# 1986 UK Championship

The 1986 UK Championship (officially the 1986 Tennent's UK Championship) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 22 and 30 November 1986 at the Guild Hall in Preston, England. Scottish brewing company Tennent's took over as sponsors of the UK Championship when Coral withdrew their sponsorship after eight years.
Steve Davis won his fifth UK title by defeating Neal Foulds 16–7 in the final; Foulds had won the International Open two months earlier. Winning the top prize of £60,000, Davis achieved a personal landmark with his victory as it took his career winnings above £1 million. The highest break of the tournament was a 144 made by Jimmy White.
The event is more remembered for Alex Higgins headbutting the Tournament Director Paul Hatherell following his last 16 victory against Mike Hallett. The incident threatening him to be removed from the tournament but he stayed and after defeating Wayne Jones in the quarter finals, he lost 3-9 to Steve Davis in the semi-final. Higgins was later fined £12,000 and banned from five subsequent tournaments.

## 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 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 7 | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Eddie Charlton | Eddie Charlton | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Eddie Charlton | Eddie Charlton | 9 | Eddie Charlton | Eddie Charlton | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Vic Harris | Vic Harris | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Vic Harris | Vic Harris | 2 | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Dean Reynolds | Dean Reynolds | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Silvino Francisco | Silvino Francisco | 9 | | | | | | | Dean Reynolds | Dean Reynolds | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ken Owers | Ken Owers | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ken Owers | Ken Owers | 3 | Silvino Francisco | Silvino Francisco | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Dean Reynolds | Dean Reynolds | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dean Reynolds | Dean Reynolds | 9 | Dean Reynolds | Dean Reynolds | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bernie Mikkelsen | Bernie Mikkelsen | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bernie Mikkelsen | Bernie Mikkelsen | 6 | | | | | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 9 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 8 | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 8 | | | | | | | | |
| Rex Williams | Rex Williams | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rex Williams | Rex Williams | 7 | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | John Virgo | John Virgo | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Virgo | John Virgo | 9 | John Virgo | John Virgo | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Graham Miles | Graham Miles | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Graham Miles | Graham Miles | 7 | | | | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 9 | | | | | | | Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tommy Murphy | Tommy Murphy | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tommy Murphy | Tommy Murphy | 4 | Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Robbie Grace | Robbie Grace | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Robbie Grace | Robbie Grace | 9 | Robbie Grace | Robbie Grace | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Murdo MacLeod | Murdo MacLeod | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Murdo MacLeod | Murdo MacLeod | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 9 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Alex Higgins | Alex Higgins | 3 | | | | |
| Alex Higgins | Alex Higgins | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Alex Higgins | Alex Higgins | 3 | | | | |
| Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 8 | Alex Higgins | Alex Higgins | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Dave Martin | Dave Martin | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Martin | Dave Martin | 9 | Dave Martin | Dave Martin | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ian Williamson | Ian Williamson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ian Williamson | Ian Williamson | 5 | | | | Alex Higgins | Alex Higgins | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Meo | Tony Meo | 9 | | | | | | | Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe O'Boye | Joe O'Boye | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe O'Boye | Joe O'Boye | 8 | Tony Meo | Tony Meo | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 9 | Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Warren King | Warren King | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Warren King | Warren King | 5 | | | | | | | | Alex Higgins | Alex Higgins | 9 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Ray Reardon | Ray Reardon | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Matt Gibson | Matt Gibson | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Matt Gibson | Matt Gibson | 6 | Ray Reardon | Ray Reardon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Eugene Hughes | Eugene Hughes | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Eugene Hughes | Eugene Hughes | 9 | Eugene Hughes | Eugene Hughes | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Colin Roscoe | Colin Roscoe | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Colin Roscoe | Colin Roscoe | 8 | | | | Eugene Hughes | Eugene Hughes | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 9 | | | | | | | Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| David Roe | David Roe | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| David Roe | David Roe | 5 | Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 9 | Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Campbell | John Campbell | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Campbell | John Campbell | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 16 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 7 |
