# 1980–81 snooker season

The 1980–81 snooker season was a series of snooker tournaments played between 18 June 1980 and 16 May 1981. The following table outlines the results for the ranking and the invitational events.

## New professional players

In February 1980, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) accepted the application of Tony Knowles to become a professional from the 1980–81 season, and rejected Eugene Hughes and Ian Williamson. Jimmy White, the 1979 English Amateur Champion, opted to remain as an amateur until after the 1980 World Amateur Championship; he became a professional after winning it in November 1980. Dave Martin won the 1980 Professional Ticket Event. Jim Rempe became a professional in 1980 and played in the 1980 World Challenge Cup but he did not participate in a singles event until the 1985 Matchroom Trophy. Knowles, White, and Martin all made their World Snooker Championship debuts at the 1981 edition.
The new professionals were, therefore:
* Tony Knowles (ENG)
* Jimmy White (ENG)
* Dave Martin (ENG)
* Jim Rempe (USA)

## Calendar

| Date | Date | | Rank | Tournament name | Venue | City | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
| 06-18 | 06-20 | AUS | NR | Australian Masters | Channel 10 Television Studios | Sydney | John Spencer | Dennis Taylor | |
| 08-13 | 08-31 | CAN | NR | Canadian Open | Canadian National Exhibition Stadium | Toronto | Cliff Thorburn | Terry Griffiths | 17–10 |
| 10-02 | 10-12 | ENG | NR | Champion of Champions | New London Theatre | London | Doug Mountjoy | John Virgo | 10–8 |
| 10-18 | 10-26 | ENG | TE | World Challenge Cup | New London Theatre | London | Wales | Canada | 8–5 |
| 11-16 | 11-29 | ENG | NR | UK Championship | Guild Hall | Preston | Steve Davis | Alex Higgins | 16–6 |
| 12-01 | 12-02 | ENG | NR | The Classic | Blighty's | Farnworth | Steve Davis | Dennis Taylor | 4–1 |
| 12-07 | 12-13 | ENG | TQ | Professional Ticket Event | Snooker Centre | Sheffield | Dave Martin | Eugene Hughes | 9–6 |
| 12-28 | 12-31 | ENG | NR | Pot Black | BBC Studios | Birmingham | Cliff Thorburn | Jim Wych | 2–0 |
| 01-27 | 02-01 | ENG | NR | The Masters | Wembley Conference Centre | London | Alex Higgins | Terry Griffiths | 9–6 |
| 02-05 | 02-08 | WAL | NR | Welsh Professional Championship | Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre | Ebbw Vale | Ray Reardon | Cliff Wilson | 9–6 |
| 02-18 | 02-21 | IRL | NR | Irish Masters | Goff's | Kill | Terry Griffiths | Ray Reardon | 9–7 |
| 02-24 | 02-25 | ENG | NR | Tolly Cobbold Classic | Corn Exchange | Ipswich | Graham Miles | Cliff Thorburn | 5–1 |
| 03-02 | 03-08 | ENG | NR | Yamaha Organs Trophy | Assembly Rooms | Derby | Steve Davis | David Taylor | 9–6 |
| 03-12 | 03-14 | NIR | NR | Irish Professional Championship | Riverside Theatre | Coleraine | Dennis Taylor | Patsy Fagan | 22–21 |
| 03-08 | 03-15 | ENG | NR | English Professional Championship | Haden Hill Leisure Centre | Birmingham | Steve Davis | Tony Meo | 9–3 |
| 03-?? | 03-?? | SCO | NR | Scottish Professional Championship | Cumbernauld Theatre | Kildrum | Ian Black | Matt Gibson | 11–7 |
| 04-07 | 04-20 | ENG | WR | World Snooker Championship | Crucible Theatre | Sheffield | Steve Davis | Doug Mountjoy | 18–12 |
| 05-09 | 05-16 | WAL | NR | Pontins Professional | Pontins | Prestatyn | Terry Griffiths | Willie Thorne | 9–8 |
* WR = World ranking event
* NR = Non-ranking event
* TE = Team event
* TQ = Tour qualifier

## Official rankings

The top 16 of the world rankings.
| No. | Name |
| 1 | Ray Reardon |
| 2 | Cliff Thorburn |
| 3 | Eddie Charlton |
| 4 | Alex Higgins |
| 5 | Terry Griffiths |
| 6 | Dennis Taylor |
| 7 | Perrie Mans |
| 8 | Fred Davis |
| 9 | David Taylor |
| 10 | Bill Werbeniuk |
| 11 | Kirk Stevens |
| 12 | John Virgo |
| 13 | Steve Davis |
| 14 | Doug Mountjoy |
| 15 | John Spencer |
| 16 | Graham Miles |