View source for 1969 World Snooker Championship

{{Short description|Professional snooker tournament}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox individual snooker tournament
|tournament_name=[[Player's No.6]] [[World Snooker Championship]]
|logo=
|dates={{Start and end dates|1968|11|18|1969|03|22|df=y}}
|final_location=yes
|venue=[[Victoria House, London|Victoria Hall]]
|location=London
|country=England
|organisation=[[Billiards Association and Control Council|BACC]]
|format=[[Snooker world rankings|Ranking]] event
|Total prize fund=£3,500
|winners_share=£1,300
|highest_break=
|winner={{flagathlete|[[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]|ENG}}
|runner_up={{flagathlete|[[Gary Owen (snooker player)|Gary Owen]]|WAL}}
|score=37–24
|previous=[[1964–68 World Snooker Championships|1968]]
|next=[[1970 World Snooker Championship|1970]]}}

The '''1969 World Snooker Championship''' (also known as the '''Player's No.6 World Snooker Championship''' for sponsorship reasons) was a professional [[snooker]] tournament. It was the first [[World Snooker Championship]] in a [[Single-elimination tournament|knock-out format]] since [[1957 World Professional Match-play Championship|1957]], following a series of [[1964–68 World Snooker Championships|challenge matches from 1964 to 1968]]. [[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]] won the title, defeating [[Gary Owen (snooker player)|Gary Owen]] by achieving a winning margin at 37 {{cuegloss|frame|frames}} to 24 in the final. Spencer had earlier eliminated defending champion [[John Pulman]] from the competition, in the quarter-finals.

There were eight players who entered the championship, including four competition debutants. The quarter-finals and semi-finals were staged at several venues in England from 18 November 1968 until 22 February 1969, and the final was held at [[Victoria House, London|Victoria Hall]] in London from 17 to 22 March 1969. As champion, Spencer received £1,300 from the total prize fund of £3,500. The 1969 championship is regarded as the first of the modern snooker era.

==Background==
The [[World Snooker Championship]] is a professional tournament and the official [[world championship]] of the game of [[snooker]].<ref name="YPLI35">{{cite news |title=Snooker championship |work=Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer |date=11 May 1927 |access-date=12 March 2019 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19270511/425/0020 |page=20 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The sport was developed in the late 19th century by British Army soldiers stationed in India.<ref name="CUESPORT">{{cite book |last1=Hayton |first1=Eric |last2=Dee |first2=John |date=2004 |title=The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History |publisher=Rose Villa Publications|isbn=978-0954854904 |page=1}}</ref> Professional [[English billiards]] player and [[billiard hall]] manager [[Joe Davis]] noticed the increasing popularity of snooker compared to billiards in the 1920s, and with [[Birmingham]]-based billiards equipment manager [[Bill Camkin]], persuaded the [[Billiards Association and Control Council]] (BACC) to recognise an official professional snooker championship in the 1926–27 season.<ref name="ODNB">{{cite ODNB |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=23 September 2004 |title=Davis, Joseph [Joe] |url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-31013 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/31013 |access-date=11 May 2020 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903050418/https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-31013 |archive-date=3 September 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1927, the final of the [[1927 World Snooker Championship|first professional snooker championship]] was held at Camkin's Hall; Davis won the tournament by beating [[Tom Dennis (snooker player)|Tom Dennis]] in the final.<ref name="HAMLYN">{{cite book |last=Morrison |first=Ian |date=1987 |title=The Hamlyn Encyclopedia of Snooker |publisher=[[Hamlyn (publishers)|Hamlyn Publishing Group]] |location=London |isbn=9780600556046 |pages=27–30}}</ref> The annual competition was not titled the World Championship until [[1935 World Snooker Championship|1935]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Billiards – Professional title |work=Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer |date=3 November 1934 |access-date=24 November 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19341103/342/0007 |page=7 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> but the 1927 tournament is now referred to as the first World Snooker Championship.<ref name="EVERTONEMB">{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=1993 |title=The Embassy Book of World Snooker |publisher=Bloomsbury |location=London |isbn=0747516103 |pages=11–13}}</ref><ref name="WPBSAH">{{cite web |title=History of snooker – a timeline |url=https://wpbsa.com/about-us/history/ |publisher=[[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association]] |access-date=29 May 2021 |archive-date=7 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107025119/https://wpbsa.com/about-us/history/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Davis also won the title each year until 1940, when the contest was cancelled during [[World War II]], and again when the championship resumed in 1946, accumulating a total of 15 titles before retiring from the event.<ref name="HSB">{{cite book|last=Everton |first=Clive |date=1986 |title=The History of Snooker and Billiards|publisher=Partridge Press |location=Haywards Heath |isbn=1852250135 |pages=50–63}}</ref>

