# 1987 UK Championship

The 1987 UK Championship (officially the 1987 Tennent's UK Championship) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place at the Guild Hall in Preston, England. The event started on 13 November 1987 and the televised stages were shown on BBC between 21 and 29 November 1987.
Willie Thorne made UK Championship history, when he became the first player to make a maximum break at the tournament against Tommy Murphy, although it was not televised, as it took place on 17 November.
Steve Davis meanwhile won his sixth and last UK title by defeating Jimmy White 16–14 in a classic match.

## Main draw

| Last 64 Best of 17 frames | Last 64 Best of 17 frames | Last 64 Best of 17 frames | Last 32 Best of 17 frames | Last 32 Best of 17 frames | Last 32 Best of 17 frames | Last 16 Best of 17 frames | Last 16 Best of 17 frames | Last 16 Best of 17 frames | | Quarter-finals Best of 17 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 17 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 17 frames | | Semi-finals Best of 17 frames | Semi-finals Best of 17 frames | Semi-finals Best of 17 frames | | Final Best of 31 frames | Final Best of 31 frames | Final Best of 31 frames |
| Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Warren King | Warren King | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Warren King | Warren King | 2 | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Peter Francisco | Peter Francisco | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Peter Francisco | Peter Francisco | 9 | Peter Francisco | Peter Francisco | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Eric Lawlor | Eric Lawlor | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Eric Lawlor | Eric Lawlor | 4 | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Alex Higgins | Alex Higgins | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Alex Higgins | Alex Higgins | 9 | | | | | | | Alex Higgins | Alex Higgins | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Duggan | Steve Duggan | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Duggan | Steve Duggan | 4 | Alex Higgins | Alex Higgins | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | David Taylor | David Taylor | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| David Taylor | David Taylor | 9 | David Taylor | David Taylor | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bob Chaperon | Bob Chaperon | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bob Chaperon | Bob Chaperon | 6 | | | | | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 9 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| John Parrott | John Parrott | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 5 | John Parrott | John Parrott | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Jim Wych | Jim Wych | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jim Wych | Jim Wych | 9 | Jim Wych | Jim Wych | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 7 | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 9 | | | | | | | Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Rea | John Rea | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Rea | John Rea | 6 | Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Kirk Stevens | Kirk Stevens | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Kirk Stevens | Kirk Stevens | 9 | Kirk Stevens | Kirk Stevens | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe O'Boye | Joe O'Boye | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe O'Boye | Joe O'Boye | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 9 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 2 | | | | |
| Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 2 | | | | |
| Les Dodd | Les Dodd | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Les Dodd | Les Dodd | 8 | Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 9 | Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Eddie Charlton | Eddie Charlton | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Eddie Charlton | Eddie Charlton | 8 | | | | Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 9 | | | | | | | Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bill Oliver | Bill Oliver | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bill Oliver | Bill Oliver | 3 | Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Tommy Murphy | Tommy Murphy | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tommy Murphy | Tommy Murphy | 9 | Tommy Murphy | Tommy Murphy | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 7 | | | | | | | | Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 9 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Cliff Thorburn | Cliff Thorburn | 8 | | | | | | | | |
| Martin Smith | Martin Smith | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | Cliff Thorburn | Cliff Thorburn | 8 | | | | | | | | |
| Doug Mountjoy | Doug Mountjoy | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Doug Mountjoy | Doug Mountjoy | 6 | Martin Smith | Martin Smith | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | John Campbell | John Campbell | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Campbell | John Campbell | 9 | John Campbell | John Campbell | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jim Chambers | Jim Chambers | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jim Chambers | Jim Chambers | 7 | | | | John Campbell | John Campbell | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Cliff Thorburn | Cliff Thorburn | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cliff Thorburn | Cliff Thorburn | 9 | | | | | | | Cliff Thorburn | Cliff Thorburn | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Graham Cripsey | Graham Cripsey | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Graham Cripsey | Graham Cripsey | 6 | Cliff Thorburn | Cliff Thorburn | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | John Virgo | John Virgo | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Virgo | John Virgo | 9 | John Virgo | John Virgo | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fred Davis | Fred Davis | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fred Davis | Fred Davis | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 16 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 14 |
