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Perrie Mans

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Perrie Mans
Born(1940-10-15)15 October 1940
Lichtenburg Cape Province, Union of South Africa
Died13 September 2023(2023-09-13) (aged 82)
South Africa
Sport countrySouth Africa
Professional1961–1987
Highest ranking2 (1978/79)
Best ranking finishRunner-up (x1)

Pierre "Perrie" Mans (25 October 1940 – 13 September 2023) was a South African professional snooker player. He first won the South African Professional Championship in 1965 and lifted the title 20 times. Mans won the Benson & Hedges Masters in 1979 and reached the final of the World Championship in 1978.

Background

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Mans' father, Peter Mans, who died in 1975, was also a professional snooker player,[1] making the quarter-finals of the 1950 World Snooker Championship.

Snooker career

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Mans won the South African Amateur Championship in 1960, the only occasion in which he competed in the event. He then turned professional and took the South African Professional Championship from Fred Van Rensburg in 1965.[2]

Mans first entered the World Snooker Championship in 1970. His first victory in the Championship came in the 1973 event when he defeated Ron Gross 9–2 before losing 8–16 to Eddie Charlton.[3] However, in 1974, he pulled off a major surprise by defeating John Spencer 15–13 in the second round, before being defeated by Rex Williams in the quarter-final 4–15.[4] In the 1976 event, he defeated Graham Miles 15–10 and Jim Meadowcroft 15–8 to reach the semi-final where he lost 10–20 to defending champion Ray Reardon.[5]

In 1977, he was invited to take part in BBC TV's Pot Black programme which he duly won at his first attempt beating Fred Davis, Ray Reardon and Willie Thorne (over single frames) before defeating Doug Mountjoy 90 points to 21 in the final. During the final he also took the highest break prize with an effort of 59.[6]

His career peaked in 1978, when he reached the final of the world championships, losing 18–25 to Ray Reardon. During that championship he defeated reigning Champion John Spencer 13–8, before achieving wins over Graham Miles (13–7) and Fred Davis (18–16). In the final, he never led Reardon, but held him to 17–18, before Reardon pulled away.[7] He reached number two in the world rankings as a result; at that time rankings were based purely on the world championships of the three previous seasons.[8]

1978 also saw Mans win the Heidelberg 100 event, defeating Silvino Francisco 9–3 in the final. This same year brought him greater company in the South African professional ranks when Silvino Francisco, Mannie Francisco, Jimmy van Rensberg, Derek Mienie and Roy Amdor all turned professional.[9]

Mans' most notable tournament success was the Benson and Hedges Masters in 1979, beating Cliff Thorburn 5–4, Ray Reardon 5–3 and, in the final, Alex Higgins 8–4, winning the competition with a top break of just 48.[10]

In January 1980, Mans defeated Bill Werbeniuk 3–0 and John Spencer 3–2 before losing 2–4 to Alex Higgins in the final of the Padmore/Super Crystalate International event held at the Gala Baths, West Bromwich.[11]

In January 1981, he pulled off the shock of the season by defeating strong favourite Steve Davis 5–3 in the first round of the 1981 Masters event, compiling a highest break of just 36. Mans lost 4–5 to Cliff Thorburn in the quarter-final.[12]

In the 1982 World Championship, he defeated Tony Meo in the first round. Meo led 3–0, but Mans overtook him to lead 9–8. This looked likely to become 9–9 when Mans trailed 54 points to 0 in the penultimate frame. However, Mans then completed a clearance of 62 to win frame and match. He went on to lose 6–13 in the next round to Jimmy White.[13]

Mans' last victory at the Crucible Theatre came in 1983 when he defeated Scottish debutant Ian Black 10–3, compiling breaks of 57, 65 and 69. However, an in-form Kirk Stevens defeated Mans 13–3 in the second round, a defeat which put Mans outside the top 16 in the world rankings.[14]

Mans last played in the World Championship in 1986. He defeated Les Dodd 10–7 in the final qualifying round[15] but despite holding Doug Mountjoy to 3–4, he lost his first round match 3–10.[16] Earlier in the season he had partnered Australian John Campbell to the quarter-final of the Hofmeister World Doubles, where they lost just 4–5 to Ray Reardon and Tony Jones.[17]

Mans played in only two ranking events the following season (and the world doubles), failing to win any matches he slumped to fiftieth in the world rankings. He announced his retirement from professional snooker in July 1987 at the age of 46.[18] In terms of World Ranking and performances in the World Championship, Mans remains far and away the most successful South African snooker player.

In 1997, Mans returned briefly to the UK snooker scene after a twelve-year hiatus, participating in the "Seniors" Pot Black special on BBC2 timed to coincide with the 1997 World Championship, which marked the 20th anniversary of the tournament being held at the Crucible Theatre. At 57, Mans lost to eventual winner Joe Johnson. Mans returned again to play in the seniors event in the autumn of 2000, losing his first match 82 points to 13 to Canadian Jim Wych.[19]

Playing style

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A left-hander,[20] Mans was famous for his long powerful pots, as well as his fashionable waistcoats.