In 1952, the, following a dispute between the Professional Billiards Players' Association (PBPA) and the BACC about the distribution of income from the world championship, the PBPA members established an alternative competition known as the [[World Professional Match-play Championship]], the editions of which are now recognised as world championships, whilst only [[Horace Lindrum]] and [[Clark McConachy]] entered for the BACC's [[1952 World Snooker Championship]].<ref name="BAIZE">{{cite book |last1=Williams |first1=Luke |last2=Gadsby |first2=Paul |date=2005 |title=Masters of the Baize |location=Edinburgh |publisher=Mainstream |isbn=1840188723 |page=47}}</ref><ref name="CTWORLD">{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Chris|title=World Professional Championship|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/world.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130416080933/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/world.html|archive-date=16 April 2013|work=cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk|publisher=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive|access-date=9 February 2011}}</ref> The World Professional Match-play Championship continued until 1957, after which there were no world championship matches until professional [[Rex Williams]] gained agreement from the BACC that the world championship would be staged on a challenge basis, with defending champion Pulman featuring in the first match.<ref name="CTWORLD" /><ref name="FACTS">{{cite book |last=Morrison |first=Ian |date=1989 |title=Snooker: records, facts and champions |publisher=Guinness Superlatives Ltd |isbn=0851123643 |page=8}}</ref><ref name="91HALE">{{cite book |last=Hale |first=Janice |date=1991 |title=Rothmans Snooker Yearbook 1991–92 |location=Aylesbury |publisher=Queen Anne Press |isbn=0356197476 |pages=294–295}}</ref> Pulman retained the title in several challenges from [[1964–68 World Snooker Championships|1964 to 1968]].<ref name="CTWORLD" /> Pulman had been touring snooker clubs as promotional work for the tobacco brand [[John Player]], and the company had sponsored his 1968 match against [[Eddie Charlton]]. The good attendances for the championship match led to John Player deciding to sponsor the 1969 World Snooker Championship as a [[Single-elimination tournament|knock-out format]] tournament,<ref name="FARCE">{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=2012 |title=Black farce and cue ball wizards |publisher=Mainstream |location=Edinburgh |isbn=9781780575681 |page=42}}</ref> using their "Players No. 6" brand.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Players No. 6 sponsor world championship |magazine=Billiards and Snooker |publisher=[[Billiards Association and Control Council]] |date=November 1968 |page=13 }}</ref> The total prize fund was £3,500, {{Inflation|UK|3500|1969|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}, including £1,300 for the champion.<ref>{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=1985 |title=Snooker: The Records |publisher=Guinness Superlatives Ltd |location=Enfield |isbn=0851124488 |page=56}}</ref> The 1969 championship is regarded as the first of the modern snooker era.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=John Higgins eyes more crucible titles |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/5276218/John-Higgins-eyes-more-Crucible-titles.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=5 May 2009 |access-date=13 April 2020 |url-access=registration |quote="the modern era, which began in 1969 when the World Championship became a knockout event." |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430020307/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/5276218/John-Higgins-eyes-more-Crucible-titles.html |archive-date=30 April 2010 |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite news |last=Pitt |first=Nick |title=Snooker: Pocket man O'Sullivan eager to chalk up another title: The champion is in irresistible form as he starts his defence at the Crucible |work=The Sunday Times |date=20 April 2014 |page=13 |quote="in the modern era since 1969" }}<br />{{cite book |last1=Hayton |first1=Eric |last2=Dee |first2=John |date=2004 |title=The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History |publisher=Rose Villa Publications |location=Lowestoft |isbn=978-0954854904 |page=7 |quote="the world championship ... took on the modern day look during the 1968–69 season"}}</ref>

