1975 World Snooker Championship

The 1975 World Snooker Championship was a professional snooker tournament that took place between 9 April and 1 May 1975 across Australia. The event was the 1975 edition of the World Snooker Championship, first held in 1927. The tournament featured 27 participants, 8 of which were seeded and received byes to the second round. The event featured a prize fund of A$30,000 with the winner receiving A$7,500. This was the second (and to date last) World Snooker Championship to be held outside of the United Kingdom.

1975 World Snooker Championship
Tournament information
Dates9 April – 1 May 1975 (1975-04-09 – 1975-05-01)
Final venueNunawading Basketball Centre
Final cityMelbourne
CountryAustralia
OrganisationWPBSA
Total prize fundA$30,000
Winner's shareA$7,500
Highest break David Taylor (ENG) (128)
Final
Champion Ray Reardon (WAL)
Runner-up Eddie Charlton (AUS)
Score31–30
← 1974
1976 →

The final was held at the Nunawading Basketball Centre on Burwood Highway, in Burwood East, Victoria. Ray Reardon played Eddie Charlton in a best-of-61 frames match. Reardon won 10 of the 12 frames on the second day to lead 16–8 but Eddie Charlton won the first nine frames on day three to lead. Reardon then led 23–21 before Charlton won eight frames in a row to lead 29–23 requiring just two of the last nine frames to win. However Reardon then won 7 frames in a row to lead again and, although Charlton levelled the match at 30–30, Reardon won the deciding frame to win 31–30.

Overview
Sydney
Wollongong
Queanbeyan
Gosford
Goulburn
Grafton
Tamworth
Albury
Broken Hill
Cooma
Canberra
Venues in New South Wales and ACT
Brisbane
Melbourne
Other venues in Australia

The World Snooker Championship is a professional tournament and the official world championship of the game of snooker.[1] Founded in the late 19th century by British Army soldiers stationed in India,[2] the sport was popular in the British Isles.[3] 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][3][5][6]

This championship featured nine professional players competing in one-on-one snooker matches in a round-robin format until from which four players qualified to a single elimination format. Each match is played over a predetermined number of frames and sessions.[7][8] Joe Davis won the first World Championship in 1927, the final match being held in Camkin's Hall, Birmingham, England.[9][10] Ray Reardon was the defending champion, having defeated Graham Miles 22-12 in the 1974 final.[11][12]

Format

The championship was held from 9 April to 1 May 1975 at several locations across Australia.[7][13] This was the second time the championship was held outside the United Kingdom, previously in 1971 with two other challenge matches in 1965.[13] The event featured 27 participants, with a preliminary round, and eight seeded players who were awarded byes to the second round.[14] The number of frames increased during the tournament, with the opening rounds being the best of 29, the quarter-finals and semi-finals best of 37 and the final a best of 61 frames match.[15] With Park Drive having ended their sponsorship,[13] the WPBSA awarded the 1975 World Championship to Eddie Charlton Promotions.[16][17] The final was held at the Nunawading Basketball Centre on Burwood Highway, in Burwood East, Victoria.[18]

