1971 World Snooker Championship

The 1971 World Snooker Championship was a professional snooker tournament that took place between 28 September and 7 November 1970 in Australia.[1][2] The tournament was the first time the World Snooker Championship had been held outside England, with matches held at various locations in New South Wales and Brisbane. John Spencer won his second World Championship by defeating Warren Simpson 37–29 in the final. Eddie Charlton made the highest break of the tournament with a break of 129 in the final session of his round-robin match against Gary Owen.

1971 World Snooker Championship
Tournament information
Dates28 September–7 November 1970
Final venueChevron Hotel
Final citySydney
CountryAustralia
Organisation(s)WPBSA
FormatRanking event
Winner's share£2,333
Highest break Eddie Charlton (129)
Final
Champion John Spencer
Runner-up Warren Simpson
Score37–29
← 1970
1972 →
Sydney
Brisbane
Newcastle
Kurri Kurri
Lithgow
Wingham
Wagga Wagga
Dubbo
Port Macquarie
Nambucca Heads
Griffith
Lismore
Forbes
Venues in New South Wales

Overview

The World Snooker Championship is a professional tournament and the official world championship of the game of snooker.[3] Founded in the late 19th century by British Army soldiers stationed in India,[4] the sport was popular in the British Isles.[5] However, in the modern era it has become increasingly popular worldwide, especially in East and Southeast Asian nations such as China, Hong Kong and Thailand.[lower-alpha 1][5][7][8]

This championship featured nine professional players competing in one-on-one snooker matches in a round-robin format until four players remained, where it reverted to a single elimination format. Each match is played over a predetermined number of frames and sessions.[1][9] Joe Davis won the first World Championship in 1927, the final match being held in Camkin's Hall, Birmingham, England.[10][11]

Format

The championship was held from 28 September–7 November 1970 at several locations across Australia. This was the first time the championship was held outside the United Kingdom, and would be later hosted in Australia again in 1975.[2] The initial stage was a round robin in which each competitor played a 3-day, 37-frame match against four of the other eight competitors.[1][9] The number of frames needed to win a match increased at the semi-finals stage, which were played as the best-of-49, and the final as the best-of-73 frames.[12]

Tournament summary

Round-robin rounds

The first match between Paddy Morgan and Warren Simpson was from 28 to 30 September and was won by Morgan by a score of 21–16.[13][14] Eddie Charlton and Norman Squire met in the second match, during which Charlton made a break of 106, the first century break of the championship.[15] The British players did not start their matches until 6 October when John Spencer, John Pulman and Gary Owen started their first matches.[16]

Ray Reardon started his first match on 9 October, beating Perrie Mans.[17][15] Spencer made a break of 105 in his second win, over Norman Squire, which finished 27–10.[15] Reardon and Spencer played again from 12 to 14 October. Reardon beat Charlton while Spencer defeat Pulman.[18] Charlton made a break of 116 while Pulman made one of 113 while Spencer a 102 break.[19][20] Simpson met Owen from 13 to 15 October. Owen led 17–14 and 18–17 but Simpson won the last two frames to win 18–17.[21]

Owen scored his first century in his match against Squire, a break of 102.[22] Owen and Charlton won their second matches and met over the following three days, with Charlton made the highest break of the tournament, a 129.[23][24][25] Reardon met Morgan in Brisbane and led 20–10, before Morgan did not appear for the final session, awarding Reardon a 27–10 win. The third win guaranteed his place in the semi-final where he would meet John Spencer.[26] Charlton beat Owen to give him his third win and a place in the semi-final.[23] Simpson then beat Perrie Mans 19–18 to gain the last semi-final place.[23]

Knockout rounds

The first semi-final between Charlton and Simpson was played from 25 to 28 October at Forbes Golf Club. Simpson led 7–5 after the first day and maintained a 13–11 lead after the second day.[27] Simpson won the last 5 frames on the third day to lead 21–15.[28] Simpson clinched the match of the final day when he won the third frame of the evening session to lead 25–20. Dead frames were played with the final score being 27–22. The best break of the match was a 95 by Simpson.[29]