| Cliff Thorburn | Cliff Thorburn | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 7 |
| Danny Fowler | Danny Fowler | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Danny Fowler | Danny Fowler | 7 | Cliff Thorburn | Cliff Thorburn | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | David Taylor | David Taylor | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| David Taylor | David Taylor | 9 | David Taylor | David Taylor | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bob Chaperon | Bob Chaperon | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bob Chaperon | Bob Chaperon | 8 | | | | Cliff Thorburn | Cliff Thorburn | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | John Spencer | John Spencer | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Kirk Stevens | Kirk Stevens | 9 | | | | | | | John Spencer | John Spencer | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| George Scott | George Scott | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| George Scott | George Scott | 2 | Kirk Stevens | Kirk Stevens | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | John Spencer | John Spencer | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Spencer | John Spencer | 9 | John Spencer | John Spencer | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cliff Wilson | Cliff Wilson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cliff Wilson | Cliff Wilson | 5 | | | | | | | | Cliff Thorburn | Cliff Thorburn | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 9 | | | | | | | | |
| Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 9 | | | | | | | | |
| Graham Cripsey | Graham Cripsey | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Graham Cripsey | Graham Cripsey | 7 | Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Jim Wych | Jim Wych | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jim Wych | Jim Wych | 9 | Jim Wych | Jim Wych | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bob Harris | Bob Harris | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bob Harris | Bob Harris | 6 | | | | Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 9 | | | | | | | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ray Edmonds | Ray Edmonds | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ray Edmonds | Ray Edmonds | 4 | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Peter Francisco | Peter Francisco | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Peter Francisco | Peter Francisco | 9 | Peter Francisco | Peter Francisco | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mike Watterson | Mike Watterson | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mike Watterson | Mike Watterson | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 9 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 3 | | | | |
| Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 3 | | | | |
| John Rea | John Rea | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Rea | John Rea | 4 | Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Tony Jones | Tony Jones | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Jones | Tony Jones | 9 | Tony Jones | Tony Jones | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Barry West | Barry West | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Barry West | Barry West | 4 | | | | Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 9 | | | | | | | Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paul Gibson | Paul Gibson | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paul Gibson | Paul Gibson | 3 | Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 9 | Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bill Werbeniuk | Bill Werbeniuk | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bill Werbeniuk | Bill Werbeniuk | 5 | | | | | | | | Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 9 | | | | | | | | |
| Doug Mountjoy | Doug Mountjoy | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 9 | | | | | | | | |
| Jack McLaughlin | Jack McLaughlin | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jack McLaughlin | Jack McLaughlin | 6 | Doug Mountjoy | Doug Mountjoy | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Steve Longworth | Steve Longworth | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Longworth | Steve Longworth | 9 | Steve Longworth | Steve Longworth | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Brian Rowswell | Brian Rowswell | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Brian Rowswell | Brian Rowswell | 3 | | | | Steve Longworth | Steve Longworth | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 9 | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jon Wright | Jon Wright | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jon Wright | Jon Wright | 1 | Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Parrott | John Parrott | 9 | John Parrott | John Parrott | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Malcolm Bradley | Malcolm Bradley | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Final

Final: Best of 31 frames. Referee: John Street The Guild Hall, Preston, England, 29 and 30 November 1986. :
| Steve Davis England | 16–7 | Neal Foulds England |
| First session: 20–64 (63), 39–90 (53), 62–19, 79–39, 79–15, 71–59, 53–57 Second session: 104–0 (104), 9–63, 53–43, 82–20 (61), 80–1 (80), 96–38 (65), 123–0 (56, 67) Third session: 18–80 (67), 78–70 (Foulds 56), 110–0 (110), 24–81, 65–28, 76–45 (59), 56–75 Fourth session: 124–0 (124), 75–0 (66) |||
| 124 | Highest break | 67 |
| 3 | Century breaks | 0 |
| 10 | 50+ breaks | 4 |