Wikipedia

Pot Black

Pot Blackwas asnookertournament in the United Kingdom broadcast on theBBC.Each match was contested over a singleframe,where other tournaments were significantly longer. The event carried noranking points,but played a large part in the popularisation of the modern game of snooker. The event was first held in1969with a field of eight players and ran annually until1986.The event resurfaced for three years in both 1991 and 2005. The series was followed by events for other categories of players, with a juniors and seniors events, and a celebrity version held in 2006.

Pot Black
Tournament information
VenueSheffield City Hall
LocationSheffield
CountryEngland
Established1969
Organisation(s)World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association
FormatNon-rankingevent
Final year2007
Final championKen Doherty(IRL)

The series was created by theBBC2controllerDavid Attenborough,shortly after BBC2 began broadcasting in colour. Snooker, a game using coloured balls, was suggested as a suitable way to sell the new technology. The series helped transform snooker from a minority sport played by just a handful of professionals into one of the most popular sports in the UK.Mark Williamsmade the highestbreakin the competition's history, a 119.

History

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TheBBCbegan broadcasting in colour in 1967 and was on the lookout for programmes that would exploit the new technology.[1][2]The idea of broadcasting snooker, then still a minor sport, was the brainchild ofDavid Attenboroughwho was the controller ofBBC2at the time.[3]Based oncoloured balls,the game of snooker was recognised as a good way to promote the BBC's new colour broadcasting capability.[4]

Thefirst Pot Black tournamentwas held in 1969 at the BBC Studios inBirmingham,and the recordedPot Blackprogramme was aired on BBC2 on 23 July 1969.[2]This first edition featured eight players:Gary Owen,Jackie Rea,John Pulman,Ray Reardon,Fred Davis,Rex Williams,Kingsley KennerleyandJohn Spencer,the eventual winner being Reardon.[5]The programme continued until 1986, by which time an increasing number of snooker events were being televised and thePot Blackformat was becoming outdated. The programme was revived in 1990 but was then discontinued after the 1993 edition.[1]

A one-day Pot Black tournament was held on 29 October 2005, and the final match was broadcast live on the BBC'sGrandstandprogramme. The eight players in the2005 eventwere:Ronnie O'Sullivan,Stephen Hendry,Stephen Maguire,Matthew Stevens,Paul Hunter,John Higgins,Jimmy WhiteandShaun Murphy,with Stevens beating Murphy in the final.[2][6]The2006 editionof the tournament took place at theRoyal Automobile Clubin Central London on 2 September 2006;Mark Williamsdefeated John Higgins in the final with a 119 clearance, the highest break in the event's history.[7]In the2007 edition,the lastPot Black(to date) which aired on Saturday 6 October 2007,[2][8]Ken Dohertywon the final 71–36 against Murphy.[9]

There have been sixcentury breakscompiled at the event.[7]The first wasEddie Charlton's break of 110 against Spencer in 1973, which stood as the tournament's record for many years until overtaken by Murphy's 111 against White in 2005, and the 119 clearance by Williams in 2006.[7][10]

Format

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The Pot Black tournament used several formats over its history. Eight players participated in the first event, but the number of players varied between six and sixteen over the years. It was originally played as aknockout tournament,but later employed around-robinformat.[1]The total number of points scored by each player could often become crucial, so the matches were always played to a conclusion with the potting of theblack ball.[2]Most of the matches were played over a single frame. Several formats were employed for the final match, which was also played over just one frame for the first few years; an aggregate score over two frames was tried in 1974, but this format was abandoned and the single-frame final was reinstated in 1975; the final was decided over three frames from 1978 to 1986, and in 1991.[1]Ashot clocktimer was added in 1991, to limit the amount of time each player could spend at the table.[1]

AJunior Pot Blackran for three years, from 1981 to 1983, and again in 1991. The winners wereDean Reynolds,John Parrott(twice) and Ronnie O'Sullivan. The junior tournament was revived in 2006 as a side event to theWorld Snooker Championship,with the final played on the main match table.[1]ASeniors Pot Blackwas held in 1997, featuring players aged over 40 at the time.Joe Johnsonwon the senior event.[2]

