1952 World Professional Match-play Championship

November 2019 1952 World Professional Match-play Championship 1951 11 12 1952 03 15 y yes Tower Circus Blackpool England Professional Billiard Players' Association Fred Davis (140) Fred Davis ENG Walter Donaldson SCO 38–35 1952 1953 United Kingdom 200 Venues Wellington left 5 52.700 -2.516 Slough left 5 51.510 -0.590 Darlaston right 5 52.571 -2.046 South Shields left 5 54.992 -1.429 Derby right 5 52.922 -1.476 Scunthorpe top 5 53.581 -0.650 Blackpool left 8 53.816 -3.055 The 1952 World Professional Match-play Championship was a snooker tournament held from 12 November 1951 to 15 March 1952, with the final taking place at the Tower Circus in Blackpool, England. The event was created following a dispute between the Professional Billiard Players' Association (PBPA) and the Billiards Association and Control Council (BACC). The BACC claimed that the championship was primarily about honour, and financial consideration should come behind this, whilst the PBPA members felt that the BACC was taking too large a share of the income from the events and established an alternative 'world championship' called the World Professional Match-play Championship, editions of which are now recognised as world championships. Fred Davis won his fourth world title by defeating Walter Donaldson by 38 frame frames to 35 in the final. Davis recorded the highest break of the tournament, 140, a new championship record. Background The World Snooker Championship, established in 1927, 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 called the World Professional Match-play Championship,Williams Luke Gadsby Paul 2005 Masters of the Baize Edinburgh Mainstream 1840188723 47 perceived in general as the genuine title competition, and now recognised as world championships.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 Only two of the leading professional players, Horace Lindrum and Clark McConachy, had declined to join the PBPA, and they were the only two entrants to the BACC's 1952 World Snooker Championship.Lowe Ted Between frames 1984 A & C Black London 0713624469 44–46 Lindrum won their match, and therefore the title, 94–49 after dead frame dead frames.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 24 February 2011 The other professionals at the time, with the exception of Joe Davis who had retired from world title competitions, entered the PBPA's tournament.Everton Clive Snooker 1945–1957: from boom to bust Snooker Scene Birmingham October 2019 19–23 Ten players entered the PBPA's first World Professional Match-play Championship. The two finalists in the 1951 World Snooker Championship, Fred Davis and Walter Donaldson, were given byes to the semi-final stage in opposite halves of the draw. The remaining eight played two rounds to determine the other two semi-finalists.The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-VtAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GosMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2202%2C3040916 4 October 1951 7 "World" Snooker Draw 18 September 2020 18 September 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200918142157/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-VtAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GosMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2202%2C3040916 live Summary First round Sydney Lee withdrew, granting Kingsley Kennerley a walkover into the quarter-finals. Jackie Rea's snooker bid Belfast Telegraph 9 November 1951 10 Jackie Rea defeated Jim Lees 33–28 in their match from 12 to 17 November 1951, Rea into second round Belfast News-Letter 19 November 1951 2 Albert Brown scored a 33–28 win over John Pulman when they met from 27 November to 1 December, Brown beats Pulman Belfast News-Letter 3 December 1951 7 and in a match from 17 to 22 December, Alec Brown achieved a winning margin at 33–17 before his last day's play against Rex Williams, finishing at 39–22. Rex Williams out of championship Birmingham Daily Gazette 24 December 1951 5 Williams had turned professional in 1951, becoming the first player to make the transition from being an amateur since Pulman and Brown had done so in 1946. Snooker historian Clive Everton wrote that Williams was "hammered" by Brown, and that this demonstrated the gulf in ability between the top amateurs and the professionals of the time.60 Quarter-finals In the first quarter final, held from 7 to 11 January 1952, Kennerley took a 4–1 lead over Rea, who had won the first frame. At the end of the first day they were tied at 6–6. Rea on terms Belfast Telegraph 8 January 1952 8 Rea then took ten of the next day's twelve frames to lead 16–8, Fred Davis gains lead in snooker match Bradford Observer 9 January 1952 6 and on subsequent days was 23–13, 25–17 and 29–19 ahead, Rea 10 frames ahead Northern Whig 11 January 1952 2 eventually finishing the match at 35–26. Rea now to meet Davis Belfast Telegraph 12 January 1952 6 In the other quarter-final match, Albert Brown won six of the nine frames against Alec Brown on the first day of their match which lasted from 14 to 18 January. Albert Brown in snooker lead Birmingham Daily Gazette 15 January 1952 6 He won the opening six frames on the second day, and finished that day 18–6 ahead, Albert Brown increases his snooker lead Birmingham Daily Gazette 16 January 1952 6 maintaining a six frame lead at the end of the next day, which ended with him leading 24–12. Smith wins £500 on last frame Birmingham Daily Gazette 17 January 1952 6 Alec Brown reduced the deficit on the fourth day by winning eight of the twelve frames played, meaning Albert Brown led 28–20 going in to the last day. Albert still leads Birmingham Daily Gazette 18 January 1952 6 Albert Brown achieved a certain win at 31–22, and after the remaining scheduled frames were played, he was 36–25 ahead. Albert Brown in snooker semi-final Birmingham Daily Gazette 19 January 1952 6 Semi-finals The first semi-final, between Walter Donaldson and Albert Brown, was played in Scunthorpe from 21 to 25 January 1952. Donaldson held a 21–15 lead after three days.The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AVtAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C48MAAAAIBAJ&pg=4961%2C1801936 24 January 1952 2 Snooker and Billiards However, Brown reduced Donaldson's lead to two frames on the fourth day and the match ended 31–30.The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AltAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C48MAAAAIBAJ&pg=3050%2C1966173 25 January 1952 9 Snooker and Billiards The second semi-final, between Fred Davis and Jackie Rea, was played at Wellington, Shropshire from 4 to 9 February 1952. After four days Davis led 29–11.The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DltAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C48MAAAAIBAJ&pg=3045%2C3135855 8 February 1952 9 Snooker and Billiards Davis took a winning 34–16 lead on the fifth day and eventually won 38–23.The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D1tAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C48MAAAAIBAJ&pg=4805%2C3245119 