Kent Cup (snooker) explained

Tournament Name:Kent Cup
Location:Beijing
Country:China
Establishment:1987
Organisation:Matchroom Sport
Framework
WPBSA
Format:Non-ranking event
Final Year:1992

The Kent Cup was an invitational non-ranking snooker tournament staged on six occasions from 1987 to 1992.[1]

History

The Kent Cup followed the China Masters which had been the first professional snooker tournament in China and had been held the previous two seasons. Willie Thorne won the inaugural tournament, defeating Jimmy White in the final in front of 100 million viewers in China.[2] By the following season the viewership had doubled to 200 million, with the 1988 edition seeing John Parrott win his maiden professional title with a victory over Martin Clark.[3] The next edition saw a significant reduction in prize fund.[4] Sakchai Sim-Ngam won the tournament, which was held exclusively for the players from the Asia-Pacific region.[5] The 1990 edition saw the return of lower-ranked professionals from United Kingdom.[6] Marcus Campbell won the tournament to collect his first professional title.[7] Campbell returned to defend his title in 1991, but was defeated in the final by Joe Swail.[8]

The following year the tournament was re-branded as the Kent Classic and the top professionals returned with an increased prize fund. John Parrott defeated Stephen Hendry in the final edition of the tournament.[9]

Winners

YearWinnerRunner-upFinal scoreSeason
Kent Cup
1987 Willie Thorne Jimmy White5–21986/87
1988 John Parrott Martin Clark5–11987/88
1989 Sakchai Sim-Ngam Franky Chan4–11988/89
1990 Marcus Campbell Tom Finstad4–11989/90
1991 Joe Swail Marcus Campbell5–01990/91
Kent Classic
1992 John Parrott Stephen Hendry6–51992/93

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Turner. Chris. Other Non-Ranking and Invition Events. https://web.archive.org/web/20120216160441/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/misc3.html. 16 February 2012. cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. 3 November 2020.
  2. Book: Morrison, Ian. 1989. The Official 1990 Matchroom Special. London . Hamyln. 57. 0600566005.
  3. News: John's Trip To China "Just Fab". subscription. Liverpool Echo. 12 April 1988. 35.
  4. News: Beijing agony for sad Kenny: SNOOKER . South China Morning Post . 22 April 1989 . 20.
  5. News: Off-colour Chan fails to overcome Thai jinx: SNOOKER . South China Morning Post . 24 April 1989 . 30.
  6. News: World champion Doherty tops bill for Beijing: SNOOKER . South China Morning Post . 3 February 1990 . 14.
  7. Campbell wins on China T.V. . Snooker Scene . Everton's News Agency . Birmingham . May 1990 . 24.
  8. Merchant. Yasin. Yasin Merchant. Swail strikes to land eastern double!. Pot Black. Pot Black Publishing. Brentwood. May 1991. 20–21.
  9. World Series: Parrott wins Kent Cup in Peking. Snooker Scene. Everton's News Agency. Birmingham. October 1992. 16–17.