1973 Men of the Midlands

1973 Men of the Midlands
Tournament information
DatesJanuary – February 1973
Venuevarious
CountryEngland
FormatNon-ranking event
Winner's share£500
Final
Champion Alex Higgins (NIR)
Runner-up Ray Reardon (WAL)
Score5–3
1972
Last →

The 1973 Men of the Midlands was a professional invitational snooker tournament, that took place in January and February 1973 The tournament was won by Alex Higgins, who defeated Ray Reardon 5–3 in the final.

The competition featured a round-robin group stage, with four world snooker champions, John Pulman, John Spencer, Reardon and Higgins each playing the other three once.[1] Reardon finished on top of the group table.[2]

In the final, Higgins won the first frame, making a break of 47, and Reardon won the next making a break of 45. Higgins won the next to lead 3–1. Reardon won the fifth frame, but Higgins achieved victory by winning the sixth frame with a break of 70 and going on to take the match 5–3.[2]

The tournament was sponsored by Mitchells and Butlers.[1] Higgins earned £500 prize money as champion.[3]

Final

[edit]

[3]

Final: Best-of-9 frames.
Whispering Wheels Club, Wolverhampton, 5 February 1973
Alex Higgins
Northern Ireland
5–3 Ray Reardon
Wales
Frame 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Alex Higgins 75 56 75 82 31 82 49 86
Ray Reardon 5 58 48 38 77 39 72 52
Frames won (Higgins first) 1–0 1–1 2–1 3–1 3–2 4–2 4–3 5–3
Alex Higgins wins the 1973 Men of the Midlands title

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Spencer puts on style". Coventry Evening Telegraph. Coventry. 25 January 1973. p. 50.
  2. ^ a b "Higgins too hot for Ray". Belfast Telegraph. Belfast. 6 February 1973. p. 17.
  3. ^ a b "Higgins takes Men of Midlands title". Birmingham Daily Post. Birmingham. 6 February 1973. p. 25.