1980 World Challenge Cup

The 1980 World Challenge Cup sponsored by State Express was the second team snooker tournament. The format mostly remained the same as the previous championship although the group 2nd place players would now reach a semi-final stage with the group winners. It took place between 18 and 26 October 1980 and the tournament had now moved to the New London Theatre which had hosted the Masters championship between 1976 and 1978.

State Express World Challenge Cup

Tournament information
Dates	18–26 October 1980 (1980-10-18 – 1980-10-26)
Venue	New London Theatre
City	London
Country	England
Format	Non-ranking event
Total prize fund	£35,000
Winner's share	£10,000
Highest break	Terry Griffiths (WAL), 109
Final
Champion	Wales
Runner-up	Canada
Score	8–5
← 1979 1981 →

Terry Griffiths made the highest break of the tournament, 109.^[1]

Main draw

Teams and results are shown below.^[1]

Teams

Country	Player 1 (Captain)	Player 2	Player 3
Wales	Ray Reardon	Terry Griffiths	Doug Mountjoy
England	Fred Davis	David Taylor	John Virgo
Ireland	Alex Higgins	Dennis Taylor	Patsy Fagan
Canada	Cliff Thorburn	Bill Werbeniuk	Kirk Stevens
Australia	Eddie Charlton	Paddy Morgan	Ian Anderson
Rest of the World	Perrie Mans	Eddie Sinclair	Jim Rempe

Group A

Team 1	Score	Team 2	Date
Wales	10–5	Canada
Canada	9–6	Rest of the World
Wales	13–2	Rest of the World

Group B

Team 1	Score	Team 2	Date
England	11–4	Ireland
England	7–8	Australia
Ireland	10–5	Australia

Semi-finals

Team 1	Score	Team 2	Date
Wales	8–7	Ireland
England	5–8	Canada

Final

Final: Best of 15 frames. Referee: New London Theatre, London, England. 26 October 1980.
Wales Ray Reardon, Terry Griffiths, Doug Mountjoy	8–5	Canada Cliff Thorburn, Bill Werbeniuk, Kirk Stevens
Mountjoy v Stevens: 28–71, 60–43, 16-94 Reardon v Werbeniuk: 73–45 Griffiths v Thorburn: 43–86 Reardon v Stevens: 54–53 Mountjoy v Werbeniuk: 86–17 Griffiths v Stevens: 22–79 Mountjoy v Thorburn: 55–56 Griffiths v Werbeniuk: 92-38, 87-20, 55–46 Reardon v Thorburn: 111–26
	Highest break
	Century breaks
	50+ breaks

References

1. "State Express World Cup". Snooker Scene. December 1980. pp. 18–25.