1977 UK Championship

[Achamian]

ah ha, that one, I had this sometime ago and should have it somewhere; did not relate with the author
thanks

My pleasure. 👍

[Cyril]

Thanks Achamian.

It’d be interesting to know the results of all the, what Kobylecky calls them: “Joe Davis World Champion Challenge” matches. You can imagine them at the time, carrying more public interest than the World Championship Final itself. It’s a shame Joe retired from WC play really as it devalued the event. He said he did it to “give the others a chance”, but why then did he insist on his annual match against the victor, off level terms? Clearly he had retired to protect his unbeaten WC record.

[Achamian]

Thanks Achamian.

It’d be interesting to know the results of all the, what Kobylecky calls them: “Joe Davis World Champion Challenge” matches. You can imagine them at the time, carrying more public interest than the World Championship Final itself. It’s a shame Joe retired from WC play really as it devalued the event. He said he did it to “give the others a chance”, but why then did he insist on his annual match against the victor, off level terms? Clearly he had retired to protect his unbeaten WC record.

Yes, I would love to know the results of those “Joe Davis World Champion Challenge” matches.

And I agree. I also believe Joe Davis retired to protect his unbeaten WC record.

Joe knew how to keep his reputation and also how to cash in on it. He obviously also had the snooker ability, of course.

[Cyril]

He’s going to look them up

[DeanH]

Be nice to have 1965 and 67 on there.

Hi Cyril
1965 - I have added a further 114 matches I have found to the two that were there before. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find any details of some 130 matches. This is quite normal with "old stuff" but the ratio is unusually heavy to the No side

Any way, onto 1967

[DeanH]

Be nice to have 1965 and 67 on there.

Hi Cyril
1967 done
a better hit rate: 205 matches added.
"only" 48 matches not found

[Cyril]

Dean, that’s brilliant - thank you. Sorry for the delay replying but I have t been on here for months!

[DeanH]

Dean, that’s brilliant - thank you. Sorry for the delay replying but I have t been on here for months!

No worries

FYI 68 EAC - I have started the collecting of these matches. As I say it is a rolling process in a long list - but just for you I am promoting these up the timetable

[Cyril]

That’s very kind! The old B&S mags are decent for amateur results aren’t they. Because it was owned by the B&SCC who didn’t care so much for the professionals, the coverage of which wasn’t so good

[DeanH]

That’s very kind! The old B&S mags are decent for amateur results aren’t they. Because it was owned by the B&SCC who didn’t care so much for the professionals, the coverage of which wasn’t so good

Yep great source, I also have other sources, I tend to use B&S to start and then fill in the gaps from others
Let's not forget that Clive Everton started at B&S in 64 (IIRC) and became editor in 1966 - before becoming uncomfortable by the interference by the governing body and went out to start World Snooker which became Snooker Scene

[Cyril]

The B&SCC didn’t like it when Clive said anything remotely critical of them in his editorial… so they sacked him!

[Cyril]

Did you ever find anymore of the World Championship title matches in SA?

[DeanH]

Did you ever find anymore of the World Championship title matches in SA?

That is a pain that one
a contact of mine is trying to search local papers for anything, not heard anything for a while

[Cyril]

I wonder if Rex would have (or remember) anything?

[Tone]

UPDATE: It took a while but I finally found the prize money from a search of the British Newspaper Archive.
Total: £7,000; W: £2,000; RU: £1,400; SF: £800: QF: £300; 2R: £100
Source: Manchester Evening News, p3. 15.10.77.