1956 World Professional Match-play Championship

Snooker tournament November 2019 1956 World Professional Match-play Championship 1956 01 9 1956 03 10 y yes Tower Circus Blackpool England Professional Billiards Players' Association Rex Williams ENG (141) Fred Davis ENG John Pulman ENG 38–35 1955 1957 United Kingdom 200 Venues Belfast right 5 54.597 -5.93 Birmingham right 5 52.483 -1.894 Blackpool right 8 53.814 -3.050 The 1956 World Professional Match-play Championship was a snooker tournament that took place from 9 January to 10 March 1956 with the final being held at the Tower Circus in Blackpool, England from 5 to 10 March. Fred Davis won his eighth and last world snooker title by defeating John Pulman by 38 frame frames to 35 in the final. Pulman led 31–29 going into the last day of the final on 10 March, but Davis won 8 of the first 10 frames on that day to take a winning lead of 37–33. The event, organised by the Professional Billiards Players' Association, is now recognised as an edition of the World Snooker Championship. There were four participants. Rex Williams made the highest break of the tournament with 141, a championship record, in frame 48 of his semi-final match against Fred Davis in Aston. Pulman defeated Jackie Rea in the other semi-final, which was held in Belfast. 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 978-0954854904 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 1926–27 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 9780600556046 27–30 The annual competition was not titled the World Championship until 1935,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 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 0747516103 11–13History of snooker – a timeline https://wpbsa.com/about-us/history/ World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association 29 May 2021 7 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210107025119/https://wpbsa.com/about-us/history/ live Davis also won the title each year until 1940, when the contest was cancelled during World War II, and again when the championship resumed in 1946, accumulating a total of 15 titles before retiring from the event.Everton Clive 1986 The History of Snooker and Billiards Partridge Press Haywards Heath 1852250135 50–63 In 1952, the World Professional Match-play Championship was created following a dispute between the Professional Billiards Players' Association (PBPA) and the BACC.The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=F1tAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C48MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5966%2C3977587 19 February 1952 2 World Snooker Title 18 September 2020 12 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160312050745/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=F1tAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C48MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5966%2C3977587 live In response to player complaints that the BACC was taking too large a percentage of income from the tournament, the BACC claimed that the championship "has always been, and in theory is to be, regarded as an affair of honour and a test of merit", and that "every effort is made to arrange terms advantageous to the professionals competing in the championship, compatible with securing an equitable return for the promoters of it, the B.A.& C.C."The B.A.& C.C. and the world's professional snooker championship The Billiard Player Billiards Association and Control Council November 1951 4–8Everton Clive Neil Robertson set to rewrite history as first genuine Australian world champion https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/30/world-snooker-championship-neil-robertson-shaun-murphy The Guardian 21 May 2012 London 30 April 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20120227054301/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/apr/30/world-snooker-championship-neil-robertson-shaun-murphy 27 February 2012 The PBPA members established an alternative competition which became known as the World Professional Match-play Championship,Williams Luke Gadsby Paul 2005 Masters of the Baize Edinburgh Mainstream 1840188723 47 now recognised as world championships. There were four entrants for the 1956 World Professional Match-play Championship: John Pulman, Jackie Rea, Rex Williams, and Fred Davis, who had won the world championship in 1948, 1949 and 1951, and the four previous editions of the World Professional Match-play Championship, each year from 1952 to 1955.Hayton Eric Dee John 2004 The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History Rose Villa Publications Lowestoft 978-0954854904 143–144 Joe Davis and Walter Donaldson played in the 1955/1956 News of the World Snooker Tournament, that took place from October 1955 to February 1956, but did not enter the Match-play Championship.Professional snooker The Billiard Player Billiard Association and Control Council December 1955 6 Summary Semi-finals John Pulman and Jackie Rea played in the first semi-final, at the R.A.O.B. Club, Belfast, from 9 to 13 January 1956.Slow start in big Belfast snooker test Belfast Telegraph 9 January 1956 10 Pulman won the first three frame frames, making a 55 break in the second frame and a 70 in the third frame. He finished the first session 4–2 ahead, and led 7–5 at the end of the first day.Snooker: Pulman goes ahead Birmingham Daily Post 10 January 1956 10 Each player won three frames in the second day's afternoon session. Rea added the first of the evening, before Pulman took four consecutive frames to lead 14–9, compiling a break of 87 in the process. Rea made a break of 89 in winning the 24th frame.Pulman leads Rea 14–10 Belfast News-Letter 11 January 1956 7 Pulman extended his lead to six frames by winning the first two of the third day, and was still six ahead at 18–12 by the session's conclusion, and his lead over the evening to eight frames, at 22–14.Pulman leads Rea 22–14 Belfast News-Letter 12 January 1956 7 On the fourth day, Pulman won seven of the twelve frames to lead 29–19, including four of the six in the afternoon session. The correspondent for the Northern Whig commented that "the snooker was not of very good quality ... Pulman impressed as the more consistent player of the two. Rea being far too impetuous at times and breaking down when he should have scored from