1950 World Snooker Championship

April 2024 1950 World Snooker Championship 1949 12 12 1950 03 18 y yes Tower Circus Blackpool England Billiards Association and Control Council Fred Davis ENG, 101 Walter Donaldson SCO Fred Davis ENG 5146 1949 1951 The 1950 World Snooker Championship was a professional snooker tournament held from 12 December 1949 to 18 March 1950. The final was staged at the Tower Circus in Blackpool, England. A qualifying competition was held at the Temperance Billiards Hall, known as the "Guild Hall", in Battersea, London from 17 October to 12 November 1949. Kingsley Kennerley won the qualifying competition and joined seven other players in the main draw. For the fourth year running the final was contested by Fred Davis and Walter Donaldson. Donaldson defeated Davis 5146 to win his second and last world title. Donaldson achieved a winning margin at 4942 with only 6 frames to play. The highest break of the tournament was 101 by Davis in frame 46 of his semi-final match against George Chenier. Chenier also made a century break, 100, in his quarter-final defeat of Peter Mans. Background The World Snooker Championship is a professional tournament and the official world championship of the game of snooker.Snooker championship Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer 11 May 1927 12 March 2019 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19270511/425/0020 20 British Newspaper Archive subscription The sport was developed in the late 19th century by British Army soldiers stationed in India.Hayton Eric Dee John 2004 The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History Rose Villa Publications 978-0-9548549-0-4 1 Professional English billiards player and billiard hall manager Joe Davis noticed the increasing popularity of snooker compared to billiards in the 1920s, and with Birmingham-based billiards equipment manager Bill Camkin, persuaded the Billiards Association and Control Council (BACC) to recognise an official professional snooker championship in the 192627 season.Everton Clive 23 September 2004 Davis, Joseph [Joe] https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-31013 10.1093/ref:odnb/31013 11 May 2020 subscription https://web.archive.org/web/20190903050418/https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-31013 3 September 2019 live In 1927, the final of the first professional snooker championship was held at Camkin's Hall; Davis won the tournament by beating Tom Dennis in the final.Morrison Ian 1987 The Hamlyn Encyclopedia of Snooker Hamlyn Publishing Group London 978-0-600-55604-6 27–30 The annual competition was not titled the World Championship until the 1935 tournament,Billiards – Professional title Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer 3 November 1934 24 November 2015 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19341103/342/0007 7 British Newspaper Archive subscription Canadian's bid for Snooker title Dundee Courier 20 October 1934 20 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19341020/167/0009 9 British Newspaper Archive subscription but the 1927 tournament is now referred to as the first World Snooker Championship.Everton Clive 1993 The Embassy Book of World Snooker Bloomsbury London 978-0-7475-1610-1 11–13History of snooker – a timeline https://wpbsa.com/about-us/history/ World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association 29 May 2021 Davis had also won the title every year from 1928 to 1940, after which the tournament was not held again until 1946 due to World War II.50–52 Fred Davis was the defending champion, having defeated Walter Donaldson 8065 in the 1949 final.Turner Chris World Professional Championship http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/world.html https://web.archive.org/web/20130416080933/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/world.html 16 April 2013 cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk Chris Turner's Snooker Archive 9 February 2011 The closing date for entries for the 1950 edition was originally 1 August 1949. However, about half of the leading players, including Horace Lindrum, refused to enter because of the BACC's stipulation that each player in a match should provide a stake of 20 guineas, with the stakes awarded to the match winner.World snooker title: Many leading players may boycott contest Belfast News-Letter 3 August 1949 6 It was reported later that month that only four playersdefending champion Fred Davis, Donaldson, Jim Lees and Sydney Leehad entered; on 10 August, the BACC decided to reduce the stake fee to 10 guineas (with an entry fee of 3 guineas) and extend the closing date for entries to 1 September.Horses that bear warship's name Evening Herald Dublin 13 August 1949 6Campling Peter Snooker title fee cut by half after protest Daily News London 11 August 1949 6 BACC member Henry Markland was quoted as saying that the reason for the increase to 20 guineas had been "to discourage the entry of low-grade professionals who are, frankly, out of their class in the championship."Milne Armour Snooker fee squabble: No compromise! Daily Mirror 11 August 1949 10 Donaldson's withdrawal from the tournament was reported on 30 August;(Untitled article) Daily Herald 30 August 1949 6 a BACC meeting on that day decided to remove