| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 3–12 January 1986 |
| Venue | Spectrum Arena |
| City | Warrington |
| Country | England |
| Organisation | WPBSA |
| Format | Ranking event |
| Total prize fund | £225,000 |
| Winner's share | £45,000 |
| Highest break |  Jimmy White (ENG) (117x2)[1] |
| Final | |
| Champion | Jimmy White (ENG) |
| Runner-up |  Cliff Thorburn (CAN) |
| Score | 13–12 |
← 1985 1987 → | |
The 1986 Mercantile Credit Classic was the seventh edition of the professional snooker tournament.[2] The tournament was played at the Spectrum Arena, Warrington, Cheshire, and was televised on ITV from the last 16 round which started on 3 January 1986.[3]
The earlier rounds (Pre last 16) were played between 8–13 November 1985. Defending champion Willie Thorne lost at the last-64 stage to Tony Jones 3–5.[2]
Cliff Thorburn beat Doug Mountjoy 9–6 in the first semi-final. Thorburn led 5–2 after the first session and then 7–3 before Mountjoy won two frames in a row. Thorburn won the match in the 15th frame with a break of 72.[4] Jimmy White beat Rex Williams 9–7 in the second semi-final, Williams having led 6–5.[5]
Jimmy White won his first ranking event beating Cliff Thorburn 13–12 in the final, winning on the final black ball. White had been 7–8 behind at the end of the first day's play in the final, including a one frame penalty for arriving two minutes late for the start of the Saturday evening session.[6][7]
The tournament had a prize fund of £225,000, with the winner receiving £45,000.[1]
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
SCFwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
87HALEwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Everton, Clive (3 January 1986). "Foulds meets Australian No 1: Snooker". The Guardian. p. 21 – via ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Guardian and The Observer. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "Black mark for Mountjoy". The Glasgow Herald. 10 January 1986. p. 29.
- ^ "White holds off Williams". The Glasgow Herald. 11 January 1986. p. 16.
- ^ Everton, Clive (13 January 1986). "White nips in on last black: Snooker". The Guardian. p. 28 – via ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Guardian and The Observer. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "Classic finish by White". The Glasgow Herald. 13 January 1986. p. 7.