1964–68 World Snooker Championships
since world snooker championship played singleelimination tournament defended seven challenge match following hiatus world professional matchplay championship event revived rex williams challenge basis champion opposed prominent player began organised billiards association control council champion john pulman contested seven challenge match various opponent next five year tournament reverted knockout format match played differing length location played series match rather frame three match played burroughes hall london england two across south africa one st george hall liverpool final match bolton highest break made series made williams – match loss pulman world snooker championship professional tournament official world championship game snooker sport origin date late th century british army soldier stationed india snooker gained popularity across british isle championship traditionally played singleelimination tournament annually since hiatus world war ii known world professional matchplay championship event failed generate interest top professional player defending champion fred davis failing enter event john pulman waning interest highest ranked player playing event held english player rex williams ran four player tournament blackheath first commercially sponsored professional snooker event since taking billiards association control council bacc chairman harold phillips lunch led bacc allowing williams run revival world snooker championship – championship would defended challenge basis defending champion pulman facing prominent snooker professional winner match would become new champion agreement bacc player stated minimum side stake £ involved match could duration agreed participant challenger would responsible finding suitable venue world snooker championship revived match yearold john pulman yearold fred davis bestof frame match played three day april burroughes hall london england davis official championship three time world professional matchplay championship five time taken part last championship pulman pulman took early – lead davis ahead – end first day maintained twoframe advantage second day leading – davis made break afternoon final day pulman four six frame session level match – first three frame evening session lead – although davis next frame pulman took fifth win title – six month winning first challenge match john pulman challenged organiser rex williams another match held burroughes hall consisted bestof frame match played six day october williams led – end first day pulman frame second day go ahead – extending lead – four day pulman match fifth day – winning lead making break frame remaining dead frame played final day pulman finishing – ahead fred davis challenged john pulman world title march match frame long played six day march burroughes hall london two player closely matched throughout davis led – first day pulman taken lead – end second day pulled ahead third davis recovered level match – pulman made break fourth day six frame apiece level score – pair still tied fifth day – davis making break pulman eventually match – september john pulman rex williams left england play series sevenframe match south africa world championship number match later reduced december pulman took winning lead – retain title eventually match played pulman winning series – th match series played november south african city east london williams compiled break breaking official tournament record set joe davis although equalled bill werbeniuk remained highest break world championship doug mountjoy compiled tournament winning series match pulman played south african fred van rensburg december winning match – winner june south african professional championship supposed given opportunity challenge world title match sponsored brandy company richelieu et cie although perrie man defeated van rensburg – final van rensberg given opportunity decision unpopular contributed lack coverage south african press match little known match except pulman led – – – way victory january pulman williams played fiveday frame match van rensburg amateur manuel francisco taking winning – lead fourth day match ending – davis met john pulman third challenge april series match promoted lancashire billiard trader association seven bestoffive frame match player four match winning championship match played concert room st george hall liverpool april pulman first three match – – – davis winning fourth fifth match – april pulman achieved victory winning sixth match – last match following day finish five win davis two australian player eddie charlton challenged john pulman bolton frame match played march pulman opening frame break – arrears end first session charlton extended lead – pulman four consecutive frame level – end opening day play pulman also first three frame second day charlton taking following two pair took two next four frame score went pulman – ahead – ahead end second day st frame pulman potted first red charlton potted remaining red seven black six pink green colour except black break third day charlton five six frame afternoon session lead – evening session pulman drew level – charlton rd frame looked likely win th well making break pulman eventually frame black pulman last two frame day last frame day also decided final black meaning pulman retained – lead third day pulman five six frame afternoon session fourth day four six evening session good safety play often leading charlton leaving good opportunity extended lead – fourth day player winning six frame fifth day ended pulman leading – needing three remaining frame pulman three first five frame final afternoon win match – remaining eight dead frame played final score – last challenge match event reverted traditional tournament world snooker championship except roundrobin stage world snooker championship event played singleelimination tournament since pulman touring snooker club promotional work tobacco brand john player company sponsored match charlton good attendance challenge match led john player deciding sponsor world snooker championship knockout tournament