the stake fee entirely, for the first time since the championship was established in 1927, and further extend the closing date for entries until 7 September.Snooker championship stake fee withdrawn The Scotsman 31 August 1949 9 Donaldson said that as the Professional Billiard Players' Association demands had been met, he would now be participating. Lindrum's manager T.B. Leng said that Lindrum would honour alternative bookings made rather than compete in the championship. Sidney Smith's entry was not accepted by the BACC.Smith considers legal action The Daily Telegraph 16 September 1949 3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph-sidney-smith-may-tak/143510744/ Newspapers.com Prize fund The Sunday Empire News, which had sponsored a professional tournament in 1948, provided a prize fund:Editorial: World's Professional Snooker Championship The Billiard Player August 1949 3 Final: £300 for the winner, £80 for the highest break Semi-finals: £100 for the winners, £50 for the highest break in each match Quarter-finals: £50 for the winners, £30 for the highest break in each match Main stage matches thumb|alt=The interior of a large room with tiered seating|Tower Circus, Blackpool (depicted in its 1894 programme) was the venue for the final. Matches were played over several days, with and afternoon and evening session each day, normally of six frames each.Farewell to George Chenier the Billiard Player March 1950 3 +List of matches for the 1950 World Snooker Championship Match Dates Venue, city Albert Brown v John Pulman 1217 December 1949 Market Tavern, Bradford £1,000 snooker test Sunday Sun 11 December 1949 10 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-sun-1000-snooker-test/143437188/ Newspapers.com George Chenier v Peter Mans 27 January 1950 Bluebell Hotel, Scunthorpe World Snooker quarter-finals Hull Daily Mail 2 January 1950 6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-world-snooker-quarter-fi/143437382/ Newspapers.com Walter Donaldson v Kingsley Kennerley 914 January 1950 Co-operative Hall, Bolton The Times 5 November 1949 6 World snooker championshipWorld's Professional Snooker Championship the Billiard Player February 1950 12–13 Fred Davis v Alec Brown 1621 January 1950 Accrington Walter Donaldson v Albert Brown 611 February 1950 Burroughes and Watts Hall, Newcastle Fred Davis v George Chenier 611 February 1950 Town Hall, Oldham Fred Davis v Walter Donaldson 1011, 1318 March 1950 Tower Circus, Blackpool Tournament summary Quarter-finals The quarter-final matches were played across 71 frames. John Pulman led Albert Brown 93 after the first day, but saw his lead reduced to two frames, at 1311, after day two. On the third day, Brown took eight of the 12 frames played, to lead 1917, and the fourth day saw him dominate play to establish a ten-frame lead. In the next three sessions, Pulman took 14 of 18 frames to level the match at 3333. After Brown had won the 67th frame, Pulman levelled at 34-all, but Brown took the next two frames for a decisive lead of 3634, and added the dead frame for a final total of 3734.Brown wins Sunday Mercury 18 December 1949 16 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-mercury-brown-wins/143606781/ Newspapers.com Brown recorded the highest break of the match, 88.World's Professional Snooker Championship The Billiard Player January 1950 12 Canadian George Chenier and South African Peter Mans refused to play at Scunthorpe unless they received an acceptable financial guarantee; they agreed to the BACC's offer of £150.Offer to Empire snooker players Western Daily Press 7 October 1949 5 https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-daily-press-offer-to-empire-snoo/143575972/ Newspapers.com£150 guarantee ends snooker dispute Grimsby Evening Telegraph 7 October 1949 6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/grimsby-evening-telegraph-150-guarantee/143576445/ Newspapers.com Chenier built a four-frame lead on the first day and maintained this advantage at the close of day two. By the close of the fourth day, Chenier was 2919 ahead. Mans closed the gap to eight frames on day five, and followed this by taking all six frames in the afternoon session on the final day, leaving him two frames behind at 3234. Chenier won the first two frames of the concluding session to confirm his progression to the next round at 3632; the final score after dead frames was 3734.Chenier's Scunthorpe win The Guardian Journal 9 January 1950 5 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-journal-cheniers-scunthorp/143607643/ Newspapers.com Chenier's break of 100 on day two was the highest of the match. Walter Donaldson's six-frame lead against Kingsley Kennerley following their first day's play was narrowed to four frames, at 1410, after day two. The pair each won six frames on day three, but Donaldson moved into a twelve-frame lead, 3018, by the end of day four. Kennerley reduced his deficit to ten frames during the fifth day, but Donaldson won the first frame on the final day to establish a decisive margin at 3625. After dead frames, the final score was 4229. The highest break of the match was 77 by Kennerley. Fred Davis was 159 up on Alec Brown after two days, the pair having finished the first day level at 66.Sidney Smith wins all six frames Birmingham