# 1983 Professional Players Tournament

The 1983 Professional Players Tournament was a professional ranking snooker tournament which took place between 3 September and 21 October 1983.
In a change from the previous year, the event was hosted at one venue, the 600-seater Redwood Lodge in Bristol. The following year, it would be renamed as the Grand Prix.
The event started on 10 October, the day after the finish of the International Open at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Cliff Thorburn, a finalist in the International Open, had to travel overnight to Bristol for his first match the following morning, but won against Vic Harris 5–1. World number one Steve Davis was beaten 5–2 at the last-32 stage by Mike Hallett.
Willie Thorne reached his first major semi-final after beating Eugene Hughes 5–2 in the quarter-finals. Hughes had reached the quarter-finals after beating Bill Werbeniuk 5–0 and then Terry Griffiths 5–2 at the last-16 stage.
Joe Johnson reached the first ranking final of his four-year professional career, defeating Pascal Burke, Jimmy White, Eddie Charlton, Cliff Thorburn and Tony Meo. His opponent Tony Knowles reached his second ranking final, overcoming Paul Medati, Rex Williams, Silvino Francisco, John Campbell and Willie Thorne.
In the final, Knowles dominated most of the match, building a 6–1 lead. Johnson then made the highest break of the tournament, a 135, in recovering to a score of 5–7 and eventually levelled the match at 8–8. Knowles won the deciding frame on the colours, to prevail 9–8, winning the first prize of £12,500. Johnson won £7,500 as runner-up and £1,000 for the high break prize.

