Eddie Charlton

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Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox snooker player

Edward Francis Charlton (31 October 1929 – 7 November 2004) was an Australian professional snooker and billiards player.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> He remains the only player to have been world championship runner-up in both snooker and billiards without winning either title. He later became a successful marketer of sporting goods, launching a popular brand of billiard room equipment bearing his name.

Early life

Charlton was born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia and came from a sporting family. His grandfather ran a billiards club in Swansea, New South Wales, and Charlton began playing cue sports when he was nine years old.<ref name=Telegraph>Template:Cite news</ref> At the age of eleven, he defeated fellow Australian Walter Lindrum in a wartime snooker exhibition match,<ref name=Telegraph/> and he made his first century break when he was seventeen.<ref name=":0"/>

He was involved in numerous other sports during his youth: he was a first-grade footballer and played in the Australian First Division Football (soccer) for ten years; he was a champion surfer, and played state-level rugby league and competitive cricket; he also excelled in speed roller skating, rowing, boxing and tennis.<ref name=Telegraph/> In 1956, he was chosen to carry the Olympic torch on part of its journey to the Melbourne Games.<ref name=":0"/>

Charlton worked as a coal miner until the age of 31. After winning four amateur snooker titles, he decided to turn professional in 1963 on the advice of Fred Davis.<ref name=Telegraph/> His brother Jim was also a professional snooker player but never joined the world ranks.

Career

Charlton became a professional player in 1963 at the age of 34 and won his first Australian Professional Championship the following season.Template:Sfn For the next ten years he won the title annually and made at least the semi-finals in every subsequent meeting through its last edition in 1988.Template:Cn He unsuccessfully challenged Rex Williams for the World Billiards Championship title in 1974 and 1976. His third appearance was in 1984 when he lost by a handful of points to Mark Wildman. Four years later, he lost to two-time champion Norman Dagley in his last World Billiards final.

Charlton was the most successful Australian snooker player until the emergence of Neil Robertson. From the first year of the snooker world rankings in 1976/77, he was ranked number three in the world for the next five consecutive seasons.

Charlton, who was known for his focused and dogged performances, challenged for the World Championship in 1968 and was the runner-up in the final of the World Championship in 1973 and 1975, losing the 1975 world final by just one frame (30–31) to Ray Reardon.Template:Sfn He won the BBC's Pot Black competition in 1972, 1973 and 1980.Template:Sfn He also recorded the first century break (110) on Pot Black.Template:Sfn

In the final of the 1973 World Snooker Championship, played as the best-of-75-frames, Charlton led Ray Reardon 10–5 and 12–10, before the pair were on level terms at both 12–12 and 13–13.<ref name="RC">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Reardon moved into a 17–13 lead, and was 27–25 up after seven sessions of play.Template:Sfn At the start of the eighth session, Reardon was affected by the bright lighting that had been installed for the purposes of television coverage, and he lost the first three frames. He complained about the lighting, and two large lights that were focused on the audience were switched off. From 27–28 behind, Reardon won four of the next five frames in the session, and sustained the momentum for an eventual 38–32 victory.Template:Sfn According to snooker historian Clive Everton, "Charlton's dogged consistency proved no match for Reardon's flair and wider range of shots."Template:Sfn

Charlton faced Reardon in the final of the 1975 World Snooker Championship in a match of 61 frames.Template:Sfn Reardon led 16–8, but Charlton then won the next nine frames to take the lead.Template:Sfn Reardon was ahead at 22–20, but Charlton won nine of the following ten frames to lead 29–23.Template:Sfn Reardon produced a seven-frame winning streak to leave himself needing one further frame at 30–29, then Charlton won the 60th frame.Template:Sfn In the Template:Cuegloss, Reardon made a 62 break, and secured his victory at 31–30.Template:Sfn

He reached the final of the 1991 World Seniors Championship and was a frame away from clinching the title when he led Cliff Wilson 4–2. According to the match report in Snooker Scene magazine, Charlton then "started to falter in a fashion all too familiar with his failures on the brink of other world titles", and he lost 4–5.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

His last major achievement at the World Championship was his 10–9 first-round win over Cliff Thorburn at the 1989 World Championship. He qualified for the 1990 and 1991 World Championships but lost in the first round on both occasions. Charlton's final appearance at the Crucible came in 1992, where he was defeated 10–0 by defending champion John Parrott in the first round, the only recorded Template:Cuegloss in the World Championship until 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Charlton was known for playing with a very straight cue action and rarely hitting the ball with any Template:Cuegloss, when a less conservative approach might have paid dividends.<ref name=":0"/> In retirement from professional snooker Charlton often commentated during the BBC's world championship coverage.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life

