, he punched tournament official Colin Randle in the abdomen before the start of a press conference at which he announced his retirement, and criticised the WPBSA and the press. This followed another incident at the 1990 World Cup, where he repeatedly argued with fellow player and compatriot Dennis Taylor, insulting his late mother and threatening to have him shot if he returned to Northern Ireland. For his conduct, Higgins was banned for the rest of the season and all of the next.
Although he made a 102 break in the 5th frame, Tony Drago trailed Willie Thorne 3âÂÂ6 after their first session. Drago, who playing rashly according to journalist Janice Hale, lost the match 4âÂÂ10. Dennis Taylor was 1âÂÂ5 behind Neal Foulds but recovered to 4âÂÂ5. Foulds had a four-frame lead at 9âÂÂ5 and eventually won 10âÂÂ8. John Virgo defeated Wilkinson 10âÂÂ6 for only his second win in eight appearances at the Crucible. Jimmy White led Fowler 6âÂÂ3 after their first session and went on to win 10âÂÂ4. Tony Meo beat Wayne Jones 10âÂÂ8.
Morgan caught chicken pox the week before the championship and was treated in hospital for three days before receiving a certification that he was not infectious, which enabled him to participate. From 4âÂÂ5 down against 1986 champion Joe Johnson he went on to win 10âÂÂ8. Although Mike Hallett defeated Steve Newbury 10âÂÂ9, his own manager Ian Doyle criticised Hallett, saying that his professional attitude ha[d] been poor since winning the 1989 Hong Kong Open. Hallett accepted Doyle's comments and remarked that he "needed a kick up the backside." Cliff Wilson made his 8th and final crucible appearance at the age of 55. He never got past the world championship first round in his career and that run was not to change as he was eliminated 6âÂÂ10 by Cliff Thorburn. Dean Reynolds led Peter Francisco 6âÂÂ3 after their first session. During the second session, Francisco d a in the 12th frame. Parrott trailed Bennett 7âÂÂ9, but took the next two to force a deciding frame that he won on the after a break of 69 after being 59 points behind.
The second round, which took place between 18 and 22 April, was played as best-of-25-frames matches spread over three sessions. Davis led James 5âÂÂ3 after their first session, and added the first five frames of the second session. The second session finished with Davis 11âÂÂ5 up, and he went on to win 13âÂÂ7. Foulds and Thorne each won four frames in the first session of their match, with Foulds taking the eighth frame on a re-spotted black. Foulds won five consecutive frames from 8âÂÂ11 and eliminated Thorne. Griffiths led Knowles 10âÂÂ3 and 11âÂÂ5, and won 13âÂÂ6. Virgo won the first three frames against White, but the pair were at 4âÂÂ4 when the first session finished. White took all eight frames in the second session and progressed with the score at 13âÂÂ6.
Hendry established a 4âÂÂ1 lead against Meo, but then lost two of the next three frames. During the second session, Hendry compiled three century breaks, and finished it 11âÂÂ5 ahead. During the 16th frame, referee John Williams judged that Meo had made a foul push shot; after this, Hendry made a break of 106. He eventually won the match 13âÂÂ7. Morgan and Hallett were level at 4âÂÂ4 after their first session. Morgan compiled a 104 break to win the first frame of the next session, and went on to establish an 8âÂÂ4 lead, before finishing the session 10âÂÂ6 ahead and winning the match 13âÂÂ8. Thorburn won the deciding frame against Mountjoy at nearly 1:00a.m., in a match that took 12 hours and 37 minutes. In another lengthy match, where the players had to suspend play as they over-ran the session time and had to return for the last two frames after another match finished, Parrott defeated Reynolds 13âÂÂ11. Parrot won the 24th frame by fluking the pink ball. The pair had been level at 5âÂÂ5, 7âÂÂ7, and 9âÂÂ9.
The quarter-finals were played as best-of-25-frames matches over three sessions on 23 and 24 April. None of the matches produced a close finish. Davis led Foulds 6âÂÂ2 after their first session. Foulds won six of the first seven frames in the second session; the only one he lost was after referee Len Ganley called a foul for Foulds striking the cueball twice on a shot. Leading 8âÂÂ7 going into the final session, Foulds saw Davis win five successive frames to progress 13âÂÂ8. Griffiths, who was under treatment for a trapped nerve in his shoulder, was a frame behind White at 4âÂÂ5 but then lost eight of the next nine frames and was eliminated. White commented that "Every time he made a mistake, I punished him heavily."
