| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 12 December 1949 – 18 March 1950 (1949-12-12 –1950-03-18) |
| Final venue | Tower Circus |
| Final city | Blackpool |
| Country | England |
| Organisation | Billiards Association and Control Council |
| Highest break |  Fred Davis (ENG), 101 |
| Final | |
| Champion |  Walter Donaldson (SCO) |
| Runner-up | Fred Davis (ENG) |
| Score | 51–46 |
←1949 1951 → | |
The1950 World Snooker Championship was a professionalsnooker tournament held from 12 December 1949 to 18 March 1950. The final was staged at theTower Circus inBlackpool, England. A qualifying competition was held at the Temperance Billiards Hall, known as the "Guild Hall", in Battersea, London from 17 October to 12 November 1949.Kingsley Kennerley won the qualifying competition and joined seven other players in the main draw.
For the fourth year running the final was contested byFred Davis andWalter Donaldson. Donaldson defeated Davis 51–46 to win his second and last world title. Donaldson achieved a winning margin at 49–42 with only 6frames to play. The highestbreak of the tournament was 101 by Davis in frame 46 of his semi-final match againstGeorge Chenier. Chenier also made acentury break, 100, in his quarter-final defeat ofPeter Mans.
TheWorld Snooker Championship is a professional tournament and the officialworld championship of the game ofsnooker.[1] The sport was developed in the late 19th century by British Army soldiers stationed in India.[2] ProfessionalEnglish billiards player andbilliard hall managerJoe Davis noticed the increasing popularity of snooker compared to billiards in the 1920s, and withBirmingham-based billiards equipment managerBill Camkin, persuaded theBilliards Association and Control Council (BACC) to recognise an official professional snooker championship in the 1926–27 season.[3] In 1927, the final of thefirst professional snooker championship was held at Camkin's Hall; Davis won the tournament by beatingTom Dennis in the final.[4] The annual competition was not titled the World Championship until the 1935 tournament,[5][6] but the 1927 tournament is now referred to as the first World Snooker Championship.[7][8] Davis had also won the title every year from1928 to1940, after which the tournament was not held again until 1946 due toWorld War II.[9]: 50–52 Fred Davis was the defending champion, having defeatedWalter Donaldson 80–65 in the1949 final.[10]
The closing date for entries for the 1950 edition was originally 1 August 1949.[11] However, about half of the leading players, includingHorace Lindrum, refused to enter because of the BACC's stipulation that each player in a match should provide a stake of 20guineas, with the stakes awarded to the match winner.[12][13] It was reported later that month that only four players – defending champion Fred Davis, Donaldson, Jim Lees andSydney Lee – had entered; on 10 August, the BACC decided to reduce the stake fee to 10 guineas (with an entry fee of 3 guineas) and extend the closing date for entries to 1 September.[14][15] BACC member Henry Markland was quoted as saying that the reason for the increase to 20 guineas had been "to discourage the entry of low-grade professionals who are, frankly, out of their class in the championship."[12] Donaldson's withdrawal from the tournament was reported on 30 August;[16] a BACC meeting on that day decided to remove the stake fee entirely, for the first time since the championship was established in 1927, and further extend the closing date for entries until 7 September.[17] Donaldson said that as the Professional Billiard Players' Association demands had been met, he would now be participating.[17] Lindrum's manager T.B. Leng said that Lindrum would honour alternative bookings made rather than compete in the championship.[17]Sidney Smith's entry was not accepted by the BACC.[18]
TheSunday Empire News, which had sponsored aprofessional tournament in 1948, provided a prize fund:[11]
Matches were played over several days, with and afternoon and eveningsession each day, normally of sixframes each.[19][20]
| Match | Dates | Venue, city | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albert Brown vJohn Pulman | 12–17 December 1949 | Market Tavern,Bradford | [21] |
| George Chenier vPeter Mans | 2–7 January 1950 | Bluebell Hotel,Scunthorpe | [22] |
