I have created the below table of information to put into context some of the players that we talk about throughout the web-site.
Throughout this era the Snooker championship was played for and won from 1927 onwards by Joe Davis. His chief rivals were his brother Fred, Tom Newman and Willie Smith.
Another cue man that rates a mention is Tom Dennis who competed more than once against Joe Davis and made a reasonable account of the contest.
Horace Lindrum had a good battle with Joe Davis in 1940 and so must have been quite a player as well. In fact Horace Lindrum made a 137 break in 1937, which was quite an achievement at the time due to the tight pockets and composition balls of the time. Joe Davis made the 147 break in 1955 incidentally.
In 1934 Joe Davis defeated Tom Newman by 25 frames to 23 for the world Snooker championship which shows that Tom could certainly hold a cue, so to speak.
Sidney Smith made a total clearance in the early to mid 1930s as well, proving that on his day, he could be a force to be reckoned with.
Joe himself must have been a tremendous competitor, beating off this group of up and coming players for twenty years, he must have been an immensely determined character to also beat his brother Fred 37 frames to 36 in 1940.
The only two people that have ever held the Snooker and Billiards world titles in their careers to this date are Joe and Fred Davis.
If you get the chance take a look at the footage of Joe Davis making a century break, what struck me about this film was Joe’s speed around the table and the certainty with which he played the game.
I hope that these talking points are useful and that the information included provides useful reference.
David Smith
Cues n Views
Billiards Championship records
| Date | Winner | Runner Up |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 Feb | William Cook | John Roberts Senior |
| 1870 Apr | John Roberts Junior | William Cook |
| 1870 Jun | John Roberts Junior | A Bowles |
| 1870 Nov | Joseph Bennett | John Roberts Junior |
| 1871 Jan | John Roberts Junior | Joseph Bennett |
| 1871 May | William Cook | John Roberts Junior |
| 1871 Nov | William Cook | Joseph Bennett |
| 1871 Mar | William Cook | John Roberts Junior |
| 1874 Feb | William Cook | John Roberts Junior |
| 1875 May | John Roberts Junior | William Cook |
| 1875 Dec | John Roberts Junior | William Cook |
| 1877 May | John Roberts Junior | William Cook |
| 1880 May | Joseph Bennett | William Cook |
| 1881 Jan | Joseph Bennett | Tom Taylor |
| 1885 Apr | John Roberts Junior | William Cook |
| 1885 Jun | John Roberts Junior | Joseph Bennett |
| 1889 | Charles Dawson | J North |
| 1900 | Charles Dawson | H W Stevenson |
| 1901 | H W Stevenson | Charles Dawson |
| 1901 | Charles Dawson | H W Stevenson |
| 1901 | H W Stevenson | Charles Dawson |
| 1901 | H W Stevenson declared champion | |
| 1903 | Charles Dawson | H W Stevenson |
| 1908 | Melbourne Inman declared champion | |
| 1908 | Melbourne Inman | A F Williams |
| 1908 | H W Stevenson declared champion | |
| 1910 | H W Stevenson | Melbourne Inman |
| 1911 | H W Stevenson | Melbourne Inman |
| 1912 | Melbourne Inman | Tom Reece |
| 1913 | Melbourne Inman | Tom Reece |
| 1914 | Melbourne Inman | Tom Reece |
| 1919 | Melbourne Inman | H W Stevenson |
| 1920 | Willie Smith | Claude Falkiner |
| 1921 | Tom Newman | Tom Reece |
| 1922 | Tom Newman | Claude Falkiner |
| 1923 | Willie Smith | Tom Newman |
| 1924 | Tom Newman | Tom Reece |
| 1925 | Tom Newman | Tom Reece |
| 1926 | Tom Newman | Joe Davis |
| 1927 | Tom Newman | Joe Davis |
| 1928 | Joe Davis | Tom Newman |
| 1929 | Joe Davis | Tom Newman |
| 1930 | Joe Davis | Tom Newman |
| 1932 | Joe Davis | Clark McConachy |
| 1933 | Walter Lindrum | Joe Davis |
| 1934 | Walter Lindrum | Joe Davis |
