World Snooker Championship 1969

= The event =

The 1969 World Snooker Championship was the first championship in a knockout format since 1951, following years of single matches and challenge matches. In 1969 there were only eight players competing for the title.

The eight-man draw providentially brought the four established professionals up against four newcomers. The first match, at Wryton Stadium, Bolton, saw the end of John Pulman's reign as champion at the hands of John Spencer. Pulman, at one time eleven frames behind, recovered to only three behind but was eventually beaten 18-25. Jackie Rea was beaten 17-25 at Stratford Hippodrome by Gary Owen, while Rex Williams scored a very comfortable victory over Bernard Bennett, a Southampton player who had turned professional without any tournament victories in his home city. Williams's 25-4 win is the biggest ever margin in the modern day championship. The last first round match was Ray Reardon's first appearance in the championship: he lost to Fred Davis in a final-frame decider at Turnstall British Legion, Stoke-on-Trent.

Two new professionals made the semi-final, Spencer and Owen, and both won their matches. Spencer beat Williams 37-12 at the Co-op Hall in Bolton, and Owen beat Davis 37-24 at Wolstanton Miners Club, Stoke-on-Trent.

Gary Owen, who had beaten Spencer in previous matches, started favourite for the final, a week-long match at the Victoria Hall in London, but John Spencer established a psychological ascendancy in the early stages and won very comfortably: it was the first of his three world titles.

It was also sponsored for the first time by a cigarette company, Players No 6 being the featured brand.

Prize Money

Winner £1,300

Total: £3,500

Highest break

110 John Spencer

The Results

Round8
Best of 49 frames
flagicon|England John Spencer|25 |flagicon|England John Pulman|18|
flagicon|England Rex Williams|25"' |flagicon|England Bernard Bennett|4|
flagicon|Wales Gary Owen|25|flagicon|Northern Ireland Jackie Rea|17|
flagicon|England Fred Davis|25"' |flagicon|Wales Ray Reardon|24
Best of 73 frames
flagicon|England John Spencer|37 |flagicon|England Rex Williams|12|
flagicon|Wales Gary Owen|37"' |flagicon|England Fred Davis|24
Best of 73 frames
flagicon|England John Spencer |37|flagicon|Wales Gary Owen|24