1946 World Snooker Championship

Detail

The Championship attracted a total of 14 entries; 13 were originally announced with Fred Lawrence being added a few days later. Entries were divided into a qualifying group (Section B), the winner joining seven others in the main draw (Section A).

Joe Davis and Walter Donaldson met in Wellington, Shropshire. Davis led 6–4 and 12–8 after the first two days. He took a winning lead during the final afternoon session, leading 16–9. The final score was 21–10. Davis made a break of 129 in frame 29.

Stanley Newman, the winner of the qualifying competition, met Sydney Lee in Blackpool. Newman led 6–4 and 12–8 after the first two days. He won four frames on the final afternoon session to lead 16–9. The final score was 19–12.

Fred Davis met Alec Brown in the second match in Blackpool. Davis won the first nine frames and led 9–1 overnight. He built a 15–5 lead after two day, one frame for victory. Davis won frame 21 to win the match 16–5. The final score was 24–7.

Horace Lindrum beat Herbert Holt 17–14 in the last quarter-final match played in Streatham, London.

The semi-finals were held in Oldham. Joe Davis met Stanley Newman in the first match. Davis led 6–4 after the first day, making a break of 106. He extended his lead to 13–7 after the second day and won the match 21–10.

Lindrum and Fred Davis played in the second semi-final. Lindrum took a 7–3 lead on the first day. Davis made a comeback on the second day but Lindrum still led 11–9. Davis levelled the match at 11–11 but Lindrum won the next three frames to lead 14–11. In the evening session Lindrum won two of the first three frames to take a winning 16–12 lead. The final score was 17–14.

After the first day of the final Joe Davis led Lindrum 7–5. Lindrum, however, won the first three frames of the third session to lead 8–7, before Davis responded by winning the last three frames and regaining the lead at 10–8, and finishing the day at a 14–10 lead. Lindrum could reduce the deficit to two frames at the end of the third day, and trailed only 17–19. Davis however regained the four frame lead a day later at 26–22, and maintained it at the end of the fifth day by 32–28. Davis than won seven of the next twelve frames to gain a six frame lead at 39–33, and maintained it over the next three days leading 45–39, 51–45 and 57–51, before gaining a 10 frame advantage at 65–55. He could maintain this lead at the end of the penultimate day, and at 71–61 only needed two frames to retain the title. Davis then won 78–67, although the winning margin was already reached at 73–62, and retained the Championship after a six-year hiatus in the event. This was the 15th and last world title of Davis, and upon his retirement he received a replica of the World Championship trophy. Davis made an unprecedented six centuries in the final, including championship records of 133 and 136. He only needed 7 minutes 15 seconds for the record 133 break, which was also Davis' 200th century break. Davis won one frame 145–0, the highest number of score ever recorded in one frame. Over the tournament Davis made ten centuries. Davis and Lindrum received £1,800 and £550 respectively. Lindrum also received the championship table and all the equipment.

Main draw

Sources:

Qualifying

Kingsley Kennerley met Fred Lawrence from 7–9 January in Birmingham. Stanley Newman and Willie Leigh played from 10–12 January in Newquay, Cornwall. Conrad Stanbury played John Barrie from 28–30 January in Woolwich, London. The final between Stanley Newman and Kingsley Kennerley was played from14–16 February in Tooting, London