Dubai Classic Explained

Tournament Name:Dubai Classic
Venue:Riverside Montien Hotel
Location:Bangkok
Country:Thailand
Establishment:1988
Organisation:World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association
Format:Ranking event
Final Year:1996

The Dubai Classic (also known as the Dubai Duty Free Classic for sponsorship and marketing purposes) was a professional ranking snooker tournament. The last champion was Ronnie O'Sullivan.

History

It began life as the Dubai Masters in 1988, the first major tournament in the Middle East. The following year it was renamed to Dubai Classic, and it became the first ranking event in the Middle East. During its tenure in Dubai, the tournament was played at the multi-purpose stadium of the Al-Nasr Sports Club.[1]

Later the event was moved to Thailand and renamed to Thailand Classic for 1995/96 and Asian Classic for 1996/97, before being dropped from the calendar.[2] [3]

Winners

YearWinnerRunner-upFinal scoreSeason
Dubai Masters (non-ranking)
1988 Neal Foulds Steve Davis5–41988/89
Dubai Classic (ranking)[4]
1989 Stephen Hendry Doug Mountjoy9–21989/90
1990 Stephen Hendry Steve Davis9–11990/91
1991 John Parrott Tony Knowles9–31991/92
1992 John Parrott Stephen Hendry9–81992/93
1993 Stephen Hendry Steve Davis9–31993/94
1994 Alan McManus Peter Ebdon9–61994/95
Thailand Classic (ranking)
1995 John Parrott Nigel Bond9–61995/96
Asian Classic (ranking)
1996 Ronnie O'Sullivan Brian Morgan9–81996/97

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Turner. Chris. Dubai Classic, Dubai Masters, Bahrain Snooker Championship. https://web.archive.org/web/20120107153823/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/mideast.html. 7 January 2012. cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. 13 March 2013.
  2. Web site: Turner. Chris. Thailand Open, Thailand Classic, Thailand Masters. https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155548/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Thai.html. 16 February 2012. cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. 13 March 2013.
  3. Web site: Turner. Chris. Asian Open, Asian Classic, Hong Kong Open. https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155410/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Asia.html. 16 February 2012. cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. 13 March 2013.
  4. Web site: Dubai Duty Free Classic. https://web.archive.org/web/20130124071603/http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=18. 24 January 2013. Snooker Scene. 13 March 2013.