1969 World Snooker Championship

Professional snooker tournament Player's No.6 World Snooker Championship 1968 11 18 1969 03 22 y yes Victoria Hall London England BACC Ranking event £3,500 £1,300 John Spencer ENG Gary Owen WAL 37–24 1968 1970 The 1969 World Snooker Championship (also known as the Player's No.6 World Snooker Championship for sponsorship reasons) was a professional snooker tournament. It was the first World Snooker Championship in a knock-out format since 1957, following a series of challenge matches from 1964 to 1968. John Spencer won the title, defeating Gary Owen by achieving a winning margin at 37 frame frames to 24 in the final. Spencer had earlier eliminated defending champion John Pulman from the competition, in the quarter-finals. There were eight players who entered the championship, including four competition debutants. The quarter-finals and semi-finals were staged at several venues in England from 18 November 1968 until 22 February 1969, and the final was held at Victoria Hall in London from 17 to 22 March 1969. As champion, Spencer received £1,300 from the total prize fund of £3,500. The 1969 championship is regarded as the first of the modern snooker era. 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, following a dispute between the Professional Billiards Players' Association (PBPA) and the BACC about the distribution of income from the world championship, the PBPA members established an alternative competition known as the World Professional Match-play Championship, the editions of which are now recognised as world championships, whilst only Horace Lindrum and Clark McConachy entered for the BACC's 1952 World Snooker Championship.Williams Luke Gadsby Paul 2005 Masters of the Baize Edinburgh Mainstream 1840188723 47Turner 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 World Professional Match-play Championship continued until 1957, after which there were no world championship matches until professional Rex Williams gained agreement from the BACC that the world championship would be staged on a challenge basis, with defending champion Pulman featuring in the first match.Morrison Ian 1989 Snooker: records, facts and champions Guinness Superlatives Ltd 0851123643 8Hale Janice 1991 Rothmans Snooker Yearbook 1991–92 Aylesbury Queen Anne Press 0356197476 294–295 Pulman retained the title in several challenges from 1964 to 1968. Pulman had been touring snooker clubs as promotional work for the tobacco brand John Player, and the company had sponsored his 1968 match against Eddie Charlton. The good attendances for the championship match led to John Player deciding to sponsor the 1969 World Snooker Championship as a knock-out format tournament,Everton Clive 2012 Black farce and cue ball wizards Mainstream Edinburgh 9781780575681 42 using their "Players No. 6" brand.Players No. 6 sponsor world championship Billiards and Snooker Billiards Association and Control Council November 1968 13 The total prize fund was £3,500, UK 3500 1969 eq £, including £1,300 for the champion.Everton Clive 1985 Snooker: The Records Guinness Superlatives Ltd Enfield 0851124488 56 The 1969 championship is regarded as the first of the modern snooker era. John Higgins eyes more crucible titles https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/5276218/John-Higgins-eyes-more-Crucible-titles.html The Daily Telegraph London 5 May 2009 13 April 2020 registration "the modern era, which began in 1969 when the World Championship became a knockout event." https://web.archive.org/web/20100430020307/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/5276218/John-Higgins-eyes-more-Crucible-titles.html 30 April 2010 live Pitt Nick Snooker: Pocket man O'Sullivan eager to chalk up another title: The champion is in irresistible form as he starts his defence at the Crucible The Sunday Times 20 April 2014 13 "in the modern era since 1969" Hayton Eric Dee John 2004 The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History Rose Villa Publications Lowestoft 978-0954854904 7 "the world championship ... took on the modern day look during the 1968–69 season" Tournament summary The closing date for players to enter the championship was 30 June 1968.(Untitled article) Billiards and Snooker Billiards Association and Control Council June 1968 6 There were eight entrants: four of whom had played professionally in the 1950s and four championship debutants. The new players were John Spencer, Ray Reardon, Gary Owen, and Bernard Bennett.Everton Clive 1986 The History of Snooker and Billiards Partridge Press Haywards Heath 1852250135 72–73 Defending champion Pulman was drawn to meet Spencer, who had recently defeated him 14–17 in a non-title challenge match.Tough first round for Pulman Billiards and Snooker Billiards Association and Control Council August 1968 6 Quarter-finals The first match, played from 18 to 22 November 1968 at the Wryton Stadium in Bolton, saw the end of Pulman's reign as champion, when he was defeated by Spencer. Spencer took a 4–0 lead, and ended the first session 4–2 ahead.Pullman trails Birmingham Daily Post 19 November 1968 29 Spencer compiled a 110 break in the 18th frame, on his way to establishing a 13–5 lead at the end of the second day.Spencer goes further ahead Birmingham Daily Post 20 November 1968 29 Spencer led 24–18 after the final afternoon session and clinched the match by winning the first frame in the evening with what was reported in The Times as a "magnificent 97 break".The Times 23 November 1968 5 Spencer beats PulmanBaxter Trevor Obituary: John Pulman https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-john-pulman-1076338.