1953 World Professional Match-play Championship
The 1953 World Professional Match-play Championship was a professional snooker tournament with the final held at the Leicester Square Hall in London, England.
Fred Davis won his fifth World title by defeating Walter Donaldson 37–34 in the 71-frame final. The highest break of 133 was made by John Pulman.
Schedule
Source:| Match | Dates | Venue, City |
| Albert Brown v Alec Brown | 10–15 November 1952 | Central Billiards Hall, Slough |
| Fred Davis v John Barrie | 8–12 December 1952 | Mechanics Institute, Derby |
| John Pulman v Jackie Rea | 8–12 December 1952 | RAOB Hall, Belfast |
| Walter Donaldson v Kingsley Kennerley | 15–20 December 1952 | Bolton |
| Fred Davis v John Pulman | 16–20 February 1953 | Wrekin Hall, Wellington, Shropshire |
| Walter Donaldson v Albert Brown | 9–14 March 1953 | St George's Hall, Liverpool |
| Fred Davis v Walter Donaldson | 23–28 March 1953 | Leicester Square Hall, London |
Detail
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.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, but Barrie levelled the match at 24–24 on the fourth day, during which he made a 101 break. 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.
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. 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.
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, but Donaldson took a winning lead of 31–14 after the fifth afternoon. The match ended with Donaldson 42–19 ahead.
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. The final score was 36–25. In the final afternoon session Davis made a break of 101 while Pulman made a 105 break and a further century in the evening.
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.
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. 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. 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. David led 28–26 after the fifth afternoon session but Donaldson took a 31–29 lead at the end of the fifth day. 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.