The 1991 Belgian Challenge (also referred to as the 1991 555 Belgian Challenge for the purposes of sponsorship) was an invitational non-ranking snooker tournament held at the Matchroom Schijnpoort, Antwerp from 18 to 21 December 1991. Steve Davis won the title, defeating Stephen Hendry 10–9 in the final.[1][2]
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 18–21 December 1991 |
| Venue | Matchroom Schijnpoort, Antwerp |
| Country | Belgium |
| Format | Non-ranking event |
| Final | |
| Champion |  Steve Davis (ENG) |
| Runner-up |  Stephen Hendry (SCO) |
| Score | 10–9 |
In the first round, Hendry set a record for the quickest best-of-nine frames match by beating Mike Henson 5–0 in 51 minutes. Henson scored only ten points in the match.[3] In the quarter-finals, Hendry whitewashed his opponent Gary Wilkinson, who had won the World Matchplay tournament five days previously, with Wilkinson scoring just 40 points across the first four of the five frames.[4] In the semi-final, Hendry was on track for his first competitive maximum break by potting fourteen reds and fourteen blacks, but then snookered himself on the final red and did not pot it. Later in the match, Hallett also potted fourteen reds and blacks, but he missed a pot on the final red.[5]
In the final, Davis trailed 3–6, but later led 8–7 after compiling breaks of 78, 102, 56 and 102. Hendry made it 8–8 with a break of 120, before Davis won the following frame. Recovering from 43 points behind to win the 18th frame, Hendry forced the match to a deciding frame. Davis won the last frame, making a break of 66, to win the title.[2]
Results edit
| First round Best-of-9 frames | Quarter-finals Best-of-9 frames | Semi-finals Best-of-9 frames | Final Best-of-9 frames | ||||||||||||
| Steve Davis
| 5 | ||||||||||||||
 Eric le Paul
| 0 | ||||||||||||||
| Steve Davis
| 5 | ||||||||||||||
 Terry Griffiths
| 2 | ||||||||||||||
| Terry Griffiths
| 5 | ||||||||||||||
| Steve James
| 2 | ||||||||||||||
| Steve Davis
| 6 | ||||||||||||||
| Jimmy White
| 3 | ||||||||||||||
| Jimmy White
| 5 | ||||||||||||||
 Rene Dikstra
| 4 | ||||||||||||||
| Jimmy White
| 5 | ||||||||||||||
 Franky Chan
| 0 | ||||||||||||||
| Neal Foulds
| 4 | ||||||||||||||
| Franky Chan
| 5 | ||||||||||||||
| Steve Davis
| 10 | ||||||||||||||
| Stephen Hendry
| 9 | ||||||||||||||
| Stephen Hendry
| 5 | ||||||||||||||
 Mike Henson
| 0 | ||||||||||||||
| Stephen Hendry
| 5 | ||||||||||||||
| Gary Wilkinson
| 0 | ||||||||||||||
| Gary Wilkinson
| 5 | ||||||||||||||
 James Wattana
| 3 | ||||||||||||||
| Stephen Hendry
| 6 | ||||||||||||||
| Mike Hallett
| 3 | ||||||||||||||
| Mike Hallett
| 5 | ||||||||||||||
 Dennis Taylor
| 4 | ||||||||||||||
| Mike Hallett
| 5 | ||||||||||||||
| John Parrott
| 3 | ||||||||||||||
| John Parrott
| 5 | ||||||||||||||
 Steve Lemmens
| 0 | ||||||||||||||
References edit
- ^ Yates, Phil (18 December 1991). "Hendry faces German hurdle". The Times. London. p. 35.
- ^ a b Yates, Phil (23 December 1991). "Davis once again gets the better of Hendry". The Times. London. p. 23.
- ^ Yates, Phil (18 December 1991). "Hendry through in record time". The Times. London. p. 39.
- ^ Yates, Phil (20 December 1991). "Parrott criticises pockets after defeat by Hallett". The Times. London. p. 28.
- ^ Yates, Phil (21 December 1991). "Two miss maximum breaks". The Times. London. p. 28.
- ^ Hayton, Eric; Dee, John (2004). The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History. Lowestoft: Rose Villa Publications. p. 161. ISBN 978-0954854904.