Gazette 18 January 1950 https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-gazette-sidney-smith-wins-all/143609295/ Newspapers.com Davis won ten of the twelve frames on day four for 3216.Fred Davis well ahead Western Daily Press 20 January 1950 5 https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-daily-press-fred-davis-well-ahea/143609552/ Newspapers.com He secured his passage to the final by winning the first frame of the evening session on the fifth day, at 3617; the final score after dead frames was 4427.Fred Davis reaches semi-final Western Morning News 21 January 1950 8 https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-morning-news-fred-davis-reaches/143608838/ Newspapers.com A 92 break by Davis was the highest of the match. Semi-finals In the semi-finals, matches were over 71 frames. Davis won all six frames in the first session against Chenier.Davis leads in snooker tourney The Vancouver Sun 7 February 1950 9 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-davis-leads-in-snooker/143570151/ Newspapers.com By the end of the second day, Davis was 168 ahead, and with the players each winning six frames on both the third and fourth days, Davis was still eight frames ahead at 2820 at the start of day five. After the first session of the fifth day the difference was still eight frames, but Davis won five of six frames on the later session to secure a winning margin at 3624.Canadian beaten Edmonton Journal 11 February 1950 14 https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-canadian-beaten/143570419/ Newspapers.com Davis added seven of the ten dead frames on the concluding day to finish 4328 up. The highest break of the match was 101 by Davis, in frame 46, on the fourth day.World's Professional Snooker Championship – semi-finals The Billiard Player March 1950 3–6Chenier makes best break Western Morning News 10 February 1950 19 March 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000329/19500210/090/0008 British Newspaper Archive subscription The match report in The Billiard Player magazine described the match between Donaldson and Brown as "a palpitating struggle [that] included a great deal of dour and tense play". The players were level at 99, 1212 and 1818,F. Davis again does well The Guardian 8 February 1950 3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-f-davis-again-does-well/143572716/ Newspapers.com but Brown led 2622 after taking five of the six frames of the second session on the fourth day. Donaldson won the first five frames on day five, and the players were level again at 2727. Going into the last day, Brown led 3129. Donaldson took the first three frames of the afternoon session, which ended with the players all-square again, 3333. The 67th frame was won by Brown, but Donaldson took the next three frames to establish a decisive lead at 3634.Donaldson in world final Sunday Sun 12 February 1950 9 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-sun-donaldson-in-world-final/143572982/ Newspapers.com With the dead frame also going to Donaldson, the final score was 3734. Brown made the highest break of the match, 87. Final The final was played over 97 frames.Everton Clive 1985 Snooker: The Records Guinness Superlatives Enfield 978-0-85112-448-3 54–55 Davis led 84 after the first day,The Scotsman 11 March 1950 4 World snooker championship but after two more days Donaldson levelled the match at 1818, including winning five of the last six that day.Aberdeen Press and Journal 14 March 1950 4 Donaldson draws level in late rally He took a four-frame lead the following day,Aberdeen Press and Journal 15 March 1950 4 Donaldson takes lead in snooker final and maintained it for several days,Bradford Observer 16 March 1950 8 Donaldson holds leadBradford Observer 17 March 1950 6 Donaldson holds lead eventually extending it to six frames at 4539 on the penultimate day.Sheffield Daily Telegraph 18 March 1950 8 Donaldson six up Donaldson's victory was confirmed on the last day when the score was 4932, with the match ending at 5146.Donaldson snooker champion Sunday Post 19 March 1950 21 March 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000566/19500319/106/0019 British Newspaper Archive subscription Donaldson recaptures the title The Billiard Player April 1950 3–6 One session of the match was watched by almost 3,000 spectators.Blackpool snooker venture is success Manchester Evening News 18 March 1950 4 It was Donaldson's second and last world championship title. The Billiard Player magazine attributed Donaldson's success to his strong safety play and a below-par performance from Davis. The highest break Donaldson achieved during the match was 80, with Davis's highest break 79.Everton Clive 1986 The History of Snooker and Billiards Partridge Press Haywards Heath 978-1-85225-013-359–60 A reporter for the Manchester Evening News commented about the final that, "So afraid were Fred Davis and Walter Donaldson... of making any rash move which would cost them a frame that play was painfully slow at times."Mr. Manchester's diary: snooker Manchester Evening News 10 March 1950 3 Main draw Sources:World Championship 1950 http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-snooker-tournaments-archive-world-championship-1950.asp Global Snooker 30 October 2010 usurped