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-john-pulman-1076338.html 2022-05-01 subscription live The Independent 31 August 2012 London 26 January 1999 Owen faced Jackie Rea at the Hippodrome, Stratford-upon-Avon, from 25 to 28 November 1968.Dates Billiards and Snooker Billiards Association and Control Council September 1968 10 The players each won three frames in the first afternoon session. Rea took the first in the evening, before Owen claimed five consecutive frames to end the first day 8–4 ahead.Everton Clive Stronger nerves aid Owen Birmingham Daily Post 26 November 1968 26 On the second afternoon, the players again won three frames apiece, with Owen compiling a 68 break that turned out to be the highest break of the match. Rea took the first three frames of the evening session, to move to 10–11, then Owen won two of the next three for a 13–11 overnight lead.Owen reaches semi-finals Billiards and Snooker Billiards Association and Control Council January 1969 3 Owen increased his lead by winning four of the six frames on the third afternoon, and maintained it by adding three of the six evening frames, leading 20–16 going into the last day.Owen leads by four frames Coventry Evening Telegraph 26 November 1968 26 The match between Williams and Bennett was played from 25 to 28 November 1968 at the Marlands Hall in Southampton. Williams took all six frames in the first session, and achieved a winning margin at 25–4. Williams compiled a 107 break in the third frame of the fourth session, and, after dead frame dead frames were played, finished 38–11 ahead.Hobbs Alfred Rex Williams 38, Bernard Bennett 11 Billiards and Snooker Billiards Association and Control Council January 1969 3 The fourth quarter-final, between Fred Davis and Reardon, was not played until January 1969 because Reardon was touring South Africa.The Observer 17 November 1968 18 Old Pros Face the New Men Clive Everton https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49817992/the-observer/ newspapers.comhttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article107072468 The days when billiards was king The Canberra Times Australian Capital Territory, Australia 11 January 1969 29 April 2020 9 Trove The match was played at the Tunstall British Legion, Stoke-on-Trent, from 20 to 24 January.Everton Clive Davis wears down Reardon Billiards and Snooker Billiards Association and Control Council February 1969 4–5 The Sydney Morning Herald 28 January 1969 24 Snooker win in last frame https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49819955/the-sydney-morning-herald/ newspapers.com The match featured lengthy tactical exchanges between the players, resulting in some of the longest sessions ever to take place in world championship history to that point. No player was ahead by more than two frames until Reardon took the 27th frame to lead 15–12, after which Davis won six successive frames to leave Reardon three frames behind at 15–18. Later, having been three frames down with six to play, Davis levelled the match at 24–24. Davis won in the deciding frame after a break of 52 and some smaller scoring visits, with Reardon conceding the frame at 64 points behind with one red ball remaining. The highest break of the match was 89, scored by Reardon. Semi-finals The two youngest players to have entered the tournament, Spencer, aged 33, and Williams, aged 35,Exciting times ahead Billiards and Snooker Billiards Association and Control Council January 1969 3 contested the first semi-final, held at the Co-op Hall, Bolton, from 10 to 15 February.World professional snooker championship Billiards and Snooker Billiards Association and Control Council February 1969 3 Spencer took a 9–0 lead, and was 11–1 ahead after the first day. Williams won the first two frames of the third day, and, after Spencer had taken the 15th frame, Williams added the 16th frame on a re-spotted black. The second day finished with Spencer leading 19–5, and the score was 29–7 after he won ten of the twelve frames on day three. Spencer achieved a winning margin at 37–12, and finished at 55–18 after dead frames were played.John Spencer 55 Rex Williams 18 Billiards and Snooker Billiards Association and Control Council March 1969 3–4 The Guardian 17 February 1969 16 Spencer in Final https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49819328/the-guardian/ newspapers.com The second semi final, between Owen and Davis, was held at the Wolstanton Miners Club, Stoke-on-Trent, from 17 to 22 February. Owen took a four frame lead at the start of the match. Davis won the fifth and sixth frames, before Owen claimed the last three frames of the afternoon session followed by all six frames in the evening session for an 11–2 lead.Great start by Gary Owen Birmingham Daily Post 18 February 1969 25 After winning the third session 4–3 and the fourth session 5–2, Owen's lead at the end of the second day was 19–7.Gary Owen extends lead Birmingham Daily Post 19 February 1969 31 Taking ten of thirteen frames on day three, Owen extended his advantage to 29–10. The fourth day saw Davis reduce the deficit to twelve frames, at 20–32.Fred Davis reduces arrears Birmingham Daily Post 19 February 1969 32 On day five, the afternoon session ended with Owen 36–23 ahead, and, after