== Tournament summary ==
The closing date for players to enter the championship was 30 June 1968.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=(Untitled article) |magazine=Billiards and Snooker |publisher=[[Billiards Association and Control Council]] |date=June 1968 |page=6 }}</ref> There were eight entrants: four of whom had played professionally in the 1950s and four championship debutants. The new players were [[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]], [[Ray Reardon]], [[Gary Owen (snooker player)|Gary Owen]], and [[Bernard Bennett]].<ref name="HSB69">{{cite book|last=Everton |first=Clive |date=1986 |title=The History of Snooker and Billiards|publisher=Partridge Press |location=Haywards Heath |isbn=1852250135 |pages=72–73}}</ref> Defending champion Pulman was drawn to meet Spencer, who had recently defeated him 14–17 in a non-title challenge match.<ref name="TFRP">{{cite magazine |title=Tough first round for Pulman |magazine=Billiards and Snooker |publisher=[[Billiards Association and Control Council]] |date=August 1968 |page=6 }}</ref>

===Quarter-finals===
The first match, played from 18 to 22 November 1968 at the Wryton Stadium in [[Bolton]], saw the end of Pulman's reign as champion, when he was defeated by Spencer.<ref name="BPSEP68" /><ref name="TIMES23NOV" /> Spencer took a 4–0 lead, and ended the first {{cuegloss|session}} 4–2 ahead.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pullman trails |work=Birmingham Daily Post |date=19 November 1968 |page=29 }}</ref><!--name typo is in source--> Spencer compiled a 110 {{cuegloss|break}} in the 18th {{cuegloss|frame}}, on his way to establishing a 13–5 lead at the end of the second day.<ref>{{cite news |title=Spencer goes further ahead |work=Birmingham Daily Post |date=20 November 1968 |page=29 }}</ref> Spencer led 24–18 after the final afternoon session and clinched the match by winning the first frame in the evening with what was reported in ''[[The Times]]'' as a "magnificent 97 break".<ref name="TIMES23NOV">{{cite news |newspaper=The Times |date=23 November 1968 |page=5 |title=Spencer beats Pulman}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Baxter|first=Trevor|title=Obituary: John Pulman|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-john-pulman-1076338.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-john-pulman-1076338.html |archive-date=2022-05-01 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=31 August 2012|location=London|date=26 January 1999}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Owen faced [[Jackie Rea]] at the Hippodrome, [[Stratford-upon-Avon]], from 25 to 28 November 1968.<ref name="BPSEP68">{{cite magazine |title=Dates |magazine=Billiards and Snooker |publisher=[[Billiards Association and Control Council]] |date=September 1968 |page=10 }}</ref> The players each won three frames in the first afternoon session. Rea took the first in the evening, before Owen claimed five consecutive frames to end the first day 8–4 ahead.<ref name="BDP26NOV">{{cite news |last=Everton |first=Clive |title=Stronger nerves aid Owen |work=Birmingham Daily Post |date=26 November 1968 |page=26}}</ref> On the second afternoon, the players again won three frames apiece, with Owen compiling a 68 break that turned out to be the highest break of the match. Rea took the first three frames of the evening session, to move to 10–11, then Owen won two of the next three for a 13–11 overnight lead.<ref name="BPJAN69O">{{cite magazine |title=Owen reaches semi-finals |magazine=Billiards and Snooker |publisher=[[Billiards Association and Control Council]] |date=January 1969 |page=3 }}</ref> Owen increased his lead by winning four of the six frames on the third afternoon, and maintained it by adding three of the six evening frames, leading 20–16 going into the last day.<ref>{{cite news |title=Owen leads by four frames |work=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=26 November 1968 |page=26}}</ref>

The match between Williams and Bennett was played from 25 to 28 November 1968 at the Marland Hall in [[Southampton]].<ref name="BPSEP68" /> Williams took all six frames in the first session,<ref name="BDP26NOV" /> and achieved a winning margin at 25–4.<ref name=Global /> Williams compiled a 107 break in the third frame of the fourth session, and, after {{cuegloss|dead frame|dead frames}} were played, finished 38–11 ahead.<ref name="BPJAN69WB">{{cite magazine |last=Hobbs |first=Alfred |title=Rex Williams 38, Bernard Bennett 11 |magazine=Billiards and Snooker |publisher=[[Billiards Association and Control Council]] |date=January 1969 |page=3 }}</ref>

