1939 World Snooker Championship

1939 World Snooker Championship 1939 01 23 1939 03 4 y Thurston's Hall London England BACC Fred Davis ENG (113) Joe Davis ENG Sidney Smith ENG 43–30 1938 1940 The 1939 World Snooker Championship was a snooker tournament held at Thurston's Hall in London, England from 23 January to 4 March 1939. It was the thirteenth edition of the World Snooker Championship. Joe Davis retained the championship title that he had held since 1927. In the best-of-73-frame frames final against Sidney Smith, Davis won the match 43–30, securing the victory at 37-25 earlier in the match. Fred Davis set a new championship highest break by compiling a 113 in the 22nd frame of his 14–17 semi-final defeat by his brother Joe Davis. There were fifteen participants, with four players taking part in a qualifying competition for a place in the twelve-person main event. Walter Donaldson, who entered the championship for the first time since his debut in 1933, won the qualifying event, and eliminated Claude Falkiner, a tournament debutant who was taking part in his first cue sports tournament for several years, in the first round of the main draw, before losing in the quarter-finals to Sidney Smith. 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 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 0747516103 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 1938.Everton Clive 1986 The History of Snooker and Billiards Partridge Press Haywards Heath 1852250135 50–52 For the 1939 Championship, the BACC announced a closing date for entries of 31 October 1938, and that the main competition would be played at Thurston's Hall. Players would be responsible for organising the qualifying matches themselves, with the first-drawn player drawn for the match being preferred to make the arrangements. All matches except the final were to be played over 31 frame frames, with the final consisting of 73 frames. Billiards season – changes in conditions of professional championships Gloucestershire Echo 17 September 1938 5 There were 15 entries for the Championship. The number of players places in the competition proper was increased from 8 to 12, with four selected players competing in the qualifying competition.The Times 5 November 1938 6 Snooker – The ChampionshipsBilliards – Claude Falkiner returns Lincolnshire Echo 4 November 1938 9 The main event was held over a six-week period from 23 January to 4 March at Thurston's Hall. Qualifying matches had to be completed by 14 January. On 21 January, the 1938/1939 Daily Mail Gold Cup, which was won by Alec Brown, concluded.The Times 15 November 1938 4 Snooker – The handicap tournament A preview of the World Championship in The Times suggested that despite the improvement in the standard of play of younger competitor such as Brown and Sidney Smith, Davis was likely to retain the title he had held since the tournament's inception in 1927.The Times 23 January 1939 4 Snooker – Championship of the world Schedule +Schedule of matches for the 1939 World Snooker Championship Match Dates Venue, city Ref. References Sidney Smith v Sydney Lee 23–25 January 1939 Thurston's Hall, London Walter Donaldson v Claude Falkiner 26–28 January 1939 Thurston's Hall, London Tom Newman v Alec Mann 30 January–1 February 1939 Thurston's Hall, London Fred Davis v Conrad Stanbury 2–4 February 1939 Thurston's Hall, London Alec Brown v Horace Lindrum 6–8 February 1939 Thurston's Hall, London Sidney Smith v Walter Donaldson 9–11 February 1939 Thurston's Hall, London Fred Davis v Tom Newman 13–15 February 1939 Thurston's Hall, London Joe Davis v Willie Smith 16–18 February 1939 Thurston's Hall, London Sidney Smith v Alec Brown 20–22 February 1939 Thurston's Hall, London Joe Davis v Fred Davis 23–25 February 1939 Thurston's Hall, London Joe Davis v Sidney Smith 27 February–4 March 1939 Thurston's Hall, London Summary First round The first match was between Sidney Smith and Sydney Lee from 23 to 25 January. Smith had a 4–1 lead after the first session, and 6–4 at the end of the first day. The next day, Smith claimed four of the five frames in the afternoon session so was 10–5 ahead. After the fourth session, his advantage was 13–7 and, by winning the first three frames on the final day, he achieved decisive 16–7 lead. The final score after dead frame dead frames was 21–10.The Times 24 January 1939 5 Snooker – The championshipThe Times 26 January 1939 5 Snooker – The Professional ChampionshipThe Times 25 January 1939 5 Snooker – The Professional Championship From 26 to 28 January, qualifier Walter Donaldson played Claude Falkiner. Falkiner took three of the five