The 1974 World Masters was a professional non-ranking snooker tournament held from 1 to 5 July 1974 at the Victorian Club in South Yarra, Melbourne, Australia.[1] Cliff Thorburn won the title by defeating John Spencer 160–67 in the final.[2] Thorburn, aged 26, was the youngest player in the event and the 8th seed.[2]

1974 World Masters
Tournament information
Dates1–5 July 1974 (1974-07-01 – 1974-07-05)
VenueVictorian Club
CitySouth Yarra, Melbourne
CountryAustralia
FormatNon-ranking event
Total prize fundAUD20,000
Final
Champion Cliff Thorburn (CAN)
Runner-up John Spencer (ENG)
ScoreAggregate Score (160–67)

The tournament started on 1 July.[3] The eight players were divided into two round-robin groups to produce semi-finalists, with the semi-finals and final played on 5 July.[4] The total prize fund was AUD20,000.[2]

John Spencer beat Perrie Mans in the first semi-final, whilst Cliff Thorburn beat Eddie Charlton in the other semi-final.[5]

The final was decided on the aggregate score across two frames. Thorburn led 81–29 after the first frame, and 160–67 at the conclusion, to win the title.[6]

Seedings

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Players were seeded as follows:[1]

  1.   Ray Reardon (WAL)
  2.   Eddie Charlton (AUS)
  3.   John Spencer (ENG)
  4.   Rex Williams (ENG)
  5.   John Pulman (ENG)
  6.   Gary Owen (WAL)
  7.   Perrie Mans (RSA)
  8.   Cliff Thorburn (CAN)

Group matches

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Players in bold are match winners; "??" denotes that the result is missing.

Division 1

Date Player Score Player Ref.
1 July   Gary Owen (WAL) 54–53   Rex Williams (ENG) [3]
1 July   Cliff Thorburn (CAN) 88–52   Eddie Charlton (AUS) [3]
2 July   Eddie Charlton (AUS) ??   Gary Owen (WAL) [4]
2 July   Cliff Thorburn (CAN) 61–52   Rex Williams (ENG) [7]
4 July   Cliff Thorburn (CAN) ??   Gary Owen (WAL) [4]
4 July   Eddie Charlton (AUS) 120-13   Rex Williams (ENG) [4][5]

Division 2

Date Player Score Player Ref.
1 July   John Spencer (ENG) 80–39   Perrie Mans (RSA) [3]
1 July   Ray Reardon (WAL) 92–19   John Pulman (ENG) [3]
2 July   John Spencer (ENG) 77–38   Ray Reardon (WAL) [7]
2 July   John Pulman (ENG) ??   Perrie Mans (RSA) [4]
4 July   Perrie Mans (RSA) 79-15   Ray Reardon (WAL) [4][5]
4 July   John Pulman (ENG) ??   John Spencer (ENG) [4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Charlton tops the bill". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 29 June 1974. p. 28.
  2. ^ a b c "Outsider's pot". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 6 July 1974. p. 34.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Stars down in snooker masters". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 2 July 1974. p. 28.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Four of the best: right on cue". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 1 July 1974. p. 26.
  5. ^ a b c "Reardon is beaten in snooker". Canberra Times. Canberra, ACT, Australia. 5 July 1974. p. 18.
  6. ^ "Snooker win to Thorburn". Sydney Morning Herald. 6 July 1974. p. 63.
  7. ^ a b "Snooker". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 3 July 1974. p. 19.