Alex Higgins, current rebel vs. Ray Reardon, former policeman. With snooker exploding in popularity in the early eighties it was another final that had the sport’s governing body rubbing their hands in glee.

The mere personalities involved, cavalier against conservative, guaranteed healthy interest but the quality of the match itself only serve to bolster viewing figures and attract yet more sponsors to the fast expanding tour.

Maybe suffering a reaction from his emotionally draining 16-15 semi-final win over Jimmy White, Higgins trailed the six-times champion 5-3 after the first session.

By the end of the second the most unpredictable player snooker had ever known until the ascent of Ronnie O’Sullivan led 10-7 but Reardon, as steady as his opponent was inconsistent, fought back to 15-15.

At that point the players left the arena for a scheduled 20 minutes mid-session interval and on the resumption Higgins was a man possessed.

Reardon scrambled together only nine points in the following three frames as Higgins inhabited the zone and crossed the finishing style with a 135 total clearance, launched by a long red from which he obtained millimetre perfect position on the black.

Clutching his baby daughter, Lauren in his arms, a tearful Higgins collected £25,000. His first World Championship success in 1972 had yielded £480.

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