good positions."Omar Pulman within sight of victory Northern Whig 13 January 1956 6 Pulman secured victory at 31–25 after winning the second and third frames on the final day, and finished 36–25 ahead after dead frame dead frames were played.Pulman beats Rea by 11 frames Belfast News-Letter 14 January 1956 7 thumb|The Holte Hotel (pictured in 2008) was the venue for the semi-final between Fred Davis and Rex Williams. The second semi-final, between Fred Davis and Rex Williams, was staged from 23 to 27 January at the Holte Hotel, Aston. Williams took the first frame, and, after Davis had won the second, moved into a 3–1 lead. A break of 90 from Davis reduced the deficit to one frame, and the match was level when Davis added the sixth frame. In the second session, Davis compiled a break of 102 in the seventh frame of the match, and won the following five frames for a 9–3 lead at the end of the first day.Williams soon loses his lead Birmingham Daily Gazette 24 January 1956 6Fred Davis makes 102 break Northern Whig 24 January 1956 6 The players each won three frames on the second afternoon, and also on the second evening, leaving Davis 15–9 ahead. The day's highest break was a 54 made by Davis in frame fifteen, but Williams won that frame by 82 points to 54.Williams in step with Fred Davis Birmingham Daily Gazette 25 January 1956 6 Davis opened up an 11-frame lead by taking the first five frames on day three, and extended this to twelve at 24–12 by the end of the day, having made a 104 break in the evening session.Century run at Aston by Fred Davis Birmingham Daily Gazette 26 January 1956 6 His lead was increased to 14 frames by adding the first two frames of the fourth day, before Williams reduced the gap to ten frames at 19–29, compiling a 141 break in the 48th frame.Davis' lead reduced Birmingham Daily Gazette 27 January 1956 6https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g3tAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kZQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5707%2C2803835 Snooker The Glasgow Herald 4 27 January 1956 13 December 2015 22 December 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151222173213/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g3tAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kZQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5707%2C2803835 live This stood as the highest break ever recorded in a version of the world snooker championship, until it was bettered by one point by Williams in 1965.2004 Embassy World Championship Information http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Results/res_03_4/03_4worldinfo.htm Global Snooker Centre 9 May 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20041208092511/http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Results/res_03_4/03_4worldinfo.htm 8 December 2004 On the last day, Williams took four of the first five frames, but Davis achieved a winning margin at 31–23. Following the dead frames played, the score was 35–26.Williams beaten by F. Davis Birmingham Daily Post 28 January 1956 14 Final The final was over 73 frames, and was played from 5 to 10 March at the Tower Circus, Blackpool. Davis won the opening frame and took a 4–2 lead during the afternoon session, making a break of 96 in the fourth frame. Pulman, who compiled a break of 85 in the ninth frame, led 7–5 after the opening day.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yWlAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=X5UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3541%2C601211 Billiards & snooker The Glasgow Herald 4 6 March 1956 22 March 2016 4 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210704145923/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yWlAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=X5UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3541%2C601211 live After the second afternoon session, the players were level at 9–9, Davis having compiled a 104 break in the 18th frame. Davis won the first frame on the second evening, but Pulman then claimed five consecutive frames to lead 14–10 after the second day.The Times 7 March 1956 16 Professionals Davis reduced his deficit to two frames at 19–17 after the third day, during which he made his second century break of the final, a 102, in the afternoon session.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=y2lAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=X5UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2798%2C887217 Snooker and billiards The Glasgow Herald 4 8 March 1956 22 March 2016 4 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210704145955/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=y2lAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=X5UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2798%2C887217 live Pulman won four of the six frames on the fourth afternoon, to lead 23–19. In the evening, Davis took the first three frames and the fifth frame, leaving Pulman 25–23 ahead.Good recovery by Davis after poor start Northern Whig 8 9 March 1956 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zGlAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=X5UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1319%2C1024377 Snooker & billiards The Glasgow Herald 4 9 March 1956 22 March 2016 4 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210704145950/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zGlAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=X5UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1319%2C1024377 live The following day, the scores were level at both 25–25 and 27–27. Pulman constructed a 104 break in the fourth frame of the afternoon. He won four of the six evening frames, to take a 31–29 lead into the last day.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zWlAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=X5UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5276%2C1224511 Snooker & billiards The Glasgow Herald 7 10 March 1956 22 March 2016 4 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210704145908/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zWlAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=X5UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5276%2C1224511 live On the sixth day, Davis won five of the six frames in the afternoon session to lead 34–32. He then added three of the first four frames in the evening to achieve a winning margin at 37–33. After dead frames, the final score was 38–35.