It was the final World Championship before the introduction of the Crucible. It was also the first year of a long three-decade relationship between the WSC and Embassy cigarettes (click here to read the Short looking at the impact of the tobacco industry on snooker). Ray Reardon was in the middle of his storm through the 1970s where he happened across a Hurricane for the first time in a world final.
Prior to the Crucible, the WSC was held in clubs and venues scattered across various locations primarily in the UK. On rare occasions, the tournament would be held across international waters such as South Africa or Australia. However, in this instance, the 1976 WSC was based in two UK locations: Middlesbrough and Manchester.
The two finalists had relatively differing troubles reaching the final. Alex Higgins fought through two deciders against Cliff Thorburn and John Spencer before running it close once again, this against multiple-time runner-up Eddie Charlton. On the other hand, Reardon having won the previous three WSC’s was unmatched as he passed by John Dunning, Dennis Taylor and Perrie Mans to set up the final against Higgins.
World finals were settled over multiple days as matches went on for longer before 1980. This was due to less players competing in the WSC. Once more players were permitted to compete, this is when the format changed to what we are familiar with nowadays. This year, the final was contested over a best-of-53 or first-to-27. Reardon held a lead throughout the course of the final as he won his fifth (out of six) World Championship 27-16, taking home the winning prize of £6000.
So what seemed to be another successful year at the World Championship may not necessarily have been the case. Prior to the Crucible, things weren’t as organised and up to standards. Table conditions were considered poor and inconsistent; lighting and camera equipment were obstructive; and the audience weren’t as respectful and courteous as they are currently. The audiences were akin to what would be expected in an exhibition match as opposed to the most important snooker event as they were given free roam.
Thankfully, this didn’t affect the following sponsorship arrangements World Snooker had with Embassy as they continued their long and prosperous partnership. The 1976 WSC was significant in that it saw two key figureheads of the 1970s go head-to-head for the first time in a world final. And quite possibly and more importantly, its significance resides in the impact for the years that followed. Because the rest is, well…history.
Like this Short? Click here to read: World Snooker Championship 1977 – Throwback
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