The second semi-final between Spencer and Reardon was played from 27 to 30 October at Parramatta Leagues Club, Sydney.[26] Spencer took a 9–3 lead on the first day.[28] Reardon made a 108 break during the evening session.[30] Spencer extended his lead to 19–5 after two days[29] and won the match 25–7 on the third evening. Spencer made a break of 106 on the third afternoon and Reardon made one of 109 in a dead frame on the third evening.[31] The match ended with Spencer leading 34–15. Reardon's defeat meant he held the record as the player with the shortest reign as world champion.[32]

The final was held from 2 to 7 November at the Chevron Hotel in Sydney.[31][33] Spencer won his second world title and earned £2,333.[34] Spencer led 8–4 after the first day[35] and 17–7 after the second day. He made a break of 105 on the second afternoon and then made breaks of 126 and 107 in the second and third frames of the evening session.[36] At the half-way stage Simpson had reduced Spencer's lead to 20–16[37] but Spencer led 29–19 after four days[38] and eventually won 37–29 on the final day.[39] Simpson had reached the final at his first attempt.[2]

Results

Round-robin stage
Match Winner Score Runner up Date Venue Ref.
1 Paddy Morgan21–16 Warren Simpson28–30 SeptemberKings Cross RSL Club, Sydney[40][41]
2 Eddie Charlton27–10 Norman Squire2–4 OctoberKurri Kurri RSL Club[42]
3 John Spencer20–17 Perrie Mans6–8 OctoberCanterbury-Bankstown Leagues Club, Sydney[43][44][45]
4 Warren Simpson22–15 John Pulman6–8 OctoberSouth Newcastle Leagues Club, Newcastle[43][44][45]
5 Gary Owen26–11 Paddy Morgan6–8 OctoberWentworthville RSL Club, Sydney[43][44][45]
6 John Spencer27–10 Norman Squire9–11 OctoberLithgow Workers' Club[46][47]
7 Ray Reardon21–16 Perrie Mans9–11 OctoberWingham RSL Club[46][47]
8 John Spencer23–14 John Pulman12–14 OctoberWagga Wagga RSL Club[19][20]
9 Ray Reardon21–16 Eddie Charlton12–14 OctoberWallsend RSL Club, Newcastle[48][19][20]
10 Warren Simpson19–18 Gary Owen13–15 OctoberDubbo Ex-Servicemen's Club[19][20][49]
11 John Pulman25–12 Paddy Morgan15–17 OctoberCoogee-Randwick RSL Club, Sydney[49][50][51]
12 Gary Owen19–18 Norman Squire17–19 OctoberPort Macquarie RSL Club[50][51]
13 Eddie Charlton26–11 Perrie Mans17–19 OctoberNambucca Heads RSL Club[50][51][52]
14 Ray Reardon27–10 Paddy Morgan19–21 OctoberQueensland Masonic Club, Brisbane[52][53]
15 Eddie Charlton23–14 Gary Owen20–22 OctoberCity Tattersalls Club, Sydney[53][24]
16 Warren Simpson19–18 Perrie Mans21–23 OctoberGriffith Ex-Servicemen's Club[53][24]
17 John Pulman26–11 Norman Squire21–23 OctoberParramatta RSL Club, Sydney[53][24]
18 Ray Reardon21–16 John Spencer22–24 OctoberLismore Workers' Club[24][28]

Morgan missed the final session in his match against Reardon. Reardon had won the match and was leading 20–10.

Table

Pos Player Pld MW ML FW FL FD Pts
1 Ray Reardon 4409058+328
2 Eddie Charlton 4319256+366
3 John Spencer 4318662+246
4 Warren Simpson 4317672+46
5 John Pulman 4228068+124
6 Gary Owen 4227771+64
7 Paddy Morgan 4135494−402
8 Perrie Mans 4046286−240
9 Norman Squire 4044999−500

The basis on which the semi-final draw was organised is not known. The 22 October edition of The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Reardon would play Spencer in the second semi-final. At the time Reardon and Spencer still had to play each other and Charlton, Owen and Simpson also had one match to play. So the final order of the group was still undecided.[26]

Knockout stage

The remaining four players contested a knockout round. Players in bold denote match winners.[1][9][12]

Semi-finals
49 frames 		Final
Best of 73 frames
      
Eddie Charlton 22
Warren Simpson 27
Warren Simpson 29
John Spencer 37
John Spencer 34
Ray Reardon 15

References
  1. The "modern era" of snooker is understood to have started in 1969, when the World Championship reverted to a knockout format.[6]
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