Eddie Charlton
Encyclopedia
Edward Francis Charlton AM
(31 October 1929 – 7 November 2004) was an Australian professional snooker
and English billiards
player. He remains the only player to have been world championship runner-up in both snooker and billiards without winning either title. Later in his career, he became a sporting goods marketer; his namesake brand of billiard room equipment remains popular posthumously.
Charlton was born in Merewether, New South Wales
, Australia and came from a sporting family. His brother Jim was also a professional snooker player but never joined the world ranks. Eddie himself was also a senior grade footballer, a champion surfer, a good cricketer and a boxer. One of his proudest moments was when he carried the Olympic torch on part of its journey to the 1956 Games
in Melbourne
.
Having been a coal miner, he turned professional at cue sports in 1963 at the age of 34 and the following season he won the Australian Professional Championship, a title which he went on to win, with one exception, every year for the next 20. Known for playing with a very straight cue action and rarely hitting the cue-ball with , Charlton was the most successful snooker player from Australia before Neil Robertson
. He was ranked number three in the world for five consecutive seasons from 1976/77, the first year of the rankings
, though surprisingly he never won a ranking tournament (in those first few seasons only the World Championship counted). The dogged antipodean reached the world final in 1968, 1973 and 1975, losing agonisingly 31–30 to Ray Reardon
on the latter occasion.
In 1972, 1973, and 1980, he was victorious in the BBC
's Pot Black
competition, giving him a high profile with television viewers. He also recorded the first century break (110) in that tournament, quite an achievement in a one-frame per match format. Also highly proficient at billiards, he twice, unsuccessfully, challenged Rex Williams
for the world title in 1974 and 1976, and reached a third final only to lose by a handful of points to Mark Wildman
in 1984. Four years later he made the final again but found Norman Dagley too strong.
Always active in the organisation and promotion of the game, Charlton was awarded the Order of Australia
in 1980. He formed the Australian Professional Players Association and was responsible for bringing many of the top players to play in Australia. He made his final appearance at the Crucible in 1992, where he was defeated by defending champion John Parrott
10–0 – to date, the only in the history of the World Championship. He released a 30-minute beginners' instructional video, Eddie Charlton's Snooker, Pool & Trick Shots, in PAL
VHS
format. He stopped competing in 1995 and died in Palmerston North
, New Zealand on 7 November 2004 following an operation.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(31 October 1929 – 7 November 2004) was an Australian professional snooker
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
and English billiards
English billiards
English billiards, called simply billiards in many former British colonies and in Great Britain where it originated, is a hybrid form of carom and pocket billiards played on a billiard table. Billiards is less well known as "the English game", "the all-in game" and "the common game".The game is for...
player. He remains the only player to have been world championship runner-up in both snooker and billiards without winning either title. Later in his career, he became a sporting goods marketer; his namesake brand of billiard room equipment remains popular posthumously.
Charlton was born in Merewether, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia and came from a sporting family. His brother Jim was also a professional snooker player but never joined the world ranks. Eddie himself was also a senior grade footballer, a champion surfer, a good cricketer and a boxer. One of his proudest moments was when he carried the Olympic torch on part of its journey to the 1956 Games
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
Having been a coal miner, he turned professional at cue sports in 1963 at the age of 34 and the following season he won the Australian Professional Championship, a title which he went on to win, with one exception, every year for the next 20. Known for playing with a very straight cue action and rarely hitting the cue-ball with , Charlton was the most successful snooker player from Australia before Neil Robertson
Neil Robertson (snooker player)
Neil Robertson is an Australian professional snooker player and the 2010 World Champion and World #4...
. He was ranked number three in the world for five consecutive seasons from 1976/77, the first year of the rankings
Snooker world rankings
The snooker world rankings are the official system of ranking professional snooker players to determine automatic qualification and seeding for tournaments on the World Snooker Tour. They are maintained by the sport's governing body, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association...
, though surprisingly he never won a ranking tournament (in those first few seasons only the World Championship counted). The dogged antipodean reached the world final in 1968, 1973 and 1975, losing agonisingly 31–30 to Ray Reardon
Ray Reardon
Ray Reardon, MBE is a retired Welsh snooker player. He dominated the sport in the 1970s, winning six World Championships in that decade...
on the latter occasion.
In 1972, 1973, and 1980, he was victorious in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Pot Black
Pot Black
Pot Black was a British series of snooker tournaments televised by BBC, that played a large part in the popularisation of the modern game, from 1969 to 1986. The event was revived in the form of several one-off tournaments throughout the 1990s and up to 2007...
competition, giving him a high profile with television viewers. He also recorded the first century break (110) in that tournament, quite an achievement in a one-frame per match format. Also highly proficient at billiards, he twice, unsuccessfully, challenged Rex Williams
Rex Williams
Rex Williams , son of Minnie Roberts and William Williams, is a retired English professional snooker and billiards player.Williams was an excellent junior player in both snooker and billiards. His professional career began in 1951, during a period of decline in snooker...
for the world title in 1974 and 1976, and reached a third final only to lose by a handful of points to Mark Wildman
Mark Wildman
Mark Wildman is an English snooker and pool commentator, and a retired professional player of snooker and English billiards...
in 1984. Four years later he made the final again but found Norman Dagley too strong.
Always active in the organisation and promotion of the game, Charlton was awarded the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in 1980. He formed the Australian Professional Players Association and was responsible for bringing many of the top players to play in Australia. He made his final appearance at the Crucible in 1992, where he was defeated by defending champion John Parrott
John Parrott
John Parrott MBE is an English professional snooker player and TV personality.He won the World Snooker Championship in 1991, defeating Jimmy White in the final. Two years earlier he had lost 3–18 to Steve Davis, the heaviest final defeat in modern times...
10–0 – to date, the only in the history of the World Championship. He released a 30-minute beginners' instructional video, Eddie Charlton's Snooker, Pool & Trick Shots, in PAL
PAL
PAL, short for Phase Alternating Line, is an analogue television colour encoding system used in broadcast television systems in many countries. Other common analogue television systems are NTSC and SECAM. This page primarily discusses the PAL colour encoding system...
VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
format. He stopped competing in 1995 and died in Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
, New Zealand on 7 November 2004 following an operation.
Key Achievements
- 1949 - Played exhibition billiards games with Walter Lindrum
- 1950 - Member of Swansea-Belmont team that won Australian Senior Boat Championship (surfing)
- 1956 - Carried Olympic flame through Swansea (NSW) on its way to Melbourne
- 1960 - Turned professional on the advice of Fred Davis
- 1968 - Won World Open Snooker Championship from Rex Williams
- 1972 - Pot Black champion
- 1973 - Pot Black champion again
- 1976 - Won World Matchplay Championship from Ray Reardon
- 1978 - Won Winfield Masters Championship
- 1979 - Won Limosin Tournament in Cape Town
- 1980 - Won Pot Black Championship for third time
- 1983 - Rated fourth among worlds 125 best snooker players
- 1984 - Rated sixth in the world at age 55 years
Non-ranking wins
- Pot BlackPot BlackPot Black was a British series of snooker tournaments televised by BBC, that played a large part in the popularisation of the modern game, from 1969 to 1986. The event was revived in the form of several one-off tournaments throughout the 1990s and up to 2007...
– 1972, 1973, 1980 - World MatchplayWorld Matchplay (snooker)The World Matchplay professional non-ranking snooker tournament was established in 1952 as an alternative to the World Snooker Championship and last held in 1992.-History:...
– 1976