If you read Short Post #200 (click here to read that), you’ll know that one of my favourite snooker memories involved the re-spotted black between Mark Williams and Stephen Hendry in 1998. But did you know that the Masters contested another re-spot back in 1975? It was in fact the very first edition of the Masters where two of the top players during the 1970s battled to the very end.
Ten of the top players you can remember from the 1970s were invited to play in the Masters. This included the likes of Alex Higgins, Rex William, Ray Reardon, Eddie Charlton, John Spencer and Bill Werbeniuk. The inaugural event was held in West Centre Hotel London, following which the subsequent iterations would change locations until a more permanent home was established.
The format of the Masters in 1975 followed a series of best-of-9 matches until the final, which saw a best-of-17 contest. Some of the notable matches included Rex Williams vs. Alex Higgins, Fred Davis vs. Eddie Charlton, Reardon vs. Williams and of course, the final between Reardon and John Spencer. Interestingly, all the quarter-final matches resulted in a 5-3 finish.
Reardon and Spencer competed in a closely fought final that was down to the wire straight from the start, with no more than one frame separating the two players for nearly the whole match. That is, until Reardon was able to distance himself with an 8-6 lead, requiring just one more frame for the trophy. However, Spencer was able to keep the match alive by winning the following two frames 53-3 and 64-25, forcing a decider. A decider that led to a 58-58 score and a re-spotted black.
It was a deciding black that only took four shots to resolve. Unlike the players of today, Reardon opened with the up-and-down shot that tried to achieve maximum distance between cue and object ball; as opposed to the side-to-side shot that you see played today on a re-spot. Spencer responded with a similar up-and-down shot and despite not leaving the black against the rail, he left Reardon with a very difficult long pot against the left cushion. Reardon was unable to sink the shot which left Spencer with a long pot and a chance to win the first Masters.
Spencer was able to sink the pot with authority, resulting in a 9-8 finish and a £2,000 first prize. It was a very different atmosphere than most will probably be used to. Slower tables, Ted Lowe on commentary, juxtaposed by a referee shouting the score for those in attendance. Reardon and Spencer embraced a had a laugh at the end of the endeavour, something you don’t see a lot of nowadays.
Spencer was already a two-time World Champion prior to this event. This was before WSC found its place at the Crucible; a year where Spencer was also the first player to triumph at this historic venue. Out of the 11 events that took place during the 1974/75 season, Spencer won 3 of them (including the Norwich Union Open and B&H Ireland Tournament) to mark the finish of a very strong season.
Like this Short? Click here to read: World Championship 1989 - Throwback
Have an idea for a Short post? Feel free to get in touch using the social media links below! Thanks for reading!