This is beautiful footage, such good quality. Some lovely snooker as well on what looks like quite a tight table. I always allow myself a smile when some make facile, lazy comments that "oh neither would stand a chance against Judd / Ronnie / whomever you are a fanboy of. This is to entirely misunderstand how these things work. It was fundamentally a different game then, largely owing to the vastly different playing condtions: tables were slower; (and had a "nap") bounces off the cushion were far more uncertain; the balls were a good deal heavier; cues were not as good and without the attachments they have today (remember the half butt?!). Moreover, today's players would not be where they are without those who pioneered the game as it is now. each generation has the accomplishments of previous ones to build on; you cannot get to point D without first progressing through A, B and C.
This is absolutely lovely footage! Ray’s snooker behind the yellow at about 22 mins is the only time I’ve ever heard a shot applauded twice. Thought that was a very sweet moment!
Very pleased to see this. It's likely that this was also the first World Championship to be played with super-crystallite balls. The BBC showed the last frame of this during an interval for the World Championship in the early 1990s. I videoed it at the time bust lost my tape. The tactical know how of the players looked very impressive then and the pockets looked very unforgiving ! I'm surprised that there was knowhere for the players to sit down !
Ah yes, that was during the 1990 SF between Jimmy and Steve, which is also now on TH-cam, including that 1973 clip during the interval, which David Vine showed to Eddie and got his thoughts on.
@@pondermatic Yes, that's right , I remember now Eddie was in the studio. I didn't like the way Snooker was going in the 1990s. I thought some of the arts and crafts of the game were disappearing so it was great to see the tactical wizardry of these two giants of the game as they were at that time.
Reardon the best all-round player of all-time. Consistency, temperament, potting, safety, creativity, longevity, tactical, mental strength, popularity, humor, style,, innovation, entertainment, composure, table presence, etc.....Reardon had no weak links in his game The only one who has ever had it all.
Thank you for finding this. This was a well organised championship. Playing well, Reardon really did strike the ball beautifully. The world championship proved such a rugged deal for dear Eddie. He lost his challenge match for the title to Pulman in’ 68; blew his 1971 semi-final against Warren Simpson in Australia; held leads of 7-0 and 10-5 in the match above; led Reardon 29-23 in the first to 31 final of 1975; and then in 1979, discovered what a truly brutal enigma snooker is, when with Reardon, Higgins, Spencer, Thorburn, and the young Steve Davis, already out, he (Charlton) found himself in the semi finals with Griffiths, the volatile Virgo, and Mr Comedy Dennis Taylor. It was Charlton’s greatest opportunity since the debacle of 1975, but this too was to break his heart, defeated 19-17 by a very lucky Griffiths at 1.40 in the morning. A year later, the dark age of Davis and Hearn began, and will are still living with the consequences.
I have always been a big fan of Eddie Charlton right up to the end of his career and for his pioneering work in making 9 Ball popular in his homeland when well into his sixties. I believe he only fell out of the top fifty rankings in snooker at the age of 63 or 64. He may not have won a ranking tournament but I think his legacy as an evangelizer of billiard games is a wonderful thing.
That was an incredible break by Reardon that ended around the 15 minute mark. It’s great to see these old players still play to a ridiculously high standard.
This was from 1973, both are unfortunately dead now, however Ray Reardon had a century break, a couple of months before his death, at the age of 91, which for me was astonishing
Brilliant. Look at those hot Iron lines on the brand new cloth. I remember a wall of flowers around the single table final set up. Champions would sometimes ask for the cloth to be taken home and placed on their table at home. John Spencer did apparently.
Table looks like it's been mown like a cricket pitch! Can imagine mini groundsmen going up and down with their hand mowers preparing the pitch / table before play.
@@stuartwilliams-fw4vo yeah if you hear yates on discivery in morning when no other one there if someone new to snooker watched it you would think he was the greatest snooker expert of all by way he goes on .he will never say something like my limited knowlegge or im not a pro player etc .
When just one World Championship match used to last a whole week. When Joe & Fred Davis met in the final I think it was first to 77 frames and it went to a decider !
According to Cuetracker, Eddie led 7-0, then Ray came back to 12-12. Later, it was 28-27. Looking at this final day’s footage, it looks like Ray handled the pressure better than Eddie, pulling away to victory.
such clear vision 50 years old. Joe Davis next to the old geezer with the pipe. The whole crowd as well dressed as the players. Excellent cloth, nice table, all class, the whole show and this was what made snooker attrtactive. Why change a thing
Exactly. Style, class, tension, cat and mouse snooker, and you can feel the atmosphere. A game played by gentlemen, not kids who've never had a proper job. I'd rather watch this all day than today's standardised hotshots straight from cue school. The game has become boring.
This is exactly what people need to see when they say x from a previous era was a better champion and player than y from the modern era. The average Q School contender these days would absolutely wipe the floor with these men with today’s standard of play.
Really? I watched quite a bit of Terry Griffiths in 1979 recently (so only six years after this footage) and thought his standard was outstanding. The idea that today's Q school contenders would "wipe the floor" with him is preposterous.