frames in the first session, and Donaldson won three frames from five in the evening, leaving the score was level at 5–5 after the first day. Donaldson won four of the five frames in both of the sessions on the second day to lead 13–7. On the final day Donaldson took a 16–8 winning lead and ended 21–10 ahead.The Times 27 January 1939 5 Snooker – The Professional ChampionshipThe Times 30 January 1939 4 Snooker – The Professional ChampionshipThe Times 28 January 1939 5 Snooker – The Professional Championship Falkiner had been runner-up in the professional billiards championship in 1920 and 1922. Playing Donaldson was his first competitive cue sports match in several years, and his first participation in the World Snooker Championship. The correspondent for The Times, whilst describing Donaldson as "a player of considerable skill", felt that Falkiner's lack of recent match experience contributed to his defeat. The second week started with a match between Tom Newman and Alec Mann, which was held from 30 January to 1 February. Newman led 4–1 following the initial session, and 6–4 after the first day, and increased his lead 13–7 after two days. Newman compiled a 71 break in the opening frame of the final day before a kick ruined his chance of a century break. Newman gained a winning 16–10 lead by taking the first frame of the evening session and finished 19–12 ahead.The Times 31 January 1939 7 Snooker – The professional championshipThe Times 2 February 1939 6 Snooker – The Professional ChampionshipThe Times 1 February 1939 5 Snooker – The Professional Championship Fred Davis and Conrad Stanbury met in the last first round match, which started on 2 February. Davis won the first six frames and led 13–7 at the start of the final day, 4 February. Davis took a winning 16–9 lead and eventually won 19–12 after dead frames.The Times 4 February 1939 6 Snooker – The ChampionshipThe Times 6 February 1939 4 Snooker – The Professional ChampionshipThe Times 4 February 1939 6 Snooker – The Professional Championship Quarter-finals Daily Mail Gold Cup winner Alec Brown met Horace Lindrum in the first quarter-final, from 6 to 8 February. He had beaten Lindrum 46–25 in the Gold Cup tournament, but had received a 21-point start in each frame. Brown took a 6–4 lead, winning each of the first two sessions 3–2. On the second day, Brown compiled a break of 83, his highest-ever in competitive play, in the 13th frame. He led 10–5 at the close of the session, and 13–7 at the end of the day. Brown added the last frame on the final afternoon to secure a win at 16–9. Lindrum won five of the evening frames to give a final score of 17–14.The Times 7 February 1939 6 Snooker – The Professional ChampionshipThe Times 9 February 1939 6 Snooker – The Professional ChampionshipThe Times 7 February 1939 5 Snooker – The Professional Championship From 9 to 11 February, Sidney Smith played Donaldson in the second quarter-final. By taking three frames in each of the first two sessions, Smith established a 6–4 lead, extending this to 9–6 after winning the third session, again by a single frame. In the fourth session, Donaldson then won three frames in a row to equalise at 9–9, and added a fourth successive frame to lead 10–9. Smith took the last frame of the session and the second day concluded with the pair level at 10–10. Donaldson led 13–12, after the fifth session. In the concluding session, after Smith won the 26th frame to draw level, Donaldson moved a frame ahead again at 14–13. Smith made a 77 break in the 28th frame to make it 14–14, then added the next frame. Donaldson equalised at 15–15. In the deciding frame, Smith led 43–34 with one red ball left and, taking the red and then a bue ball blue and the colour ball colours to the pink ball pink, won the frame 69–34 and the match 16–15.The Times 10 February 1939 6 Snooker – The Professional ChampionshipThe Times 13 February 1939 6 Snooker – The Professional ChampionshipThe Times 11 February 1939 6 Snooker – The Professional Championship The next match was between Fred Davis and Newman, and was played from 13 to 15 February. Davis had won the first six frames in his opening match and on this occasion he won the first seven frames. From 8–2 up after the first two sessions, Davis won the first six frames on the second day to lead 14–2 then led 15–5 overnight, just one frame from victory. Davis won the second frame on the final day to secure victory at 16–6. The final score was 21–10 after dead frames. A match report in The Times referred to Davis as "a sound and steady rather than a brilliant player".The Times 14 February 1939 7 Snooker – The Professional