A one-frameCelebrity Pot Blacktook place on 15 July 2006 forSport Relief.It was contested between two teams: Ronnie O'Sullivan andBradley WalshagainstSteve DavisandVernon Kay.The winning team was Davis and Kay.[2]The match was refereed byMichaela Tabb,presented byDermot O'Learyand commentated by John Parrott.[11]

Production

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Each Pot Black tournament was recorded in a single day at the BBC'sPebble Mill Studiosin Birmingham, and the matches were then shown in half-hourPot Blackprogrammes on BBC2 over the winter. The press co-operated by not revealing the scores until after a match had been transmitted. In 2005 and 2006, the whole tournament was broadcast in a single day.[1]Pot Black's theme tune was "Black and White Rag",composed byGeorge Botsfordand performed byWinifred Atwell.[2]

The first series ofPot Blackin 1969 was presented byKeith Macklin.It was then hosted byAlan Weeksuntil 1984, andDavid Ickein 1985 and 1986.Eamonn Holmeswas host in 1991 and 1992, and he was replaced byDavid Vinein 1993. Vine also presentedSenior Pot Blackin 1997. The latest revival of the programme in the early 2000s was hosted byHazel Irvine.[2]

Pot Blackis credited with producing one of the most memorable British sports quotes. CommentatorTed Lowe,aware that not all viewers had colour televisions at the time, said "Steve is going for the pink ball – and for those of you who are watching in black and white, the pink is next to the green."[12]

Winners

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Below is a list of the winners by tournament.[1][13][14]

Pot Black

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Year Winner Runner-up Final score (frames) Final score (points) Highest break[15]
1969 Ray Reardon(WAL) John Spencer(ENG) 1–0 88–29 Ray Reardon(WAL)(99)
1970 John Spencer(ENG) Ray Reardon(WAL) 1–0 88–27 Fred Davis(ENG)(54)
1971 John Spencer(ENG) Fred Davis(ENG) 1–0 61–40 Fred Davis(ENG)(73)
1972 Eddie Charlton(AUS) Ray Reardon(WAL) 1–0 75–43 John Spencer(ENG)(66)
1973 Eddie Charlton(AUS) Rex Williams(ENG) 1–0 93–33 Eddie Charlton(AUS)(110)
1974 Graham Miles(ENG) John Spencer(ENG) Aggregate score[n 1] 147–86[n 1] Graham Miles(ENG)(68)
1975 Graham Miles(ENG) Dennis Taylor(NIR) 1–0 81–27 Fred Davis(ENG)(87)
1976 John Spencer(ENG) Dennis Taylor(NIR) 1–0 69–42 Eddie Charlton(AUS)(64)
1977 Perrie Mans(RSA) Doug Mountjoy(WAL) 1–0 90–21 Perrie Mans(RSA)(59)
1978 Doug Mountjoy(WAL) Graham Miles(ENG) 2–1 43–55, 97–23, 111–16 Doug Mountjoy(WAL)(101)
1979 Ray Reardon(WAL) Doug Mountjoy(WAL) 2–1 79–51, 25–82, 84–41 Doug Mountjoy(WAL)(82)
1980 Eddie Charlton(AUS) Ray Reardon(WAL) 2–1 16–74, 85–30, 68–54 Dennis Taylor(NIR)(87)
1981 Cliff Thorburn(CAN) Jim Wych(CAN) 2–0 68–39, 85–50 Kirk Stevens(CAN)(79)
1982 Steve Davis(ENG) Eddie Charlton(AUS) 2–0 82–40, 85–38 Eddie Charlton(AUS)(98)
1983 Steve Davis(ENG) Ray Reardon(WAL) 2–0 61–60, 82–47 Ray Reardon(WAL)(91)
1984 Terry Griffiths(WAL) John Spencer(ENG) 2–1 57–65, 77–8, 70–35 Dennis Taylor(NIR)(81)
1985 Doug Mountjoy(WAL) Jimmy White(ENG) 2–0 64–5, 66–30 Jimmy White(ENG)(80)
1986 Jimmy White(ENG) Kirk Stevens(CAN) 2–0 60–46, 106–21 Jimmy White(ENG)(106)[7]
1991 Steve Davis(ENG) Stephen Hendry(SCO) 2–1 62–40, 4–101, 80–18
1992 Neal Foulds(ENG) James Wattana(THA) 252–176 points
1993 Steve Davis(ENG) Mike Hallett(ENG) 2–0 David Roe(ENG)(104)
2005 Matthew Stevens(WAL) Shaun Murphy(ENG) 1–0 53–27 Shaun Murphy(ENG)(111)[6]
2006 Mark Williams(WAL) John Higgins(SCO) 1–0 119–13 Mark Williams(WAL)(119)[7]
2007 Ken Doherty(IRL) Shaun Murphy(ENG) 1–0 71–36 Graeme Dott(SCO)(67)[8]

