List of UK Open Billiards Championship winners
Tournament information | |
---|---|
Established | 1934 |
Organisation(s) | World Billiards |
Recent edition | 2019 |
Current champion | David Causier (ENG) |
The UK Open Billiards Championship, formerly known as the United Kingdom Professional English Billiards Championship, is an English billiards tournament, first contested in 1934. Joe Davis won the inaugural UK Professional English Billiards Championship title with a 18,745–18,309 defeat of Tom Newman.[1][2] The tournament was originally organised by the Billiards Association and Control Council (BA&CC). After a dispute over a world championship challenge match, the Professional Billiard Players Association (PBPA) — which had been re-established in 1968 by reigning world billiards champion Rex Williams and seven other players – disaffiliated from the BA&CC. The PBPA changed its name to the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) in 1970, and declared itself the governing body for the professional games of snooker and English billiards.[3][4][5]
After 1934, the UK Championship was the premier event of the billiards season in the UK, in the absence of any contests for the world championships.[6] Walter Lindrum had won the World Professional Championship in 1933, and insisted that the competition should be held in Australia for his defence. Lindrum retained the world championship in 1934, and it was not contested again until 1952.[6][7] The Championship was staged three more times before being in abeyance from 1952 to 1978.[8] After a further hiatus from 2002, World Billiards, a WPBSA-affiliated organisation, reinstituted the tournament as an open event in 2015.[2][8] From 1987, it has sometimes been played as a "short format" event, for example in January 1988 the matches before the final were the best-of-seven games of 150-up (i.e. the first player to reach 150 points won the game), and the final was the best-of-thirteen games of 150-up.[9]
David Causier won the 2019 title, with a 632–315 victory over Mark Hirst in the final.[8] The competition was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[10] and, as of April 2023, has not been held since.[8] The tournament has been staged 35 times and produced 17 different champions. Mike Russell has won the title a record eight times, one more than Joe Davis's total. Causier has taken three titles, and the only other players to have won the tournament more than once are two-time champions Williams, Robby Foldvari, and Roxton Chapman.[8]
Finals
Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score in the final | Venue | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1934 | Joe Davis (ENG) | Tom Newman (ENG) | 18,745–18,309 | Thurston's Hall, London | [12] |
1935 | Joe Davis (ENG) | Tom Newman (ENG) | 21,733–19,910 | Thurston's Hall, London | [13] |
1936 | Joe Davis (ENG) | Tom Newman (ENG) | 21,710–19,791 | Thurston's Hall, London | [14] |
1937 | Joe Davis (ENG) | Tom Newman (ENG) | 22,601–18,321 | Thurston's Hall, London | [15] |
1938 | Joe Davis (ENG) | Tom Newman (ENG) | 20,933–19,542 | Thurston's Hall, London | [16] |
1939 | Joe Davis (ENG) | Tom Newman (ENG) | 21,601–18,383 | Thurston's Hall, London | [17] |
1940–1945 | Not held | [6] | |||
1946 | Joe Davis (ENG) | John Barrie (ENG) | walkover | [18] | |
1947 | Not held | [6] | |||
1948 | Sidney Smith (ENG) | John Barrie (ENG) | 7,002–6,428 | Leicester Square Hall, London | [19] |
1949 | Not held | [6] | |||
1950 | John Barrie (ENG) | Kingsley Kennerley (ENG) | 9,046–5,069 | Burroughes Hall, London | [20] |
1951 | Fred Davis (ENG) | Kingsley Kennerley (ENG) | 8,120–6,011 | Leicester Square Hall, London | [21] |
1952–1978 | Not held | [8] | |||
1979 | Rex Williams (ENG) | John Barrie (ENG) | 2,952–2,116 | Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds | [22] |
1980 | Jack Karnehm (ENG) | Rex Williams (ENG) | 2,518–2,423 | Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds | [23] |
1981 | Rex Williams (ENG) | Jack Karnehm (ENG) | 1,592–1,112 | Winter Gardens, Margate | [24] |
1982 | Not held | [6] | |||
1983 | Mark Wildman (ENG) | Fred Davis (ENG) | 1,500–1,032 | Victoria Snooker Centre, Southend | [25] |
1984–1986 | Not held | [8] | |||
1987 | Norman Dagley (ENG) | Ray Edmonds (ENG) | 3–1[a] | Romiley Forum, Stockport | [26][27] |
January 1988 | Ian Williamson (ENG) | Robby Foldvari (AUS) | 7–3[b] | Marton Hotel and Country Club, Middlesbrough | [28][29] |
November 1988 | Mike Russell (ENG) | Bob Close (ENG) | 7–0[b] | Marton Hotel and Country Club, Middlesbrough | [30] |
1990 | Mike Russell (ENG) | John Murphy (ENG) | 1,478–1,058 | Marton Hotel and Country Club, Middlesbrough | [31] |
1991 | Mike Russell (ENG) | Geet Sethi (IND) | 1,794–1,538 | Radion Plaza, Sheffield | [32] |
1992 | Robby Foldvari (AUS) | Subhash Agarwal (IND) | 4–1[b] | Royal Hampshire Snooker Lodge, Aldershot | [33][34] |
1993 | Robby Foldvari (AUS) | Geet Sethi (IND) | 4–0[b] | Radion Plaza, Sheffield | [35] |
1994 | Mike Russell (ENG) | Peter Gilchrist (ENG) | 1,073-332 | Plymouth Pavilions | [36] |
1995 | Subhash Agarwal (IND) | Peter Gilchrist (ENG) | 1,240–1,114 | Bellingham Hotel, Wigan | [37] |
1996 | Mike Russell (ENG) | David Causier (ENG) | 1,690–1,277 | Bellingham Hotel, Wigan | [38] |
March 1997 | Mike Russell (ENG) | Sonic Multani (IND) | 2,476–580 | Norwich Sports Village | [39] |
November 1997 | Geet Sethi (IND) | Roxton Chapman (ENG) | 698–293 | Preston Guild Hall | [40] |
1998 | Mike Russell (ENG) | Geet Sethi (IND) | 2,204–807 | Hospitality Inn, Harrogate | [41] |
1999 | Roxton Chapman (ENG) | David Causier (ENG) | 1,382–1,293 | Spa Hotel, Harrogate | [42] |
2000 | David Causier (ENG) | Robby Foldvari (AUS) | 5–1[c] | Bournemouth International Centre | [11][43] |
2001 | David Causier (ENG) | Peter Gilchrist (ENG) | 5–4[d] | Barbican Centre, York | [44] |
2002–2014 | Not held | [8] | |||
