# 1988 Classic (snooker)

The 1988 Mercantile Credit Classic was the ninth edition of the professional snooker tournament which took place from 1–10 January 1988. The tournament was played at the Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool, Lancashire. Steve Davis won his fifth Classic title, beating John Parrott 13–11 in the final.

## Main draw

| First Round Best of 9 frames | First Round Best of 9 frames | First Round Best of 9 frames | Second Round Best of 9 frames | Second Round Best of 9 frames | Second Round Best of 9 frames | Third Round Best of 9 frames | Third Round Best of 9 frames | Third Round Best of 9 frames | | Quarter-finals Best of 9 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 9 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 9 frames | | Semi-finals Best of 17 frames | Semi-finals Best of 17 frames | Semi-finals Best of 17 frames | | Final Best of 25 frames | Final Best of 25 frames | Final Best of 25 frames |
| Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Les Dodd | Les Dodd | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Les Dodd | Les Dodd | 0 | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Jim Donnelly | Jim Donnelly | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jim Donnelly | Jim Donnelly | 5 | Jim Donnelly | Jim Donnelly | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Murdo MacLeod | Murdo MacLeod | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Murdo MacLeod | Murdo MacLeod | 4 | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Alex Higgins | Alex Higgins | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Alex Higgins | Alex Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | Alex Higgins | Alex Higgins | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Jones | Tony Jones | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Jones | Tony Jones | 0 | Alex Higgins | Alex Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Tony Meo | Tony Meo | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Meo | Tony Meo | 5 | Tony Meo | Tony Meo | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mario Morra | Mario Morra | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mario Morra | Mario Morra | 1 | | | | | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Silvino Francisco | Silvino Francisco | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Brian Rowswell | Brian Rowswell | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Brian Rowswell | Brian Rowswell | 3 | Silvino Francisco | Silvino Francisco | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Steve Longworth | Steve Longworth | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Longworth | Steve Longworth | 5 | Steve Longworth | Steve Longworth | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ray Edmonds | Ray Edmonds | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ray Edmonds | Ray Edmonds | 3 | | | | Silvino Francisco | Silvino Francisco | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 5 | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 2 | Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bill Werbeniuk | Bill Werbeniuk | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bill Werbeniuk | Bill Werbeniuk | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 9 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 2 | | | | |
| Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 2 | | | | |
| Jimmy van Rensberg | Jimmy van Rensberg | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jimmy van Rensberg | Jimmy van Rensberg | 2 | Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Cliff Wilson | Cliff Wilson | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cliff Wilson | Cliff Wilson | 5 | Cliff Wilson | Cliff Wilson | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Gilbert | Dave Gilbert | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Gilbert | Dave Gilbert | 3 | | | | Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Barry West | Barry West | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 5 | | | | | | | Barry West | Barry West | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Malcolm Bradley | Malcolm Bradley | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Malcolm Bradley | Malcolm Bradley | 1 | Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Barry West | Barry West | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Barry West | Barry West | 5 | Barry West | Barry West | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bill Oliver | Bill Oliver | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bill Oliver | Bill Oliver | 3 | | | | | | | | Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 4 | Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Mark Bennett | Mark Bennett | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Bennett | Mark Bennett | 5 | Mark Bennett | Mark Bennett | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Kirk Stevens | Kirk Stevens | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Kirk Stevens | Kirk Stevens | 2 | | | | Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cliff Thorburn | Cliff Thorburn | 5 | | | | | | | Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ray Reardon | Ray Reardon | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ray Reardon | Ray Reardon | 3 | Cliff Thorburn | Cliff Thorburn | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 5 | Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Eugene Hughes | Eugene Hughes | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Eugene Hughes | Eugene Hughes | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 13 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 11 |
| Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 11 |
