Kent Cup (snooker)

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

Kent Cup
Tournament information
LocationBeijing
CountryChina
Established1987
Organisation(s)Matchroom Sport
Framework
WPBSA
FormatNon-ranking event
Final year1992
Final champion(s) John Parrott

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 viewews 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 tournament was omitted from the calendar the following season but returned in 1990 with a significantly reduced prize fund and lower-ranked professionals, which also saw Marcus Campbell win his first professional title.[4] Campbell returned to defend his title in 1991, but was defeated in the final by Joe Swail.[5]

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.[6]

Winners
Year Winner Runner-up Final score Season
Kent Cup
1987 Willie Thorne Jimmy White 5–2 1986/87
1988 John Parrott Martin Clark 5–1 1987/88
1990 Marcus Campbell Tom Finstad 4–1 1989/90
1991 Joe Swail Marcus Campbell 5–0 1990/91
Kent Classic
1992 John Parrott Stephen Hendry 6–5 1992/93

References
  1. Turner, Chris. "Other Non-Ranking and Invition Events". cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  2. Morrison, Ian (1989). The Official 1990 Matchroom Special. London: Hamyln. p. 57. ISBN 0600566005.
  3. "John's Trip To China "Just Fab"". Liverpool Echo. 12 April 1988. p. 35.
  4. "Campbell wins on China T.V.". Snooker Scene. Birmingham: Everton's News Agency. May 1990. p. 24.
  5. Merchant, Yasin (May 1991). "Swail strikes to land eastern double!". Pot Black. Brentwood: Pot Black Publishing. pp. 20–21.
  6. "World Series: Parrott wins Kent Cup in Peking". Snooker Scene. Birmingham: Everton's News Agency. October 1992. pp. 16–17.
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