Different balls and cloth then had a big impact making the game played quite differently. There's a large number of tournaments now and that has an impact too. I think there's more excellent players now than back then but the best of each era would be close in quality. However it doesn't make sense to compare eras in anything - you can only ever be the best of your time.
@@danielkarmy4893 , an acute double into a centre pocket would be one that is doubled off either the top or bottom cushion. So up yours and Merry Christmas.
@@PhilBaird1 , just ask yourself what constitutes an acute pot, that's all. No one plays those shots in live play precisely because they're too acute. Most amateurs would have been disappointed to have missed both of those doubles played. I'm not taking anything away from the players and it was wonderful to watch.
@@donsimon2830 You're talking about a shot to an acute pocket. Ted was referring to an acute (angle) double. I think it's an old billiards phrase. I know what you're saying though.
This is beautiful footage, such good quality. Some lovely snooker as well on what looks like quite a tight table. I always allow myself a smile when some make facile, lazy comments that "oh neither would stand a chance against Judd / Ronnie / whomever you are a fanboy of. This is to entirely misunderstand how these things work. It was fundamentally a different game then, largely owing to the vastly different playing condtions: tables were slower; (and had a "nap") bounces off the cushion were far more uncertain; the balls were a good deal heavier; cues were not as good and without the attachments they have today (remember the half butt?!). Moreover, today's players would not be where they are without those who pioneered the game as it is now. each generation has the accomplishments of previous ones to build on; you cannot get to point D without first progressing through A, B and C.
Yes, those comparisons are pretty meaningless.
This is absolutely lovely footage!
Ray’s snooker behind the yellow at about 22 mins is the only time I’ve ever heard a shot applauded twice. Thought that was a very sweet moment!
Very pleased to see this. It's likely that this was also the first World Championship to be played with super-crystallite balls. The BBC showed the last frame of this during an interval for the World Championship in the early 1990s. I videoed it at the time bust lost my tape. The tactical know how of the players looked very impressive then and the pockets looked very unforgiving ! I'm surprised that there was knowhere for the players to sit down !
There's nothing worse than to bust your tape and then the players having knowhere to sit down
Ah yes, that was during the 1990 SF between Jimmy and Steve, which is also now on TH-cam, including that 1973 clip during the interval, which David Vine showed to Eddie and got his thoughts on.
@@pondermatic Yes, that's right , I remember now Eddie was in the studio. I didn't like the way Snooker was going in the 1990s. I thought some of the arts and crafts of the game were disappearing so it was great to see the tactical wizardry of these two giants of the game as they were at that time.
Yes, I am sure you are right about the balls. Higgins was the last player to win the Professional Championship with the Crystallite ball.
Reardon the best all-round player of all-time. Consistency, temperament, potting, safety, creativity, longevity, tactical, mental strength, popularity, humor, style,, innovation, entertainment, composure, table presence, etc.....Reardon had no weak links in his game
The only one who has ever had it all.
Agreed. Had a century break at 91 just weeks before he died. The greatest, no question, for all the reasons you've listed.
100%.
When you look back Reardon even seemed to have a resonance with the most skilled players of today. A snooker version of Jack Nicklaus.
Thank you for finding this. This was a well organised championship. Playing well, Reardon really did strike the ball beautifully. The world championship proved such a rugged deal for dear Eddie. He lost his challenge match for the title to Pulman in’ 68; blew his 1971 semi-final against Warren Simpson in Australia; held leads of 7-0 and 10-5 in the match above; led Reardon 29-23 in the first to 31 final of 1975; and then in 1979, discovered what a truly brutal enigma snooker is, when with Reardon, Higgins, Spencer, Thorburn, and the young Steve Davis, already out, he (Charlton) found himself in the semi finals with Griffiths, the volatile Virgo, and Mr Comedy Dennis Taylor. It was Charlton’s greatest opportunity since the debacle of 1975, but this too was to break his heart, defeated 19-17 by a very lucky Griffiths at 1.40 in the morning. A year later, the dark age of Davis and Hearn began, and will are still living with the consequences.
I have always been a big fan of Eddie Charlton right up to the end of his career and for his pioneering work in making 9 Ball popular in his homeland when well into his sixties. I believe he only fell out of the top fifty rankings in snooker at the age of 63 or 64. He may not have won a ranking tournament but I think his legacy as an evangelizer of billiard games is a wonderful thing.
That was an incredible break by Reardon that ended around the 15 minute mark. It’s great to see these old players still play to a ridiculously high standard.
This was from 1973, both are unfortunately dead now, however Ray Reardon had a century break, a couple of months before his death, at the age of 91, which for me was astonishing
Brilliant. Look at those hot Iron lines on the brand new cloth. I remember a wall of flowers around the single table final set up. Champions would sometimes ask for the cloth to be taken home and placed on their table at home. John Spencer did apparently.
Table looks like it's been mown like a cricket pitch! Can imagine mini groundsmen going up and down with their hand mowers preparing the pitch / table before play.
The commentating was so much better back in the day. No judgement, no finger wagging....pure class. Great tone.