## Main draw

| Last 64 Best of 9 frames | Last 64 Best of 9 frames | Last 32 Best of 9 frames | Last 32 Best of 9 frames | Last 16 Best of 9 frames | Last 16 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 |
| Ray Reardon (WAL) (1) | 5 | | | | | | |
| George Ganim (AUS) | 4 | | | | | | |
| George Ganim (AUS) | 4 | Ray Reardon (1) | 5 | | | | |
| | | Steve Duggan | 2 | | | | |
| Steve Duggan (ENG) | 5 | Steve Duggan | 2 | | | | |
| John Dunning (ENG) | 2 | | | | | | |
| John Dunning (ENG) | 2 | | | Ray Reardon (1) | 3 | | |
| | | | | Willie Thorne | 5 | | |
| Willie Thorne (ENG) | 5 | | | Willie Thorne | 5 | | |
| Clive Everton (WAL) | 1 | | | | | | |
| Clive Everton (WAL) | 1 | Willie Thorne | 5 | | | | |
| | | John Spencer (16) | 1 | | | | |
| John Spencer (ENG) (16) | 5 | John Spencer (16) | 1 | | | | |
| Ian Black (SCO) | 2 | | | | | | |
| Ian Black (SCO) | 2 | | | | | Willie Thorne | 5 |
| | | | | | | Eugene Hughes | 1 |
| Eugene Hughes (IRL) | 5 | | | | | Eugene Hughes | 1 |
| Eddie Sinclair (SCO) | 4 | | | | | | |
| Eddie Sinclair (SCO) | 4 | Eugene Hughes | 5 | | | | |
| | | Bill Werbeniuk (8) | 0 | | | | |
| Bill Werbeniuk (CAN) (8) | 5 | Bill Werbeniuk (8) | 0 | | | | |
| Tony Jones (ENG) | 4 | | | | | | |
| Tony Jones (ENG) | 4 | | | Eugene Hughes | 5 | | |
| | | | | Terry Griffiths (9) | 2 | | |
| Terry Griffiths (WAL) (9) | 5 | | | Terry Griffiths (9) | 2 | | |
| Les Dodd (ENG) | 1 | | | | | | |
| Les Dodd (ENG) | 1 | Terry Griffiths (9) | 5 | | | | |
| | | John Parrott | 1 | | | | |
| John Parrott (ENG) | 5 | John Parrott | 1 | | | | |
| Patsy Fagan (IRL) | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Patsy Fagan (IRL) | 2 | | | | | | | Willie Thorne | 7 |
| | | | | | | | | Tony Knowles (4) | 9 |
| Tony Knowles (ENG) (4) | 5 | | | | | | | Tony Knowles (4) | 9 |
| Paul Medati (ENG) | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Paul Medati (ENG) | 1 | Tony Knowles (4) | 5 | | | | | | |
| | | Rex Williams | 4 | | | | | | |
| Rex Williams (ENG) | 5 | Rex Williams | 4 | | | | | | |
| Dessie Sheehan (IRL) | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Dessie Sheehan (IRL) | 1 | | | Tony Knowles (4) | 5 | | | | |
| | | | | Silvino Francisco | 0 | | | | |
| Silvino Francisco (RSA) | 5 | | | Silvino Francisco | 0 | | | | |
| Mario Morra (CAN) | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Mario Morra (CAN) | 3 | Silvino Francisco | 5 | | | | | | |
| | | George Scott | 1 | | | | | | |
| George Scott (ENG) | 5 | George Scott | 1 | | | | | | |
| Dennis Taylor (NIR) (13) | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| Dennis Taylor (NIR) (13) | 4 | | | | | Tony Knowles (4) | 5 | | |
| | | | | | | John Campbell | 3 |
| John Campbell (AUS) | 5 | | | | | John Campbell | 3 |
| Doug Mountjoy (WAL) (12) | 3 | | | | | | |
| Doug Mountjoy (WAL) (12) | 3 | John Campbell | 5 | | | | |
| | | Graham Miles | 2 | | | | |
| Graham Miles (ENG) | 5 | Graham Miles | 2 | | | | |
| Marcel Gauvreau (CAN) | 3 | | | | | | |
| Marcel Gauvreau (CAN) | 3 | | | John Campbell | 5 | | |
| | | | | Dave Martin | 0 | | |
| Dave Martin (ENG) | 5 | | | Dave Martin | 0 | | |
| Jack Fitzmaurice (ENG) | 0 | | | | | | |
| Jack Fitzmaurice (ENG) | 0 | Dave Martin | 5 | | | | |
| | | Mike Watterson | 4 | | | | |
| Mike Watterson (ENG) | 5 | Mike Watterson | 4 | | | | |
| Alex Higgins (NIR) (5) | 2 | | | | | | |
| Last 64 Best of 9 frames | Last 64 Best of 9 frames | Last 32 Best of 9 frames | Last 32 Best of 9 frames | Last 16 Best of 9 frames | Last 16 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 |
