1953/1954 News of the World Snooker Tournament

The 1953/1954 News of the World Snooker Tournament was a professional snooker tournament sponsored by the News of the World. The tournament was won by John Pulman who won 7 of his 8 matches and finished ahead of Joe Davis who won 5 matches. The News of the World Snooker Tournament ran from 1949/50 to 1959.

Format The 1953/54 event was a round-robin snooker tournament and was played from 7 September 1953 to 16 January 1954. All matches were played at Leicester Square Hall in London. There were 9 competitors and a total of 36 matches. The competitors were Joe Davis, Fred Davis, Walter Donaldson, John Barrie, Albert Brown, Alec Brown, John Pulman, Jackie Rea and Rex Williams. Sidney Smith was due to participate, but withdrew before the tournament started. Each match lasted three days and was the best of 37 frames.

Each match was separately handicapped. Joe Davis played level with Fred Davis and gave Walter Donaldson 14, John Barrie, Albert Brown, Alec Brown and John Pulman 21 and Jackie Rea and Rex Williams 25. Fred Davis gave Walter Donaldson 7, Albert Brown 10, John Pulman 12, John Barrie 14, Alec Brown 16 and Jackie Rea and Rex Williams 18. Walter Donaldson gave Albert Brown 7, Alec Brown and John Pulman 12, John Barrie 14 and Jackie Rea and Rex Williams 18. Albert Brown gave Alec Brown and John Pulman 5, John Barrie 8 and Jackie Rea and Rex Williams 14. John Pulman played level with Alec Brown and gave John Barrie 7 and Jackie Rea and Rex Williams 14. John Barrie played level with Alec Brown and gave Jackie Rea 7. Alec Brown gave Jackie Rea 5 and Rex Williams 9. Jackie Rea played level with Rex Williams.

Nineteen century breaks were made during the tournament, ten of them by Joe Davis.

Results John Pulman made certain of winning the tournament by beating John Barrie on 30 December

Fred Davis beat his brother Joe 21–16 in the final match of the tournament. Joe was already assured of second place but the win gave Fred third place.

Fred Davis scored the first century of the tournament, a break of 102, on the second day of his match against Walter Donaldson. Donaldson made a break of 120 the following day. In the next match Joe Davis made a break of 131 against Donaldson. Winner Score Loser Date RefAlec Brown 19–18 Rex Williams 7–9 September Rex Williams 20–17 Albert Brown 10–12 September John Barrie 25–12 Albert Brown 14–16 September John Barrie 19–18 Walter Donaldson 17–19 September Jackie Rea 19–18 Alec Brown 21–23 September John Pulman 20–17 Jackie Rea 24–26 September Alec Brown 20–17 Fred Davis 28–30 September Fred Davis 25–12 Walter Donaldson 1–3 October Joe Davis 22–15 Walter Donaldson 5–7 October John Pulman 20–17 Joe Davis 8–10 October Albert Brown 23–14 Jackie Rea 12–14 October Fred Davis 22–15 Albert Brown 15–17 October Joe Davis 20–17 Jackie Rea 19–21 October John Barrie w/o–w/d Rex Williams 22–24 October John Pulman 22–15 Rex Williams 26–28 October John Pulman 25–12 Fred Davis 29–31 October Joe Davis 22–15 Alec Brown 2–4 November Alec Brown 20–17 John Barrie 5–7 November Jackie Rea 20–17 Walter Donaldson 9–11 November Rex Williams 23–14 Walter Donaldson 12–14 November John Pulman 24–13 Albert Brown 16–18 November Joe Davis 23–14 John Barrie 19–21 November John Barrie 19–18 Fred Davis 23–25 November Fred Davis 19–18 Jackie Rea 26–28 November John Pulman 25–12 Alec Brown 30 November–2 December Joe Davis 22–15 Rex Williams 3–5 December Albert Brown 23–14 Joe Davis 7–9 December Walter Donaldson 24–13 Alec Brown 10–12 December Jackie Rea 20–17 John Barrie 14–16 December Jackie Rea 25–12 Rex Williams 17–19 December John Pulman 24–13 John Barrie 28–30 December Walter Donaldson 31–6 Albert Brown 31 December–2 January Rex Williams 19–18 Fred Davis 4–6 January Alec Brown 23–14 Albert Brown 7–9 January Walter Donaldson 20–17 John Pulman 11–13 January Fred Davis 21–16 Joe Davis 14–16 January

Table

Pos Player Prize 1 John Pulman 8 7 177 119 £500 2 Joe Davis 8 5 156 140 ? 3 Fred Davis 8 4 152 144 ? 4 Jackie Rea 8 4 150 146 ? 5 John Barrie 8 4 143 153 6 Alec Brown 8 4 140 156 7 Walter Donaldson 8 3 151 145 8 Rex Williams 8 3 140 156 ? 9 Albert Brown 8 2 123 173

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). Rex Williams was ill for his match against John Barrie from 22 to 24 October. Barrie played an exhibition match against Kingsley Kennerley instead, and was awarded a 19–18 win against Williams.

Qualifying The qualifying tournament was played from 25 May to 13 June 1953 at Leicester Square Hall in London. There were 3 competitors: Sydney Lee, Jim Lees and Rex Williams. Matches were over 71 frames, except in the match between Lee and Williams which was over 59 frames. The qualifying was won by Rex Williams who advanced to the main event.

Qualifying results Winner Score Loser Date RefRex Williams 50–21 Jim Lees 25 – 30 May Rex Williams 40–19 Sydney Lee 1 – 6 June Sydney Lee 41–30 Jim Lees 8 – 13 June

Broadcasting The BBC showed two short TV programmes during the matches between John Barrie and Albert Brown on 16 September, and between Walter Donaldson and Alec Brown on 12 December. The commentator on both occasions was Sidney Smith.

References