ChampionshipThe Times 16 February 1939 5 Snooker – The Professional ChampionshipThe Times 15 February 1939 5 Snooker – The Professional Championship Joe Davis played his first match of the 1939 Championship in the last quarter-final, against Willie Smith, from 16 to 18 February. Davis took a 6–4 lead on the first day after taking three frames from five in both sessions. Smith then won the first four frames of the second day to lead 8–6, but Davis claimed the final six frames for a 12–8 overnight advantage and, by winning the first four frames of the final day, secured a decisive 16–8 lead. During the dead frames, Davis extended his run to 11 frames before Smith won four of the six evening frames to give a final score of 19–12.The Times 17 February 1939 5 Snooker – The Professional ChampionshipThe Times 20 February 1939 5 Snooker – The Professional ChampionshipThe Times 18 February 1939 6 Snooker – The Professional Championship Semi-finals The first semi-final was between Sidney Smith and Brown, from 20 to 22 February. Brown took a 5–1 lead and led 6–4 overnight. Smith then won the first seven frames on the second day to take an 11–6 lead; the second day ended with the score at 12–8. Smith continued to dominate on the final day winning the match 16–9 by winning the last frame of the afternoon session. The final score was 20–11.The Times 21 February 1939 6 Snooker – The Professional ChampionshipThe Times 23 February 1939 6 Snooker – The Professional ChampionshipThe Times 22 February 1939 6 Snooker – The Professional Championship From 23 to 25 February, brothers Joe and Fred Davis played each other in the second semi-final. Fred won the first three frames, and led 3–2 after the first session, but Joe led 6–4 overnight. Fred regained the lead on the second afternoon but Joe took four of the evening frames and finished the day 11–9 ahead. Joe won the first frame on the second day but Fred then made a 113 clearance in the 22nd frame. Fred's break, a new record for the World Championship, included 12 reds, 6 black ball blacks, 3 pinks, 2 blues, a brown ball brown and then all the colours. Fred won the next frame but Joe then took the following four frames and achieved victory at 16–11. The final score after dead frame was 17–14.54The Times 24 February 1939 7 Snooker – The Professional ChampionshipThe Times 27 February 1939 3 Snooker – The Professional Championship Final Joe Davis met Sidney Smith in the final for the second successive year. The final took place from 27 February to 4 March, and was extended from the 61 frames in the previous championship to 73 frames, 6 frames being played per session. Davis won the first five frames and ended the day 8–4 ahead.The Times 28 February 1939 6 Snooker – The Professional Championship He extended the lead to 15–9The Times 1 March 1939 6 Snooker – The Championship Final and 20–10 before Smith won all six frames on the third evening to reduce Davis's lead to 20–16.The Times 2 March 1939 5 Snooker – The Championship Final The fourth afternoon session was shared but Davis won five frames in the evening to lead 28–20.The Times 3 March 1939 16 Snooker – The Championship Final Davis made breaks of 73, 64, 69 and 95 in the first seven frames on the fifth day, and ended the day 35–25 ahead, two frames from victory.The Times 4 March 1939 14 Snooker – The Championship Final Davis took the first two frames on the final day to win the match 37–25. The remaining 11 frames were played leaving a final score of 43–30.The Times 6 March 1939 6 Snooker – J Davis retains the Championship Davis was presented with the championship trophy by author Compton Mackenzie.Davis retains world snooker title The Scotsman 6 March 1939 6 It was the thirteenth consecutive world championship won by Davis,The Davis cup Manchester Evening News 6 March 1939 6 a feat that the Birmingham Post's correspondent wrote "proved again .. that he has no equal as a snooker player".Joe Davis keeps world snooker title Birmingham Post 6 March 1939 11 Snooker historian Clive Everton called Davis's semi-final win over his brother "the strongest challenge [Joe Davis] had yet encountered" in the history of the tournament".54 Main draw Match results are shown below. Winning players and scores are denoted in bold text.World Championship 1939 http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-snooker-tournaments-archive-world-championship-1939.asp Global Snooker 19 March 2011 usurped https://web.archive.org/web/20120222034306/http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-snooker-tournaments-archive-world-championship-1939.asp 22 February 2012Hayton Eric