| Joe Johnson (ENG) | 5 | | | | | | |
| Pascal Burke (IRL) | 3 | | | | | | |
| Pascal Burke (IRL) | 3 | Joe Johnson | 5 | | | | |
| | | Jimmy White (11) | 3 | | | | |
| Jimmy White (ENG) (11) | 5 | Jimmy White (11) | 3 | | | | |
| Ian Williamson (ENG) | 2 | | | | | | |
| Ian Williamson (ENG) | 2 | | | Joe Johnson | 5 | | |
| | | | | Eddie Charlton (6) | 0 | | |
| Eddie Charlton (AUS) (6) | 5 | | | Eddie Charlton (6) | 0 | | |
| Eddie McLaughlin (SCO) | 0 | | | | | | |
| Eddie McLaughlin (SCO) | 0 | Eddie Charlton (6) | 5 | | | | |
| | | Mick Fisher | 4 | | | | |
| Mick Fisher (ENG) | 5 | Mick Fisher | 4 | | | | |
| Fred Davis (ENG) | 4 | | | | | | |
| Fred Davis (ENG) | 4 | | | | | Joe Johnson | 5 |
| | | | | | | Cliff Thorburn (3) | 1 |
| Cliff Thorburn (CAN) (3) | 5 | | | | | Cliff Thorburn (3) | 1 |
| Vic Harris (ENG) | 1 | | | | | | |
| Vic Harris (ENG) | 1 | Cliff Thorburn (3) | 5 | | | | |
| | | Jim Meadowcroft | 1 | | | | |
| Jim Meadowcroft (ENG) | 5 | Jim Meadowcroft | 1 | | | | |
| Colin Roscoe (WAL) | 4 | | | | | | |
| Colin Roscoe (WAL) | 4 | | | Cliff Thorburn (3) | 5 | | |
| | | | | Cliff Wilson | 3 | | |
| Cliff Wilson (WAL) | 5 | | | Cliff Wilson | 3 | | |
| Bernard Bennett (ENG) | 1 | | | | | | |
| Bernard Bennett (ENG) | 1 | Cliff Wilson | 5 | | | | |
| | | John Virgo (14) | 1 | | | | |
| John Virgo (ENG) (14) | 5 | John Virgo (14) | 1 | | | | |
| Doug French (ENG) | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| Doug French (ENG) | 4 | | | | | | | Joe Johnson | 9 |
| | | | | | | | | Tony Meo (15) | 6 |
| Tony Meo (ENG) (15) | 5 | | | | | | | Tony Meo (15) | 6 |
| Warren King (AUS) | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Warren King (AUS) | 2 | Tony Meo (15) | 5 | | | | | | |
| | | Dean Reynolds | 0 | | | | | | |
| Dean Reynolds (ENG) | 5 | Dean Reynolds | 0 | | | | | | |
| David Greaves (ENG) | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| David Greaves (ENG) | 1 | | | Tony Meo (15) | 5 | | | | |
| | | | | Mike Hallett | 3 | | | | |
| Mike Hallett (ENG) | 5 | | | Mike Hallett | 3 | | | | |
| Billy Kelly (IRL) | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| Billy Kelly (IRL) | 4 | Mike Hallett | 5 | | | | | | |
| | | Steve Davis (2) | 2 | | | | | | |
| Steve Davis (ENG) (2) | 5 | Steve Davis (2) | 2 | | | | | | |
| Jim Donnelly (SCO) | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Jim Donnelly (SCO) | 1 | | | | | Tony Meo (15) | 5 | | |
| | | | | | | Kirk Stevens (7) | 3 |
| Kirk Stevens (CAN) (7) | 5 | | | | | Kirk Stevens (7) | 3 |
| Ray Edmonds (ENG) | 1 | | | | | | |
| Ray Edmonds (ENG) | 1 | Kirk Stevens (7) | 5 | | | | |
| | | Tommy Murphy | 1 | | | | |
| Tommy Murphy (NIR) | 5 | Tommy Murphy | 1 | | | | |
| Murdo MacLeod (SCO) | 0 | | | | | | |
| Murdo MacLeod (SCO) | 0 | | | Kirk Stevens (7) | 5 | | |
| | | | | Mark Wildman | 0 | | |
| Mark Wildman (ENG) | 5 | | | Mark Wildman | 0 | | |
| Frank Jonik (CAN) | 4 | | | | | | |
| Frank Jonik (CAN) | 4 | Mark Wildman | 5 | | | | |
| | | David Taylor (10) | 3 | | | | |
| David Taylor (ENG) (10) | 5 | David Taylor (10) | 3 | | | | |
| Paddy Morgan (AUS) | 3 | | | | | | |

## Final

Final: Best of 17 frames. Redwood Lodge, Bristol, England, 21 October 1983. :
| Tony Knowles England | 9–8 | Joe Johnson England |
| 92–22, 80–16, 67–41, 26–81, 84–17, 82–18, 62–17, 0–135 (135), 58–61, 28–63, 78–32, 17–100, 76–0, 39–90, 9–76, 14–93, 73–33 |||
| 75 | Highest break | 135 |
| 0 | Century breaks | 1 |

## Century breaks

* 135, 117, 111 – Joe Johnson
* 122 – John Campbell
* 112, 100 – Eugene Hughes
* 102 – Tony Knowles