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Other Asia Ranking Events
Asian Open
Asian Classic
Hong Kong Open |
| World Ranking Events |
*See other pages for ranking events in Thailand and China
Brief History
The 1989 Asian Open in Bangkok was due to be the first ranking event in Asia but what should have been the Australian Open was moved at the last minute and became the Hong Kong Open which was held once only and gave Mike Hallett his only ranking title. Shortly afterwards the Asian Open itself, sponsored, as was the Hong Kong event, by 555 cigarettes, took place with Stephen Hendry beating the local hero James Wattana in the final.
The Asian Open moved to Guangzhou in China the following season and then it was back to Bangkok for the last two years of the event and it also moved from the beginning of the season to early spring. In the 1992/3 event, Dave Harold became the lowest ranked player ever to win a ranking title when, ranked 93rd, he beat Darren Morgan in the final.
For no particular reason the event then changed its name to the Thailand Open even though it was still played in Bangkok. Four years later the reverse happened when the Thailand Classic which had begun a year before changed its name to the Asian Classic, again without any change in venue. After just one year under that name the event was dropped from the calendar.
Roll Of Honour
Hong Kong Open Ranking Event
| Season |
Venue |
Sponsor |
Winner
|
Runner Up |
Score |
1st Prize |
| 1989/90 |
International Convention Centre, Hong Kong |
555 |
Mike Hallett |
Dene O'Kane |
9-8 |
£40,000 |
Asian Open Ranking Event
| Season |
Venue |
Sponsor |
Winner
|
Runner Up |
Score |
1st Prize |
| 1989/90 |
Channel 12 Studios, Bangkok, Thailand |
555 |
Stephen Hendry |
James Wattana |
9-6 |
£40,000 |
| 1990/1 |
GDTV Studios, Guangzhou, China |
555 |
Stephen Hendry |
Dennis Taylor |
9-3 |
£35,000 |
| 1991/2 |
Bangkok |
555 |
Steve Davis |
Alan McManus |
9-3 |
£30,000 |
| 1992/3 |
Imperial Queens Park Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand |
Nescafé |
Dave Harold |
Darren Morgan |
9-3 |
£30,000 |
Asian Classic Ranking Event
| Season |
Venue |
Sponsor |
Winner
|
Runner Up |
Score |
1st Prize |
| 1996/7 |
Riverside Montien Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand |
Suntory |
Ronnie O'Sullivan |
Brian Morgan |
9-8 |
£40,000 |
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©Chris Turner 2008
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