Claim: Patsy Fagan of Ireland who had played for under a year beat Doug Mountjoy of Wales 12-9 in a best of 23 in Blackpool England.
Evidence: He won in the deciding frame in each of the next two rounds, 5–4 against Jim Meadowcroft in the quarter-finals and 9–8 against John Virgo in the semi-finals, to reach the final against another player in his first year as a professional, Doug Mountjoy. Fagan then took the next two frames to lead 8–6, eventually winning the match 12–9.