View source for Irish Masters

{{Short description|Professional snooker tournament}}
{{Distinguish|Irish Open (snooker)|Irish Professional Championship}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}

{{Infobox snooker tournament
|tournament_name = Irish Masters
|image = 
|venue = Ormonde Hotel
|location = [[Kilkenny]]
|country = Ireland
|establishment = 1975
|organisation = [[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association]]
|format = Non-[[Snooker world rankings|ranking]] event
|prizefund = 
|final year= 2007
|Current Champion =
|Final Champion = {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]] 
}}
The '''Irish Masters''' was a professional [[snooker]] tournament. It was founded in 1978, following on from the successful '''Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament''' (alternatively known as the '''Benson & Hedges Ireland Championship'''). The final champion of the tournament was [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]].

==History==
===Early events===
The event started out in 1975 as the '''[[Benson & Hedges]] Challenge Match''' between [[Alex Higgins]] and [[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]. The match initially carried a £250 prize for the winner and £150 for the runner-up, but both players agreed to a "winner-takes-all" format. Spencer scored two centuries (a 121 and a 109) and despite Higgins leading 7–5, Spencer won four frames in a row to win.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19750526/328/0017|title=Spencer "breaks" Higgins|date=26 May 1975|work=Belfast Telegraph|page=17}}</ref> In 1976 and 1977 it was expanded to a four-man invitational event, called the '''Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament'''.

===Irish Masters===
In 1978 the tournament was renamed the '''Irish Masters''' and continued as an ever-present fixture on the snooker calendar until 2005. [[Benson & Hedges]] continued their sponsorship with the tournament being played at Goffs, [[County Kildare]]. After tobacco sponsorship was outlawed in the Ireland in 2000, the Irish government funded the event from 2001 and it was subsequently relocated to the [[Citywest Hotel]], [[Saggart]], County Dublin. The tournament was staged on an invitational basis for most of its existence but became a [[Snooker world rankings|ranking]] tournament from the [[Snooker season 2002/2003|2002/03 season]]. The event was dropped from the calendar in the [[Snooker season 2005/2006|2005/2006 season]].<ref name="Irish Masters">{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Chris|title=Irish Masters|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/irishmast.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155735/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/irishmast.html|archive-date=16 February 2012|publisher=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive|access-date=18 November 2010}}</ref> In [[2007 Irish Masters|2007]], a three-day invitational event known as the '''Kilkenny Irish Masters''' was staged with 16 players. It attracted a strong field with 9 of the world's top 16 players taking part, with [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]] winning the title.<ref name="Kilkenny Irish Masters">{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Chris|title=Kilkenny Irish Masters|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/misc4.html#Kilkenny|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155703/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/misc4.html#Kilkenny|archive-date=16 February 2012|publisher=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive|access-date=18 November 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=O'Sullivan drives Hawkins to drink|date=12 March 2007 |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/2007/0312/snooker.html|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|access-date=18 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070328130117/http://www.rte.ie/sport/2007/0312/snooker.html|archive-date=28 March 2007}}</ref>

The tournament was dominated most of all by [[Steve Davis]], who won it eight times. It was won by Irish players on two occasions, [[Alex Higgins]] in 1989 and [[Ken Doherty]] in 1998. Doherty claimed the title despite losing in the final 3–9 against [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]], as O'Sullivan subsequently failed a drugs test after testing positive for [[cannabis]].<ref name=IT1998-07-07a>{{cite web|title=O'Sullivan stripped of Irish title|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/o-sullivan-stripped-of-irish-title-1.170751|publisher=The Irish Times|author=Ian O'Riordan|date=7 July 1998|access-date=21 November 2017}}</ref> There was only one official [[maximum break]] in the history of the tournament. John Higgins made it in the quarter-finals of the 2000 event against [[Jimmy White]].<ref name="Irish Masters"/> There has been one further maximum break in 2007 by O'Sullivan,<ref>{{cite news|title=O'Sullivan notches 147 in Ireland|date=10 March 2007 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/6438505.stm|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|access-date=20 December 2012}}</ref> but it is not included in the list of official maximum breaks, as the table was not to the required standards used on the professional circuit.<ref>{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Chris|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Max.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210111304/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Max.html|archive-date=10 February 2013|title=Maximum Breaks|work=cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk|publisher=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive|access-date=2 April 2010}}</ref>

