# 1991 Classic (snooker)

The 1991 Mercantile Credit Classic was the twelfth edition of the professional snooker tournament which took place from 1–12 January 1991 with ITV coverage beginning on the 5th. The tournament has now been moved to the Bournemouth International Centre in Dorset after 4 years in Blackpool.
Jimmy White won his second Classic title beating Stephen Hendry 10–4 in the final. This was the second time in a month White beat Hendry in a major final after the World Matchplay. He led 9–0, one frame from a rare "whitewash" final win. Hendry avoided this by winning 4 in a row. White closed the match out 10–4.

## 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 11 frames | Semi-finals Best of 11 frames | Semi-finals Best of 11 frames | | Final Best of 19 frames | Final Best of 19 frames | Final Best of 19 frames |
| Steve James | Steve James | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Campbell | John Campbell | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Campbell | John Campbell | 5 | John Campbell | John Campbell | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 5 | Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paddy Browne | Paddy Browne | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paddy Browne | Paddy Browne | 3 | | | | Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 5 | | | | | | | Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Andrew Cairns | Andrew Cairns | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Andrew Cairns | Andrew Cairns | 4 | Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Virgo | John Virgo | 3 | Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 5 | | | | | | | | Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Jack McLaughlin | Jack McLaughlin | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jack McLaughlin | Jack McLaughlin | 3 | Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Barry West | Barry West | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Barry West | Barry West | 5 | Barry West | Barry West | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Pat Houlihan | Pat Houlihan | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Pat Houlihan | Pat Houlihan | 0 | | | | Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | w/o | | | | | | | Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe O'Boye | Joe O'Boye | w/d | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe O'Boye | Joe O'Boye | w/d | Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 5 | Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 4 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 6 | | | | |
| Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 6 | | | | |
| Ian Williamson | Ian Williamson | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ian Williamson | Ian Williamson | 2 | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Jonathan Birch | Jonathan Birch | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jonathan Birch | Jonathan Birch | 5 | Jonathan Birch | Jonathan Birch | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Silvino Francisco | Silvino Francisco | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Silvino Francisco | Silvino Francisco | 4 | | | | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Alain Robidoux | Alain Robidoux | 5 | | | | | | | Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bill Oliver | Bill Oliver | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bill Oliver | Bill Oliver | 0 | Alain Robidoux | Alain Robidoux | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 5 | Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 3 | | | | | | | | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Mario Morra | Mario Morra | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mario Morra | Mario Morra | 2 | John Parrott | John Parrott | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Eddie Charlton | Eddie Charlton | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Eddie Charlton | Eddie Charlton | 5 | Eddie Charlton | Eddie Charlton | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nigel Gilbert | Nigel Gilbert | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nigel Gilbert | Nigel Gilbert | 3 | | | | Eddie Charlton | Eddie Charlton | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jason Prince | Jason Prince | 5 | | | | | | | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Peter Francisco | Peter Francisco | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Peter Francisco | Peter Francisco | 1 | Jason Prince | Jason Prince | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 5 | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dean Reynolds | Dean Reynolds | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dean Reynolds | Dean Reynolds | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 10 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 4 |
| Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 4 |
| Ken Owers | Ken Owers | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ken Owers | Ken Owers | 1 | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Cliff Wilson | Cliff Wilson | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cliff Wilson | Cliff Wilson | 5 | Cliff Wilson | Cliff Wilson | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Rea | John Rea | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Rea | John Rea | 3 | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 5 | | | | | | | Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nick Dyson | Nick Dyson | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nick Dyson | Nick Dyson | 3 | Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Ian Graham | Ian Graham | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ian Graham | Ian Graham | 5 | Ian Graham | Ian Graham | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cliff Thorburn | Cliff Thorburn | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cliff Thorburn | Cliff Thorburn | 3 | | | | | | | | Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Les Dodd | Les Dodd | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Les Dodd | Les Dodd | 4 | Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Matt Smith | Matt Smith | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Matt Smith | Matt Smith | 2 | | | | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | James Wattana | James Wattana | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Doug Mountjoy | Doug Mountjoy | 5 | | | | | | | James Wattana | James Wattana | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rex Williams | Rex Williams | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rex Williams | Rex Williams | 3 | Doug Mountjoy | Doug Mountjoy | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | James Wattana | James Wattana | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| James Wattana | James Wattana | 5 | James Wattana | James Wattana | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Warren King | Warren King | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Warren King | Warren King | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 4 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 6 | | | | |
| Bob Chaperon | Bob Chaperon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 6 | | | | |
| Jason Smith | Jason Smith | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jason Smith | Jason Smith | 1 | Bob Chaperon | Bob Chaperon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Mark Bennett | Mark Bennett | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Bennett | Mark Bennett | 5 | Mark Bennett | Mark Bennett | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 2 | | | | Bob Chaperon | Bob Chaperon | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 5 | | | | | | | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Grech | Joe Grech | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Grech | Joe Grech | 1 | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 5 | Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jim Wych | Jim Wych | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jim Wych | Jim Wych | 2 | | | | | | | | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Longworth | Steve Longworth | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Longworth | Steve Longworth | 3 | Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | David Roe | David Roe | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| David Roe | David Roe | 5 | David Roe | David Roe | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Meo | Tony Meo | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Meo | Tony Meo | 4 | | | | Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Jones | Tony Jones | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Jones | Tony Jones | 3 | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Danny Fowler | Danny Fowler | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Danny Fowler | Danny Fowler | 5 | Danny Fowler | Danny Fowler | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mick Price | Mick Price | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Final

Final: Best of 19 frames. Referee: John Street Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth, England, 12 January 1991. :
| Jimmy White England | 10–4 | Stephen Hendry Scotland |
| First session: 66–55, 62–53 (White 62, Hendry 53), 95–13, 70–24 (60), 83–24 (51), 85–20 (50), 72–9, 75–20 Second session: 59–55, 16–81 (70), 33–62, 38–79, 24–61 (54), 70–13 |||
| 62 | Highest break | 70 |
| 0 | Century breaks | 0 |
| 4 | 50+ breaks | 3 |

## Century breaks

(Including qualifying rounds)
* 135 – Tony Chappel
* 131, 126 – Ken Doherty
* 124 – Brian Morgan
* 112 – Tony Jones
* 112 – Kirk Stevens
* 110 – Stephen Hendry
* 108, 104 – Neal Foulds
* 108 – James Wattana
* 108 – Terry Whitthread
* 106, 101 – Tony Drago
* 106 – Mark Bennett
* 102 – Alan McManus