Always active in the organisation and promotion of the game, Charlton was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1980. He formed the Australian Professional Players Association and was responsible for bringing many of the top players to play in Australia. He released a 30-minute beginners' instructional video, Eddie Charlton's Snooker, Pool & Trick Shots, in PAL VHS format. In 1993 he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He stopped competing in 1995 and died in Palmerston North, New Zealand on 8 November 2004 following an operation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Performance and rankings timeline

Tournament 1968/
69 		1969/
70 		1970/
71 		1971/
72 		1972/
73 		1973/
74 		1974/
75 		1975/
76 		1976/
77 		1977/
78 		1978/
79 		1979/
80 		1980/
81 		1981/
82 		1982/
83 		1983/
84 		1984/
85 		1985/
86 		1986/
87 		1987/
88 		1988/
89 		1989/
90 		1990/
91 		1991/
92 		1992/
93 		1993/
94 		1994/
95 		1995/
96
Ranking<ref name="Ranking history">Template:Cite web</ref> No ranking system 3 3 3 3 3 8 5 6 6 12 25 26 19 22 31 27 29 34 60 77
Ranking tournaments
Dubai Classic<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Dubai Masters (1988/1989).</ref> Tournament not held NR 2R 1R LQ 1R LQ LQ A
Grand Prix<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Professional Players Tournament (1982/93–1983/1984).</ref> Tournament not held SF 3R 3R 2R 1R 3R 2R 1R 2R 1R 1R LQ LQ A
UK Championship Tournament not held Non-ranking event 2R 1R 2R 1R 1R 1R 1R 2R 2R 1R LQ A
Welsh Open Tournament not held 2R 1R LQ LQ A
International Open<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Goya Matchroom Trophy (1985/1986).</ref> Tournament not held NR 1R SF 1R 1R 2R QF 1R 2R Not held 2R LQ LQ A
European Open Tournament not held QF 3R 2R 1R 1R LQ LQ A
Thailand Open<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Thailand Masters (1983/1984–1986/1987) and Asian Open (1989/1990–1992/1993).</ref> Tournament not held Non-ranking event Not held 1R 3R 2R 1R LQ LQ A
British Open<ref group="nb">The event was also called the British Gold Cup (1979/1980), Yamaha Organs Trophy (1980/1981) and International Masters (1981/1982–1983/1984).</ref> Tournament not held Non-ranking event 1R 3R 2R 1R 1R 1R 2R 3R 2R WD LQ A
World Championship Non-ranking event 2R F SF QF SF SF QF 2R SF QF 2R 2R 2R LQ 2R 2R 1R 1R 1R WD LQ LQ A
Non-ranking tournaments
Australian Masters<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Hong Kong Open (1989/1990) and Australian Open (1994/1995).</ref> Tournament not held A A A F QF SF QF 1R SF NH R Tournament not held QF 1R
The Masters Tournament not held SF SF A A QF QF 1R QF SF 1R 1R QF A A A A LQ LQ LQ A A A
Irish Masters<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament (1974/1975–1976/1977).</ref> Tournament not held A A A A A A A A QF 1R QF A A A A A A A A A A A
European League<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Professional Snooker League (1983/1984) and the Matchroom League (1986/1987 to 1991/1992).</ref> Tournament not held RR Not held A A A A A A A A A A
Pontins Professional Tournament not held QF A A RR A A SF A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Former ranking tournaments
Canadian Masters<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Canadian Open (1978/1979–1980/1981).</ref> Tournament not held Non-Ranking Tournament not held Non-Ranking 1R Tournament not held
Hong Kong Open<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Australian Masters (1979/1980–1987/1988).</ref> Tournament not held Non-ranking event NH 2R Tournament not held NR
Classic Tournament not held Non-ranking event QF 1R 1R 3R 1R 1R 2R 3R 1R Tournament not held
Strachan Open Tournament not held 2R Tournament not held
Former non-ranking tournaments
World Championship A A SF SF F Ranking event
Norwich Union Open Tournament not held SF A Tournament not held
World Masters Tournament not held RR Tournament not held
World Matchplay Championship Tournament not held W Tournament not held
Holsten Lager International Tournament not held 1R Tournament not held
Limosin International Tournament not held W Tournament not held
Kronenbrau 1308 Classic Tournament not held W Tournament not held
International Open<ref group="nb">The event was also called the Goya Matchroom Trophy (1985/1986).</ref> Tournament not held 2R Ranking event Not held Ranking event
Classic Tournament not held A A A QF Ranking event
British Open<ref group="nb">The event was also called the British Gold Cup (1979/1980), Yamaha Organs Trophy (1980/1981) and International Masters (1981/1982–1983/1984).</ref> Tournament not held A A A 2R 2R Ranking event
Tolly Cobbold Classic Tournament not held A A A A A QF Tournament not held
New Zealand Masters Tournament not held SF Not held A A Tournament not held
Pot Black A A A W W SF RR SF RR SF RR W SF F SF QF 1R 1R Tournament not held A A A Not held
Template:Nowrap F W W W W W W W W W W Tournament not held W F SF F SF Tournament not held
Shoot-Out Tournament not held 3R Tournament not held
World Seniors Championship Tournament not held F Tournament not held
Performance Table Legend
LQ lost in the qualifying draw #R lost in the early rounds of the tournament
(WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin) 		QF lost in the quarter-finals
SF lost in the semi-finals F lost in the final W won the tournament
DNQ did not qualify for the tournament A did not participate in the tournament WD withdrew from the tournament
NH / not held means an event was not held.
NR / Non-ranking event means an event is/was no longer a ranking event.
R / Ranking event means an event is/was a ranking event.

