1984 Grand Prix (snooker)

Rothmans Grand Prix
Tournament information
Dates20–28 October 1984 (1984-10-20 – 1984-10-28)
VenueHexagon Theatre
CityReading
CountryEngland
OrganisationWPBSA
FormatRanking event
Total prize fund£225,000
Winner's share£45,000
Final
Champion Dennis Taylor (NIR)
Runner-up Cliff Thorburn (CAN)
Score10–2
1983
1985

The 1984 Rothmans Grand Prix was the first edition of the tournament under the Grand Prix name and had replaced the Professional Players Tournament name, which was used first in 1982.[1] Total prize money was £225,000, then the largest in the history of snooker.[2] Unlike the Professional Players Tournament, the BBC televised the event, which was held at the Hexagon Theatre in Reading, England. The venue had previously hosted the World Team Classic since 1981, an event formerly also televised by the BBC. The last-16 televised stages took place between 20 and 28 October 1984.

The last-16 matches were played from 20 to 23 October. Dean Reynolds beat Silvino Francisco 5–1, although television replays twice showed him committing fouls that went unnoticed by the referee.[3]

Tony Knowles was the defending champion, however he lost 2–5 to Neal Foulds in the quarter-finals.[4] Foulds met Dennis Taylor in the semi-finals, losing 3–9, having lost all seven frames in the afternoon session.[5] In the other half of the draw, Cliff Thorburn beat Doug Mountjoy 5–3, while Steve Davis beat Dean Reynolds 5–0.[6] Thorburn beat Davis 9–7 in the semi-finals.

Dennis Taylor won his first major tournament after 13 years as a professional by defeating Cliff Thorburn 10–2 in the final, emotionally dedicating the victory to his mother, who had died shortly before the tournament was held. He won the first prize of £45,000.[7]

  1. ^ Turner, Chris. "Professional Players Tournament, Grand Prix, LG Cup". cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference q was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Reynolds reaches the last eight - nudge, nudge". The Glasgow Herald. 24 October 1984. p. 21.
  4. ^ "Sport in brief". The Glasgow Herald. 25 October 1984. p. 18.
  5. ^ "Taylor is on song". The Glasgow Herald. 27 October 1984. p. 18.
  6. ^ "Snooker". The Glasgow Herald. 26 October 1984. p. 26.
  7. ^ "Tearful Taylor wins first title in 13 years". The Glasgow Herald. 29 October 1984. p. 14.