The 1951 World Snooker Championship was a professional snooker tournament. The final was held at the Tower Circus in Blackpool, England. For the fifth consecutive year, the final was contested by Fred Davis and Walter Donaldson. Davis won his third World title by defeating Donaldson 58–39 in the final. Donaldson made the highest break of the tournament with 106 in frame 32 of his semi-final match against Horace Lindrum. After defeating the then 42-year-old Sidney Smith — runner-up in the 1938 and 1939 championships — in the quarter-finals, the 15-year younger John Pulman reached the semi-finals, where he played against the eventual winner Fred Davis, before he retired and gave Davis an early bye into the final.

Background

The World Snooker Championship is a professional tournament and the official world championship of the game of snooker. The sport was developed in the late 19th century by British Army soldiers stationed in India. Professional English billiards player and billiard hall manager Joe Davis noticed the increasing popularity of snooker compared to billiards in the 1920s, and with Birmingham-based billiards equipment manager Bill Camkin, persuaded the Billiards Association and Control Council (BACC) to recognise an official professional snooker championship in the 1926–27 season. In 1927, the final of the first professional snooker championship was held at Camkin's Hall; Davis won the tournament by beating Tom Dennis in the final. The annual competition was not titled the World Championship until the 1935 tournament, but the 1927 tournament is now referred to as the first World Snooker Championship. Davis had also won the title every year from 1928 to 1940, after which the tournament was not held again until 1946 due to World War II. Walter Donaldson was the defending champion, having defeated Fred Davis 51–46 in the 1950 final.

Schedule

Tournament summary

Quarter-finals

Horace Lindrum established a 9-3 lead against Albert Brown on the first day of their match. He extended hs lead to 18-6 on day two. Brown took five of the six frames in the first on day three, and Lindrum took the following session by that same margin, to lead 24-12. By winning nine of the 12 frames on day four, Lindrum needed only a further four frames, and confirmed his progress to the semi-finals at 36-15. The final score after was 43-28. Lindrum's highest of the match was 91; Brown's was 89. Fred Davis led John Barrie 12-6 but Barrie won the next two sessions 5-1 to narrow his deficit to two frames at 14-16. Davis went on to win 36-28; after dead frames, the score was 42-29. Davis's highest of the match was 77; Barrie's was 73.

Semi-finals

Pulman withdrew due to influenza when trailing 14–22 against Fred Davis. Donaldson secured a winning margin at 36-25 against Horace Lindrum. The final score was 41-30.

Final

Walter Donaldson and Fred Davis played the final in Blackpool, over 97 frames, in front of record crowds for a World Snooker Championship match. From 6–6, Davis moved into a 12–6 lead, reaching a winning margin at 49–36 before the match concluded 58–39. Davis was presented with the championship trophy by BACC chairman John Bissett.

Main draw

Sources:

Qualifying

John Barrie met Sydney Lee at Burroughes Hall in London from 6 to 8 November. Barrie led 7–5 after the first day and 15–9 after two days. He made a break of 101 on the second evening. He eventually won 23–12. Barrie then met Dickie Laws on the following three days also at Burroughes Hall. Barrie took an 8–4 lead, increased to a winning 18–6 lead after two days. The final score was 27–8.