The fourth quarter-final, between [[Fred Davis (snooker player)|Fred Davis]] and Reardon, was not played until January 1969 because Reardon was touring South Africa.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Observer |date=17 November 1968 |page=18 |title=Old Pros Face the New Men |first=Clive |last=Everton |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49817992/the-observer/ |via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article107072468 |title=The days when billiards was king |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=11 January 1969 |access-date=29 April 2020 |page=9 |via=Trove}}</ref> The match was played at the Tunstall British Legion, [[Stoke-on-Trent]], from 20 to 24 January.<ref name="BPFEB69">{{cite magazine |last=Everton |first=Clive |title=Davis wears down Reardon |magazine=Billiards and Snooker |publisher=[[Billiards Association and Control Council]] |date=February 1969 |pages=4–5 }}</ref><ref name="Snooker win in last frame">{{cite news |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=28 January 1969 |page=24 |title=Snooker win in last frame |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49819955/the-sydney-morning-herald/ |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The match featured lengthy tactical exchanges between the players, resulting in some of the longest sessions ever to take place in world championship history to that point. No player was ahead by more than two frames until Reardon took the 27th frame to lead 15–12, after which Davis won six successive frames to leave Reardon three frames behind at 15–18. Later, having been three frames down with six to play, Davis levelled the match at 24–24. Davis won in the {{cuegloss|deciding frame}} after a break of 52 and some smaller scoring visits, with Reardon conceding the frame at 64 points behind with one {{cuegloss|red ball}} remaining. The highest break of the match was 89, scored by Reardon.<ref name="BPFEB69" /><ref name="Snooker win in last frame"/>

===Semi-finals===
The two youngest players to have entered the tournament, Spencer, aged 33, and Williams, aged 35,<ref name="BPJAN69X">{{cite magazine |title=Exciting times ahead |magazine=Billiards and Snooker |publisher=[[Billiards Association and Control Council]] |date=January 1969 |page=3 }}</ref> contested the first semi-final, held at the Co-op Hall, Bolton, from 10 to 15 February.<ref name="BPSEMI">{{cite magazine |title=World professional snooker championship |magazine=Billiards and Snooker |publisher=[[Billiards Association and Control Council]] |date=February 1969 |page=3 }}</ref> Spencer took a 9–0 lead, and was 11–1 ahead after the first day. Williams won the first two frames of the third day, and, after Spencer had taken the 15th frame, Williams added the 16th frame on a {{cuegloss|re-spotted black}}. The second day finished with Spencer leading 19–5, and the score was 29–7 after he won ten of the twelve frames on day three. Spencer achieved a winning margin at 37–12, and finished at 55–18 after dead frames were played.<ref name="BPJSRW">{{cite magazine |title=John Spencer 55 Rex Williams 18 |magazine=Billiards and Snooker |publisher=[[Billiards Association and Control Council]] |date=March 1969 |pages=3–4 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Guardian |date=17 February 1969 |page=16 |title=Spencer in Final |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49819328/the-guardian/ |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

The second semi final, between Owen and Davis, was held at the Wolstanton Miners Club, Stoke-on-Trent, from 17 to 22 February.<ref name="BPSEMI" /> Owen took a four frame lead at the start of the match. Davis won the fifth and sixth frames, before Owen claimed the last three frames of the afternoon session followed by all six frames in the evening session for an 11–2 lead.<ref>{{cite news |title=Great start by Gary Owen |work=Birmingham Daily Post |date=18 February 1969 |page=25}}</ref> After winning the third session 4–3 and the fourth session 5–2, Owen's lead at the end of the second day was 19–7.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gary Owen extends lead |work=Birmingham Daily Post |date=19 February 1969 |page=31}}</ref> Taking ten of thirteen frames on day three, Owen extended his advantage to 29–10.<ref name="BPGOFD" /> The fourth day saw Davis reduce the deficit to twelve frames, at 20–32.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fred Davis reduces arrears |work=Birmingham Daily Post |date=19 February 1969 |page=32}}</ref> On day five, the afternoon session ended with Owen 36–23 ahead, and, after Davis has made a break of 83 in the 60th frame, Owen achieved a winning margin at 37–24. After dead frames, Owen finished 45–28 ahead.<ref name="BPGOFD">{{cite magazine |title=Gary Owen 45 Fred Davis 28 |magazine=Billiards and Snooker |publisher=[[Billiards Association and Control Council]] |date=March 1969 |page=4 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Guardian |date=24 February 1969 |page=20 |title=Owen Wins |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49819404/the-guardian/ |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