| Walter Donaldson vKingsley Kennerley | 9–14 January 1950 | Co-operative Hall,Bolton | [23][19] |
| Fred Davis vAlec Brown | 16–21 January 1950 | Accrington | [23] |
| Walter Donaldson v Albert Brown | 6–11 February 1950 | Burroughes and Watts Hall, Newcastle | [19] |
| Fred Davis v George Chenier | 6–11 February 1950 | Town Hall,Oldham | [19] |
| Fred Davis v Walter Donaldson | 10–11, 13–18 March 1950 | Tower Circus,Blackpool | [23] |
The quarter-final matches were played across 71 frames.[24]John Pulman ledAlbert Brown 9–3 after the first day, but saw his lead reduced to two frames, at 13–11, after day two.[25] On the third day, Brown took eight of the 12 frames played, to lead 19–17, and the fourth day saw him dominate play to establish a ten-frame lead.[25] In the next three sessions, Pulman took 14 of 18 frames to level the match at 33–33.[25] After Brown had won the 67th frame, Pulman levelled at 34-all, but Brown took the next two frames for a decisive lead of 36–4, and added thedead frame for a final total of 37–34.[26] Brown recorded the highest break of the match, 88.[25]
CanadianGeorge Chenier and South AfricanPeter Mans refused to play at Scunthorpe unless they received an acceptable financial guarantee; they agreed to the BACC's offer of £150.[27][28] Chenier built a four-frame lead on the first day and maintained this advantage at the close of day two.[19] By the close of the fourth day, Chenier was 29–19 ahead.[19] Mans closed the gap to eight frames on day five, and followed this by taking all six frames in the afternoon session on the final day, leaving him two frames behind at 32–34.[19] Chenier won the first two frames of the concluding session to confirm his progression to the next round at 36–32; the final score after dead frames was 37–34.[29] Chenier's break of 100 on day two was the highest of the match.[19]
Walter Donaldson's six-frame lead againstKingsley Kennerley following their first day's play was narrowed to four frames, at 14–10, after day two.[19] The pair each won six frames on day three, but Donaldson moved into a twelve-frame lead, 30–18, by the end of day four.[19] Kennerley reduced his deficit to ten frames during the fifth day, but Donaldson won the first frame on the final day to establish a decisive margin at 36–25.[19] After dead frames, the final score was 42–29.[19] The highest break of the match was 77 by Kennerley.[19]
Fred Davis was 15–9 up onAlec Brown after two days, the pair having finished the first day level at 6–6.[30] Davis won ten of the twelve frames on day four for 32–16.[31] He secured his passage to the final by winning the first frame of the evening session on the fifth day, at 36–17; the final score after dead frames was 44–27.[32] A 92 break by Davis was the highest of the match.[19]
In the semi-finals, matches were over 71 frames.[24] Davis won all six frames in the first session against Chenier.[33] By the end of the second day, Davis was 16–8 ahead, and with the players each winning six frames on both the third and fourth days, Davis was still eight frames ahead at 28–20 at the start of day five.[34] After the first session of the fifth day the difference was still eight frames, but Davis won five of six frames on the later session to secure a winning margin at 36–24.[34][35] Davis added seven of the ten dead frames on the concluding day to finish 43–28 up.[34] The highest break of the match was 101 by Davis, in frame 46, on the fourth day.[34][36]
The match report inThe Billiard Player magazine described the match between Donaldson and Brown as "a palpitating struggle [that] included a great deal of dour and tense play".[34] The players were level at 9–9, 12–12 and 18–18,[37][34] but Brown led 26–22 after taking five of the six frames of the second session on the fourth day.[34] Donaldson won the first five frames on day five, and the players were level again at 27–27.[34] Going into the last day, Brown led 31–29.[34] Donaldson took the first three frames of the afternoon session, which ended with the players all-square again, 33–33.[34] The 67th frame was won by Brown, but Donaldson took the next three frames to establish a decisive lead at 36–34.[34][38] With the dead frame also going to Donaldson, the final score was 37–34.[34] Brown made the highest break of the match, 87.[34]