Schedule
Match Dates Venue, city Ref
David Greaves v Jim Charlton9–10 April 1975Woonona-Bulli RSL Memorial Hall, Wollongong, NSW[19][20]
Phil Tarrant v Bernard Bennett10–11 April 1975City Tattersalls Club, Sydney, NSW[19][20][21]
Lou Condo v Maurice Parkin10–11 April 1975Queanbeyan Leagues Club, NSW[19][20][21]
John Pulman v Phil Tarrant13–14 April 1975Auburn Baseball Club, NSW[22][23][24][25]
Warren Simpson v Ron Mares14–15 April 1975Central Coast Leagues Club, Gosford, NSW[24][25][26][27]
David Taylor v Rex King14–15 April 1975Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney, NSW[25][27]
Ian Anderson v Lou Condo14–15 April 1975Bentleigh Club, Melbourne, Victoria[24][25][27]
Dennis Taylor v Perrie Mans14–15 April 1975City Tattersalls Club, Sydney, NSW[24][25][26][27]
Gary Owen v David Greaves14–15 April 1975Goulburn Workers' Club, NSW[25][26][27]
Bill Werbeniuk v Jim Meadowcroft14–15 April 1975Grafton District Services Club, NSW[24][25][27]
Cliff Thorburn v Paddy Morgan14–15 April 1975Tamworth Workers' Club, NSW[24][25][26][27]
Ray Reardon v Warren Simpson16–17 April 1975Central Coast Leagues Club, Gosford, NSW[28][29][30][31]
Rex Williams v Ian Anderson16–17 April 1975Bentleigh Club, Melbourne, Victoria[28][29][30][31]
Cliff Thorburn v Graham Miles16–17 April 1975Queanbeyan Leagues Club, NSW[28][29][30][31]
John Spencer v John Pulman17–18 April 1975Dapto Leagues Club, Wollongong, NSW[30][31]
Alex Higgins v David Taylor17–18 April 1975Albury SS&A, NSW[31]
Dennis Taylor v Fred Davis17–18 April 1975Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney, NSW[30][31]
Gary Owen v John Dunning17–18 April 1975Broken Hill RSL Club, NSW[30][31]
Eddie Charlton Bill Werbeniuk17–18 April 1975Grafton District Services Club, NSW[30][31]
Ray Reardon v John Spencer21–23 April 1975Cooma RSL Club, NSW[32][33][34][35][36][37]
Alex Higgins v Rex Williams21–23 April 1975Wentworthville Leagues Club, Sydney, NSW[32][33][34][35][36][37]
Dennis Taylor v Gary Owen21–23 April 1975Harbord Diggers' Club, Sydney, NSW[32][33][34][35][36][37]
Eddie Charlton v Cliff Thorburn21–23 April 1975Sherwood Services Club, Brisbane, Queensland[32][33][34][35][36][37]
Ray Reardon v Alex Higgins24–26 April 1975Canberra Workers' Club, ACT[38][39]
Eddie Charlton v Dennis Taylor24–26 April 1975Past Brothers Club, Brisbane, Queensland[38][39]
Ray Reardon v Eddie Charlton27 April–1 May 1975Nunawading Basketball Centre, Melbourne, Victoria[40][41][42][43][44]

Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:[45]

  • Winner: A$7,500
  • Runner-up: A$4,000
  • Semi-final: A$3.000
  • Quarter-final: A$1,500
  • Last 16: A$750
  • Total: A$30,000

Tournament summary

Most of the early round matches were played in New South Wales although the semi-finals were played in Canberra and Brisbane with the final in Melbourne.[45] South African Professional Championship winner Perrie Mans was defeated in the opening round, by Dennis Taylor 15-12.[26][27] Mans was down by two frames after the first session, but recovered to 7-7, before Taylor pulled ahead in the third session.[24][25]

There was controversy about the seedings. John Spencer was seeded 8 which meant that he met Ray Reardon in the quarter-final. Alex Higgins was also in the top half of the draw while Eddie Charlton was in the bottom half of the draw.[16][46] David Taylor made the highest break of the tournament with 128.

The final was decided on the final frame, with Reardon winning 31–30.[13]

Results

Preliminary matches

Source:[14]

Best of 29 frames
 Phil Tarrant (AUS)15–8 Bernard Bennett (ENG)
 Lou Condo (AUS)15–8 Maurice Parkin (ENG)
 David Greaves (ENG)15–14 Jim Charlton (AUS)

Main draw

Below is the results from the event. Players in bold denote match winners, whilst numbers in brackets are the players seeding.[14][47][48]

  Round 1
Best of 29 frames		 Round 2
Best of 29 frames		 Quarter-finals
Best of 37 frames		 Semi-finals
Best of 37 frames		 Final
Best of 61 frames
                                     
 Warren Simpson (AUS) 15      Ray Reardon (WAL) (1) 15  
 Ron Mares (AUS) 5      Warren Simpson (AUS) 11  
  Ray Reardon (1) 19  
  John Spencer (8) 17  
 John Pulman (ENG) 15  John Spencer (ENG) (8) 15
 Phil Tarrant (AUS) 5      John Pulman (ENG) 10  
  Ray Reardon (1) 19  
  Alex Higgins (5) 14  
 David Taylor (ENG) 15      Alex Higgins (NIR) (5) 15  
 Rex King (AUS) 8      David Taylor (ENG) 2  
  Alex Higgins (5) 19
  Rex Williams (4) 12  
 Ian Anderson (AUS) 15  Rex Williams (ENG) (4) 15
 Lou Condo (AUS) 8      Ian Anderson (AUS) 4  
  Ray Reardon (1) 31
  Eddie Charlton (7) 30
 Dennis Taylor (NIR) 15      Fred Davis (ENG) (3) 14  
 Perrie Mans (SAF) 12      Dennis Taylor (NIR) 15  
  Dennis Taylor 19
  Gary Owen 9  
 Gary Owen (WAL) 15  John Dunning (ENG) (6) 8
 David Greaves (ENG) 3      Gary Owen (WAL) 15  
  Dennis Taylor 12
  Eddie Charlton (7) 19  
 Bill Werbeniuk (CAN) 15      Eddie Charlton (AUS) (7) 15  
 Jim Meadowcroft (ENG) 9      Bill Werbeniuk (CAN) 11  
  Eddie Charlton (7) 19
  Cliff Thorburn 12  
 Cliff Thorburn (CAN) 15  Graham Miles (ENG) (2) 2
 Paddy Morgan (AUS) 6      Cliff Thorburn (CAN) 15  