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zmlAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=X5UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4117%2C1320931 Played on Saturday The Glasgow Herald 11 12 March 1956 13 December 2015 22 December 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151222174401/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zmlAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=X5UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4117%2C1320931 live The Times 12 March 1956 16 Snooker champion According to authors Luke Williams and Paul Gadsby, "It was, Pulman admitted, the bitterest disappointment of his career."Williams Luke Gadsby Paul 2005 Masters of the Baize Edinburgh Mainstream 1840188723 54 Snooker commentator Ted Lowe wrote in 1984 that Pulman "looked like a winner ... when leading 31–29 at the start of the final day but experience told and Fred ended up champion".Lowe Ted Between frames 1984 A & C Black London 0713624469 104–105 In 2012, snooker historian Clive Everton claimed that Pulman "in retrospect believed that it had done him no good to spend two hours in bed with the daughter of a snooker dignitary just prior to the resumption of play [on the last day]".Everton Clive 2012 Black farce and cue ball wizards Mainstream Edinburgh 9781780575681 34 It was the last of eight world snooker titles won by Davis, who chose not to enter the 1957 World Professional Match-play Championship. Tributes to cue king Fred Davis https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/79178.stm BBC Sport 16 April 1998 4 July 2021 3 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110503211009/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/79178.stm live Schedule +Schedule of matches for the 1956 World Professional Match-play Championship Match Dates Venue, city Ref John Pulman v Jackie Rea 9–13 January 1956 R.A.O.B. Club, Belfast https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=d3tAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kZQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2670%2C1154982 Played last night The Glasgow Herald 4 13 January 1956 13 December 2015 22 December 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151222163705/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=d3tAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kZQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2670%2C1154982 live Fred Davis v Rex Williams 23–27 January 1956 Holte Hotel, Aston https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hHtAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kZQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4212%2C3003787 Snooker The Glasgow Herald 7 28 January 1956 13 December 2015 22 December 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151222171452/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hHtAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kZQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4212%2C3003787 live Fred Davis v John Pulman 5–10 March 1956 Tower Circus, Blackpool Main draw Match results are shown below. Winning players and scores are denoted in bold text.World Championship 1956 http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-snooker-tournaments-archive-world-championship-1956.asp Global Snooker 14 March 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120222034548/http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-snooker-tournaments-archive-world-championship-1956.asp 2012-02-22 usurpedEmbassy 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 0-9548549-0-X 144 Semi-finals 61 frames Final73 frames 150 Fred Davis ENG 35 Rex Williams ENG 26 John Pulman ENG 36 Jackie Rea NIR 25 ENG Fred Davis 38 ENG John Pulman 35 Final Available details about the final are below. Final: Best-of-73 frames5–10 March 1956 at the Tower Circus, Blackpool.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 2011Numbers in bold represent winning scores and numbers in brackets represent breaks. Fred Davis ENG 38–35 John Pulman ENG 5 March (first day)Pulman in lead Lancashire Evening Post 6 March 1956 10Frame 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Davis 135 25 46 102 (96) 88 70 36 61 35 61 13 43 Pulman 1 63 69 33 60 51 72 59 85 (85) 64 100 81 Frames (Davis first) 1–0 1–1 1–2 2–2 3–2 4–2 4–3 5–3 5–4 5–5 5–6 5–7 6 March (second day)Five frames in row for Pulman Lancashire Evening Post 7 March 1956 8Kobylecky John 2019 The Complete International Directory of Snooker Players – 1927 to 2018 Kobyhadrian Books 978-0993143311 45 Frame 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Davis 70 ?(104) 74 39 27 58 54 53 Pulman 71 ? 48 69 83 62 64 66 Frames (Davis first) 8–8 8–9 9–9 10–9 10–10 10–11 10–12 10–13 10–14 7 March (third day)Late news: World snooker Lancashire Evening Post 7 March 1956 1Fred Davis cuts opponent's lead Lancashire Evening Post 8 March 1956 10Frame 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Davis 61 33 130 78 61 98 17 82 89 83 17 36 Pulman 80 54 11 43 35 26 68 32 39 43 83 65 Frames (Davis first) 10–15 10–16 11–16 12–16 13–16 14–16 14–17 15–17 16–17 17–17 17–18 17–19 8 March (fourth day)Pulman leads in snooker tussle Lancashire Evening Post 9 March 1956 12Frame 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Davis 25 85 96 5 15 46 92 67 94 19 74 33 Pulman 71 40 28 97 96 86 26 55 20 79 66 72 Frames (Davis first) 17–20 18–20 19–20 19–21 19–22 19–23 20–23 21–23 22–23 22–24 23–24 23–25 9 March (fifth day)Pulman two ahead with 13 to go Lancashire Evening Post 10 March 1956 6Frame 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Davis 83 81 8 22 139 82 15 17 48 71 53 87 Pulman 31 36 90 106 5 19 63 85 66 35 73 37 Frames (Davis first) 24–25 25–25 25–26 25–27 26–27 27–27 27–28 27–29 27–30 28–30 28–31 29–31 10 March (sixth day)Eighth title for Fred Davis Belfast News-Letter 12 March 1956 8Frame 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Davis Pulman Frames (Davis first) 34–32 37–33 38–35Fred Davis wins the 1956 World Professional Match-play Championship References 30em 1956 1956 World Professional Match-play Championship World Professional Match-play Championship Category:Sport in Blackpool