made the highest break of the round, 87, during a 9–5 win against Geoff Thompson. Cliff Thorburn and Dennis Taylor made their world championship debuts; both would later become world champions. Taylor led 4–2, and trailed 6–8, before he lost 8–9. In the round's other matches, Perrie Mans eliminated Ron Gross 9–2; David Taylor won 9–4 against John Dunning; and the 1970 runner-up Warren Simpson defeated Maurice Parkin 9–3. Jim Meadowcroft received a bye when his scheduled opponent Kingsley Kennerley withdrew due to illness. Second round In the second round, from 17 to 18 April, matches were played as best-of-31 frames. Higgins was admonished by tournament director Bruce Donkin for arriving more than 20 minutes late for his match against Houlihan. Higgins was later fined £100 by the WPBSA for his behaviour. Higgins took a 6–1 lead in the first session, and led 14–1 after the second session. Higgins took the second and fourth frames of the third session to complete a 16–3 victory. Fred Davis took the first ten frames against Greaves, and won 16–1. Miles led John Pulman 6–1 and 10–5, and made a break of 110 in twentieth frame, eventually winning 16–10. Having established a 6–1 advantage against Mans in the first session, Eddie Charlton lost six of the eight frames in their second session, but then added six of seven in the third session, and two frames in the final session, to win 16–8. Gary Owen was 8–7 ahead against Simpson; the match finished 16–14 to Miles. Ray Reardon compiled a break of 112 in the 27th frame during his 16–10 defeat of Meadowcroft. Rex Williams and Thorburn were level at 11–11. Williams then took a 14–11 lead, but Thorburn recovered to lead 15–14. Williams took the next two frames to secure his progress to the next round. Spencer made the highest break of the tournament with 139, in the sixth frame of his match against David Taylor, which he won 16–5. Quarter-finals The quarter-finals were scheduled as best-of-31 frames matches on 19 and 20 April, with the four matches played concurrently in different arenas. Higgins defeated Davis 16–14, after Davis had led 14–12. There was a 25-minute stoppage during the second frame of their afternoon session, when rainwater leaked onto the snooker table they were using. Williams compiled a break of 108 at the start of his first session against Spencer but lost 16–7. Miles