The 1981 Benson and Hedges Masters took place between February 2 and February 8 1981 and was held in the Wembley Conference Centre. The number of players who were invited had been raised to 12 which saw Steve Davis make his Masters debut as well as a rise of the prize money too. Alex Higgins, having trailed 1-5, extraordinarily beat Cliff Thorburn 6-5 to reach his fourth consecutive Masters final and reversed the result of the 1980 final again Terry Griffiths, who had himself made a dramatic recovery to beat John Spencer 6-5 in the semi-finals after trailing 2-5 and needing two snookers in the eighth frame.