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 and it had now has seven teams competing with Ireland playing in their own countries and Scotland competed for the first time which they lost to the Republic of Ireland in a play off to reach the round obin 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.

Main draw

Teams

CountryPlayer 1Player 2Player 3
Ray ReardonTerry GriffithsDoug Mountjoy
Steve DavisJohn SpencerDavid Taylor
Alex HigginsDennis TaylorTommy Murphy
Cliff ThorburnBill WerbeniukKirk Stevens
Eddie CharltonPaddy MorganIan Anderson
Patsy FaganDessie SheehanEugene Hughes
Eddie SinclairMatt GibsonIan Black

Qualifying Round

Team 1ScoreTeam 2Date
Republic of Ireland4–2 Scotland

Group A

Team 1ScoreTeam 2Date
England4–3 Australia
Northern Ireland4–1 Australia
England4–3 Northern Ireland

Group B

Team 1ScoreTeam 2Date
Wales4–2 Canada
Wales4–0 Republic of Ireland
Canada4–2 Republic of Ireland

Semi-Finals

Team 1ScoreTeam 2Date
England4–2 Canada
Wales4–3 Northern Ireland

Final