1951 World Snooker Championship

January 2025 1951 World Snooker Championship 1950 10 30 1951 02 24 y yes Tower Circus Blackpool England Billiards Association and Control Council Walter Donaldson SCO (106) Fred Davis ENG Walter Donaldson SCO 58–39 1950 1952 United Kingdom 200 Venues Scunthorpe bottom 5 53.581 -0.650 Bolton left 5 53.578 -2.429 Accrington top 5 53.753 -2.364 London left 5 51.515 -0.132 Newcastle upon Tyne top 5 54.967 -1.600 Blackpool left 8 53.816 -3.055 The 1951 World Snooker Championship was a professional snooker tournament held from 30 October 1950 to 24 February 1951. John Barrie won the qualifying competition for three of the ten entrants at Burroughes Hall in London and joined the other seven players in the main draw. The quarter-finals and semi-finals were held at various venues in England and the final was played at the Tower Circus in Blackpool, England from 16 to 24 February 1951. For the fifth consecutive year, the final was contested by Fred Davis and Walter Donaldson. Davis won his third world title by defeating defending champion Donaldson by 58 frame frames to 39 in the final after achieving a winning margin at 49–39. Donaldson made the highest break of the tournament with 106 in frame 32 of his semi-final match against Horace Lindrum. After defeating Sidney Smith — runner-up in the 1938 and 1939 championships — in the quarter-finals, John Pulman reached the semi-finals, where he played against the eventual winner Fred Davis, before he retired and gave Davis an early bye into the final. 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.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 978-1-85225-013-350–52 Walter Donaldson was the defending champion, having defeated Fred Davis 51–46 in the 1950 final. Several professional players did not participate in the 1951 Championship, including Alec Brown, Con Stanbury and two-time runner-up Willie Smith.World's Professional Championship 1950–51 The Billiard Player August 1950 3 Four-time finalist Horace Lindrum entered for the first time since 1947.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 Chris Turner's Snooker Archive There were ten entrants. Three players were included in a qualifying competition, the winner of which would join the other seven participants in the main draw.World Snooker Draw Nottingham Evening News 6 July 1950 6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/nottingham-evening-news-world-snooker-dr/163818574/ Newspapers.com Schedule thumb|alt=The interior of a large room with tiered seating|Tower Circus, Blackpool (depicted in its 1894 programme) was the venue for the final. +Schedule of matches for the 1951 World Snooker Championship Match Dates Venue, city Horace Lindrum v Albert Brown 30 October–4 November 1950 Blue Bell Hotel, Scunthorpe World's Snooker Championship The Billiard Player December 1950 5 Fred Davis v John Barrie 13–18 November 1950 Co-operative Hall, Bolton Walter Donaldson v Kingsley Kennerley 27 November–2 December 1950 Blue Bell Hotel, Scunthorpe John Pulman v Sidney Smith 11–16 December 1950 St. John's Brigade Ambulance Hall, Accrington Fred Davis v John Pulman 22–27 January 1951 Burroughes Hall, London Walter Donaldson v Horace Lindrum 22–27 January 1951 Burroughes and Watts Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne Fred Davis v Walter Donaldson 16–17, 19–24 February 1951 Tower Circus, Blackpool World's Professional Snooker Championship The Billiard Player April 1951 3–4 Tournament summary Quarter-finals The quarter-finals were played over 71 frame frames. Horace Lindrum established a 9–3 lead against Albert Brown on the first day of their match.Lindrum Gets Away to a Good Start Grimsby Evening Telegraph 31 October 1950 5 https://www.newspapers.com/article/grimsby-evening-telegraph-lindrum-gets-a/163820433/ Newspapers.com He extended his lead to 18–6 on day two. Brown took five of the six frames in the first session on day three, and Lindrum took the following session by that same margin, to lead 24–12.Quarter Finals 1 & 2 The Billiard Player December 1950 5,8 By winning nine of the 12 frames on day four, Lindrum needed only a further three frames, and confirmed his progress to the semi-finals at 36–15.Lindrum Has Victory in Sight Grimsby Evening Telegraph 3 November 1950 6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/grimsby-evening-telegraph-lindrum-has-vi/163820126/ Newspapers.comLindrum's Snooker Success Grimsby Evening Telegraph 4 November 1950 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/grimsby-evening-telegraph-lindrums-snoo/163819965/ Newspapers.com The final score after dead frames was 43–28. Lindrum's highest break of the match was 91; Brown's was 89. John Barrie, winner of the qualifying competition,John Barrie Qualifies Western Morning News 13 November 1950 8 https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-morning-news-john-barrie-qualifi/163834299/ Newspapers.com had been due to be married the day before the start of his match against Fred Davis, but two days before the wedding date, postponed it until later in the year as his fiancée Joan Odlin's parents wanted to have a larger-scale ceremony than originally planned.Champ's Too-Quiet Wedding Off Daily Herald 13 November 1950 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-herald-champs-too-quiet-wedding-o/163820955/ Newspapers.com Davis led 8–4 after the first day and 12–6 at the close of day two, but Barrie won the next two sessions 5–1 to narrow his deficit to two frames at 14–16.Advantage for Fred Davis The Birmingham Post 14 November 1950 6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-post-advantage-for-fred-d/163821439/ Newspapers.com Davis went on to win 36–28; after dead frames, the score was 42–29. Davis's highest break of the match was 77; Barrie's was 73. Walter Donaldson and Kingsley Kennerley played each other in the championship for the fourth successive year. Donaldson had won all three of the previous encounters.Kennerley Used To Fighting Against Odds Grimsby Evening Telegraph 29 November 1950 3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/grimsby-evening-telegraph-kennerley-used/163823504/ Newspapers.com They each won three of the first six frames, but Kennerley led 7–5 after the first day.Kennerley Leads Champion Birmingham Gazette 28 November 1950 4 https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-gazette-kennerley-leads-champ/163823070/ Newspapers.com Donaldson won all six frames in the following session, and a further four of six frames in the next session, for 15–9.Donaldson Wipes Out Arrears Grimsby Evening Telegraph 29 November 1950 3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/grimsby-evening-telegraph-donaldson-wipe/163823938/ Newspapers.com On day three, he won each session 5–1 to move to 25–11 ahead.Donaldson Piles On Pressure Grimsby Evening Telegraph 30 November 1950 3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/grimsby-evening-telegraph-donaldson-pile/163824269/ Newspapers.com He secured a win at 36–24; the score after dead frames was 41–30. The cold conditions at the venue for the match between John Pulman and Sidney Smith, runner-up in the 1938 and 1939 championships, meant that the balls frequently skidded across the surface of the billiard table.Professional Play: World's Snooker Championship The Billiard Player January 1951 5 An article in The Billiard Player magazine described the match as "dour but absorbing". Pulman was two frames behind, 11–13, after two days, but later drew level at 18–18 and established a 26–22 lead. He secured a place in the semi-finals at 36–31. Semi-finals The semi-finals were scheduled to be contested over 71 frames.Fred Davis Makes Break of 80 Birmingham Evening Mail 23 January 1951 6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-evening-mail-fred-davis-makes/163834984/ Newspapers.com Pulman withdrew due to influenza when trailing 14–22 against Fred Davis.Professional Snooker The Times 26 January 1951 2 A break of 80 by Davis was the highest in the frames that they played.Professional Play: World's Professional Snooker Championship The Billiard Player March 1951 14 Donaldson was 9–3 ahead of Lindrum, and maintained an eight frame lead at the end of each of the next four sessions, having compiled a break of 106 in the 32nd frame which remained the highest break of the tournament.2004 Embassy World Championship Information http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Results/res_03_4/03_4worldinfo.htm Global Snooker Centre 7 May 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20041208092511/http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Results/res_03_4/03_4worldinfo.htm 8 December 2004Donaldson Leads in Snooker Semi-Final Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer 25 January 1951 19 March 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19510125/064/0003 British Newspaper Archive subscription Lindrum made three breaks over 80 in taking five of six frames in session seven, but Donaldson won three of the next five sessions and secured a winning margin at 36–25.Donaldson in Final Hull Daily