# 1981–82 snooker season

The 1981–82 snooker season was a series of snooker tournaments played between 25 June 1981 and 29 May 1982. The following table outlines the results for ranking events and the invitational events.

## New professional players

In January 1981, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) accepted Eugene Hughes, Mike Watterson, Paul Medati, Jack Fitzmaurice and Dessie Sheehan were accepted. Billy Kelly and Mick Fisher applied but were rejected.
In April 1981, a further thirteen players turned professional: Ian Black, Bert Demarco, Jim Donnelly, Clive Everton, Geoff Foulds, Doug French, Matt Gibson, Vic Harris, Dennis Hughes, Billy Kelly, Eddie McLaughlin, Murdo MacLeod and Colin Roscoe, were accepted, but Williamson and Tony Graham were not.
Dean Reynolds, Gary Johnston, and John Phillips were accepted in the September intake, when four players, including Paul Watchorn and Tony Kearney, were unsuccessful with their applications.

## Calendar

| Date | Date | | Rank | Tournament name | Venue | City | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
| 06-25 | 06-27 | AUS | NR | Australian Masters | Channel 10 Television Studios | Sydney | Tony Meo | John Spencer | |
| 09-14 | 09-20 | ENG | NR | International Open | Assembly Rooms | Derby | Steve Davis | Dennis Taylor | 9–0 |
| 09-22 | 09-25 | SCO | NR | Scottish Masters | Kelvin Hall | Glasgow | Jimmy White | Cliff Thorburn | 9–4 |
| 10-24 | 11-01 | ENG | TE | World Team Classic | Hexagon Theatre | Reading | England | Wales | 4–3 |
| 11-03 | 11-07 | NIR | NR | Northern Ireland Classic | Ulster Hall | Belfast | Jimmy White | Steve Davis | 11–9 |
| 11-22 | 12-05 | ENG | NR | UK Championship | Guild Hall | Preston | Steve Davis | Terry Griffiths | 16–3 |
| 12-28 | 12-31 | ENG | NR | Pot Black | BBC Studios | Birmingham | Steve Davis | Eddie Charlton | 2–0 |
| 01-10 | 01-13 | ENG | NR | The Classic | Civic Centre | Oldham | Terry Griffiths | Steve Davis | 9–8 |
| 01-26 | 01-31 | ENG | NR | The Masters | Wembley Conference Centre | London | Steve Davis | Terry Griffiths | 9–5 |
| 02-22 | 02-24 | ENG | NR | Tolly Cobbold Classic | Corn Exchange | Ipswich | Steve Davis | Dennis Taylor | 8–3 |
| 02-24 | 02-28 | WAL | NR | Welsh Professional Championship | Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre | Ebbw Vale | Doug Mountjoy | Terry Griffiths | 9–8 |
| 03-01 | 03-07 | ENG | NR | International Masters | Assembly Rooms | Derby | Steve Davis | Terry Griffiths | 9–7 |
| 03-05 | 03-07 | SCO | NR | Scottish Professional Championship | Glen Pavilion | Dunfermline | Eddie Sinclair | Ian Black | 11–7 |
| 03-09 | 03-13 | NIR | NR | Irish Professional Championship | Riverside Theatre | Coleraine | Dennis Taylor | Alex Higgins | 16–13 |
| 03-23 | 03-28 | IRL | NR | Irish Masters | Goff's | Kill | Terry Griffiths | Steve Davis | 9–5 |
| 04-16 | 04-18 | SCO | NR | Highland Masters | Eden Court Theatre | Inverness | Ray Reardon | John Spencer | 11–4 |
| 04-30 | 05-16 | ENG | WR | World Snooker Championship | Crucible Theatre | Sheffield | Alex Higgins | Ray Reardon | 18–15 |
| 05-22 | 05-28 | WAL | NR | Pontins Professional | Pontins | Prestatyn | Steve Davis | Ray Reardon | 9–4 |
| 05-29 | 05-29 | ENG | NR | Bass and Golden Leisure Classic | Liverpool Centre | Liverpool | Rex Williams | Ray Edmonds | 4–1 |
* WR = World ranking event
* NR = Non-ranking event
* TE = Team event

## Official rankings

The top 16 of the world rankings, these players automatically played in the final rounds of the World Snooker Championship and were invited for the Masters.
| No. | Name |
| 1 | Cliff Thorburn |
| 2 | Steve Davis |
| 3 | Terry Griffiths |
| 4 | Ray Reardon |
| 5 | Dennis Taylor |
| 6 | Doug Mountjoy |
| 7 | David Taylor |
| 8 | Eddie Charlton |
| 9 | Bill Werbeniuk |
| 10 | Kirk Stevens |
| 11 | Alex Higgins |
| 12 | Fred Davis |
| 13 | John Virgo |
| 14 | John Spencer |
| 15 | Perrie Mans |
| 16 | Graham Miles |