9 February 1952 9 Snooker Final The final started on 10 March 1952 and continued until 15 March. In advance of the match, Davis and Donaldson issued a challenge to Horace Lindrum, who had effectively won the BACC-recognised 1952 World Snooker Championship by taking an insurmountable lead on 6 March, that the winner of their match would play him for £500 and gate receipts. Lindrum challenged to £500 match Aberdeen Evening Express 7 March 1952 12 Lindrum wrote in his 1974 book that he never received the challenge in writing, and that if he had, the principle that the title should be contested in an official tournament, apart from his existing commitments at the time which made it impractical, meant that he would not have agreed.Lindrum Horace Horace Lindrum's Snooker, Billiards and Pool Paul Hamlyn Pty Dee Why West, Australia 1974 0727101056 85 In the World Professional Match-play final, Davis won six of the eight frames in their first session, and each player won four frames in the second session, leaving the score at 7–5 to Davis after the first day. Donaldson had compiled a break of 104. Fred Davis gains an early lead Birmingham Daily Gazette 11 March 1952 6 Donaldson recorded another century break, 106, in the twentieth frame, but Davis increased his lead over Donaldson to 14–10 by the end of the second day. Fred Davis four frames ahead Bradford Observer 12 March 1952 8 On the third day, Davis achieved a break of 140, a new world championship record, and Donaldson made a 111. Davis finished the day 21–15 ahead. Fred Davis beats his brother's record Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer 13 March 1952 3 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 After another day's play, Davis was 29–19 ahead, Fred Davis now ten frames ahead Bradford Observer 14 March 1952 6 Donaldson won eight of the next twelve frames to reduce his arrears to six frames at 27–33. Donaldson reduces gap Bradford Observer 15 March 1952 6 Davis won the title, finishing the last day at 38–35 after achieving a winning margin at 37–30. Davis was trailing by 8 points to 66 in the 67th frame, but compiled a clearance of 67 to take the frame and secure victory. Leeds billiards player in title semi-final Bradford Observer 17 March 1952 6 Kobylecky John 2019 The Complete International Directory of Snooker Players – 1927 to 2018 Kobyhadrian Books 9780993143311 Schedule +Schedule of matches for the 1952 World Professional Match-play Championship Match Dates Venue, city Ref. Reference Jackie Rea v Jim Lees 12–17 November 1951 Wellington, Shropshire The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=k0hAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=44sMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5086%2C1644783 19 November 1951 7 Snooker 18 September 2020 18 September 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200918142145/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=k0hAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=44sMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5086%2C1644783 live Albert Brown v John Pulman 27 November–1 December 1951 Slough The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=m0hAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=44sMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2227%2C2524977 28 November 1951 9 Snooker and Billiards Alec Brown v Rex Williams 17–22 December 1951 Darlaston, Staffordshire The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q0hAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=44sMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3135%2C4384950 18 December 1951 9 Snooker Jackie Rea v Kingsley Kennerley 7–11 January 1952 South Shields The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=91pAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C48MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1283%2C846346 12 January 1952 2 Snooker 18 September 2020 18 September 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200918142146/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=91pAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C48MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1283%2C846346 live Albert Brown v Alec Brown 14–18 January 1952 Derby The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_VpAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C48MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5853%2C1411596 19 January 1952 2 Two Snooker Centuries 18 September 2020 18 September 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200918142146/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_VpAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C48MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5853%2C1411596 live Walter Donaldson v Albert Brown 21–25 January 1952 Scunthorpe The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=A1tAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C48MAAAAIBAJ&pg=4912%2C1997878 26 January 1952 2 Snooker and Billiards 18 September 2020 18 September 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200918142204/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=A1tAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C48MAAAAIBAJ&pg=4912%2C1997878 live Fred Davis v Jackie Rea 4–9 February 1952 Wellington, Shropshire The Glasgow Herald https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EFtAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C48MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5685%2C3330820 11 February 1952 7 Billiards and Snooker 18 September 2020 18 September 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200918142156/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EFtAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C48MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5685%2C3330820 live Fred Davis v Walter Donaldson 10–15 March 1952 Tower Circus, Blackpool Main draw The result for the tournament are shown below. Players in bold denote match winners.World Championship 1952 http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-snooker-tournaments-archive-world-championship-1952.asp Global Snooker 14 March 2011 usurped https://web.archive.org/web/20120222034509/http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-snooker-tournaments-archive-world-championship-1952.asp 22 February 2012The Times 19 November 1951 4 Snooker Round 161 frames Quarter-finals61 frames Semi-finals61 frames Final73 frames Jackie Rea NIR 33 Jim Lees ENG 28 Kingsley Kennerley ENG w/o Sydney Lee ENG w/d withdrew Albert Brown ENG 32 John Pulman ENG 27 Alec Brown ENG 39 Rex Williams ENG 22 NIR Jackie Rea 35 ENG Kingsley Kennerley 26 ENG Albert Brown 36 ENG Alec Brown 25 ENG Fred Davis 38 NIR Jackie Rea 23 ENG Albert Brown 30 SCO Walter Donaldson 31 ENG Fred Davis 38 SCO Walter Donaldson 35 References 30em 1952 (2) 1952 World Professional Match-play Championship World Professional Match-play Championship World Professional Match-play Championship Category:Sport in Blackpool