1989 Masters (snooker)

The 1989 Masters (officially the 1989 Benson & Hedges Masters) was a professional non-ranking snooker tournament that took place between 22 and 29 January 1989 at the Wembley Conference Centre in London, England. The prize money for the highest break was £6,000. The top 16 players were invited for the tournament.

1989 Benson & Hedges Masters
Tournament information
Dates22–29 January 1989 (1989-01-22 – 1989-01-29)
VenueWembley Conference Centre
CityLondon
CountryEngland
OrganisationWPBSA
FormatNon-ranking event
Total prize fund£250,000
Winner's share£62,000
Highest break Stephen Hendry (SCO) (119)
Final
Champion Stephen Hendry (SCO)
Runner-up John Parrott (ENG)
Score9–6
1988
1990

Stephen Hendry won the Masters at his first attempt after joining the top 16 by defeating John Parrott 9–6 in the final. This was Hendry's first of his five consecutive Masters titles.

The tournament was rocked by a scandal after the first round match between Silvino Francisco and Terry Griffiths on 23 January. After Griffiths beat Francisco 5–1, it was discovered that there had been heavy betting on that exact score. Both players were questioned.[1][2] Francisco was arrested exactly a year later concerning the 1989 Masters and the 1986 Masters, where he lost 5–1 in the first round to Tony Knowles.[3] In May 1990 he was cleared of involvement in the alleged betting coups.[4]

Field

Steve Davis, defending champion and World Champion was the number 1 seed. The remaining places were allocated to players based on the world rankings. Peter Francisco, Stephen Hendry and Cliff Wilson were making their debuts in the Masters.

Main draw

[5][6]

Last 16
Best of 9 frames
Quarter-finals
Best of 9 frames
Semi-finals
Best of 11 frames
Final
Best of 17 frames
            
1  Steve Davis (ENG)5
16  Cliff Wilson (WAL)2
1 Steve Davis5
8 Tony Knowles0
8  Tony Knowles (ENG)5
9  Mike Hallett (ENG)3
1 Steve Davis3
4 Stephen Hendry6
5  Terry Griffiths (WAL)5
12  Silvino Francisco (RSA)1
5 Terry Griffiths3
4 Stephen Hendry5
4  Stephen Hendry (SCO)5
13  Willie Thorne (ENG)2
4 Stephen Hendry9
7 John Parrott6
3  Neal Foulds (ENG)5
14  Peter Francisco (RSA)2
3 Neal Foulds5
6 Cliff Thorburn2
6  Cliff Thorburn (CAN)5
11  Joe Johnson (ENG)2
3 Neal Foulds5
7 John Parrott6
7  John Parrott (ENG)5
10  Dennis Taylor (NIR)1
7 John Parrott5
2 Jimmy White4
2  Jimmy White (ENG)5
15  John Virgo (ENG)2

Final

Final: Best of 17 frames. Referee: John Street
Wembley Conference Centre, London, England, 29 January 1989.
Stephen Hendry
 Scotland
9–6John Parrott
 England
First session: 16–97 (93), 58–31, 93–8 (89), 83–39 (62), 36–85 (61), 98–0 (59), 73–4 (61), 30–74 (50), 42–72, 86–44, 85–34 (58), 66–68, 84–38 (64), 8–79, 65–48 (52)
89Highest break93
0Century breaks0
750+ breaks3

Century breaks

Highest break; £6,000, Total: 3[7]

References