Junior Pot Black

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Year Winner Runner-up Final score (frames) Final score (points)
1981 Dean Reynolds(ENG) Dene O'Kane(NZL) [n 1] 151–79[n 2]
1982 John Parrott(ENG) John Keers(ENG) [n 1] 169–70[n 2]
1983 John Parrott(ENG) Steve Ventham(ENG) 1–1 Pink ball game
1991 Ronnie O'Sullivan(ENG) Declan Murphy(IRL) 2–0 126–0, 98–30
2006 Stuart Carrington(ENG) Anthony McGill(SCO) 1–0 58–46
2007 Mitchell Mann(ENG) Jack Lisowski(ENG) 1–0 76–23
2008 Jason Devaney(IRL) Duane Jones(WAL) 1–0 61–28
2009 Ross Muir(SCO) Jak Jones(WAL) 1–0 24–13[n 3]
2010 Jamie Clarke(WAL) Tom Rees(WAL) 1–0 43–30

Seniors Pot Black

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Year Winner Runner-up Final score (frames) Final score (points)
1997 Joe Johnson(ENG) Terry Griffiths(WAL) 2–0 85–32, 70–17

Notes

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  1. ^abcdFinal decided on aggregate score over two frames. The individual frame scores were 77–37 and 70–49.
  2. ^abFinal decided on aggregate score over two frames
  3. ^Events were played with thesix-red snookervariant.

References

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  1. ^abcdefgh"Pot Black, Junior Pot Black".Chris Turner's Snooker Archive.Archived fromthe originalon 16 February 2012.Retrieved17 May2010.
  2. ^abcdefghi"Pot Black".UKGameshows.com.Archived from the original on 16 September 2020.Retrieved17 May2010.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^John Nauright (2012).Sports around the World: History, Culture, and Practice.ABC-CLIO. p. 191.ISBN978-1598843019.
  4. ^Young, Graham (17 June 2020)."Pot Black's killer frame in Pebble Mill snooker series".BirminghamLive.Archivedfrom the original on 10 March 2021.Retrieved16 February2021.
  5. ^"July anniversaries: Pot Black first transmitted 23 July 1969".bbc.co.uk.BBC. Archived fromthe originalon 10 May 2013.Retrieved21 March2013.
  6. ^ab"2005 Pot Black Cup".Global Snooker Centre.Archived fromthe originalon 15 August 2007.
  7. ^abcde"2006 Pot Black Cup".Global Snooker Centre.Archived fromthe originalon 27 June 2007.
  8. ^ab"2007 Pot Black".Global Snooker Centre.Archived fromthe originalon 30 January 2009.
  9. ^"Doherty secures Pot Black title".BBC Sport.6 October 2007.Archivedfrom the original on 20 August 2008.Retrieved8 April2011.
  10. ^"1991 Pot Black".Global Snooker Centre.Archived fromthe originalon 10 December 2006.Retrieved21 March2013.
  11. ^"Stars out for Celebrity Pot Black".BBC Sport.12 July 2006.Archivedfrom the original on 15 July 2006.Retrieved16 February2021.
  12. ^Oakes, Keily (19 April 2004)."Forty landmarks from BBC Two".BBC News.Archivedfrom the original on 22 December 2011.Retrieved7 April2011.
  13. ^"Pot Black History".Global Snooker Centre. Archived fromthe originalon 24 December 2008.
  14. ^"Pot Black -".bgsnooker.com(in Bulgarian).Retrieved16 February2021.[permanent dead link‍]
  15. ^Perrin, Reg (1984).Pot Black 1985(New rev. ed.). London: British Broadcasting Corporation.ISBN9780563202936.
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