Irish Professional Championship

Irish Professional Championship
Tournament information
Venue	Various
Established	1947
Format	Non-ranking event
Final year	2007
Final champion	Ken Doherty

The Irish Professional Championship was an invitational professional snooker tournament for mostly Irish and Northern Irish snooker players.

History

The Irish Professional Championship was first staged in 1947 in Northern Ireland, and Jackie Rea became the inaugural champion. After that the event was held on a challenge basis, with the champion choosing his challenger. Rea won the championship every year but one until 1972, when he was beaten 28–12 by Alex Higgins. Higgins could defend the title four times in a row, before losing the title to Dennis Taylor. Taylor defended the title in the following two years. During this time the tournament was only sponsored in 1978 by Benson & Hedges and in 1979 by Smithwicks Brewery.^[1]

In 1982 the tournament was converted to a knock-out tournament. Eight players took part, and was sponsored by Smithwicks Brewery. Higgins and Taylor won nine titles between them, and their run of success in the championship was interrupted only by Jack McLaughlin, in 1988. After the 1983 event Smithwicks ended their sponsorship, and Strongbow took over for 1985 and 1986 and Matchroom for 1987. After the 1989 event the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association withdrew their backing to national championships in form of £1,000 per player, and the event was discontinued.^[1]

In 1992 the event was revived with sponsorship by Murphy's, and for the first time, the event was held in Republic of Ireland. 34 players competed at the event. When Joe Swail and Jason Prince contested the 1992 final, it was the first time in over 20 years it featured neither Higgins or Taylor. It was held again in 1993, but was abandoned again. The event was held again between 2005 and 2007.^[1]

Winners

^[1]

Year	Winner	Runner-up	Final score	Venue	Season
Challenge matches
1947–1951	Jackie Rea	various challenges	n/a
1952	Jack Bates	Jackie Rea
1952–1971	Jackie Rea	various challenges
1972	Alex Higgins	Jackie Rea	28–12	Belfast	1971/72
1978	Alex Higgins	Dennis Taylor	21–7	Belfast	1977/78
1978	Alex Higgins	Patsy Fagan	21–13	Belfast	1977/78
1979	Alex Higgins	Patsy Fagan	21–12	Belfast	1978/79
1980	Dennis Taylor	Alex Higgins	21–15	Belfast	1979/80
1981	Dennis Taylor	Patsy Fagan	22–21	Coleraine	1980/81
Knockout tournaments
1982	Dennis Taylor	Alex Higgins	16–13	Coleraine	1981/82
1983	Alex Higgins	Dennis Taylor	16–11	Belfast	1982/83
1985	Dennis Taylor	Alex Higgins	10–5	Belfast	1984/85
1986	Dennis Taylor	Alex Higgins	10–7	Belfast	1985/86
1987	Dennis Taylor	Joe O'Boye	9–2	Antrim	1986/87
1988	Jack McLaughlin	Dennis Taylor	9–4	Antrim	1987/88
1989	Alex Higgins	Jack McLaughlin	9–7	Antrim	1988/89
1992	Joe Swail	Jason Prince	9–1	Cork	1991/92
1993	Ken Doherty	Stephen Murphy	9–2	Cork	1992/93
2005^[2]	Joe Swail	Ken Doherty	9–7	Templeogue	2005/06
2006^[3]	Ken Doherty	Michael Judge	9–4	Templeogue	2006/07
2007^[4]	Ken Doherty	Fergal O'Brien	9–2	Dublin	2007/08

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Turner, Chris. "Irish Professional Championship". cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
^ "2005 Irish Professional Championship". Global Snooker Centre. Archived from the original on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
^ "2006 Irish Professional Championship". Global Snooker Centre. Archived from the original on 23 October 2006. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
^ "2007 VC Poker Irish Professional Championship". Global Snooker Centre. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2013.