https://web.archive.org/web/20120222034449/http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-snooker-tournaments-archive-world-championship-1950.asp 22 February 2012Embassy World Championship http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=36 https://web.archive.org/web/20130124071753/http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=36 24 January 2013 Snooker Scene 9 May 2012Hayton Eric The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker 2004 Rose Villa Publications Lowestoft 978-0-9548549-0-4 144 Quarter-finals 71 frames Semi-finals 71 frames Final 97 frames 160 Fred Davis ENG 44 Alec Brown ENG 27 George Chenier CAN 1921 37 Peter Mans SAF 1928 34 Walter Donaldson SCO 42 Kingsley Kennerley ENG 29 John Pulman ENG 34 Albert Brown ENG 37 Fred Davis ENG 43 George Chenier CAN 1921 28 Walter Donaldson SCO 37 Albert Brown ENG 34 Fred Davis ENG 46 Walter Donaldson SCO 51 Qualifying The qualifying contest was held at the Temperance Billiards Hall, known as the "Guild Hall",the 1949–50 championships The Billiard Player October 1949 3 an 18-table hall in Battersea, London from 17 October to 12 November 1949.Kennerley's good start Western Morning News 18 October 1949 11 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000329/19491018/093/0008 British Newspaper Archive subscription Kingsley Kennerley met John Barrie in the first match. Kennerley won the first five frames and led 159 after two days. He won the first three frames on the final day to take a winning 189 lead, eventually winning 2114.Kennerley's big snooker win Western Morning News 20 October 1949 11 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000329/19491020/095/0008 British Newspaper Archive subscription The winner of the match was due to play Jim Lees in the qualifying quarter-finals,Smith left out of world snooker draw Liverpool Daily Post 15 September 1949 6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-daily-post-smith-left-out-of-w/143511530/ Newspapers.com but Lees withdrew.Kobylecky John 2019 The Complete International Directory of Snooker Players – 1927 to 2018 Kobyhadrian Books 978-0-9931433-1-1 137No snooker Evening Standard 22 October 1949 12 https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-standard-no-snooker-h-j-lees/194705470/ Newspapers.com Willie Smith met Bill Withers in the second match of the week. Willie Smith led 102 after the first day and took an 184 lead on the second day.'Come-back' success for Willie Smith Western Morning News 22 October 1949 11 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000329/19491020/095/0008 British Newspaper Archive subscription The final score was 287.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5-E-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=zkwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5390%2C3574768 Snooker The Glasgow Herald 2 24 October 1949 After a 3-day break Sydney Lee met Conrad Stanbury. Lee led 159 after two daysLee goes ahead Western Morning News 29 October 1949 11 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000329/19491029/084/0008 British Newspaper Archive subscription and won 2015. Herbert Holt met Dickie Laws in the last quarter-final match. Holt led 177 after two days and eventually won 269.Holt wins through Aberdeen Journal 3 November 1949 11 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19491103/066/0004 British Newspaper Archive subscription Kennerley met Willie Smith in the first semi-final and led 168 after two days.Setback for Wilie Smith Dundee Courier 5 November 1949 11 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19491105/114/0005 British Newspaper Archive subscription Kennerley won 2213.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8-E-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=zkwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4611%2C4566723 Snooker The Glasgow Herald 7 7 November 1949 Sydney Lee and Herbert Holt met in the second semi-final. Lee led 75 after the first day and 168 after the second day. Holt then got influenza and conceded the match.Holt scratched Western Morning News 10 November 1949 11 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000329/19491110/102/0008 British Newspaper Archive subscription Kennerley met Lee in the final. Lee took a 42 lead but Kennerley led 7–5 overnight.Kennerley gives over 100 pts in penalties Western Morning News 11 November 1949 11 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000329/19491111/096/0006 British Newspaper Archive subscription Kennerley then extended his lead to 1410,Kennerley further ahead Western Morning News 12 November 1949 11 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000329/19491112/096/0008 British Newspaper Archive subscription and won 2114. 170 Round 135 frames Round 235 frames Round 335 frames Final35 frames John Barrie ENG 14 Kingsley Kennerley ENG 21 Sydney Lee ENG 20 Conrad Stanbury CAN 1921 15 Herbert Holt ENG 26 Dickie Laws ENG 9 Willie Smith ENG 28 Bill Withers WAL 7 Jim Lees ENG w/d withdrew Kingsley Kennerley ENG w/o Sydney Lee ENG w/o Herbert Holt ENG w/d withdrew Willie Smith ENG 13 Kingsley Kennerley ENG 22 Sydney Lee ENG 14 Kingsley Kennerley ENG 21 References 30em 1950 World Snooker Championship World Snooker Championship World Snooker Championship