1948 World Snooker Championship

1948 World Snooker Championship 1948 02 9 1948 05 1 y yes Leicester Square Hall London England Billiards Association and Control Council Fred Davis ENG (109) Fred Davis ENG Walter Donaldson SCO 84–61 1947 1949 The 1948 World Snooker Championship was a professional snooker tournament that took place from 9 March to 1 May 1948. It was an edition of the World Snooker Championship first held in 1927. A qualifying event with eight participants was held from 1 to 13 December 1947 at Burroughes Hall and was won by John Pulman, who joined seven other players in the main event. The final was held at Leicester Square Hall in London, England, from 19 April to 1 May 1948. For the second year running the final was contested by Fred Davis and Walter Donaldson. Davis won his first World title by defeating Donaldson 84 frames to 61 in the final, having already reached a winning margin at 73–52. Davis also made the highest break of the tournament, 109. 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 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 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.Everton Clive 1986 The History of Snooker and Billiards Partridge Press Haywards Heath 978-1-85225-013-3 50–52 Walter Donaldson was the defending champion, having defeated Fred Davis 82–63 in the 1947 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 Format The closing date for players to enter the tournament was 18 February 1946.Editorial The Billiard Player Billiards Association and Control Council September 1947 3 There were fifteen entrants. Eight were placed in "Section B", which was to produce one qualifier to join the other seven players in "Section A", the main competition. Section B was scheduled at Burroughes Hall in London between 1 December 1946 and 14 January 1947, with all matches consisting of 35 frames. Matches in Section A were played as the best of 71 frames, except the final which was the best of 145 frames. The quarter-finals were played at four different venues in England between 9 February and 27 March. The semi-finals took place between 29 March and 10 April at Leicester Square Hall, with the final played at the same venue from 19 April to 1 May. Dates and venues of matches +Schedule of matches for the 1948 World Snooker Championship Match Dates Venue, city Ref. References Clark McConachy v John Pulman 9–14 February 1948 Ambulance Drill Hall, Rochdale Albert Brown v Sidney Smith 1–4 March 1948 Clifton Hotel, Blackpool Fred Davis v Alec Brown 15–20 March 1948 Houldsworth Hall, Manchester The world's professional snooker championship The Billiard Player Billiards Association and Control Council November 1947 3 Walter Donaldson v Kingsley Kennerley 22–25, 27 March 1948 Burroughes Hall, Newcastle Championship draws and results The Billiard Player Billiards Association and Control Council February 1948 7 Walter Donaldson v Albert Brown 29 March–3 April 1948 Leicester Square Hall, London Fred Davis v Clark McConachy 5–10 April 1948 Leicester Square Hall, London Walter Donaldson v Fred Davis 19–24, 26 April–1 May 1948 Leicester Square Hall, London Editorial The Billiard Player Billiards Association and Control Council February 1948 3 Tournament summary The first of the quarter-finals in the main competition was between John Pulman, who won Section B, and Clark McConachy. Each player won six of the 12 frames played on the first day of their match. On the second day, McConachy took 11 of 12 frames for a 17–7 lead.Donaldson pulls up Dundee Courier 11 February 1948 2 McConachy maintained a ten frame lead after the next day,Joe Davis's 277th century The Scotsman 12 February 1948 6 and extended his advantage to 12 frames at 30–18 by the close of day four.M'Conachy v Pulman Belfast Telegraph 13 February 1948 5 McConachy attained a winning lead on the fifth day, which he finished 38–22 ahead.M'Conachy the winner Belfast Telegraph 14 February 1948 3 After dead frames, the final score was 42–29. Sidney Smith and Albert Brown were tied at 16–16.S.Smith gains lead Yorkshire Evening Post 3 March 1948 8 Going into the final session, Brown led 34–30. Smith won five consecutive frames, before Brown won the next two for a 36–35 deciding frame victory.Perth player in snooker semi Dundee Courier 5 March 1948 2 Alec Brown was affected by severe arthritis during his match against Davis, and lost 28–43.Editorial The Billiard Player Billiards Association and Control Council April 1948 3 Davis took a 9–3 lead on the first day of their match,Fred Davis in front Belfast Telegraph 16 March 1948 3 and, having made a break of 103 on the third day, finished it 24–12 ahead.A Fred Davis century Dundee Courier 18 March 1948 4 Brown took seven