In fairness Lowe hadn't got a clue what was going on most of the time.
@@JoeBloggz-x2j Yup, he was absolutely clueless.
Ray was so good.
Steady & Dracula… Two gentlemen, showing how the game is played. Someone forward this to selt
Who is selt?
@@Buz-Lunch-Punx Matthew Selt.
@ exactly who !!
@@BadgerBotherer1 Yes I've seen a clip of him reacting to a fluke by his opponent !
Snooker was a great sport in those days.
Love Ted Lowe's voice and commentary. Now we have Phil Yates...
yeah rather have ted any day
Yates is the ultimate mediocrity. He should be kept out of professional snooker completely. He shames our game.
His snooker knowledge was poor though.
@@JoeBloggz-x2j who
@@stuartwilliams-fw4vo yeah if you hear yates on discivery in morning when no other one there if someone new to snooker watched it you would think he was the greatest snooker expert of all by way he goes on .he will never say something like my limited knowlegge or im not a pro player etc .
"182 frames of snooker to get to that title" wow! Would love to see them do that today
When just one World Championship match used to last a whole week. When Joe & Fred Davis met in the final I think it was first to 77 frames and it went to a decider !
Eddie was a real Gent . Hard as nails , and an absolute great Aussie
Ray Reardon, what a character
All class, great players, Ray was a champion in any era, now-a-days, most of them are cowboys, its all about show and emotions,
What a shame those TV cameras weren't in evidence just one year before this - for the Higgins / Spencer Final....
Ray was a very natural player
Legendary Timeform boss Phil Bull sat next to Joe Davis.
According to Cuetracker, Eddie led 7-0, then Ray came back to 12-12. Later, it was 28-27. Looking at this final day’s footage, it looks like Ray handled the pressure better than Eddie, pulling away to victory.
Also do you have anything else from this final, or the 1974 one which I think had similar levels of coverage?
such clear vision 50 years old. Joe Davis next to the old geezer with the pipe. The whole crowd as well dressed as the players. Excellent cloth, nice table, all class, the whole show and this was what made snooker attrtactive. Why change a thing
Exactly. Style, class, tension, cat and mouse snooker, and you can feel the atmosphere. A game played by gentlemen, not kids who've never had a proper job. I'd rather watch this all day than today's standardised hotshots straight from cue school. The game has become boring.
Men had proper haircut and style.
Jesus it took five days to play this final ?
With Charlton involved I'm surprised it wasn't a Fortnight.
great find .reardon kept eddie from being world champ many a time
Two years later they met in the final, in Australia, and it went to a deciding frame !
Yeah i know @@112sje
@@ianwilliamson2980 Ray's interview with Steve Davis about that final was very interesting (and not just because Steve was involved 🤣).
@@112sje yea saw it lol
Lol you can hear at 19:51 & 33:20 a glass has been broken.
To think……90% of the audience would now no longer be with us….at the risk of being a tad morbid,which I’m not .😊😊😊
Neither are both of the players ! I was in my second year at infant school.
147
Who is the bloke with the huge white beard and glasses sitting next to Joe Davis?
Father Christmas?
The Timeform man, Phil Bull, I think !
@@112sje You're right. It is the legendary Phil Bull! Thank you brother!
That miss on the simplest of blues by Reardon. I'm off to watch my neighbour's grass growing.
This is so un-Judd and un-Ronnie 😂
They would beat these guys blindfolded. Nice look at history, tho
Sure with ultra fine clothes, cues shaved to within an inch of their lives and sports psych coaches. Reardon coached Ronnie once.
This is exactly what people need to see when they say x from a previous era was a better champion and player than y from the modern era.
The average Q School contender these days would absolutely wipe the floor with these men with today’s standard of play.
Really? I watched quite a bit of Terry Griffiths in 1979 recently (so only six years after this footage) and thought his standard was outstanding. The idea that today's Q school contenders would "wipe the floor" with him is preposterous.
clueless comment
Different balls and cloth then had a big impact making the game played quite differently. There's a large number of tournaments now and that has an impact too. I think there's more excellent players now than back then but the best of each era would be close in quality. However it doesn't make sense to compare eras in anything - you can only ever be the best of your time.
You could say that about any sport/game. Today's Formula 1 cars would lap the cars of fifty years ago. Everything moves on in sport as in life.
"Very acute double" - what total nonsense.
Only if your command of the English language isn't sufficient for you to be able to understand it...
@@danielkarmy4893 , an acute double into a centre pocket would be one that is doubled off either the top or bottom cushion. So up yours and Merry Christmas.
@@donsimon2830 But who ever plays that shot in serious play ? I'm going with Ted and Daniel.
@@PhilBaird1 , just ask yourself what constitutes an acute pot, that's all. No one plays those shots in live play precisely because they're too acute. Most amateurs would have been disappointed to have missed both of those doubles played.
I'm not taking anything away from the players and it was wonderful to watch.
@@donsimon2830 You're talking about a shot to an acute pocket. Ted was referring to an acute (angle) double. I think it's an old billiards phrase. I know what you're saying though.