Mail 27 January 1951 6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-donaldson-in-final/144389469/ Newspapers.com The final score was 41–30.Donaldson Won by 11 Frames Sunday Sun 28 January 1951 10 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-sun-donaldson-won-by-11-frames/144389779/ Newspapers.com Final Walter Donaldson and Fred Davis played the final at the Tower Circus in Blackpool, over 97 frames, in front of record crowds for a World Snooker Championship match. It was the fifth consecutive year that they faced each other in the final. Davis said that, based on past experience, he expected to lose 0.5 st kg of bodyweight during the match.Evenly Matched Rivals Herald Express Torquay 14 February 1951 6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-express-evenly-matched-rivals/163827278/ He felt that he had an even chance of winning.Good Luck, Fred The North Wales Weekly News 15 February 1951 3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-north-wales-weekly-news-good-luck-f/163827858/ Newspapers.com From 6–6 after the first day, Davis moved into a 12–6 lead. He achieved a winning margin at 49–39 before the match concluded at 58–39.Fred Davis Regains World Title Huddersfield Daily Examiner 24 February 1951 6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/huddersfield-daily-examiner-fred-davis-r/143751415/ Newspapers.comF. Davis snooker champion The Observer 25 February 1951 8 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-observer-f-davis/172718687/ Newspapers.con Davis was presented with the championship trophy by BACC chairman John Bissett,Champion Again The North Wales Weekly News 1 March 1951 8 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-north-wales-weekly-news-champion-aga/143752004/ Newspapers.com and remarked that he considered the final the best of the five that he and Donaldson had contested. +Sessions of the 1951 World Snooker Championship finalSession12345678910111213141516Frames won (Davis first)3–33–36–03–32–45–14–24–22–45–14–23–32–42–44–26–0Cumulative score3–36–312–615–917–1322–1426–1630–1832–2237–2341–2544–2846–3248–3652–3958–39 Main draw The results for the main draw are shown below. Match winners are shown in bold.World Championship 1951 http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-snooker-tournaments-archive-world-championship-1951.asp Global Snooker 19 March 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110310201347/http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-snooker-tournaments-archive-world-championship-1951.asp 10 March 2011 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 Pulman withdrew from his match against Davis due to influenza. 160 Quarter-finals 71 frames Semi-finals 71 frames Final 97 frames Walter Donaldson SCO 41 Kingsley Kennerley ENG 30 Horace Lindrum AUS 43 Albert Brown ENG 28 Fred Davis ENG 42 John Barrie ENG 29 John Pulman ENG 38 Sidney Smith ENG 33 Walter Donaldson SCO 41 Horace Lindrum AUS 30 Fred Davis ENG 22 John Pulman ENG 14 Walter Donaldson SCO 39 Fred Davis ENG 58 n Qualifying John Barrie met Sydney Lee at Burroughes Hall in London from 6 to 8 November. Barrie led 7–5 after the first dayBarrie's Good Start Sheffield Daily Telegraph 7 November 1950 11 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000704/19501107/162/0006 British Newspaper Archive subscription and 15–9 after two days. He made a break of 101 on the second evening.Barrie Increases Lead Sheffield Daily Telegraph 8 November 1950 11 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000704/19501108/224/0006 British Newspaper Archive subscription He eventually won 23–12.Barrie Through Sheffield Daily Telegraph 9 November 1950 11 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000704/19501109/189/0006 British Newspaper Archive subscription Barrie then met Dickie Laws on the following three days also at Burroughes Hall. Barrie took an 8–4 lead,Barrie's Good Start Sheffield Daily Telegraph 10 November 1950 11 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000704/19501110/200/0006 British Newspaper Archive subscription increased to a winning 18–6 lead after two days.Barrie 12 Ahead Sheffield Daily Telegraph 11 November 1950 11 January 2016 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000704/19501111/178/0006 British Newspaper Archive subscription The final score was 27–8. Round 1 35 frames Round 2 35 frames 160 John Barrie ENG 23 Sydney Lee ENG 12 Dickie Laws ENG 8 John Barrie ENG 27 References 30em 1951 World Snooker Championship World Snooker Championship World Snooker Championship