1974 World Masters

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
Dates	1–5 July 1974 (1974-07-01 – 1974-07-05)
Venue	Victorian Club
City	South Yarra, Melbourne
Country	Australia
Format	Non-ranking event
Total prize fund	AUD20,000
Final
Champion	Cliff Thorburn (CAN)
Runner-up	John Spencer (ENG)
Score	Aggregate 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

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

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

1. "Charlton tops the bill". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 29 June 1974. p. 28.
2. "Outsider's pot". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 6 July 1974. p. 34.
3. "Stars down in snooker masters". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 2 July 1974. p. 28.
4. "Four of the best: right on cue". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 1 July 1974. p. 26.
5. "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. "Snooker". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 3 July 1974. p. 19.