===Final===
The final was held at [[Victoria House, London|Victoria Hall]], [[London]], from 17 to 22 March.<ref>{{cite web|last=Turner |first=Chris |title=On this Week: Irish hat-trick success |url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/22032010/58/week-irish-hat-trick-success.html |publisher=[[Eurosport|Eurosport UK]] |access-date=31 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920080152/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/22032010/58/week-irish-hat-trick-success.html |date=22 March 2010|archive-date=20 September 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Spencer took a 6–2 lead, before Owen levelled the match at 6–6, having made the first day's highest break of 80 in the 9th frame. The ''[[Birmingham Post|Birmingham Daily Post]]'' correspondent praised the players for bringing a "refreshing new look to the game, with bold attacking play, wonderful potting, and a sprinkling of good-sized breaks".<ref>{{cite news |title=Owen and Spencer all square |work= Birmingham Daily Post |date=18 March 1969 |page=13}}</ref> On the second day, both players missed easy {{cuegloss|pot|pots}}, sharing the first two frames for 7–7 before Spencer won the next four frames to lead 11–7 by the interval, after which he added four of the subsequent six frames to increase his advantage to six frames at 15–9.<ref>{{cite news |title=Owen loses ground to Spencer |work= Birmingham Daily Post |date=19 March 1969 |page=13}}</ref><ref name="BLOW" /> The third day's play, which featured only two breaks of 50 or more, was described in the ''[[Coventry Telegraph|Coventry Evening Telegraph]]'' as "undistinguished", and ended with Spencer still six frames ahead, at 21–15.<ref>{{cite news |title=Spencer now six ahead |work=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=20 March 1969 |page=28}}</ref> On day 4, Owen won four of the afternoon session's six frames to close to 19–23.<ref>{{cite news |title=Owen fights back to reduce leeway |work= Birmingham Daily Post |date=21 March 1969 |page=15}}</ref> In the evening session, Spencer claimed the first three frames, and finished the day six frames ahead again at 27–21.<ref name="BLOW" /> Owen only won three of the twelve frames on the fifth day, leaving Spencer one frame from victory at 36–24. Owen's brother [[Marcus Owen]], a former [[English Amateur Championship]] winner, commented that "Gary's cueing is all over the place. Every time he plays a forcing shot, his whole body is moving."<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Times |date=22 March 1969 |page=6 |title=Snooker}}</ref> Spencer took the first frame on the final day to claim victory by achieving a winning margin of 37–24. The remaining 12 dead frames were played, with Spencer finishing 46–27 ahead.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Times |date=24 March 1969 |page=12 |title=Snooker}}</ref> With this he became the first player to win the World Championship at his first attempt since Joe Davis at the inaugural championship in 1927.<ref>{{cite book|last=Everton|first=Clive|authorlink=Clive Everton|title=Guinness Book of Snooker|year=1982|publisher=Guinness Superlatives Ltd.|location=Enfield, Middlesex|isbn=0-85112-256-6|edition=Rev.|page=89}}</ref> Owen compiled a 100 break, the highest of the match, in the 66th frame after the title had been decided.<ref name="BLOW" />

Snooker historian [[Clive Everton]] commented that although Spencer only recorded a small number of breaks above 60, "in every other respect, the new champion's display was a revelation. His long potting, his prodigious screw shots even when cue-ball and object-ball were seven or eight feet apart, his uninhibited use of side, his bright attacking style, even the mere fact that here was a bright new face, made Spencer's win a memorable one."<ref name="HSB69" />