of the 12 frames on day 4,Snooker rivals' centuries Dundee Courier 19 March 1948 4 but Davis secured a win at 36–24.Three Davis centuries Dundee Courier 20 March 1948 2 Donaldson drew 7–7 with Kingsley Kennerley on the first day of their contest,Donaldson shares frames Aberdeen Press and Journal 23 March 1948 3 and won 11 of the 14 frames on day 2, for an 18–10 lead.128 break by Joe Davis Aberdeen Press and Journal 24 March 1948 3 Donaldson reached a winning margin at 36–23, and made a break of 100 in the closing stages. The match finished 46–25.Snooker The Scotsman 29 March 1948 3 Donaldson and Albert Brown were level at 3–3 after their first semi-final session; Donaldson moved into an 8–4 lead by the close of the first day of their match.Donaldson leads Albert Brown Birmingham Daily Gazette 30 March 1948 3 He doubled his lead to 16–8 the next day,Donaldson well ahead Dundee Courier 31 March 1948 2 but Brown narrowed the gap to four frames at 20–16 on day 3.Brown's rally in snooker tie Dundee Courier 1 April 1948 4 Day four saw Donaldson move to 27–21 ahead,Donaldson six ahead Dundee Courier 2 April 1948 4 and at the close of day five he led 34–26.Donaldson almost there Dundee Courier 3 April 1948 4 Donaldson eliminated Brown; the score was 40–31 after dead frames.Snooker The Scotsman 5 April 1948 3 Davis took a 9–3 lead against McConachy on the first day of their semi-final, and extended this to 15–3 after the next session. He compiled a break of 101 in frame 23 and finished the second day 20–4 ahead.Frank Edwards in snooker final Birmingham Daily Gazette 7 April 1948 4 McConachy won four of the six frames in the earlier session on day three, and each player took three frames in the later session.McConachy cuts deficit Bradford Observer 8 April 1948 3 On day four, with both players winning three of the early session frames, it was 28–14 to Davis; at the close of that day he led 32–16.Davis 16 frames ahead Bradford Observer 9 April 1948 3 Davis reached a winning margin at 36–22; the score after dead frames was 43–28.F. Davis again Birmingham Daily Gazette 10 April 1948 3Lester wins snooker trophy Birmingham Daily Gazette 12 April 1948 3 Davis made a break of 109 during the match.46 Final Fred Davis reached the final for the third consecutive year, where he faced the defending champion, Walter Donaldson.World's snooker championship final The Billiard Player Billiards Association and Control Council May 1948 7 On the first day, 19 April, Davis won seven of the 12 frames played.World snooker championship The Times 20 April 1948 2 He achieved the same outcome on the second day, to lead 14–10, and on the third day to lead 21–15.F. Davis four ahead Birmingham Daily Gazette 21 April 1948 3Snooker title Evening Despatch 22 April 1948 4 At the close of the fourth day's play, Davis had increased his lead to ten frame at 29–19;Fred Davis forges ahead Birmingham Daily Gazette 23 April 1948 4 a day later, he led 37–23.Davis well ahead Dundee Evening Telegraph 24 April 1948 8 Taking eight of the twelve frames on 24 April meant that Davis led 45–27 at the end of the first week.Davis v. Donaldson Dundee Evening Telegraph 26 April 1948 8 when the match resumed on 26 April, Donaldson reduced his arrears, to 14 frames, at 35–49;Donaldson retrieves lost ground Aberdeen Press and Journal 27 April 1948 4 remaining 14 behind at conclusion of both of the next two days of play, as each player took six frames each day.Donaldson divides frames Aberdeen Press and Journal 28 April 1948 3Davis 14 ahead Aberdeen Press and Journal 29 April 1948 4 Davis won all six frames of the following day's first session, and three of six frames in the later session, leaving him three frames from victory at 70–50.Davis nearly there Dundee Courier 30 April 1948 4 On 30 April, Davis won the second, fourth and fifth frames to give him a decisive lead of 73–52.F. Davis wins the championship The Times 1 May 1948 6Snooker Champ. https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59480062 25 May 2012 Sunday Times 2 May 1948 After dead frames, the score was 86–61. Davis's highest break of the match was 96, whist Donaldson's was 88. According to the reporter for The Billiard Player magazine, the final "was a keenly contested struggle, neither player taking any undue risk. This at times made some of the games slow and even tedious to watch". The correspondent for The Times wrote that "it seems highly probable... that F. Davis will prove most difficult to beat for some years to come." The championship trophy was presented to Davis by Francis Douglas, 11th Marquess of Queensberry. In his autobiography, Davis described Donaldson's style of play as patient, cautious and risk-averse. Davis felt that in the 