# 1990 Classic (snooker)

The 1990 Mercantile Credit Classic was the eleventh edition of the professional snooker tournament which took place from 2–13 January 1990 with ITV coverage beginning on the 6th. The tournament was played at the Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool, Lancashire.
The semi-finals have been reduced to one session each of best of 11 frames and the final with two session with a best of 19 final. Steve James won his only ranking title beating Warren King of Australia 10–6 in a tournament of upsets which only 4 of the top 16 reaching their seeding places.

## 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 Duggan | Steve Duggan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Doug Mountjoy | Doug Mountjoy | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Doug Mountjoy | Doug Mountjoy | 4 | Steve Duggan | Steve Duggan | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Peter Francisco | Peter Francisco | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Peter Francisco | Peter Francisco | 5 | Peter Francisco | Peter Francisco | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Murdo MacLeod | Murdo MacLeod | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Murdo MacLeod | Murdo MacLeod | 2 | | | | Peter Francisco | Peter Francisco | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Meo | Tony Meo | 5 | | | | | | | Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tommy Murphy | Tommy Murphy | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tommy Murphy | Tommy Murphy | 2 | Tony Meo | Tony Meo | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 5 | Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paul Watchorn | Paul Watchorn | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paul Watchorn | Paul Watchorn | 2 | | | | | | | | Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Warren King | Warren King | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| John Virgo | John Virgo | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Warren King | Warren King | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Jon Wright | Jon Wright | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jon Wright | Jon Wright | 2 | John Virgo | John Virgo | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Jack McLaughlin | Jack McLaughlin | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jack McLaughlin | Jack McLaughlin | 5 | Jack McLaughlin | Jack McLaughlin | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| David Roe | David Roe | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| David Roe | David Roe | 2 | | | | John Virgo | John Virgo | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Warren King | Warren King | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Warren King | Warren King | 5 | | | | | | | Warren King | Warren King | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 1 | Warren King | Warren King | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Eddie Charlton | Eddie Charlton | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Eddie Charlton | Eddie Charlton | 5 | Eddie Charlton | Eddie Charlton | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bob Harris | Bob Harris | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bob Harris | Bob Harris | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | Warren King | Warren King | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Silvino Francisco | Silvino Francisco | 5 | | | | |
| Ian Brumby | Ian Brumby | w/o | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Silvino Francisco | Silvino Francisco | 5 | | | | |
| Jimmy White | Jimmy White | w/d | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jimmy White | Jimmy White | w/d | Ian Brumby | Ian Brumby | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Silvino Francisco | Silvino Francisco | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Silvino Francisco | Silvino Francisco | 5 | Silvino Francisco | Silvino Francisco | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Colin Roscoe | Colin Roscoe | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Colin Roscoe | Colin Roscoe | 1 | | | | Silvino Francisco | Silvino Francisco | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Mark Rowing | Mark Rowing | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dean Reynolds | Dean Reynolds | w/o | | | | | | | Mark Rowing | Mark Rowing | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jim Wych | Jim Wych | w/d | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jim Wych | Jim Wych | w/d | Dean Reynolds | Dean Reynolds | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Mark Rowing | Mark Rowing | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Rowing | Mark Rowing | 5 | Mark Rowing | Mark Rowing | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Barry West | Barry West | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Barry West | Barry West | 0 | | | | | | | | Silvino Francisco | Silvino Francisco | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| Nigel Gilbert | Nigel Gilbert | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 0 | Nigel Gilbert | Nigel Gilbert | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 5 | Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Andrew Cairns | Andrew Cairns | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Andrew Cairns | Andrew Cairns | 2 | | | | Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Jones | Tony Jones | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Jones | Tony Jones | 3 | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 5 | Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Danny Fowler | Danny Fowler | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Danny Fowler | Danny Fowler | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Warren King | Warren King | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Steve James | Steve James | 10 |
| John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Steve James | Steve James | 10 |
| Craig Edwards | Craig Edwards | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Craig Edwards | Craig Edwards | 2 | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Alex Higgins | Alex Higgins | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Alex Higgins | Alex Higgins | 5 | Alex Higgins | Alex Higgins | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Johnston-Allen | Mark Johnston-Allen | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Johnston-Allen | Mark Johnston-Allen | 0 | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Steve James | Steve James | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve James | Steve James | 5 | | | | | | | Steve James | Steve James | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jim Chambers | Jim Chambers | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jim Chambers | Jim Chambers | 4 | Steve James | Steve James | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Bob Chaperon | Bob Chaperon | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bob Chaperon | Bob Chaperon | 5 | Bob Chaperon | Bob Chaperon | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Brian Rowswell | Brian Rowswell | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Brian Rowswell | Brian Rowswell | 1 | | | | | | | | Steve James | Steve James | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| John Campbell | John Campbell | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 4 | John Campbell | John Campbell | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cliff Wilson | Cliff Wilson | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cliff Wilson | Cliff Wilson | 2 | | | | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 5 | | | | | | | Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Murphy | Stephen Murphy | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Murphy | Stephen Murphy | 1 | Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 5 | Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ray Edmonds | Ray Edmonds | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ray Edmonds | Ray Edmonds | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | Steve James | Steve James | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 4 | | | | |
| Cliff Thorburn | Cliff Thorburn | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 4 | | | | |
| Nick Terry | Nick Terry | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nick Terry | Nick Terry | 2 | Cliff Thorburn | Cliff Thorburn | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 5 | Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 4 | | | | Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Brian Morgan | Brian Morgan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| David Taylor | David Taylor | 5 | | | | | | | Brian Morgan | Brian Morgan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 1 | David Taylor | David Taylor | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Brian Morgan | Brian Morgan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Brian Morgan | Brian Morgan | 5 | Brian Morgan | Brian Morgan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Eugene Hughes | Eugene Hughes | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Eugene Hughes | Eugene Hughes | 1 | | | | | | | | Brian Morgan | Brian Morgan | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Bennett | Mark Bennett | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Bennett | Mark Bennett | 2 | Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 5 | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nick Dyson | Nick Dyson | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nick Dyson | Nick Dyson | 3 | | | | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 4 | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Rex Williams | Rex Williams | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rex Williams | Rex Williams | 5 | Rex Williams | Rex Williams | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Eddie Sinclair | Eddie Sinclair | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Final

Final: Best of 19 frames. Referee: . Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool, England, 13 January 1990. :
| Steve James England | 10–6 | Warren King Australia |
| First session: 74–47, 33–85, 72–16, 76–8 (59), 72–33, 53–63, 67–61 (50), 46–71 Second session: 26–61, 77–1, 101–12 (101), 35–71, 0–70 (68), 70–58 (70), 64–31, 75–13 (54) |||
| 101 | Highest break | 68 |
| 1 | Century breaks | 0 |
| 4 | 50+ breaks | 2 |

## Century breaks

(Including qualifying rounds)
* 141, 104, 101 – Steve James
* 126, 109 – Tony Drago
* 121 – Tommy Murphy
* 119 – Dennis Taylor
* 117 – Brian Morgan
* 116 – John Virgo
* 113 – Peter Francisco
* 111 – Martin Clark
* 106 – Steve Newbury
* 105 – Wayne Jones
* 102 – Cliff Thorburn
* 102 – Jim Wych
* 100 – Dene O'Kane