Created by promoter Mike Barrett, it was played at the Wembley Conference Centre in London and featured four professional players.

The participants included three players who between them had won each edition of the World Snooker Championship since 1969: John Spencer (1969, 1971, 1977), Ray Reardon (1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976) and Alex Higgins (1972).

The event attracted around 1,500 spectators and was televised, with a forty-minute programme on ITV being broadcast on Christmas Eve, 24 December 1977.

Created by promoter Mike Barrett, who later promoted boxing matches involving Frank Bruno, The 1977 Dry Blackthorn Cup was an invitational snooker event, named after the event's sponsors, a cider company based in Taunton.

[6] The participants included three players who between them had won each edition of the World Snooker Championship since 1969: John Spencer (1969, 1971, 1977), Ray Reardon (1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976) and Alex Higgins (1972).

[6] The event attracted around 1,500 spectators and was televised, with a forty-minute programme on ITV being broadcast on Christmas Eve, 24 December 1977.

He was ahead in the fifth frame, after which Spencer made a 43 break which concluded when he opted to snooker Fagan rather than attempt a pot.

[9] Higgins secured his progression to the final with a 28 break after Reardon erred with a safety shot in the sixth frame.

[6] To cover the potential award of the maximum break prize, promoter Mike Barrett paid an insurance premium of £500.