Death

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Perrie Mans died on 13 September 2023, at the age of 82.[21]

Performance and rankings timeline

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Tournament 1970/
71 		1971/
72 		1972/
73 		1973/
74 		1974/
75 		1975/
76 		1976/
77 		1977/
78 		1978/
79 		1979/
80 		1980/
81 		1981/
82 		1982/
83 		1983/
84 		1984/
85 		1985/
86 		1986/
87 		1987/
88 		1988/
89
Ranking[22] No ranking system 7 10 2 7 7 15 11 17 24 30 36 [nb 1] [nb 1]
Ranking tournaments
International Open[nb 2] Tournament Not Held NR 2R LQ LQ 1R WD A A
Grand Prix[nb 3] Tournament Not Held 2R A 1R 1R WD A A
UK Championship Tournament Not Held Non-Ranking Event LQ 1R WD A A
Classic Tournament Not Held Non-Ranking Event A A 2R LQ A A
British Open[nb 4] Tournament Not Held Non-Ranking Event A 2R LQ A A
World Championship Non-Ranking QF 1R SF 1R F 1R 2R 2R 2R 2R LQ A 1R A A A
Non-ranking tournaments
South African Professional Championship W W W W W W W W W SF W W W W A A QF SF W
The Masters Tournament Not Held A A QF A W QF QF A A A A A A A A
Pontins Professional Not Held A A A RR RR RR QF A A A A A A A A A
Former non-ranking tournaments
World Championship RR A 2R Ranking Event
World Masters Tournament Not Held RR Tournament Not Held
World Matchplay Championship Tournament Not Held QF Tournament Not Held
Holsten Lager International Tournament Not Held 1R Tournament Not Held
Limosin International Tournament Not Held QF Tournament Not Held
Kronenbrau 1308 Classic Tournament Not Held SF Tournament Not Held
Padmore Super Crystalate Tournament Not Held F Tournament Not Held
Pot Black A A A A A A W A SF RR A A A A A A Not Held
International Open[nb 5] Tournament Not Held 2R Ranking Event
Performance Table Legend
LQ lost in the qualifying draw #R lost in the early rounds of the tournament
(WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin) 		QF lost in the quarter-finals
SF lost in the semi-finals F lost in the final W won the tournament
DNQ did not qualify for the tournament A did not participate in the tournament WD withdrew from the tournament
NH / Not Held means an event was not held.
NR / Non-Ranking Event means an event is/was no longer a ranking event.
R / Ranking Event means an event is/was a ranking event.
  1. ^ a b He was an amateur.
  2. ^ The event was also called the Goya Matchroom Trophy (1985/1986)
  3. ^ The event was also called the Professional Players Tournament (1982/93–1983/1984)
  4. ^ The event was also called the British Gold Cup (1979/1980), Yamaha Organs Trophy (1980/1981) and International Masters (1981/1982–1983/1984)
  5. ^ The event was also called the Goya Matchroom Trophy (1985/1986)

Career finals

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Ranking finals: 1

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Legend
World Championship (0–1)
Other (0–0)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Runner-up 1. 1978 World Snooker Championship Wales Ray Reardon 18–25

Non-ranking finals: 26 (23 titles)

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Legend
The Masters (1–0)
Other (22–3)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Winner 1–13. 1965–1977 South African Professional Championship (1–13) South Africa Various challengers N/A
Winner 14. 1977 Pot Black Wales Doug Mountjoy 1–0
Winner 15. 1978 South African Professional Championship (14) South Africa Silvino Francisco 9–5
Winner 16. 1978 Heidelberg 100 Tournament South Africa Silvino Francisco 9–3
Runner-up 1. 1979 Australian Masters Australia Ian Anderson Aggregate Score
Winner 17. 1979 The Masters Northern Ireland Alex Higgins 8–4
Runner-up 2. 1980 Padmore Super Crystalate International Northern Ireland Alex Higgins 2–4
Winner 18–22. 1980–1984 South African Professional Championship (15–19) South Africa Various challengers N/A
Runner-up 3. 1984 South African Professional Championship South Africa Jimmy van Rensberg 7–10
Winner 23. 1989 South African Professional Championship (20) South Africa Robbie Grace 8–5

Amateur finals: 1 (1 title)

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Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Winner 1. 1960 South African Amateur Championship South Africa

References

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  1. ^ "Perrie Mans profile". WorldSnooker.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  2. ^ Everton, Clive., Guinness Book of Billiards and Snooker, 1982, p74
  3. ^ Everton, Clive., Guinness Book of Billiards and Snooker, pp89 & 91
  4. ^ Everton Clive (Ed.) Snooker Scene, June 1974, pp9 & 14
  5. ^ Everton, Clive, (Ed.) Snooker Scene, June 1976, p13
  6. ^ Perrin R, (Ed.) Pot Black, BBC Books, 1984, p86
  7. ^ Everton, Clive (Ed.) Snooker Scene, June 1978, pp11–17
  8. ^ Everton, Clive (Ed.) Snooker Scene, June 1978, p28
  9. ^ Everton, Clive (Ed.) Snooker Scene, June 1978, p27
  10. ^ Everton, Clive (Ed.) Snooker Scene, March 1979, pp16–17, top prize was £3000
  11. ^ Everton, Clive (Ed.) Snooker Scene, February 1980, p12
  12. ^ Everton, Clive (ed.) Snooker Scene, March 1981, pp3 and 7
  13. ^ Everton, Clive (Ed.), Snooker Scene, June 1982, pp17 & 20/21
  14. ^ Everton, Clive, Snooker Scene, June 1983, pp11, 21, 28
  15. ^ Everton, Clive (Ed.) Snooker Scene May 1986, p15
  16. ^ Everton, Clive (Ed.) Snooker Scene, June 1986, p9
  17. ^ Everton, Clive (Ed.) Snooker Scene, February 1986, p17
  18. ^ Everton, Clive (Ed.) Snooker Scene, August 1987, p15
  19. ^ Cue Sport Magazine (Ed. John Dee), October 2000, p20
  20. ^ "1978: Reardon makes it six". BBC Sport. 7 April 2004. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  21. ^ "Former Masters Champion Perrie Mans Passes Away". WST. 13 September 2023. Archived from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  22. ^ "Ranking History". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 14 May 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
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