==Winners==

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: auto"
|-
! style="text-align: center; background-color: #00af00" | Year
! style="text-align: left; background-color: #00af00" | Winner
! style="text-align: left; background-color: #00af00" | Runner-up
! style="text-align: left; background-color: #00af00" | Final score
! style="text-align: left; background-color: #00af00" | Venue
! style="text-align: left; background-color: #00af00" | Season
|-
! colspan=6 style="text-align: center; background-color: #c0ffc0" | Benson & Hedges Challenge Match (non-ranking)<ref name="Irish Masters"/>
|-
| 1975
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]
| {{flagicon|NIR}} [[Alex Higgins]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–7
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Dublin]]
| [[Snooker season 1974/1975|1974/75]]
|-
! colspan=6 style="text-align: center; background-color: #c0ffc0" | Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament (non-ranking)<ref name="Irish Masters"/>
|-
| [[1976 Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament|1976]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]
| {{flagicon|NIR}} [[Alex Higgins]]
| style="text-align: center" | 5–0
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Dublin]]
| [[Snooker season 1975/1976|1975/76]]
|-
| [[1977 Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament|1977]]
| {{flagicon|NIR}} [[Alex Higgins]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Ray Reardon]]
| style="text-align: center" | 5–3
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Leopardstown]]
| [[Snooker season 1976/1977|1976/77]]
|-
! colspan=6 style="text-align: center; background-color: #c0ffc0" | Irish Masters (non-ranking)<ref name="Irish Masters"/><ref name="Snooker.org HOF">{{cite web|title=Hall of Fame|url=http://snooker.org/trn/hof.asp?pEvent=Irish%20M|publisher=Snooker.org|access-date=22 June 2013}}</ref>
|-
| [[1978 Irish Masters|1978]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Doug Mountjoy]]
| style="text-align: center" | 5–3
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1977/1978|1977/78]]
|-
| [[1979 Irish Masters|1979]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Doug Mountjoy]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Ray Reardon]]
| style="text-align: center" | 6–5
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1978/1979|1978/79]]
|-
| [[1980 Irish Masters|1980]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Terry Griffiths]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Doug Mountjoy]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–8
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1979/1980|1979/80]]
|-
| [[1981 Irish Masters|1981]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Terry Griffiths]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Ray Reardon]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–7
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1980/1981|1980/81]]
|-
| [[1982 Irish Masters|1982]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Terry Griffiths]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve Davis]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–5
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1981/1982|1981/82]]
|-
| [[1983 Irish Masters|1983]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve Davis]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Ray Reardon]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–2
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1982/1983|1982/83]]
|-
| [[1984 Irish Masters|1984]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve Davis]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Terry Griffiths]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–1
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1983/1984|1983/84]]
|-
| [[1985 Irish Masters|1985]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jimmy White]]
| {{flagicon|NIR}} [[Alex Higgins]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–5
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1984/1985|1984/85]]
|-
| [[1986 Irish Masters|1986]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jimmy White]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Willie Thorne]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–5
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1985/1986|1985/86]]
|-
| [[1987 Irish Masters|1987]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve Davis]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Willie Thorne]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–1
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1986/1987|1986/87]]
|-
| [[1988 Irish Masters|1988]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve Davis]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Neal Foulds]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–4
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1987/1988|1987/88]]
|-
| [[1989 Irish Masters|1989]]
| {{flagicon|NIR}} [[Alex Higgins]]
| {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Stephen Hendry]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–8
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1988/1989|1988/89]]
|-
| [[1990 Irish Masters|1990]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve Davis]]
| {{flagicon|NIR}} [[Dennis Taylor]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–4
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1989/1990|1989/90]]
|-
| [[1991 Irish Masters|1991]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve Davis]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[John Parrott]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–5
