1953/1954 News of the World Snooker Tournament

April 2022 News of the World Tournament 1953 09 7 1954 01 16 y Leicester Square Hall London United Kingdom Non-Ranking event £1500 £500 ENG John Pulman ENG Joe Davis 1952/53 1954/55 The 1953/1954 News of the World Snooker Tournament was a professional snooker tournament sponsored by the News of the World. The tournament was won by John Pulman who won 7 of his 8 matches and finished ahead of Joe Davis who won 5 matches. The News of the World Snooker Tournament ran from 1949/50 to 1959. Format The 1953/54 event was a round-robin snooker tournament and was played from 7 September 1953 to 16 January 1954. All matches were played at Leicester Square Hall in London. There were 9 competitors and a total of 36 matches. The competitors were Joe Davis, Fred Davis, Walter Donaldson, John Barrie, Albert Brown, Alec Brown, John Pulman, Jackie Rea and Rex Williams. Sidney Smith was due to participate, but withdrew before the tournament started. Each match lasted three days and was the best of 37 frames. Each match was separately handicapped. Joe Davis played level with Fred Davis and gave Walter Donaldson 14, John Barrie, Albert Brown, Alec Brown and John Pulman 21 and Jackie Rea and Rex Williams 25. Fred Davis gave Walter Donaldson 7, Albert Brown 10, John Pulman 12, John Barrie 14, Alec Brown 16 and Jackie Rea and Rex Williams 18. Walter Donaldson gave Albert Brown 7, Alec Brown and John Pulman 12, John Barrie 14 and Jackie Rea and Rex Williams 18. Albert Brown gave Alec Brown and John Pulman 5, John Barrie 8 and Jackie Rea and Rex Williams 14. John Pulman played level with Alec Brown and gave John Barrie 7 and Jackie Rea and Rex Williams 14. John Barrie played level with Alec Brown and gave Jackie Rea 7. Alec Brown gave Jackie Rea 5 and Rex Williams 9. Jackie Rea played level with Rex Williams. Nineteen century breaks were made during the tournament, ten of them by Joe Davis. Results John Pulman made certain of winning the tournament by beating John Barrie on 30 December Fred Davis beat his brother Joe 21–16 in the final match of the tournament. Joe was already assured of second place but the win gave Fred third place. Fred Davis scored the first century of the tournament, a break of 102, on the second day of his match against Walter Donaldson.The Times 3 October 1953 4 Professional Snooker Donaldson made a break of 120 the following day. In the next match Joe Davis made a break of 131 against Donaldson.The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eBA1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=rqULAAAAIBAJ&pg=2023%2C3555021 7 October 1953 9 Snooker Winner Score Loser Date RefAlec Brown 19–18 Rex Williams 7–9 September The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5kpAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XoYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2762%2C957747 10 September 1953 9 SnookerRex Williams 20–17 Albert Brown 10–12 September The Times 14 September 1953 3 Professional SnookerJohn Barrie 25–12 Albert Brown 14–16 September John Barrie Dundee Courier 17 September 1953 10 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19530917/024/0002 British Newspaper Archive subscriptionJohn Barrie 19–18 Walter Donaldson 17–19 September The Times 21 September 1953 9 Professional SnookerJackie Rea 19–18 Alec Brown 21–23 September The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8kpAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XoYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3538%2C2295984 24 September 1953 9 SnookerJohn Pulman 20–17 Jackie Rea 24–26 September The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9UpAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XoYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5914%2C2622173 28 September 1953 9 SnookerAlec Brown 20–17 Fred Davis 28–30 September The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-EpAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XoYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4361%2C2961036 1 October 1953 9 SnookerFred Davis 25–12 Walter Donaldson 1–3 October The Times 5 October 1953 3 Professional SnookerJoe Davis 22–15 Walter Donaldson 5–7 October The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_kpAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XoYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6580%2C3657181 8 October 1953 9 Joe Davis beats DonaldsonJohn Pulman 20–17 Joe Davis 8–10 October The Times 12 October 1953 3 Professional SnookerAlbert Brown 23–14 Jackie Rea 12–14 October The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BEtAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XoYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6563%2C4329507 15 October 1953 9 SnookerFred Davis 22–15 Albert Brown 15–17 October The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=B0tAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XoYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1077%2C4683051 19 October 1953 9 SnookerJoe Davis 20–17 Jackie Rea 19–21 October The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CktAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XoYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5001%2C5029082 22 October 1953 9 Billiards and SnookerJohn Barrie w/o–w/d Rex Williams 22–24 October The Times 23 October 1953 3 Professional SnookerJohn Pulman 22–15 Rex Williams 26–28 October The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EEtAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XoYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4261%2C5771075 29 October 1953 11 SnookerJohn Pulman 25–12 Fred Davis 29–31 October The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hUdAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vYgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4998%2C102119 2 November 1953 9 SnookerJoe Davis 22–15 Alec Brown 2–4 November The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iEdAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vYgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6501%2C434171 5 November 1953 9 SnookerAlec Brown 20–17 John Barrie 5–7 November The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=i0dAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vYgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5006%2C786656 9 November 1953 9 SnookerJackie Rea 20–17 Walter Donaldson 9–11 November The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jkdAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vYgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5166%2C1110944 12 November 1953 9 Other SnookerRex Williams 23–14 Walter Donaldson 12–14 November