1947 final, his own lack of patience, which meant he took chances to pot balls which sometimes failed and presented opportunities for Donaldson, was a factor in his defeat. He decided that in 1948, "the way to beat him, unfortunately for the spectators, was to play him at his own game."Davis Fred Talking Snooker A&C Black London 1983 978-0-7136-2409-0 Main draw The results for the main competition (Section A) were as follows. Winning players are denoted in bold.Embassy 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 143–144 y 170 Quarter-finals 71 frames Semi-finals 71 frames Final 145 frames Walter Donaldson SCO 46 Kingsley Kennerley ENG 25 Sidney Smith ENG 35 Albert Brown ENG 36 Fred Davis ENG 43 Alec Brown ENG 28 Clark McConachy NZL 42 John Pulman ENG 29 SCO Walter Donaldson 40 ENG Albert Brown 31 ENG Fred Davis 43 NZL Clark McConachy 28 SCO Walter Donaldson 61 ENG Fred Davis 84 Qualifying Tournament All qualifying matches were held at Burroughes Hall in London. The first-round matches were held from 1 to 13 December 1947. In the first match Sydney Lee conceded his match to John Pulman before the second day's play because of an abscess on his neck. Pulman was leading 8–2 after the first day.Snooker – Sydney Lee withdraws Western Morning News 3 December 1947 12 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000329/19471203/083/0004 British Newspaper Archive subscription Only 10 frames had been played because of a power cut which curtailed the afternoon session to three frames.Snooker – Pulman leading – Power cuts hold up play in qualifying match Western Morning News 2 December 1947 12 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000329/19471202/049/0005 British Newspaper Archive subscription Conrad Stanbury comfortably won the second match, against Eric Newman, taking a 19–5 winning lead after the second day.Another M'Conachy century Dundee Courier 6 December 1947 12 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19471206/073/0004 British Newspaper Archive subscription The third match between Willie Leigh and Herbert Holt was very close. Leigh won the final frame 83–35 to win the match.Snooker – Marsh-Carter final Western Daily Press 11 December 1947 12 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000513/19471211/014/0002 British Newspaper Archive subscription The final first-round match, between John Barrie and Herbert Francis was also close. The match was 12–12 after two days. Barrie won the match 19–16.Sport in brief Western Daily Press 15 December 1947 12 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000513/19471215/085/0004 British Newspaper Archive subscription The semi-finals were held from 5 to 10 January 1948. Pulman beat Stanbury in the first semi-final, taking a winning 18–15 lead on the final evening.Pulman successful Western Morning News 8 January 1948 12 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000329/19480108/051/0005 British Newspaper Archive subscription In the second semi-final Leigh led 10–6 and won 21–14. Barrie made a break of 101 during the final evening session.Items Nottingham Evening Post 12 January 1948 12 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000321/19480112/048/0004 British Newspaper Archive subscription In the final, played from 12 to 14 January, Leigh led 7–5 after the first day and 13–11 after two days. The match went to a final frame decider with Pulman winning 60–49, potting the last black.John Pulman beats Willie Leigh – Wins on black in last frame Western Daily Press 15 January 1948 12 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000513/19480115/032/0003 British Newspaper Archive subscription The results of the qualifying competition (Section B) are shown below. winning players are denoted in bold. y Round 1 35 frames Round 2 35 frames Final 35 frames John Pulman ENG w/o Sydney Lee ENG w/d withdrawn Conrad Stanbury CAN 1921 26 Eric Newman ENG 9 Herbert Francis ENG 16 John Barrie ENG 19 Willie Leigh ENG 18 Herbert Holt ENG 17 ENG John Pulman 19 CAN 1921 Conrad Stanbury 16 ENG John Barrie 14 ENG Willie Leigh 21 ENG John Pulman 18 ENG Willie Leigh 17 Century breaks The following century breaks were made during the tournament; Fred Davis's break of 109 against Clark McConachy in their semi-final match was the highest. 109, 103, 101 Fred DavisKobylecky John 2019 The Complete International Directory of Snooker Players – 1927 to 2018 Kobyhadrian Books 978-0-9931433-1-1 46 101 John Barrie 100 Walter Donaldson References 30em 1948 World Snooker Championships World Snooker Championships World Snooker Championships World Snooker Championship World Snooker Championship World Snooker Championship World Snooker Championship World Snooker Championship, 1948