References
  1. The "modern era" of snooker is understood to have started in 1969, when the World Championship reverted to a knockout format.[4]
  1. "World Snooker Championship to stay in UK". Matchroom Sport. 19 January 2015. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  2. Clare, Peter (2008). "Origins of Snooker". Billiard and Snooker Heritage Collection. Archived from the original on 3 January 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  3. "The Rise Of China". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 26 February 2018. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  4. "John Higgins eyes more crucible titles". The Daily Telegraph. London. 5 May 2009. Archived from the original on 30 April 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2020. the modern era, which began in 1969 when the World Championship became a knockout event.
  5. Wilson, Bill (24 April 2015). "Snooker looks to cue up more big breaks in China". BBC News. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  6. "Snooker world champion, Hongkonger Ng On-yee aims to change image of male-dominated game". Hong Kong Free Press. Agence France-Presse. 17 March 2018. Archived from the original on 16 August 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  7. "World Championship 1971". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 2010-12-28. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  8. "1971 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  9. "History of Snooker – a Timeline". wpbsa. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Archived from the original on 18 April 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  10. "1927 World Professional Championship". globalsnookercentre.co.uk. Global Snooker Centre. Archived from the original on 10 October 2004. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  11. "1974 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  12. "Embassy World Championship". Snooker Scene. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  13. Turner, Chris. "World Professional Championship". cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  14. "World Championship 1975". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 2010-12-28. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  15. "Embassy World Championship". Snooker Scene. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  16. Everton, Clive (1986). The History of Snooker and Billiards. Haywards Heath: Partridge Press. pp. 102–103. ISBN 1852250135.
  17. "World Snooker in Australia". The Sydney Morning Herald. 31 May 1974. p. 14. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  18. Hayton, Eric (2004). The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker. Lowestoft: Rose Villa Publications. p. 11. ISBN 0-9548549-0-X.
  19. "Snooker lead to Greaves". The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 April 1975. p. 21. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  20. "Charlton leads". The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 April 1975. p. 11. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  21. "Snooker". The Sun-Herald. 13 April 1975. p. 68. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  22. "Lead to Pulman". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 April 1975. p. 13. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  23. "Snooker". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 April 1975. p. 14. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  24. "Mans levels in world snooker". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 April 1975. p. 15. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  25. "Snooker". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 April 1975. p. 158. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  26. "Snooker wins to Australian pair". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 April 1975. p. 17. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  27. "Snooker". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 April 1975. p. 17. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  28. "Fast start for Cliff Thorburn". The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 April 1975. p. 17. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  29. "Snooker". The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 April 1975. p. 18. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  30. "Reardon through, 15–14". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 April 1975. p. 13. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  31. "Snooker". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 April 1975. p. 15. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  32. "Lights fall on snooker table". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 April 1975. p. 17. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  33. "Snooker". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 April 1975. p. 18. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  34. "Reardon draws level in snooker". The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 April 1975. p. 17. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  35. "Snooker". The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 April 1975. p. 23. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  36. "Title-holder scrapes into snooker semis". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 April 1975. p. 17. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  37. "Snooker". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 April 1975. p. 18. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  38. "Reardon leads in snooker semi". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 April 1975. p. 9. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  39. "Reardon v Charlton". The Sun-Herald. 27 April 1975. p. 58. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  40. "Six-all in final of snooker". The Sydney Morning Herald. 28 April 1975. p. 13. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  41. "Charlton further behind". The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 April 1975. p. 15. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  42. "Charlton pulls back to 19–17 – 9-frame blitz". The Sydney Morning Herald. 30 April 1975. p. 11. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  43. "Charlton takes lead in snooker". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 May 1975. p. 19. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  44. "Reardon clinches it in the last frame". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 May 1975. p. 13. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  45. "World Snooker sets records". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 March 1975. p. 13. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  46. Everton, Clive (27 February 1975). "Seeding system is exposed as a farce". The Guardian. p. 20 – via ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Guardian and The Observer. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  47. "1975 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  48. "Embassy World Championship". Snooker Scene. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.