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Who is the greater player?

Poll ended at 30 Nov 2020

John Pulman
6
25%
Ken Doherty
18
75%
 
Total votes : 24

ATWSC Group H: John Pulman v Ken Doherty

Postby Pink Ball

John Pulman v Ken Doherty (Best of 20 frames)
Group: H
Date: November 29
Match: Three of six
Match day: Two of three
Venue: Tower Circus, Blackpool, United Kingdom

Vote for which of the two players you think was greater. Vote honestly, and leave your bias out of it. Don’t vote for a player just because you like them, don’t vote against a player just because you dislike them.

Consider the table conditions to be whatever conditions would have the least impact on the result.

You can use your own personal criteria for measuring greatness once it’s free of any bias towards/against (delete as applicable) players you like/dislike (delete as applicable).

Re: ATWSC Group H: John Pulman v Ken Doherty

Postby badtemperedcyril

Having lost two close World finals to Fred Davis at Tower Circus in 1955 and 1956, John Pulman won the title in 1957. The professional game however, was in a dire state and the Championship went in to abeyance until 1964 when it was resurrected on a "challenge" basis. Pulman successfully saw off seven challenges before losing to John Spencer when the knock-out format was restored in 1969. Aged 46, he contested a great final against Reardon in 1970 and even reached the semi-final at the Crucible in 1977, aged 53.

Here's what I've managed to research from the 1957 final. Snooker Scene did an article on it a few years ago but I can't recall when that was.

1957 World Professional Matchplay Championship
FINAL
Played at Saint Helier, Jersey
8th – 13th April, 1957

JOHN PULMAN (London) 39-34 JACKIE REA (Belfast)

Frame scores : -
Session 1 23-115; 99-9; 90-31; 16-106; 9-103; 42-83. Rea 4-2
Session 2 46-59; 25-93; 78-24; 79-47; 74-43; 33-77; 59-61. Rea 8-5
Session 3 35-95; 141(101)-0; 65-38; 36-77; 84-47; 34-80. Rea 11-8
Session 4 91-10; 83-37; 100-7; 52-59; 31-78; 15-114; 85-33. Rea 14-12
Session 5 34-75; 53-82; 76-55; 59-24; 24-88; 8-109. Rea 18-14
Session 6 36-70; 91-11; 51-64; 52-51; 69-66; 74-43; 59-42. Rea 20-19
Session 7 49-63; 100-24; 89-22; 82-46; 101-20; 19-111; 80-32. Pulman 24-22
Session 8 79-22; 71-40; 22-72; 107-20; 83-37; 48-76. Pulman 28-24
Session 9 65-55; 36-69; 45-47; 79-36; 63-53; 61-69; 82-37. Pulman 32-27
Session 10 No frame scores reported Pulman 37-29
Session 11 No frame scores reported Pulman 39-34
(Pulman reached a winning lead at 37-29)

The last day of the match was a Saturday and unfortunately, no newspapers with Sunday editions ran any reports. The column inches in the Monday papers were all taken up with all the other weekend sporting events.

Re: ATWSC Group H: John Pulman v Ken Doherty

Postby badtemperedcyril

Pink Ball wrote:Pulman just doesn’t seem to have the nostalgia factor the Davis brothers have in the eyes of forum users.

It would appear not. Pulman displayed flashes of his old form during the 70’s but on the whole he was inconsistent, preferring as he did, the drinking side of the game. By all accounts his late night (early morning) sessions were pretty legendary.

Re: ATWSC Group H: John Pulman v Ken Doherty

Postby SnookerEd25

badtemperedcyril wrote:
Pink Ball wrote:Pulman just doesn’t seem to have the nostalgia factor the Davis brothers have in the eyes of forum users.

It would appear not. Pulman displayed flashes of his old form during the 70’s but on the whole he was inconsistent, preferring as he did, the drinking side of the game. By all accounts his late night (early morning) sessions were pretty legendary.


He was ITV's lead commentator in the 80s/early 90s and, to my mind, vies with Clive for the title of greatest commentator of them all. His plummy tones and turn of phrase were synonymous with ITV's coverage in the 80s.

I subsequently read that he was often 'well lubricated' before taking the mic for a session too... it didn't detract from his performance.

Re: ATWSC Group H: John Pulman v Ken Doherty

Postby badtemperedcyril

SnookerEd25 wrote:
badtemperedcyril wrote:
Pink Ball wrote:Pulman just doesn’t seem to have the nostalgia factor the Davis brothers have in the eyes of forum users.

It would appear not. Pulman displayed flashes of his old form during the 70’s but on the whole he was inconsistent, preferring as he did, the drinking side of the game. By all accounts his late night (early morning) sessions were pretty legendary.


He was ITV's lead commentator in the 80s/early 90s and, to my mind, vies with Clive for the title of greatest commentator of them all. His plummy tones and turn of phrase were synonymous with ITV's coverage in the 80s.

I subsequently read that he was often 'well lubricated' before taking the mic for a session too... it didn't detract from his performance.

:goodpost:

Maybe some of the present commentators could take a lead from Pully and take a large scotch into the commentary box with them.