| Danny Fowler | Danny Fowler | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 14 |
| Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 5 | Danny Fowler | Danny Fowler | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Graham Miles | Graham Miles | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Graham Miles | Graham Miles | 9 | Graham Miles | Graham Miles | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Spencer | John Spencer | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Spencer | John Spencer | 5 | | | | Danny Fowler | Danny Fowler | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 9 | | | | | | | Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Jones | Tony Jones | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Jones | Tony Jones | 2 | Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Tony Meo | Tony Meo | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Meo | Tony Meo | 9 | Tony Meo | Tony Meo | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paul Watchorn | Paul Watchorn | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paul Watchorn | Paul Watchorn | 1 | | | | | | | | Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 7 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 9 | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 9 | | | | | | | | |
| Dean Reynolds | Dean Reynolds | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dean Reynolds | Dean Reynolds | 5 | Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Steve Longworth | Steve Longworth | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Longworth | Steve Longworth | 9 | Steve Longworth | Steve Longworth | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bill Werbeniuk | Bill Werbeniuk | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bill Werbeniuk | Bill Werbeniuk | 5 | | | | Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 9 | | | | | | | Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jim Bear | Jim Bear | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jim Bear | Jim Bear | 5 | Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Barry West | Barry West | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Barry West | Barry West | 9 | Barry West | Barry West | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Marcel Gauvreau | Marcel Gauvreau | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Marcel Gauvreau | Marcel Gauvreau | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 4 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 9 | | | | |
| Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 9 | | | | |
| Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Ray Edmonds | Ray Edmonds | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ray Edmonds | Ray Edmonds | 9 | Ray Edmonds | Ray Edmonds | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Murdo MacLeod | Murdo MacLeod | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Murdo MacLeod | Murdo MacLeod | 4 | | | | Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Silvino Francisco | Silvino Francisco | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Silvino Francisco | Silvino Francisco | 9 | | | | | | | Silvino Francisco | Silvino Francisco | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ray Reardon | Ray Reardon | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ray Reardon | Ray Reardon | 3 | Silvino Francisco | Silvino Francisco | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Cliff Wilson | Cliff Wilson | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cliff Wilson | Cliff Wilson | 9 | Cliff Wilson | Cliff Wilson | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 5 | | | | | | | | Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 7 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 9 | | | | | | | | |
| David Roe | David Roe | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 9 | | | | | | | | |
| Rex Williams | Rex Williams | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rex Williams | Rex Williams | 7 | David Roe | David Roe | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Vic Harris | Vic Harris | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Vic Harris | Vic Harris | 9 | Vic Harris | Vic Harris | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Martin | Dave Martin | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Martin | Dave Martin | 7 | | | | David Roe | David Roe | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 9 | | | | | | | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Dunning | John Dunning | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Dunning | John Dunning | 0 | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Eugene Hughes | Eugene Hughes | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Eugene Hughes | Eugene Hughes | 9 | Eugene Hughes | Eugene Hughes | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nigel Gilbert | Nigel Gilbert | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Final

Final: Best of 31 frames. Referee: John Williams The Guild Hall, Preston, England, 28 and 29 November 1987. :
| Steve Davis England | 16–14 | Jimmy White England |
| First session: 112–20 (106), 9–91 (91), 56–77, 0–139 (139), 53–74 (58), 78–27 (55), 27–77 Second session: 67–53 (White 52), 84–14, 31–103, 107–13 (107), 98–0 (98), 5–107 (57, 50), 75–37 (75) Third session: 19–83, 16–67, 82–36, 81–44, 64–5, 73–0 (73), 16–75 (50) Fourth session: 8–68, 28–77 (70), 107–0 (100), 65–64 (White 58), 4–64, 111–3 (110), 16–63 (59), 121–0 (108), 59–42 |||
| 110 | Highest break | 139 |
| 5 | Century breaks | 1 |
| 9 | 50+ breaks | 10 |