Strachan Open

The Strachan Open was a professional snooker tournament held between 1992 and 1994. It had varying ranking status during its history.

Strachan Open
Tournament information
VenueWillie Thorne Snooker Centre
LocationLeicester
CountryEngland
Established1992; 32 years ago (1992)
Organisation(s)World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association
FormatNon-ranking event
Final year1994; 30 years ago (1994)
Final championEngland Anthony Hamilton

History

The tournament was first held in 1992, and was a ranking tournament. It was sponsored by billiard cloth company Strachan. The event was boycotted by several top players due to lower points tariff and prize money. The final stages were played at the Thornbury Leisure Centre in Thornbury.[1] Peter Ebdon made his first official maximum break in the qualifying rounds against Wayne Martin.[2]

The following season to encourage the new professional, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association created four so-called minor ranking events. These tournaments were open to every professional, but earned only one-tenth of the ranking points of most other ranking tournaments. Three of the four minor ranking events were Strachan Challenges. The fourth was the Benson & Hedges Championship. Most of the top sixteen players did not bother to enter. The Strachan Challenges continued for one more season with two events, but they did not carry ranking points.[1]

Winners

[1]

YearWinnerRunner-upFinal scoreSeason
Strachan Open (ranking)
1992 James Wattana John Parrott9–51991/92
Strachan Challenge (minor-ranking)
1992 – Event 1 Joe Swail Stefan Mazrocis9–41992/93
1993 – Event 2 Troy Shaw Nigel Bond9–4
1993 – Event 3 Tony Drago Ken Doherty9–7
Strachan Challenge (non-ranking)
1994 – Event 1 Anthony Hamilton Andy Hicks9–41993/94
1994 – Event 2 Anthony Hamilton Paul Davies9–4

References