1981 World Team Classic

The 1981 World Team Classic sponsored by State Express was the new name of the team snooker tournament. It moved to the Hexagon Theatre in Reading with seven teams competing as the Irish players were divided. Scotland competed for the first time which they lost to the Republic of Ireland in a play off to reach the round robin stage of the competition. All matches including the final were now played in the best of six matches with a tie break frame between the captains if it stayed 3–3. England won their first title with captain Steve Davis winning three of the four matches against Eddie Charlton of Australia, Dennis Taylor of Northern Ireland and Ray Reardon of Wales in the final.

State Express World Team Classic
Tournament information
Dates24 October – 1 November 1981 (1981-10-24 – 1981-11-01)
VenueHexagon Theatre
CityReading
CountryEngland
FormatNon-ranking event
Total prize fund£40,000
Winner's share£12,000
Highest break Terry Griffiths (WAL), 127
Final
ChampionEngland England
Runner-upWales Wales
Score4–3 (matches)
← 1980
1982 →

Terry Griffiths made the highest break of the tournament, 123.[1]

Main draw

Teams and results are listed below.[1]

Teams
CountryPlayer 1 (Captain)Player 2Player 3
 WalesRay ReardonTerry GriffithsDoug Mountjoy
 EnglandSteve DavisJohn SpencerDavid Taylor
 Northern IrelandAlex HigginsDennis TaylorTommy Murphy
 CanadaCliff ThorburnBill WerbeniukKirk Stevens
 AustraliaEddie CharltonPaddy MorganIan Anderson
 IrelandPatsy FaganDessie SheehanEugene Hughes
 ScotlandEddie SinclairMatt GibsonIan Black

Qualifying round
Team 1 Score Team 2 Date
Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland4–2Scotland Scotland

Group A
Team 1 Score Team 2 Date
England England4–3Australia Australia
Northern Ireland Northern Ireland4–1Australia Australia
England England4–3Northern Ireland Northern Ireland

Group B
Team 1 Score Team 2 Date
Wales Wales4–2Canada Canada
Wales Wales4–0Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland
Canada Canada4–2Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland

Semi-finals
Team 1 Score Team 2 Date
England England4–2Canada Canada
Wales Wales4–3Northern Ireland Northern Ireland

Final
Final: Best of 7 matches.
Hexagon Theatre, Reading, England. 1 November 1981.
 England
Steve Davis, John Spencer, David Taylor		 4–3  Wales
Ray Reardon, Terry Griffiths, Doug Mountjoy
Spencer v Reardon: 37–63, 91–45, 54–66
Davis v Mountjoy: 87 (60)–45, 100–14
Taylor v Griffiths: 77–48, 33–72 (53), 64–71 (50)
Spencer v Griffiths: 75–63, 7–114, 105–0
Taylor v Mountjoy: 30–77, 34–94
Davis v Reardon: 80–32, 59–11, Play off: 69–52
103 (Spencer) Highest break 63 (Mountjoy)
1 Century breaks 0
3 50+ breaks 4

References
  1. "World Team Classic". Snooker Scene. December 1981. pp. 5–11.
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