The 1985 UK Championship (officially the 1985 Coral UK Championship) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 15 November and 1 December 1985 at the Guild Hall in Preston, England.[1] The last-16 televised stages were shown on the BBC from 23 November through to the end of the championship. The event was sponsored by sports betting company Coral.

1985 Coral UK Championship
Tournament information
Dates15 November – 1 December 1985 (1985-11-15 – 1985-12-01)
VenuePreston Guild Hall
CityPreston
CountryEngland
OrganisationWPBSA
FormatRanking event
Total prize fund£120,000
Winner's share£24,000
Highest break Willie Thorne (ENG) (140)
Final
Champion Steve Davis (ENG)
Runner-up Willie Thorne (ENG)
Score16–14
1984
1986

Steve Davis won his fourth UK Championship title by defeating Willie Thorne 16–14 in the final. Thorne had led 12–6 and 13–8, but the match turned after Thorne missed a straight blue which would have given him a 14–8 lead. Davis subsequently won the frame and seven of the next eight to clinch the title.[2][3] Stephen Hendry made his debut in the tournament, aged sixteen, but lost his first qualifying round match 2–9 to Omprakesh Agrawal.[4]

The highest break of the tournament was a 140 made by Willie Thorne during the non-televised stages; the highest break of the televised stages was a 135 made by Neal Foulds.

Prize fund

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The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:

  • Winner £24,000
  • Runner-up £14,000
  • Total £120,000

Main draw

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[4][5]

Last 64
Best of 17 frames
Last 32
Best of 17 frames
Last 16
Best of 17 frames
Quarter-finals
Best of 17 frames
Semi-finals
Best of 17 frames
Final
Best of 31 frames
                  
  Steve Davis 9
  Dessie Sheehan 1
  Steve Davis 9
  Tony Drago 2
  Tony Drago 9
  Mark Wildman 5
  Steve Davis 9
  Tony Meo 5
  Tony Meo 9
  Steve Longworth 5
  Tony Meo 9
  Danny Fowler 2
  Danny Fowler 9
  Perrie Mans 2
  Steve Davis 9
  Barry West 1
  Doug Mountjoy 9
  Mario Morra 2
  Doug Mountjoy 4
  Barry West 9
  Barry West 9
  Eugene Hughes 3
  Barry West 9
  Murdo MacLeod 4
  Ray Reardon 9
  Graham Miles 4
  Ray Reardon 5
  Murdo MacLeod 9
  Murdo MacLeod 9
  Tommy Murphy 7
  Steve Davis 9
  Jimmy White 5
  Jimmy White 9
  Malcolm Bradley 4
  Jimmy White 9
  Tony Chappel 5
  Tony Chappel 9
  Dene O'Kane 5
  Jimmy White 9
  Alex Higgins 6
  Alex Higgins 9
  Ray Edmonds 8
  Alex Higgins 9
  Fred Davis 2
  Fred Davis 9
  Bill Werbeniuk 7
  Jimmy White 9
  Tony Knowles 4
  David Taylor 9
  Bernie Mikkelsen 6
  David Taylor 9
  John Campbell 4
  John Campbell 9
  Paul Medati 7
  David Taylor 7
  Tony Knowles 9
  Tony Knowles 9
  Joe O'Boye 5
  Tony Knowles 9
  John Spencer 7
  John Spencer 9
  Vic Harris 5
  Steve Davis 16
  Willie Thorne 14
  Cliff Thorburn 9
  Les Dodd 4
  Cliff Thorburn 9
  John Parrott 6
  John Parrott 9
  Eddie Sinclair 2
  Cliff Thorburn 7
  Willie Thorne 9
  Willie Thorne 9
  Paddy Browne 6
  Willie Thorne 9
  John Virgo 8
  John Virgo 9
  Wayne Jones 7
  Willie Thorne 9
  Terry Griffiths 7
  Silvino Francisco 9
  Jim Wych 8
  Silvino Francisco 9
  Dave Martin 6
  Dave Martin 9
  Mike Darrington 3
  Silvino Francisco 5
  Terry Griffiths 9
  Terry Griffiths 9
  Tony Jones 5
  Terry Griffiths 9
  Dean Reynolds 7
  Dean Reynolds 9
  Jack McLaughlin 7
  Willie Thorne 9
  Dennis Taylor 7
  Kirk Stevens 9
  Steve Newbury 7
  Kirk Stevens 9
  Mike Hallett 5
  Mike Hallett 9
  Jim Meadowcroft 1
  Kirk Stevens 9
  Rex Williams 7
  Peter Francisco 9
  Eddie Charlton 5
  Peter Francisco 7
  Rex Williams 9
  Rex Williams 9
  Warren King 5
  Kirk Stevens 1
  Dennis Taylor 9
  Joe Johnson 9
  Sakchai Sim Ngam 4
  Joe Johnson 8
  Neal Foulds 9
  Neal Foulds 9
  Patsy Fagan 5
  Neal Foulds 5
  Dennis Taylor 9
  Dennis Taylor 9
  Jim Bear 3
  Dennis Taylor 9
  Graham Cripsey 2
  Graham Cripsey 9
  Cliff Wilson 7

Final

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Final: Best of 31 frames. Referee: Jim Thorpe
The Guild Hall, Preston, England, 30 November and 1 December 1985.
Steve Davis
  England
16–14 Willie Thorne
  England
First session: 76–25, 23–112 (112), 84–47, 0–90, 34–98 (70), 6–83 (69), 78–1
Second session: 85–4, 0–122 (121), 121–5 (104), 11–95 (87), 30–101 (66), 71–67 (Thorne 67), 39–75 (63)
Third session: 59–88, 56–69 (Davis 56, Thorne 68), 0–135 (115), 30–75 (61), 80–0 (76), 89–25 (64), 0–98
Fourth session: 68–59, 63–1 (63), 70–13, 71–10, 69–41, 12–96 (96), 129–1 (86), 64–19, 70–19
104 Highest break 121
1 Century breaks 3
6 50+ breaks 12

Century breaks

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References

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  1. ^ Turner, Chris. "UK Championship". cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  2. ^ "Davis fights back to retain UK title". The Glasgow Herald. 2 December 1985. p. 23.
  3. ^ Pye, Steven (3 December 2015). "The cruelty of snooker: Willie Thorne, Gary Lineker and the 'unmissable' blues". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  4. ^ a b "1985 UK Championship Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  5. ^ "UK Championship". Snooker Scene. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2013.