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1990/1991|1990/91]]
|-
| [[1992 Irish Masters|1992]]
| {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Stephen Hendry]]
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Ken Doherty]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–6
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1991/1992|1991/92]]
|-
| [[1993 Irish Masters|1993]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve Davis]]
| {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Alan McManus]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–4
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1992/1993|1992/93]]
|-
| [[1994 Irish Masters|1994]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve Davis]]
| {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Alan McManus]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–8
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1993/1994|1993/94]]
|-
| [[1995 Irish Masters|1995]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Peter Ebdon]]
| {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Stephen Hendry]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–8
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1994/1995|1994/95]]
|-
| [[1996 Irish Masters|1996]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Darren Morgan]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve Davis]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–8
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1995/1996|1995/96]]
|-
| [[1997 Irish Masters|1997]]
| {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Stephen Hendry]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Darren Morgan]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–8
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1996/1997|1996/97]]
|-
| [[1998 Irish Masters|1998]]
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Ken Doherty]] *
|bgcolor="lightblue"|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]]
|bgcolor="lightblue"|Disqualified
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1997/1998|1997/98]]
|-
| [[1999 Irish Masters|1999]]
| {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Stephen Hendry]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Stephen Lee (snooker player)|Stephen Lee]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–8
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1998/1999|1998/99]]
|-
| [[2000 Irish Masters|2000]]
| {{flagicon|SCO}} [[John Higgins]]
| {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Stephen Hendry]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–4
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kill, County Kildare|Kill]]
| [[Snooker season 1999/2000|1999/00]]
|-
| [[2001 Irish Masters|2001]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]]
| {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Stephen Hendry]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–8
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Saggart]]
| [[Snooker season 2000/2001|2000/01]]
|-
| [[2002 Irish Masters|2002]]
| {{flagicon|SCO}} [[John Higgins]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Peter Ebdon]]
| style="text-align: center" | 10–3
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Saggart]]
| [[Snooker season 2001/2002|2001/02]]
|-
! colspan=6 style="text-align: center; background-color: #c0ffc0" | Irish Masters (ranking)<ref name="Irish Masters"/><ref name="Snooker.org HOF"/>
|-
| [[2003 Irish Masters|2003]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]]
| {{flagicon|SCO}} [[John Higgins]]
| style="text-align: center" | 10–9
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Saggart]]
| [[Snooker season 2002/2003|2002/03]]
|-
| [[2004 Irish Masters|2004]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Peter Ebdon]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Mark King (snooker player)|Mark King]]
| style="text-align: center" | 10–7
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Saggart]]
| [[Snooker season 2003/2004|2003/04]]
|-
| [[2005 Irish Masters|2005]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]]
| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Matthew Stevens]]
| style="text-align: center" | 10–8
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Saggart]]
| [[Snooker season 2004/2005|2004/05]]
|-
! colspan=6 style="text-align: center; background-color: #c0ffc0"  | Kilkenny Irish Masters (non-ranking)<ref name="Kilkenny Irish Masters"/>
|-
| [[2007 Irish Masters|2007]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Barry Hawkins]]
| style="text-align: center" | 9–1
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kilkenny]]
| [[Snooker season 2006/2007|2006/07]]
|}

==See also==
*[[Irish Open (snooker)|Irish Open]]
*[[Irish Professional Championship]]
*[[2011 Alex Higgins International Trophy]]

== Notes ==
{{refbegin}}
{{nowrap|<nowiki>*</nowiki> [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]] was disqualified and stripped of the title in 1998 after a 9–3 win over [[Ken Doherty]]}}.<br>O'Sullivan failed a drugs test after testing positive for cannabis. Doherty was awarded the title.<ref name=IT1998-07-07a/>
{{refend}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Irish Masters}}

[[Category:Irish Masters| ]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1975]]
[[Category:Recurring events disestablished in 2007]]
[[Category:1975 establishments in Ireland]]
[[Category:2007 disestablishments in Ireland]]
[[Category:Defunct snooker competitions]]
[[Category:Snooker non-ranking competitions]]
[[Category:Sport in County Dublin]]
[[Category:Sport in County Kildare]]
[[Category:Snooker competitions in Ireland]]