1979 UK Snooker Championship

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The 1979 Coral UK Snooker Championship took place at the Guildhall, Preston in November/December 1979.

33 year old John Virgo confounded those who doubted his ability to win on the big occasion by defeating Terry Griffiths, the reigning world champion, by the odd frame in the final. The final was chiefly notable for the award of two frames to Grffiths to penalise Virgo's late arrival for the last session after an alarm clock failed to go off and Virgo overslept.

The general pattern of results indicated a new generation about to emerge to take over from most of the players who had dominated the 1970s. Of the quarter-finalists, only Ray Edmonds, himself a relatively new professional, was over 35. Steve Davis, 22 years old, was the youngest, playing in his first major quarter-final.

Canadian Bill Werbeniuk played in the competition as a UK citizen and made it to the semi-finals where he lost 9-3 to Terry Griffiths.

The BBC covered the event again, but the final session was not broadcast due to a technician's strike.

[edit] Prize Money

Winner: £4,500

Total: £15,000

[edit] Results

1st Round Best of 17 frames

Flag of England John Dunning 9-8 David Greaves Flag of England

Flag of England Mike Hallett 9-1 Maurice Parkin Flag of England

Flag of Northern Ireland Jackie Rea 9-8 Bernard Bennett Flag of England

2nd Round Best of 17 frames

Flag of England Steve Davis 9-3 John Dunning Flag of England

Flag of England Tony Meo 9-7 David Taylor Flag of England

Flag of England Willie Thorne 9-4 Roy Andrewartha Flag of England

Flag of Ireland Patsy Fagan 9-4 Mike Hallett Flag of England

Flag of Canada Bill Werbeniuk 9-3 Joe Johnson Flag of England

Flag of England Ray Edmonds 9-3 Jim Meadowcroft Flag of England

Flag of England Pat Houlihan 9-3 Jackie Rea Flag of Northern Ireland

Flag of Wales Cliff Wilson 9-7 John Pulman Flag of England

Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
                           
           
 Flag of England Steve Davis  9
 Flag of Wales Doug Mountjoy  5  
 Flag of England John Virgo  9
   Flag of England Steve Davis  7  
 Flag of England John Virgo  9
 Flag of England Tony Meo  6  
 Flag of England John Virgo  9
   Flag of Northern Ireland Dennis Taylor  4  
 Flag of Northern Ireland Dennis Taylor  9
 Flag of England Willie Thorne  8  
 Flag of Northern Ireland Dennis Taylor  9
   Flag of Ireland Patsy Fagan  6  
 Flag of Ireland Patsy Fagan  9
 Flag of England Graham Miles  5  
 Flag of England John Virgo  14
   Flag of Wales Terry Griffiths  13
 Flag of Canada Bill Werbeniuk  9
 Flag of England John Spencer  8  
 Flag of Canada Bill Werbeniuk  9
   Flag of England Ray Edmonds  8  
 Flag of England Ray Edmonds  9
 Flag of England Fred Davis  6  
 Flag of Wales Terry Griffiths  9
   Flag of Canada Bill Werbeniuk  3  
 Flag of Northern Ireland Alex Higgins  9
 Flag of England Pat Houlihan  3  
 Flag of Wales Terry Griffiths  9
   Flag of Northern Ireland Alex Higgins  7  
 Flag of Wales Terry Griffiths  9
 Flag of Wales Cliff Wilson  4  
UK Snooker Championship
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Winners and statistics
List of winners from 1977 to present