Tot Black’ snooker starts on Monday

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34026, 15 December 1975, Page 4

Tot Black’ snooker starts on Monday

-Pot Black,” BBC2's snooker championship, which was launched in 1969 primarily to make full use of the advent of colour transmission, opened its sixth season in 1974, and it begins screening on TVI tonight. Its impact and popularity is such that more than 10,000 people applied for tickets to watch the games being recorded in London. For this session eight of ; the world's leading snooker j players were again brought [ together to take part in the; championship. The winner received the “Pot Black”; troph-. and a cheque for; £lOOO. There was also a bonus | of £1 a point for the player! who achieved the highest* break in the 1974 series.

BIG EVENT 1 he professionals now consider winning the “Pot Black” championship as important as any other world ’snooker event This sterns from the fact that the televised series attracts high audiences — both in Britain and in Australia, where the programme is regularly screened — and gives the players a bigger public following than they could achieve by appearing in any i other event, including the world championship. The Australian champion. Eddie Charlton, the 1973 i “Pot Black” title holder, again made the 12,000-mile trip from New South Wales •to compete, and another international entry was the Canadian player, Cliff Thor{bum. ; In South Africa, still withlout a fully fledged television •service, the series is followed ! by weekly radio reports giving match details. The 1974 championship opened with the then current world champion. Ray Reardon, against Eddie Charlton. Other players are John ; Spencer (former world champion and “Pot Biack” champion in 1970-71). Rex Wililiams (then the world billiards champion), John Pulman (winner of the world championship 10 times). Jack Rea (former Irish champion), Graham Miles, making his j debut in the series after being in the last eight in the 1973 world championship, and Cliff Thorbum. also making his debut after being 'the 1972 Canadian champion.