The 1981 McGuinness Men's World Open Squash Championship is the men's edition of the 1981 World Open, which serves as the individual world championship for squash players. The event took place in Toronto in Canada from 19 November until 28 November 1981. Jahangir Khan won his first World Open title, defeating Geoff Hunt in the final.

Geoff Hunt was defeated for the first time in the World Open, every edition of the event which had been inaugurated in 1976 had been won by Geoff Hunt previously.