Is anyone interested in old World Championship scores?

Empire State Human wrote:What is up with that trophy Higgins is receiving from Pulman? That is not the World Championship trophy.

Good observations ESH. It’s the PBPA World Professional Matchplay Championship trophy. You know the “breakaway” body of professional players staged their own world championship between 1952 and 57 which became universally regarded as the real thing... well, that body was revived in the late 60’s and pretty much ran the championships thereafter albeit with the sanctions of the BA&CC (later renamed the B&SCC). In 1971 the PBPA was renamed the WPBSA and declared its autonomy over the professional game. One can only assume the original trophy was owned by the the B&SCC and so still in their possession at the time of the ‘72 final. The original trophy came back into use the following year.

I wonder what became of the PBPA trophy?

Cyril, I say this in all seriousness, have you given any thought to writing a book about the pre-Crucible era WC? There is a bit of gap in the market there I think and there are those who think snooker only began in 1977 or even later.

Muller wrote:I think the 30 and 40 breaks are quite revealing as I think a 30 then was as good as a 50 now, given conditions. I look forward to seeing them!

Wasn't one of the 65 matches in SA decided on the flip of a coin?!

I think I've heard that one before, wasn't it that one one night there were no spectators at all.

PLtheRef wrote:

Muller wrote:I think the 30 and 40 breaks are quite revealing as I think a 30 then was as good as a 50 now, given conditions. I look forward to seeing them!

Wasn't one of the 65 matches in SA decided on the flip of a coin?!

I think I've heard that one before, wasn't it that one one night there were no spectators at all.

Yes, I’ve heard that too. I believe Clive Everton may have mentioned it in one of his history books.

I’d love to know the frame scores because it was a mammoth series. I think actually it was scheduled to be 51 matches but they only played 47, Pulman led 25-22. If each match was best of 7 or 9, that’s in the region of four hundred frames. I read somewhere, when they were mid way though, a report that whilst Pulman was leading the series, he had been unable thus far to register a century break, while Williams had made thirteen, including a new Championship record of 142.

Muller wrote:Cyril, I say this in all seriousness, have you given any thought to writing a book about the pre-Crucible era WC? There is a bit of gap in the market there I think and there are those who think snooker only began in 1977 or even later.

There is definitely a gap. Maybe I should. Still a lot of research to do first though.

badtemperedcyril wrote:

PLtheRef wrote:

Muller wrote:I think the 30 and 40 breaks are quite revealing as I think a 30 then was as good as a 50 now, given conditions. I look forward to seeing them!

Wasn't one of the 65 matches in SA decided on the flip of a coin?!

I think I've heard that one before, wasn't it that one one night there were no spectators at all.

Yes, I’ve heard that too. I believe Clive Everton may have mentioned it in one of his history books.

I’d love to know the frame scores because it was a mammoth series. I think actually it was scheduled to be 51 matches but they only played 47, Pulman led 25-22. If each match was best of 7 or 9, that’s in the region of four hundred frames. I read somewhere, when they were mid way though, a report that whilst Pulman was leading the series, he had been unable thus far to register a century break, while Williams had made thirteen, including a new Championship record of 142.

I'm fairly sure there was one other year where the Championship was contested over the Best of x matches - think it was one of Pulman's defences against Fred Davis.

Rex Williams seems to have been such a technically accomplished player but perhaps lacked a bit of a winning mentality? I believe he never won a match at the Crucible.

badtemperedcyril wrote:

Muller wrote:Cyril, I say this in all seriousness, have you given any thought to writing a book about the pre-Crucible era WC? There is a bit of gap in the market there I think and there are those who think snooker only began in 1977 or even later.

There is definitely a gap. Maybe I should. Still a lot of research to do first though.

I would read it!

1973 PARK DRIVE WORLD PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

FINAL
24th – 28th April, 1973
City Exhibition Hall, Deansgate, Manchester

RAY REARDON (Wales) 38-32 EDDIE CHARLTON (Australia)

Frame scores (Reardon first): -
Session 1 31-74; 17-70(58); 21-93(49); 28-72; 60(34)-68(30); 4-65(38); 45-71(41). (Charlton 7-0)
Session 2 102(84)-26; 65-38; 95(32)-29; 54-50; 29-68; 60-52; 4-81(77); 27-72. (Charlton 10-5)
Session 3 53-70(70); 55-48; 62-30; 20-64; 87(38,38)-16; 91(31)-47(33); 64(42)-31. (Charlton 12-10)
Session 4 92(68)-5; 84(66)-26; 33-59; 74(31,32)-41; 67-41; 86(70)-11; 67(36)-32; 69-19. (Reardon 17-13)
Session 5 22-68; 56-57; 81(41,34)-13; 19-65(43); 47-79(48); 74-28; 39-63. (Reardon 19-18)
Session 6 69-46; 71(50)-43(38); 39-66(51); 55(45)-45(30); 29-75(52); 42-60(37); 70-38; 66-25. (Reardon 24-21)
Session 7 15-54(54); 23-92(68); 72(67)-0; 62-70(38); 66(31)-38; 8-79(56); 61-8. (Reardon 27-25)
Session 8 25-95(38,30); 1-73(37,56); 25-73; 68(35)-28; 67(33)-35(30); 63-39(30); 12-60; 61-49. (Reardon 31-29)
Session 9 98(91)-18; 48-49; 58-20; 85(55)-11; 7-83(62); 67(51)-28; 69(63)-28. (Reardon 36-31)
Session 10 58-35; 30-55; 61(30)-40(32). (Reardon 38-32)

