1953 World Professional Match-play Championship

Source:[3]

Albert Brown and Alec Brown met in the first quarter-final, played in Slough. The match was played over 6 days. Albert Brown took a 7–3 lead on the first day but Alec Brown had levelled the match at 15–15 after day 3. Albert Brown won all 5 frames on the fourth afternoon session and led 23–17 after four days. Alec Brown reduced Albert Brown's lead to 26–24 after day 5 but won only 2 frames on the last day to give Albert Brown a 35–26 win.[4]

Fred Davis played John Barrie in a quarter-final match at the Mechanics Institute in Derby. Davis led 20–16 after three days, making a break of 121 on day 3,[5] but Barrie levelled the match at 24–24 on the fourth day, during which he made a 101 break.[6][7] On the final day, Davis led 28–26 after the afternoon session, despite a break of 125 by Barrie, and Davis eventually won a close match 32–29.[8][9]

John Pulman met Jackie Rea in the 5-day match played at the RAOB Hall, Belfast. This was the first World Championship match to be played in Ireland. Pulman had the best of the first four days and led 29–19, needing just 2 frames on the final day for victory.[7] Pulman won the match by taking a 31–21 after winning the fourth afternoon frame on the final day. The match ended with Pulman leading 36–25.[10][8]

Walter Donaldson met Kingsley Kennerley, the winner of the qualifying competition, in the final quarter-final played in Bolton. Donaldson dominated the match, leading 27–8 after the fourth afternoon session. Kennerley won all 5 frames in the evening session,[11] but Donaldson took a winning lead of 31–14 after the fifth afternoon.[12] The match ended with Donaldson 42–19 ahead.[13]

Fred Davis met John Pulman in the first semi-final played at the Wrekin Hall in Wellington, Shropshire. Davis won easily, taking a winning 31–17 lead after the fourth day.[14] The final score was 36–25.[15] In the final afternoon session Davis made a break of 101 while Pulman made a 105 break and a further century in the evening.[16][17]

Albert Brown withdrew from his semi-final match against Walter Donaldson in Liverpool before the second day's play, on medical advice. Donaldson was leading 9–1 after the first day.[18]

The final was held at Leicester Square Hall for the first time since 1949. It was to be the last time the final was held there. The match was over 71 frames.[19] The match was level at 6–6 after the first day but Donaldson took a 13–11 lead after day 2, despite a break of 107 by Davis.[20] Donaldson led 20–16 after day 3 but Davis tied the match at 24–24 after the fourth day which included another Davis century, this time of 102.[21] David led 28–26 after the fifth afternoon session but Donaldson took a 31–29 lead at the end of the fifth day.[22] The match was again level at 33–33 after the final afternoon session but Davis crept ahead in the evening session to win 37–34.[23]

Sources:[24][25][26]

Quarter-finals 61 frames

Semi-finals 61 frames

Final 71 frames

Fred Davis

32

John Barrie

29

Fred Davis

36

John Pulman

36

John Pulman

25

Jackie Rea

25

Fred Davis

37

Walter Donaldson

42

Walter Donaldson

34

Kingsley Kennerley

19

Walter Donaldson

w/o

Albert Brown

35

Albert Brown

w/d

Alec Brown

26

The qualifying section was held at Leicester Square Hall from 25 August to 6 September 1952. 66-year-old Willie Smith met Jim Lees from 25 to 27 August. Smith led 16–8 after two days and won 21–14.[27] The match between Kingsley Kennerley and Rex Williams was played from 28 to 30 August. Kennerley led 16–8 after two days and won 25–12.[28] Smith and Kennerley met from 1 to 6 September in the six-day final. Kennerley led 27–21 after four days and took a winning 36–24 lead after the fifth day, winning all six of the evening session frames. The final score was 42–29.[29]

	Round 1 37 frames					Round 2 71 frames
		Willie Smith	21
		Jim Lees	14				Willie Smith	29
		Kingsley Kennerley	25				Kingsley Kennerley	42
		Rex Williams	12