1971 World Snooker Championship

World Snooker Championship

Tournament information
Dates	October–7 November 1970
City	Sydney
Country	Australia
Organisation(s)	WPBSA
Format	Ranking event
Winner's share	£2,333
Highest break	John Spencer (126)
Final
Champion	John Spencer
Runner-up	Warren Simpson
Score	37–29
← 1970 1972 →

The 1971 World Snooker Championship was a professional snooker tournament that took place in October and early November 1970 in Sydney, Australia.^[1][2]

John Spencer won his second World Championship title by defeating Warren Simpson 37–29 in the final. Spencer also made the highest break of the tournament with 126.^[3]

Tournament summary

• This was the first time the championship was held outside the United Kingdom when it went to Australia. It would be hosted there again in 1975.^[2]
• The championship was also the only time when the championship was based on a round robin format.
• Reardon's defeat meant he held the record as the player with the shortest reign as world champion.^[4]
• Spencer won his second world title and earned £2,333.^[5] He beat Warren Simpson who, playing in his home country, reached the final at his first attempt.^[2]
• The final was held from 2 to 7 November.^[6] In the final, Spencer compiled three centuries in successive frames (105, 107, 126), and became the first player to do so in major competition.^[4]

Round-robin stage

Pos	Player	MP	MW	ML	FW	FL	FD	Pts
1	Eddie Charlton	4	3	1	92	56	+36	6
2	John Spencer	4	3	1	86	62	+24	6
3	Ray Reardon	4	3	0	64	47	+17	6
4	Warren Simpson	4	3	1	76	72	+4	6
5	John Pulman	4	2	2	80	68	+12	4
6	Gary Owen	4	2	2	77	71	+6	4
7	Paddy Morgan	4	1	2	44	67	−23	2
8	Perrie Mans	4	0	4	61	87	−26	0
9	Norman Squire	4	0	4	49	99	−50	0

Each competitor played 37 frames against four of the other eight.^[1][7]

Ray Reardon 21–16 Eddie Charlton Ray Reardon 22–15 Perrie Mans Ray Reardon 21–16 John Spencer John Pulman 25–12 Paddy Morgan John Pulman 26–11 Norman Squire Ray Reardon [n 1] Paddy Morgan John Spencer 20–17 Perrie Mans John Spencer 23–14 John Pulman John Spencer 27–10 Norman Squire

Eddie Charlton 26–11 Perrie Mans Eddie Charlton 23–14 Gary Owen Eddie Charlton 27–10 Norman Squire Gary Owen 26–11 Paddy Morgan Gary Owen 19–18 Norman Squire Paddy Morgan 21–16 Warren Simpson Warren Simpson 19–18 Perrie Mans Warren Simpson 19–18 Gary Owen Warren Simpson 22–15[8] John Pulman

Knockout stage

^[1][7][9]

	Semi-finals Best of 49 frames					Final Best of 73 frames
		Eddie Charlton	22
		Warren Simpson	27
							Warren Simpson	29
							John Spencer	37
		John Spencer	34
		Ray Reardon	15

Notes

References