1969 World Snooker Championship

Player's No.6 World Snooker Championship

Tournament information
Dates	18 November 1968–22 March 1969
Final venue	Victoria Hall
Final city	London
Country	England
Organisation(s)	WPBSA
Format	Ranking event
Total prize fund	£3,500
Winner's share	£1,300[1]
Highest break	John Spencer (110)
Final
Champion	John Spencer
Runner-up	Gary Owen
Score	37–24
← 1968 1970 →

The 1969 World Snooker Championship (also known as the Player's No.6 World Snooker Championship for sponsorship reasons) was the first snooker championship in a knock-out format since 1957, following years of challenge matches. The final was held at the Victoria Hall in London, England,^[1][2] from 17 to 22 March 1969.^[3]

John Spencer won in the final 37–24 against Gary Owen.

Tournament summary

• The first match, played from 18 to 22 November 1968 at the Wryton Stadium in Bolton, saw the end of John Pulman's reign as champion, at the hands of John Spencer. Spencer led 24–18 after the final afternoon session and clinched the match by winning the first frame in the evening with a "magnificent 97 break".^[4][5]
• Two new professionals made the semi-final, Spencer and Owen, and both won their matches. Spencer beat Williams 37–12, and Owen beat Davis 37–24.^[2]
• John Spencer won the first of his three world titles by defeating Gary Owen 37–24 in the 73-frame final at the Victoria Hall in London.^[1][6] Spencer led Owen 36–24 after 5 days^[7] and won the first frame on the final day to win the championship. The remaining 12 dead frames were played with Spencer finishing with a 46–27 lead.^[8] With this he became the first player to win the World Championship at his first attempt since Joe Davis won the inaugural championship in 1927.^[9]
• It was also sponsored for the first time by a cigarette company, Player's No.6 being the featured brand.^[1]

Main draw

Sources:^[2][10]

	Quarter-finals Best of 49 frames				Semi-finals Best of 73 frames				Final Best of 73 frames
	John Pulman	18
	John Spencer	25
					John Spencer	37
					Rex Williams	12
	Rex Williams	25
	Bernard Bennett	4
									John Spencer	37
									Gary Owen	24
	Gary Owen	25
	Jackie Rea	17
					Gary Owen	37
					Fred Davis	24
	Fred Davis	25
	Ray Reardon	24

Final

Final: Best of 73 frames. Referee: unknown Victoria Hall, London, 17–22 March 1969.[11]
John Spencer  England	46–27	Gary Owen  Wales
Day 1: 81(60)–35, 35–72, 17–76, 64–43, 94(53)–20, 75–73, 55–25, 76–25, 23–96(80), 40–82(52), 27–87(70), 50–62 Day 2: 91(58)–27, 27–69, 64–33, 68–54, 71–43, 76–21, 85–8, 33–62, 69–41, 95(59)–40, 112(62)–15, 21–95(61) Day 3: 40–69, 37–64, 79–41, 11–76, 60–24, 18–78, 42–54, 122(56)–11, 87–22, 82(55)–9, 50–72, 62–47 Day 4: 47–57, 76–26, 44–56, 62(60)–24, 7–64, 44–55, 75–34, 54–39, 57–46, 12–82(57), 54–67(47), 92–31 Day 5: 98(77)–1, 67–48, 71–26, 43–67, 38–84, 80(73)–8, 77–1, 68–55, 62–52, 69–23, 9–88(50), 73–29 Day 6: 78–35, 101–21, 89–44, 70–41, 73–64, 19–108(100), 62–51, 51–63, 90–32, 104–17, 58–85, 64–53, 94–34
77	Highest break	100
0	Century breaks	1
10	50+ breaks	7
"Dead" frames were played, Spencer had won the match 37–24.

References