Referee: Shared. Bill Timms officiated the final day.

Great stuff again Cyril! Reardon really did get stronger as the match progressed didn't he?

Muller wrote:Great stuff again Cyril! Reardon really did get stronger as the match progressed didn't he?

Yeh, the afternoon session on the last Saturday was when he made his charge for the line, increasing his 31-29 lead to 36-31 going into the final session. This session was all televised too. Although cameras had been present for one late session of the finals of 1953 and 1955, this coverage was far more extensive and occupied prime spot, taking up most of the days Grandstand programme.

Yes there are a couple of clips on YT. Wish there was more.

This was controversial as well as Ray made a big complaint about the TV cameras.

Muller wrote:Yes there are a couple of clips on YT. Wish there was more.

This was controversial as well as Ray made a big complaint about the TV cameras.

Yes - I believe they installed the camera's and TV lights for the Friday evening (session 8). Snooker Scene reported:

"The fourth evening session broke the mould into which the match had settled. The unlikely agent of change was the television cameras, or rather the television lights under which it was obvious after only a few shots that Charlton could see and Reardon could not.
Charlton, who's boxer's eye-brows and heavy lidded eyes would offer more protection from the glare than the taller Reardon would receive, won the first two frames ridiculously easily 95-25 and 73-1.
Reardon, who had been looking angry and disturbed, then protested and two of the largest floodlights, which were needed for BBC's filming only to illuminate the crowd, were switched off.
The damage appeared to be done, however, when Charlton won the next frame to go one in front.
For the interval, Reardon was shepherded off to the tournament director's office by Simon Weaver. The press hovered like vultures for Reardon to reappear, having already composed headlines like Reardon Walks Out, but when he reappeared he seemed completely composed and won three tense frames to go two in front.
Charlton won the next but some fine individual pots on the colours, including a nasty clinching pink from under the cushion, gave Reardon a two-frame advantage 31-29, going into the last day."

Ray's autbiog is interesting on this. He did threaten to walk out and collared to rep from Park Drive to tell him s as he had got no joy elsewhere!

Muller wrote:Ray's autbiog is interesting on this. He did threaten to walk out and collared to rep from Park Drive to tell him s as he had got no joy elsewhere!

Good book that is. You can almost picture Ray sitting in an armchair telling the whole story.

Yes enjoyed reading it.

Looking forward to the 1974 scores as Ray said his form in that final was "mediocre"

1974 PARK DRIVE WORLD PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

FINAL

23rd – 25th April, 1974
Belle Vue, Manchester

RAY REARDON (Stoke) 22-12 GRAHAM MILES (Birmingham)

Frame scores (Reardon first): -
Session 1 59(42)-68; 31-64; 58-45(44); 94(44)-27; 5-101(101); 92(51,41)-31; 71(31)-37(35). Reardon 4-3
Session 2 81(60)-52(43); 102(43)-25; 63-64; 78(40)-48; 70(35)-36; 22-81(43); 68(33,31)-42. Reardon 9-5
Session 3 19-95(37); 99(46,53)-7; 93(42)-45; 78(58)-34; 28-64(34); 100(76)-31; 99(97)-13. Reardon 14-7
Session 4 78-14; 51-64; 52-61; 68(32)-75; 61(48)-25; 54(49)-64; 110(40)-23. Reardon 17-11
Session 5 91(57)-26; 63-36; 82-9; 45-80; 81-44; 74-61. Reardon 22-12

Referee: Bill Timms.

Thanks again!

Well, 17 breaks over 40 and 22 over 30. Pretty decent.

Thanks again!

Well, 17 breaks over 40 and 22 over 30. Pretty decent.

I’ll do a bit of digging around in the Australian press archives for 1975. Both Snooker Scene and Cuetracker have only shown breaks +50.

Looked at CT - 26 breaks over 50 in 75 final, 13 apiece. very impressive scoring in conditions of the time.

Finding a more detailed set of stats would be a fine piece of detective work!

Seems to me, statisitcally, Ray played better in the 74 final than the 73 one. May be something to do with the respective approaches of Charlton and Miles to the game?