1991 Belgian Challenge

{{short description|Invitational snooker tournament}}

{{Infobox individual snooker tournament

|tournament_name=1991 Belgian Challenge

|logo=

|dates={{Start and end dates|1991|12|18|1991|12|21|df=y}}

|venue=Matchroom Schijnpoort, Antwerp

|country=Belgium

|organisation=

|format=Non-ranking event

|Total prize fund=

|winners_share=

|highest_break=

|winner={{flagathlete|Steve Davis|ENG}}

|runner_up={{flagathlete|Stephen Hendry|SCO}}

|score=10–9

|previous=

|next=

}}

The 1991 Belgian Challenge (also referred to as the 1991 555 Belgian Challenge for the purposes of sponsorship) was an invitational non-ranking snooker tournament held at the Matchroom Schijnpoort, Antwerp from 18 to 21 December 1991. Steve Davis won the title, defeating Stephen Hendry 10–9 in the final.{{cite news |last=Yates |first=Phil |title=Hendry faces German hurdle |work=The Times |location=London |date=18 December 1991 |page=35}}

In the first round, Hendry set a record for the quickest best-of-nine {{cuegloss|frame|frames}} match by beating Mike Henson 5–0 in 51 minutes. Henson scored only ten points in the match.{{cite news |last=Yates |first=Phil |title=Hendry through in record time |work=The Times |location=London |date=18 December 1991 |page=39}} In the quarter-finals, Hendry whitewashed his opponent Gary Wilkinson, who had won the World Matchplay tournament five days previously, with Wilkinson scoring just 40 points across the first four of the five frames.{{cite news |last=Yates |first=Phil |title=Parrott criticises pockets after defeat by Hallett |work=The Times |location=London |date=20 December 1991 |page=28}} In the semi-final, Hendry was on track for his first competitive maximum break by potting fourteen {{cuegloss|red ball|reds}} and fourteen {{cuegloss|black ball|blacks}}, but then {{cuegloss|snooker|snookered}} himself on the final red and did not pot it. Later in the match, Hallett also potted fourteen reds and blacks, but he missed a pot on the final red.{{cite news |last=Yates |first=Phil |title=Two miss maximum breaks |work=The Times |location=London |date=21 December 1991 |page=28}}

In the final, Davis trailed 3–6, but later led 8–7 after compiling breaks of 78, 102, 56 and 102. Hendry made it 8–8 with a break of 120, before Davis won the following frame. Recovering from 43 points behind to win the 18th frame, Hendry forced the match to a {{cuegloss|deciding frame}}. Davis won the last frame, making a break of 66, to win the title.{{cite news |last=Yates |first=Phil |title=Davis once again gets the better of Hendry |work=The Times |location=London |date=23 December 1991 |page=23}}