Davis has made a break of 83 in the 60th frame, Owen achieved a winning margin at 37–24. After dead frames, Owen finished 45–28 ahead.Gary Owen 45 Fred Davis 28 Billiards and Snooker Billiards Association and Control Council March 1969 4 The Guardian 24 February 1969 20 Owen Wins https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49819404/the-guardian/ newspapers.com Final The final was held at Victoria Hall, London, from 17 to 22 March.Turner Chris On this Week: Irish hat-trick success http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/22032010/58/week-irish-hat-trick-success.html Eurosport UK 31 August 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120920080152/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/22032010/58/week-irish-hat-trick-success.html 22 March 2010 20 September 2012 live Spencer took a 6–2 lead, before Owen levelled the match at 6–6, having made the first day's highest break of 80 in the 9th frame. The Birmingham Daily Post correspondent praised the players for bringing a "refreshing new look to the game, with bold attacking play, wonderful potting, and a sprinkling of good-sized breaks".Owen and Spencer all square Birmingham Daily Post 18 March 1969 13 On the second day, both players missed easy pot pots, sharing the first two frames for 7–7 before Spencer won the next four frames to lead 11–7 by the interval, after which he added four of the subsequent six frames to increase his advantage to six frames at 15–9.Owen loses ground to Spencer Birmingham Daily Post 19 March 1969 13 The third day's play, which featured only two breaks of 50 or more, was described in the Coventry Evening Telegraph as "undistinguished", and ended with Spencer still six frames ahead, at 21–15.Spencer now six ahead Coventry Evening Telegraph 20 March 1969 28 On day 4, Owen won four of the afternoon session's six frames to close to 19–23.Owen fights back to reduce leeway Birmingham Daily Post 21 March 1969 15 In the evening session, Spencer claimed the first three frames, and finished the day six frames ahead again at 27–21. Owen only won three of the twelve frames on the fifth day, leaving Spencer one frame from victory at 36–24. Owen's brother Marcus Owen, a former English Amateur Championship winner, commented that "Gary's cueing is all over the place. Every time he plays a forcing shot, his whole body is moving."The Times 22 March 1969 6 Snooker Spencer took the first frame on the final day to claim victory by achieving a winning margin of 37–24. The remaining 12 dead frames were played, with Spencer finishing 46–27 ahead.The Times 24 March 1969 12 Snooker With this he became the first player to win the World Championship at his first attempt since Joe Davis at the inaugural championship in 1927.Everton Clive Clive Everton Guinness Book of Snooker 1982 Guinness Superlatives Ltd. Enfield, Middlesex 0-85112-256-6 Rev. 89 Owen compiled a 100 break, the highest of the match, in the 66th frame after the title had been decided. Snooker historian Clive Everton commented that although Spencer only recorded a small number of breaks above 60, "in every other respect, the new champion's display was a revelation. His long potting, his prodigious screw shots even when cue-ball and object-ball were seven or eight feet apart, his uninhibited use of side, his bright attacking style, even the mere fact that here was a bright new face, made Spencer's win a memorable one." Main draw Match results are shown below. Winning players and scores are denoted in bold text.World Championship 1969 http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-snooker-tournaments-archive-world-championship-1969.asp Global Snooker 8 February 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20101228174522/http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-snooker-tournaments-archive-world-championship-1969.asp 2010-12-28 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 7 May 2012 John Pulman ENG 18 John Spencer ENG|25 ||Rex Williams ENG 25 Bernard Bennett ENG 4 Gary Owen WAL|25|Jackie Rea NIR|17 ||Fred Davis ENG 25 Ray Reardon WAL 24 John Spencer ENG|37 |Rex Williams ENG|12 ||Gary Owen WAL 37 Fred Davis ENG 24 John Spencer ENG |37|Gary Owen WAL|24 |RD1=Quarter-finalsBest of 49 frames|RD2=Semi-finalsBest of 73 frames|RD3=Final'''Best of 73 frames Final Final: Best of 73 frames. Referee: Harold PhillipsRobinson Keith Blow by blow Billiards and Snooker Billiards Association and Control Council April 1969 3–6Victoria Hall, London, 17–22 March 1969. John Spencer 46–27 Gary Owen Day 1: 81(60)–35, 35–72, 17–76, 64–43, 94(53)–20, 75–73, 55–25, 76–25, 23–96(80), 40–82(52), 27–87(70), 50–62Day 2: 91(58)–27, 27–69, 64–33, 68–54, 71–43, 76–21, 85–8, 33–62, 69–41, 95(59)–40, 112(62)–15, 21–95(61)Day 3: 40–69, 37–64, 79–41, 11–76, 60–24, 18–78, 42–54, 122(56)–11, 87–22, 82(55)–9, 50–72, 62–47Day 4: 47–57, 76–26, 44–56, 62(60)–24, 7–64, 44–55, 75–34, 54–39, 57–46, 12–82(57), 54–67(47), 92–31Day 5: 98(77)–1, 67–48, 71–26, 43–67, 38–84, 80(73)–8, 77–1, 68–55, 62–52, 69–23, 9–88(50), 73–29Day 6: 78–35, 101–21, 89–44, 70–41, 73–64, 19–108(100), 62–51, 51–63, 90–32, 104–17, 58–85, 64–53, 94–34 77 Highest break 100 0 Century breaks 1 10 50+ breaks 7 Spencer achieved a winning margin at 37–24. dead frame Dead frames were played. References 2 1969 World Championship World Championship World Snooker Championship Category:International sports competitions in London World Snooker Championship, 1969