The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kUdAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vYgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2848%2C1532655 16 November 1953 5 SnookerJohn Pulman 24–13 Albert Brown 16–18 November The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lEdAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vYgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5110%2C1948247 19 November 1953 9 SnookerJoe Davis 23–14 John Barrie 19–21 November The Times 23 November 1953 11 Professional SnookerJohn Barrie 19–18 Fred Davis 23–25 November The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mkdAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vYgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5918%2C2571869 26 November 1953 2 SnookerFred Davis 19–18 Jackie Rea 26–28 November The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WxI1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=wKULAAAAIBAJ&pg=5280%2C3039710 30 November 1953 9 SnookerJohn Pulman 25–12 Alec Brown 30 November–2 December The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oEdAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vYgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2713%2C3396622 3 December 1953 11 SnookerJoe Davis 22–15 Rex Williams 3–5 December The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=o0dAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vYgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3591%2C3748972 7 December 1953 9 SnookerAlbert Brown 23–14 Joe Davis 7–9 December The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pkdAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vYgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2828%2C4018776 10 December 1953 2 SnookerWalter Donaldson 24–13 Alec Brown 10–12 December The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qUdAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vYgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6523%2C4420654 14 December 1953 7 SnookerJackie Rea 20–17 John Barrie 14–16 December The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rEdAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vYgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4318%2C4696515 17 December 1953 2 SnookerJackie Rea 25–12 Rex Williams 17–19 December The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r0dAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vYgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2812%2C5114769 21 December 1953 9 SnookerJohn Pulman 24–13 John Barrie 28–30 December The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uEdAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vYgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2796%2C5848720 31 December 1953 2 SnookerWalter Donaldson 31–6 Albert Brown 31 December–2 January The Times 4 January 1954 9 Professional SnookerRex Williams 19–18 Fred Davis 4–6 January The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=T0xAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GIsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1470%2C450808 7 January 1954 2 SnookerAlec Brown 23–14 Albert Brown 7–9 January The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UkxAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GIsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2104%2C841948 11 January 1954 2 SnookerWalter Donaldson 20–17 John Pulman 11–13 January The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VUxAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GIsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5074%2C1193627 14 January 1954 9 SnookerFred Davis 21–16 Joe Davis 14–16 January The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WExAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GIsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4442%2C1545417 18 January 1954 9 Snooker Table The Billiard Player The Billiards Association and Control Club February 1954 9 Professional play Pos Player Played Pld Matches Won MY Frames Won FW Frames Lost FL Prize 1 ENG John Pulman 8 7 177 119 £500 2 ENG Joe Davis 8 5 156 140 ? 3 ENG Fred Davis 8 4 152 144 ? 4 NIR Jackie Rea 8 4 150 146 ? 5 ENG John Barrie 8 4 143 153 6 ENG Alec Brown 8 4 140 156 7 SCO Walter Donaldson 8 3 151 145 8 ENG Rex Williams 8 3 140 156 ? 9 ENG Albert Brown 8 2 123 173 The positions were determined firstly by the number of matches won (MW) and, in the event of a tie, the number of frames won (FW). Rex Williams was ill for his match against John Barrie from 22 to 24 October. Barrie played an exhibition match against Kingsley Kennerley instead, and was awarded a 19–18 win against Williams. Qualifying The qualifying tournament was played from 25 May to 13 June 1953 at Leicester Square Hall in London. There were 3 competitors: Sydney Lee, Jim Lees and Rex Williams. Matches were over 71 frames, except in the match between Lee and Williams which was over 59 frames. The qualifying was won by Rex Williams who advanced to the main event.The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aEZAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=woQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4454%2C3269176 2 June 1953 2 Snooker Qualifying results Winner Score Loser Date RefRex Williams 50–21 Jim Lees 25 – 30 May The Billiard Player The Billiards Association and Control Club July 1953 16 Professional matchesBirmingham Gazette 26 May 1953 5 Rex Williams leads 10–2Birmingham Gazette 1 June 1953 6 Rex Williams wins his qualifying heatRex Williams 40–19 Sydney Lee 1 – 6 June Daily Herald 2 June 1953 8 SnookerBirmingham Gazette 8 June 1953 6 Rex Williams qualifiesSydney Lee 41–30 Jim Lees 8 – 13 June Northern Whig 9 June 1953 6 SnookerNorthern Whig 15 June 1953 6 Snooker Broadcasting The BBC showed two short TV programmes during the matches between John Barrie and Albert Brown on 16 September,BBC Television – 16 September – Snooker: John Barrie v. Albert Brown http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbctv/1953-09-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20141019053045/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbctv/1953-09-16 dead 19 October 2014 BBC Genome Project BBC 10 January 2016 and between Walter Donaldson and Alec Brown on 12 December.BBC Television – 12 December – Snooker: John Pulman v. John Barrie http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbctv/1953-12-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20141019055034/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbctv/1953-12-12 dead 19 October 2014 BBC Genome Project BBC 10 January 2016 The commentator on both occasions was Sidney Smith. References 2 Category:News of the World Snooker Tournament News of the World Tournament News of the World Tournament News of the World Tournament News of the World Tournament