The 1957/1958 News of the World Snooker Tournament was a professional snooker tournament sponsored by the News of the World. The tournament was won by Fred Davis who won 4 of his 5 matches, ahead of John Pulman. Pulman also won 4 matches but Davis won more frames overall. The News of the World Snooker Tournament ran from 1949/50 to 1959.
Format The 1957/1958 event was a round-robin snooker tournament and was played from 14 October 1957 to 15 March 1958. Matches were played at various locations around the United Kingdom and also on Jersey. There were 6 competitors and a total of 15 matches. The competitors were the same as in the previous two seasons, Joe Davis, Fred Davis, Walter Donaldson, John Pulman, Jackie Rea and Rex Williams. Each match lasted three days and was the best of 37 frames.
Each match was separately handicapped. Joe Davis gave Fred Davis and John Pulman, a 10-point start each frame, Walter Donaldson 14, Jackie Rea 17 and Rex Williams 20. Fred Davis gave Walter Donaldson 12, Jackie Rea 14 and Rex Williams 18. John Pulman gave Jackie Rea 14 and Rex Williams 18. Walter Donaldson gave Jackie Rea 7 and Rex Williams 10 while Jackie Rea gave Rex Williams 5 points. The handicaps in the Fred Davis/Pulman and Pulman/Donaldson matches are not known.
Results Walter Donaldson made a break of 141 in his opening match against Joe Davis.
Winner Score Loser Date Venue RefWalter Donaldson 21–16 Joe Davis 14–16 October Burroughes Hall, London Rex Williams 22–15 Jackie Rea 17–19 October Burroughes Hall, London Fred Davis 21–16 Rex Williams 4–6 November Smethwick, Birmingham Rex Williams 23–14 Walter Donaldson 7–9 November Smethwick, Birmingham Joe Davis 19–18 Rex Williams 11–13 November Burroughes Hall, London John Pulman 21–16 Walter Donaldson 14–16 November Burroughes Hall, London John Pulman 20–17 Jackie Rea 18–20 November Ipswich Fred Davis 22–15 Joe Davis 21–23 November Ipswich Fred Davis 22–15 John Pulman 2–4 December Jersey Walter Donaldson 21–16 Jackie Rea 5–7 December Jersey John Pulman 19–18 Rex Williams 13–15 January Newcastle Fred Davis 20–17 Jackie Rea 16–18 January Newcastle Walter Donaldson 21–16 Fred Davis 21–23 January Liverpool Joe Davis 24–13 Jackie Rea 10–12 March Houldsworth Hall, Manchester John Pulman 23–14 Joe Davis 13–15 March Houldsworth Hall, Manchester
Table
Pos Player Pld MW FW 1 Fred Davis 5 4 101 2 John Pulman 5 4 98 3 Walter Donaldson 5 3 93 4 Rex Williams 5 2 97 5 Joe Davis 5 2 88 6 Jackie Rea 5 0 78
The positions were determined firstly by the number of matches won (MW) and, in the event of a tie, the number of frames won (FW).
Broadcasting The BBC showed a short, 35 minute, TV programme of the final day of the final match from Houldsworth Hall, Manchester. The commentator was Sidney Smith.
References