== Main draw ==
Match results are shown below. Winning players and scores are denoted in bold text.<ref name=Global>{{cite web|title=World Championship 1969|url=http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-snooker-tournaments-archive-world-championship-1969.asp|publisher=Global Snooker|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228174522/http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-snooker-tournaments-archive-world-championship-1969.asp|archive-date=2010-12-28|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Embassy World Championship|url=http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=36|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124071753/http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=36|archive-date=24 January 2013|publisher=Snooker Scene|access-date=7 May 2012}}</ref> 
{{Round8
<!--Date-Place/Team 1/Score 1/Team 2/Score 2 -->
<!-- Quarter-finals  -->
||{{flagathlete|[[John Pulman]]|ENG}}|18|'''{{flagathlete|[[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]|ENG}}|'''25''' 
||'''{{flagathlete|[[Rex Williams]]|ENG}}|'''25''' |{{flagathlete|[[Bernard Bennett]]|ENG}}|4
||'''{{flagathlete|[[Gary Owen (snooker player)|Gary Owen]]|WAL}}|'''25'''|{{flagathlete|[[Jackie Rea]]|NIR}}|17
||'''{{flagathlete|[[Fred Davis (snooker player)|Fred Davis]]|ENG}}|'''25''' |{{flagathlete|[[Ray Reardon]]|WAL}}|24
<!-- Semi-finals -->
||'''{{flagathlete|[[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]|ENG}}|'''37''' |{{flagathlete|[[Rex Williams]]|ENG}}|12
||'''{{flagathlete|[[Gary Owen (snooker player)|Gary Owen]]|WAL}}|'''37''' |{{flagathlete|[[Fred Davis (snooker player)|Fred Davis]]|ENG}}|24
<!-- Final -->
||'''{{flagathlete|[[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]|ENG}} |'''37'''|{{flagathlete|[[Gary Owen (snooker player)|Gary Owen]]|WAL}}|24
<!-- parameters -->
|RD1='''Quarter-finals'''<br />Best of 49 frames|RD2='''Semi-finals'''<br />Best of 73 frames|RD3='''Final'''<br />Best of 73 frames
}}

===Final===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="#ffd700" | '''Final:''' Best of 73 frames. Referee: Harold Phillips<ref name="BLOW">{{cite magazine |last=Robinson |first=Keith |title=Blow by blow |magazine=Billiards and Snooker |publisher=[[Billiards Association and Control Council]] |date=April 1969 |pages=3–6}}</ref><br />Victoria Hall, London, 17–22 March 1969.
|-
| width="230" align="right" | '''[[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]''' <br />{{ENG}}
| width="100" align="center" | '''46'''–27
| width="230" | [[Gary Owen (snooker player)|Gary Owen]] <br />{{WAL}}
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" style="font-size: 100%" | '''Day 1:''' '''81'''('''60''')–35, 35–'''72''', 17–'''76''', '''64'''–43, '''94'''('''53''')–20, '''75'''–73, '''55'''–25, '''76'''–25, 23–'''96'''('''80'''), 40–'''82'''('''52'''), 27–'''87'''('''70'''), 50–'''62'''<br />'''Day 2:''' '''91'''('''58''')–27, 27–'''69''', '''64'''–33, '''68'''–54, '''71'''–43, '''76'''–21, '''85'''–8, 33–'''62''', '''69'''–41, '''95'''('''59''')–40, '''112'''('''62''')–15, 21–'''95'''('''61''')<br />'''Day 3:''' 40–'''69''', 37–'''64''', '''79'''–41, 11–'''76''', '''60'''–24, 18–'''78''', 42–'''54''', '''122'''('''56''')–11, '''87'''–22, '''82'''('''55''')–9, 50–'''72''', '''62'''–47<br />'''Day 4:''' 47–'''57''', '''76'''–26, 44–'''56''', '''62'''('''60''')–24, 7–'''64''', 44–'''55''', '''75'''–34, '''54'''–39, '''57'''–46, 12–'''82'''('''57'''), 54–'''67'''('''47'''), '''92'''–31<br />'''Day 5:''' '''98'''('''77''')–1, '''67'''–48, '''71'''–26, 43–'''67''', 38–'''84''', '''80'''('''73''')–8, '''77'''–1, '''68'''–55, '''62'''–52, '''69'''–23, 9–'''88'''('''50'''), '''73'''–29<br />'''Day 6:''' '''78'''–35, '''101'''–21, '''89'''–44, '''70'''–41, '''73'''–64, 19–'''108'''('''100'''), '''62'''–51, 51–'''63''', '''90'''–32, '''104'''–17, 58–'''85''', '''64'''–53, '''94'''–34
|-
| align="right" | 77
| align="center" | Highest break
| '''100'''
|-
| align="right" | ''0''
| align="center" | Century breaks
| '''''1'''''
|-
| align="right" | '''10'''
| align="center" | 50+ breaks
| 7
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | Spencer achieved a winning margin at 37–24. {{cuegloss|dead frame|Dead frames}} were played.
|}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{World Snooker Championship}}
{{Snooker season 1968/1969}}

[[Category:World Snooker Championships|1969]]
[[Category:1968 in snooker|World Championship]]
[[Category:1969 in snooker|World Championship]]
[[Category:1969 in sport in London|World Snooker Championship]]
[[Category:International sports competitions in London]]
[[Category:Snooker competitions in London|World Snooker Championship, 1969]]