Hendry was level with Morgan at 4âÂÂ4 but then pulled away and won 13âÂÂ6. After the match, Hendry commented "I think I'm getting stronger and playing well when it matters". Parrott compiled the highest break of the tournament, 140, while building an 8âÂÂ4 lead against Thorburn, and went on to win 13âÂÂ6.
The semi-finals took place between 25 and 27 April as best-of-31-frames matches played over four sessions. For the first time since 1982, Davis failed to reach the final, losing 14âÂÂ16 to White in the semi-final. It was the first time White had defeated Davis at the Crucible after Davis had eliminated White in four previous encounters. From 6âÂÂ8 at the close of the second session, White won seven of the eight frames in the third session to lead 13âÂÂ9. After winning the 27th frame on the after needing a , Davis moved to within one frame of White at 13âÂÂ14, and led by 40 points in the 28th frame before White won that to go two frames clear with three to play, conceding one further frame before clinching victory.
In beating Parrott, Hendry ensured that he would replace Davis as snooker's world number 1 in the rankings. Davis had held first place since 1983. Parrott had led 4âÂÂ0, and was 5âÂÂ3 ahead at the end of their first session. Hendry won the next six frames to lead 9âÂÂ5, followed by Parrott winning six consecutive frames, leaving Hendry 9âÂÂ11 behind. Hendry won the last two frames of the third session to equalise at 11âÂÂ11 and added the first five frames of the fourth session to complete a 16âÂÂ11 victory.
The final between Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White took place on 28 and 29 April. The first seven frames of the final saw a total of seven breaks over 40, and saw Hendry leading 4âÂÂ3. After White had won the first frame, Hendry equalised with a break of 72, but a miss and foul by Hendry in the third frame gave White the chance to regain the lead. Hendry took the next three frames for 4âÂÂ2, then White claimed frame seven with a break of 82. Hendry led 9âÂÂ7 after the first day, having compiled a 108 break in the 16th frame.
On the second day, Hendry won the first four frames, making a break of 104 in the second, with White failing to pot a ball in three of them. He later wrote that at the start of the day, he perceived that White showed "that he's desperate to win, yet secretly knows he will struggle. It's almost imperceptible â a tiny inwards movement around the eyes, a fleeting nip of teeth on lip â but it's there." White reflected that "Every time I got near him, he eased into a higher gear." From 7âÂÂ13, White took the 21st frame with a break of 82, and added the following frame to reduce his deficit to 9âÂÂ13. In the 23rd frame, White led by 63 points before Hendry produced a clearance of 72 to win on the black ball. The session finished with Hendry 14âÂÂ10 ahead after White won the session's last frame with breaks of 51 and 45. The first three frames of the fourth session were completed in 27 minutes and included a 108 clearance by Hendry. White took the following frame, before breaks of 81 and 71 secured a first world championship title for Hendry. He became the youngest-ever world champion at the age of 21 years and 106 days, overtaking Alex Higgins, who had won the 1972 World Snooker Championship a few days before his 23rd birthday. The final was described by the snooker journalist Terry Smith as "a two-day high-speed potting battle that left the sell-out crowd virtually breathless."
Hendry commented after his win that "I was determined to win and confident that I could do it. I was glad I was able to keep my concentration and cope with the pressure. All through the match I was nervous. My stomach was churning tonight." White said that he was disappointed with the standard of his own safety play during the match, but said that he had enjoyed the match, and added "In a way I'm pleased for Stephen. He's a great kid and he puts in enough work to be world champion. He played tremendous snooker. You could count his misses on one hand." The final attracted 7.55million viewers on BBC2. Hendry went on to win six more world titles, including further victories over White in the 1992, 1993 and 1994 finals.
Shown below are the results for each round. The numbers in parentheses beside some of the players are their seeding ranks; there were 16 seeds and 16 qualifiers.
Players in bold denote match winners.
There were 18 century breaks in the championship. The highest break was 140 made by John Parrott.
There were 22 century breaks in the qualifying stages; the highest, 135, was made by Nigel Gilbert in his fifth round defeat of David Roe.
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