The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker 2004 Rose Villa Publications Lowestoft 0-9548549-0-X 143 Round 131 frames Quarter-finals31 frames Semi-finals31 frames Final73 frames Fred Davis ENG 19 Conrad Stanbury CAN 1921 12 Tom Newman ENG 19 Alec Mann ENG 12 Sidney Smith ENG 21 Sydney Lee ENG 10 Claude Falkiner ENG 10 Walter Donaldson SCO 21 Joe Davis ENG 19 Willie Smith ENG 12 Fred Davis ENG 20 Tom Newman ENG 11 Sidney Smith ENG 16 Walter Donaldson SCO 15 Alec Brown ENG 17 Horace Lindrum AUS 14 ENG Joe Davis 17 ENG Fred Davis 14 ENG Sidney Smith 20 ENG Alec Brown 11 ENG Joe Davis 43 ENG Sidney Smith 30 Final Final: 73 frames.Thurston's Hall, London, England, 27 February–4 March.The Times 28 February 1939 6 Snooker – The Professional ChampionshipThe Times 1 March 1939 6 Snooker – The Championship FinalThe Times 2 March 1939 5 Snooker – The Championship FinalThe Times 3 March 1939 16 Snooker – The Championship FinalThe Times 4 March 1939 14 Snooker – The Championship FinalThe Times 6 March 1939 6 Snooker – J Davis retains the ChampionshipWorld Snooker Final – Champion's lead Daily Herald 28 February 1939 15 December 2015 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19390228/237/0016 16 British Newspaper Archive subscription World Snooker Final – How Davis replied to barracker Daily Herald 1 March 1939 15 December 2015 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19390301/207/0016 16 British Newspaper Archive subscription Snooker – Joe Davis' fluke Daily Herald 4 March 1939 15 December 2015 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19390304/220/0012 12 British Newspaper Archive subscription Joe Davis 43–30 Sidney Smith Day 1: 89–23, 64–52, 77–23, 66–59, 68–58, 17–102, 60–28, 38–90, 46–70, 71–27, 35–77, 67–56Day 2: 88–46, 99–17 (56), 79–40, 52–61, 35–89, 72–25, 77–37, 53–63, 54–64, 113–11 (88), 88–25, 56–66Day 3: 79–45, 82–21, 78–37, 76–52, 44–86, 72–41 (57), 50–60, 16–98, 42–76, 41–61, 43–80, 22–111 (57)Day 4: 57–49, 61–63, 80–42, 36–72, 62–55, 24–87, 65–60, 87–18 (61), 83–32, 74–37, 95–25 (62), 26–99Day 5: 87–32 (73), 104–24 (64), 15–105, 59–71, 97–33, 117–13 (69), 120–6 (95), 33–71, 49–71, 111–7, 60–50, 60–63Day 6: 47–46, 66–40, 74–58, 48–70, 29–66, 45–62, 73–38, 75–41, 99–10, 39–87 (73), 70–48, 31–63, 56–51 Davis won the match at 37–25. dead frame Dead frames were played. Qualifying Tournament Walter Donaldson, who had last entered the tournament on his debut in 1933 World Snooker Championship,Kobylecky John 2019 The Complete International Directory of Snooker Players – 1927 to 2018 Kobyhadrian Books 267–268 9780993143311 met Herbert Holt in the first qualifying match at the Lion Hotel, Blackpool from 8–10 December 1938. Holt led 11–9 after two days but only won two frames on the final day, Donaldson taking a winning 16–13 lead and finishing 18–13 ahead.Snooker Championship match at Blackpool Lancashire Evening Post 12 December 1938 15 December 2015 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000711/19381212/088/0003 3 British Newspaper Archive subscription The match between Dickie Laws and Stanley Newman was played at Thurston's Hall. The match was played on 28, 30 and 31 December 1938, there being a charity event organised for the 29th. The match was level at 5–5 after the first day but Laws led 13–7 after the second day. Newman reduced Laws lead to 14–12 on the final day but Laws won the remaining frames to take a winning 16–12 lead with a final score of 19–12.The Times 2 January 1939 5 Snooker – The Championship The final of the qualifying event was played in Liverpool on 11–13 January. Laws took a 6–4 lead but Donaldson won eight frames on the second day to lead 12–8. Donaldson extended his lead to 15–10 after the final afternoon session and, by winning the second frame of the evening session, took a winning 16–11 lead. The final score was 18–13.Donaldson beats Laws Birmingham Daily Post 14 January 1939 15 December 2015 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000619/19390114/434/0015 15 British Newspaper Archive subscription Round 131 frames Final31 frames 170 25 Walter Donaldson SCO 18 Herbert Holt ENG 13 Dickie Laws ENG 19 Stanley Newman ENG 12 Walter Donaldson SCO 18 Dickie Laws ENG 13 Century breaks 113 Fred Davis References 30em 1939 Category:1938 in snooker Category:1939 in snooker Category:1939 in sport in London Category:1938 in English sport Category:December 1938 sports events in the United Kingdom Category:January 1939 sports events in the United Kingdom Category:February 1939 sports events in the United Kingdom Category:March 1939 sports events in the United Kingdom Category:Snooker competitions in London