In the following championship, Rea faced defending champion John Spencer and Spencer achieved a winning lead at 31–15, which he extended to 37–17 as the 'dead' frames were still played out.
ɪnðə fˈɑːloʊɪŋ tʃˈæmpiənʃˌɪp, ɹˈiə fˈeɪsd dᵻfˈɛndɪŋ tʃˈæmpiən dʒˈɑːn spˈɛnsɚ ænd spˈɛnsɚɹ ɐtʃˈiːvd ɐ wˈɪnɪŋ lˈiːd æt θˈɜːɾi wˈʌn fˈɪftiːn, wˌɪtʃ hiː ɛkstˈɛndᵻd tə θˈɜːɾi sˈɛvən sˈɛvəntˌiːn æz ðə dˈɛd fɹˈeɪmz wɜː stˈɪl plˈeɪd ˈaʊt.