| Bob Chaperon | Bob Chaperon | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bob Chaperon | Bob Chaperon | 1 | Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | John Virgo | John Virgo | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Virgo | John Virgo | 5 | John Virgo | John Virgo | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gino Rigitano | Gino Rigitano | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gino Rigitano | Gino Rigitano | 2 | | | | John Virgo | John Virgo | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Wildman | Mark Wildman | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Wildman | Mark Wildman | 2 | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | David Taylor | David Taylor | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| David Taylor | David Taylor | 5 | David Taylor | David Taylor | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Martin Smith | Martin Smith | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Martin Smith | Martin Smith | 3 | | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Ken Owers | Ken Owers | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Rex Williams | Rex Williams | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rex Williams | Rex Williams | 3 | Ken Owers | Ken Owers | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Peter Francisco | Peter Francisco | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Peter Francisco | Peter Francisco | 5 | Peter Francisco | Peter Francisco | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Graham Cripsey | Graham Cripsey | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Graham Cripsey | Graham Cripsey | 2 | | | | Peter Francisco | Peter Francisco | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 5 | | | | | | | Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Terry Whitthread | Terry Whitthread | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Terry Whitthread | Terry Whitthread | 2 | Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 5 | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| George Scott | George Scott | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| George Scott | George Scott | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 9 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 4 | | | | |
| Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 4 | | | | |
| Jon Wright | Jon Wright | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jon Wright | Jon Wright | 1 | Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Colin Roscoe | Colin Roscoe | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Colin Roscoe | Colin Roscoe | 5 | Colin Roscoe | Colin Roscoe | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Eddie Charlton | Eddie Charlton | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Eddie Charlton | Eddie Charlton | 3 | | | | Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Tommy Murphy | Tommy Murphy | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dean Reynolds | Dean Reynolds | 5 | | | | | | | Tommy Murphy | Tommy Murphy | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe O'Boye | Joe O'Boye | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe O'Boye | Joe O'Boye | 3 | Dean Reynolds | Dean Reynolds | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Tommy Murphy | Tommy Murphy | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tommy Murphy | Tommy Murphy | 5 | Tommy Murphy | Tommy Murphy | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Campbell | John Campbell | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Campbell | John Campbell | 3 | | | | | | | | Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Dave Martin | Dave Martin | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Doug Mountjoy | Doug Mountjoy | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Dave Martin | Dave Martin | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Fred Davis | Fred Davis | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fred Davis | Fred Davis | 0 | Doug Mountjoy | Doug Mountjoy | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Dave Martin | Dave Martin | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Martin | Dave Martin | 5 | Dave Martin | Dave Martin | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jack McLaughlin | Jack McLaughlin | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jack McLaughlin | Jack McLaughlin | 2 | | | | Dave Martin | Dave Martin | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 5 | | | | | | | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve James | Steve James | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve James | Steve James | 1 | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | John Spencer | John Spencer | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Spencer | John Spencer | 5 | John Spencer | John Spencer | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Rea | John Rea | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Final

Final: Best of 25 frames. Referee: Alan Chamberlain. Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool, England, 9 & 10 January 1988. :
| Steve Davis England | 13–11 | John Parrott England |
| First session: 139–0 (99), 31–72, 34–68, 34–76 (69), 61–20, 76–18, 51–65 Second session: 88–47, 79–0 (79), 63–14, 63–12, 66–57, 94–0 (60), 28–64 Third session: 31–107 (103), 74–43, 39–68, 49–58, 9–114 (56), 60–62, 47–67 (58), 99–31 (83), 69–0 (68), 113–4 (99) |||
| 99 x2 | Highest break | 103 |
| 0 | Century breaks | 1 |
| 6 | 50+ breaks | 4 |

## Century breaks

(Including qualifying rounds)
* 132 – Dennis Taylor
* 129, 106 – Steve Newbury
* 121 – Bob Chaperon
* 116 – Steve James
* 116 – Dave Martin
* 111 – Joe O'Boye
* 107 – Tony Chappel
* 105 – Steve Davis
* 103, 101 – John Parrott
* 100 – Robby Foldvari
* 100 – David Taylor