The final was played over 97 frames.[24] Davis led 8–4 after the first day,[39] but after two more days Donaldson levelled the match at 18–18, including winning five of the last six that day.[40] He took a four-frame lead the following day,[41] and maintained it for several days,[42][43] eventually extending it to six frames at 45–39 on the penultimate day.[44] Donaldson's victory was confirmed on the last day when the score was 49–32, with the match ending at 51–46.[45][46] One session of the match was watched by almost 3,000 spectators.[47] It was Donaldson's second and last world championship title.[10]
The Billiard Player magazine attributed Donaldson's success to his strong safety play and a below-par performance from Davis.[46] The highest break Donaldson achieved during the match was 80, with Davis's highest break 79.[9] A reporter for theManchester Evening News commented about the final that, "So afraid were Fred Davis and Walter Donaldson ... of making any rash move which would cost them a frame that play was painfully slow at times."[48]
| Quarter-finals 71 frames | Semi-finals 71 frames | Final 97 frames | ||||||||||||
| Fred Davis (ENG) | 44 | |||||||||||||
| Alec Brown (ENG) | 27 | |||||||||||||
| Fred Davis (ENG) | 43 | |||||||||||||
 George Chenier (CAN) | 28 | |||||||||||||
| George Chenier (CAN) | 37 | |||||||||||||
 Peter Mans (SAF) | 34 | |||||||||||||
| Fred Davis (ENG) | 46 | |||||||||||||
| Walter Donaldson (SCO) | 51 | |||||||||||||
| Walter Donaldson (SCO) | 42 | |||||||||||||
| Kingsley Kennerley (ENG) | 29 | |||||||||||||
| Walter Donaldson (SCO) | 37 | |||||||||||||
| Albert Brown (ENG) | 34 | |||||||||||||
| John Pulman (ENG) | 34 | |||||||||||||
| Albert Brown (ENG) | 37 | |||||||||||||
The qualifying contest was held at the Temperance Billiards Hall, known as the "Guild Hall",[52] an 18-table hall inBattersea, London from 17 October to 12 November 1949.[53]Kingsley Kennerley metJohn Barrie in the first match. Kennerley won the first five frames[53] and led 15–9 after two days. He won the first three frames on the final day to take a winning 18–9 lead, eventually winning 21–14.[54] The winner of the match was due to play Jim Lees in the qualifying quarter-finals,[55][52] but Lees withdrew.[56]
Willie Smith metBill Withers in the second match of the week. Willie Smith led 10–2 after the first day and took an 18–4 lead on the second day.[57] The final score was 28–7.[58] After a 3-day breakSydney Lee metConrad Stanbury. Lee led 15–9 after two days[59] and won 20–15.Herbert Holt metDickie Laws in the last quarter-final match. Holt led 17–7 after two days and eventually won 26–9.[60] Kennerley met Willie Smith in the first semi-final and led 16–8 after two days.[61] Kennerley won 22–13.[62] Sydney Lee and Herbert Holt met in the second semi-final. Lee led 7–5 after the first day and 16–8 after the second day. Holt then gotinfluenza and conceded the match.[63] Kennerley met Lee in the final. Lee took a 4–2 lead but Kennerley led 7–5 overnight.[64] Kennerley then extended his lead to 14–10,[65] and won 21–14.[49]
| Round 1 35 frames | Round 2 35 frames | Round 3 35 frames | Final | ||||||||||||||||
| Sydney Lee (ENG) | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Conrad Stanbury (CAN) | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sydney Lee (ENG) | w/o | ||||||||||||||||||
| Herbert Holt (ENG) | w/d | ||||||||||||||||||
| Herbert Holt (ENG) | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Dickie Laws (ENG) | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sydney Lee (ENG) | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Kingsley Kennerley (ENG) | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Willie Smith (ENG) | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||
 Bill Withers (WAL) | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Willie Smith (ENG) | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||
| John Barrie (ENG) | 14 | Kingsley Kennerley (ENG) | 22 | ||||||||||||||||
| Kingsley Kennerley (ENG) | 21 | Jim Lees (ENG) | w/d | ||||||||||||||||
| Kingsley Kennerley (ENG) | w/o | ||||||||||||||||||
| Early events | |
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| Knock-outs | |
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