2015 | Roxton Chapman (ENG) | David Causier (ENG) | 409–351 | Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds | [2] |
2016 | Robert Hall (ENG) | Roxton Chapman (ENG) | 913-427 | Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds | [45] |
2017 | Mike Russell (ENG) | David Causier (ENG) | 946-915 | Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds | [46] |
2018 | Peter Gilchrist (ENG) | Robert Hall (ENG) | 796–667 | Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds | [47] |
2019 | David Causier (ENG) | Mark Hirst (ENG) | 632–315 | Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds | [48] |
Multiple champions
Player | Total | Years |
---|---|---|
Mike Russell (ENG) | 8 | 1988 (Nov), 1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1997 (Mar), 1998, 2017 |
Joe Davis (ENG) | 7 | 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1936, 1939, 1946 |
David Causier (ENG) | 3 | 2000, 2001, 2019 |
Rex Williams (ENG) | 2 | 1979, 1981 |
Robby Foldvari (AUS) | 2 | 1992, 1993 |
Roxton Chapman (ENG) | 2 | 1999, 2015 |
Notes
References
Citations
- ^ "United Kingdom professional championship of English billiards". The Billiard Player. Billiards Association and Control Council. June 1934. p. 15.
- ^ a b c "2015 LITEtask UK Open". World Billiards. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ "WPBSA v TSN". BBC Sport. 16 February 2001. Archived from the original on 1 January 2003. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
- ^ "History of The WPBSA". wpbsa.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
- ^ Everton 2012, pp. 146–147.
- ^ a b c d e f Everton 1985, pp. 110–113.
- ^ Everton 2012, pp. 105–107.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "UK Championship History". World Billiards. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ Everton 2012, p. 174.
- ^ "Statement – COVID-19". World Billiards. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ a b Everton, Clive (January 2001). "Billiards fiasco". Snooker Scene. p. 29.
- ^ "Billiards: United Kingdom Championship". The Guardian. 30 April 1934. p. 4. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Davis retains title". Evening Despatch. 8 April 1935. p. 12. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "To-day's sports diary". Daily Herald. 6 June 1936. p. 18. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Davis champion again". The Guardian. 3 May 1937. p. 3. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Davis still champion". Daily Herald. 28 February 1938. p. 16. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "J. Davis defeats Newman". The Guardian. 15 May 1939. p. 6. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Davis keeps billiards title". Lincolnshire Echo. 12 July 1946. p. 4. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Billiards". Derby Evening Telegraph. 8 May 1948. p. 4. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Barrie again does well". The Guardian. 23 February 1950. p. 3. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Double for Fred Davis". Birmingham Gazette. 14 May 1951. p. 3. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Thirty years on". The Guardian. 9 January 1979. p. 19. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Karnehm wins UK billiards". Snooker Scene. March 1980. p. 13.
- ^ "Rex Williams: UK champion again". Snooker Scene. March 1981. pp. 18–19.
- ^ Smith, Terry (February 1983). "A layman looks at billiards". Snooker Scene. p. 24.
- ^ "Dagley's revenge earns UK title". The Hinckley Times. 30 January 1987. p. 43. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Locals take a tilt at Dagley title". Evening Chronicle. 2 January 1988. p. 26. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ Everton, Clive (20 January 1988). "A big break awaits rediscovery". The Guardian. p. 19. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ Smith, Terry (22 January 1988). "Finalists told to speed up". The Daily Telegraph. p. 30. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ Berry, Alan (December 1988). "Russell adds UK to European title". Snooker Scene. p. 30.
- ^ "Russell keeps title". Nottingham Evening Post. 9 March 1990. p. 60.
- ^ "Round-up: Billiards". The Daily Telegraph. 11 March 1991. p. 41. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Foldvari finds winning show". The Daily Telegraph. 16 March 1992. p. 41. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Robby Foldvari takes title". Snooker Scene. April 1992. p. 8.
- ^ Yates, Phil (3 February 1993). "Robbie stuns world's best". Birmingham Evening Mail. p. 19. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "UK Billiards final at Plymouth". Herald Express. 28 March 1994. p. 34. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Agarwal gives India notable first". Snooker Scene. April 1995. p. 21.
- ^ "Russell holds off Causier to win title". Snooker Scene. April 1996. p. 37.
- ^ Everton 2012, p. 189.
- ^ "Sethi's first title away from home". Snooker Scene. January 1998. p. 25.
- ^ "Top players at Harrogate". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 21 November 1998. p. 40. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Liversedge stars". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 20 November 1999. p. 40. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "O'Sullivan pegs back Australian". Dorset Echo. 30 November 2000. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ "Causier retains billiards title". Snooker Scene. February 2002. p. 21.
- ^ "Litetask UK Open". World Billiards. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Litetask 2017 UK Open". World Billiards. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "2018 UK Open". World Billiards. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "2019 UK Open". World Billiards. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
Bibliography