The 1979 Benson and Hedges Masters took place in January 1979 and was held in the Wembley Conference Centre which would host the tournament until the venue's demolition in 2006. 10 players who were invited took part. Perrie Mans of South Africa won the first Wembley tournament beatin Alex Higgins 8-4 and won the title without making a break of more than 50. Higgins meanwhile made the highest break of the tournament with 132.