1987 Australian Masters

The 1987 Winfield Australian Masters was a professional non-ranking snooker tournament that took place between 29 June and 8 July 1987 at the North Sydney Anzac Memorial Club in Sydney, Australia Stephen Hendry won the tournament by defeating Mike Hallett 371–226 in the final. All matches were decided on the aggregate score over five .

The defending champion was Dennis Taylor, who did not participate in the 1987 event as the players managed by Barry Hearn were withdrawn from the event because of a dispute with promoter Eddie Charlton over air fares. The withdrawn players were replaced by Hendry, Dene O'Kane, Dean Reynolds, Mike Hallett, Eugene Hughes, Alex Higgins and John Parrott. Four places were given to specific Australian players. Paddy Morgan and Glen Wilkinson won places at the event by qualifying from an elimination tournament consisting of the Australian professional players other than the four who were given automatic places.

Following a first round win over John Campbell, Hendry defeated top seed Thorburn in the quarter-finals, and Higgins in the semi-final. In the other half of the draw, Hallett beat Hughes in the first round, then having led Johnson by 86 going into the last of their five frames, won that match by seven points. In the final, Hendry scored higher than Hallett in four of the five frames played, and won 371–226. Higgins scored the highest of the tournament, 115, in his match against John Parrott.

Background

The Australian Masters, sponsored by Rothmans under their Winfield brand name, was established in 1979. Until 1983, matches were of a single frame, like the BBC TV show ''Pot Black'', with the final decided on the aggregate score over three frames. From 1983 the format changed to longer matches. It was mainly filmed in the Channel 10 TV studios in Sydney, although in 1984 the first round was held at the Parmatta Club, and the second round onwards was held in the studio. The 1987 edition was played between 29 June and 8 July 1987 at the North Sydney Anzac Memorial Club in Sydney, Australia, and all matches were decided on the aggregate score over five frames.

The defending champion was Dennis Taylor, who did not participate in the 1987 event as the players managed by Barry Hearn were withdrawn from the event because of a dispute with promoter Eddie Charlton over air fares. The withdrawn players, who were Taylor, Steve Davis, Jimmy White, Willie Thorne, Terry Griffiths, Neal Foulds and Tony Meo, were replaced by Hendry, Dene O'Kane, Dean Reynolds, Mike Hallett, Eugene Hughes, Alex Higgins and John Parrott. Four places were given to specific Australian players. Paddy Morgan and Glen Wilkinson won places at the event by qualifying from an elimination tournament consisting of the Australian professional players other than the four who were given automatic places.

Prize fund

The total prize fund for was $200,000, awarded as shown below:

*Winner: $50,000
*Runner-up: $30,000
*Third place: $20,000
*Fourth place: $17,000
*Quarter-finalists: $10,000
*Last 16: $5,000
*Highest break: $3,000

Summary

Semi-finals

Hendry led throughout his match against Higgins, and had breaks of 55, 46, 64 and 34 during the first four frames. Higgins reduced the final points difference with a break of 60 in the fifth frame, but still lost 235-334. Hallet led by 53 points after the first frame against Charlton, but was 29 down after the seocond frame. With Hallet prevailing in frame three, and Charlton winning frame four, the deciding frame started with Charlton 16 ahead. However, Hallett won the frame 101-3 including a break of 49, and took the match 322-235. The highest break was Hallett's 55 in the opening frame.

In the play-off for third place, Higgins led by 183 points after breaks of 99 in the first frame and 93 in the second. Charlton gained the lead by a point after breaks of 48 and 41 in the third frame, and 38 and 90 in the fourth frame. Higgins had the better of the final frame and eventually won 343-284.

Final

Hendry made a break of 40 early in the first frame, and went on to win it by 84-22. He won the second frame 81-51 including a break of 41; Hallett compiled a 36 break. A 63 break in frame three helped Hendry increase his lead to 129 points, as it finished 79-39, with Hallett's break of 33 contributing most of his points in the frame. In the fourth frame, Hallett reduced his deficit by taking it 89-31, including a break of 58. During the final frame, already 88 points ahead on aggregate, Hendry made a 57 to win the frame 99-25 and the match 371-226. The match was completed in an hour.

Main draw

The numbers shown to the left of the players' names are their seedings. All matches were decided on the aggregate score over five frames. Match winners are shown in bold.

References

{{Snooker season 1987/1988

Australian Goldfields Open
1987 in Australian sport
1987 in snooker