1977 Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament

Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament

Tournament information
Dates	17–18 February 1977 (1977-02-17 – 1977-02-18)
Venue	Leopardstown Racecourse
City	Dublin
Country	Republic of Ireland
Organisation	WPBSA
Format	Non-ranking event
Winner's share	£750
Highest break	Alex Higgins (126)
Final
Champion	Alex Higgins
Runner-up	Ray Reardon
Score	5–3
← 1976 1978 →

The 1977 Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament was the third edition of the professional invitational snooker tournament and took place in February 1977. For the second year running the tournament featured four professional players, although defending champion John Spencer did not compete this year and was replaced by Ray Reardon. The prize fund for the winner this year was £750, up from £600 the previous year.[1]

In a format tweak to the previous year, the four players competed in a group format, with the top two winning the most frames advancing to the final. Higgins earned £100 for the tournament high break - 126 in his group match with Taylor.[2] Reardon topped the group, with Higgins and Taylor tied for second. In a one-frame shoot-out, Higgins defeated Taylor 71-57 and advanced to the final, in which he defeated Reardon 5–3.[3]

Main draw

[2][3]

Group stage

POS Player MP MW FW FL PTS 1 Ray Reardon 3 2 10 5 10 2 Dennis Taylor 3 2 7 8 7 2 Alex Higgins 3 1 7 8 7 4 Graham Miles 3 1 6 9 6

Alex Higgins 4–1 Dennis Taylor Ray Reardon 4–1 Graham Miles Dennis Taylor 3–2 Graham Miles Ray Reardon 4–1 Alex Higgins Graham Miles 3–2 Alex Higgins Dennis Taylor 3–2 Ray Reardon

Group playoff

• Alex Higgins 71–57 Dennis Taylor (one-frame shoot-out)

Final

• Alex Higgins 5–3 Ray Reardon

References

1. "Benson & Hedges snooker trophy 1977". Evening Herald. 16 February 1977. p. 10.
2. "Higgins No Match For Ice Cool Reardon". Irish Independent. 18 February 1977. p. 16.
3. "Higgins Blacks The Cash Side". Irish Independent. 19 February 1977. p. 9.