Template:Reflist

Career finals

Ranking finals: 1

Legend
World Championship (0–1)
Other (0–0)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Runner-up 1. 1975 World Snooker Championship (3) Template:Flagathlete 30–31

Non-ranking finals: 35 (26 titles)

Legend
World Championship (0–2)<ref group="nb">The World Championship did not become a ranking event until 1974.</ref>
Other (26–7)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Winner 1. 1963 Australian Professional Championship Template:Flagathlete 46–45
Winner 2. 1964 Australian Professional Championship Template:Flagathlete Template:Nowrap
Runner-up 1. 1965 Australian Professional Championship Template:Flagathlete Template:Nowrap
Winner 3. 1965 Commonwealth Snooker Championship Template:Flagathlete Template:Nowrap
Winner 4. 1966 Australian Professional Championship (2) Template:Flagathlete 7–4
Winner 5. 1967 Australian Professional Championship (3) Template:Flagathlete 7–1
Runner-up 2. 1968 World Snooker Championship Template:Flagathlete 34–39
Runner-up 3. 1968 Australian Professional Championship (2) Template:Flagathlete 10–11
Winner 6. 1968 World Open Matchplay Championship Template:Flagathlete 43–30
Winner 7. 1969 Australian Professional Championship (4) Template:Flagathlete 8–3
Winner 8. 1969 Australasian Championship Template:Flagathlete 11–6
Winner 9. 1970 Australian Professional Championship (5) Template:Flagathlete Template:Nowrap
Winner 10. 1971 Australian Professional Championship (6) Template:Flagathlete 11–7
Winner 11. 1971 Hunter Valley Championship Template:Flagathlete 5–4
Winner 12. 1972 Pot Black Template:Flagathlete 1–0
Winner 13. 1972 Marrickville Professional Template:Flagathlete Template:Sort
Winner 14. 1972 Australian Professional Championship (7) Template:Flagathlete 19–10
Winner 15. 1973 Pot Black (2) Template:Flagathlete 1–0
Runner-up 4. 1973 World Snooker Championship (2) Template:Flagathlete 32–38
Winner 16. 1973 Australian Professional Championship (8) Template:Flagathlete 31–10
Winner 17. 1974 Australian Professional Championship (9) Template:Flagathlete 44–17
Winner 18. 1975 Australian Professional Championship (10) Template:Flagathlete 31–10
Winner 19. 1976 Australian Professional Championship (11) Template:Flagathlete Walkover
Winner 20. 1976 World Professional Match-play Championship Template:Flagathlete 31–24
Winner 21. 1977 Australian Professional Championship (12) Template:Flagathlete 25–21
Winner 22. 1978 Australian Professional Championship (13) Template:Flagathlete 29–13
Winner 23. 1979 Kronenbrau 1308 Classic Template:Flagathlete 7–4
Winner 24. 1979 Limosin International Template:Flagathlete 23–19
Winner 25. 1980 Pot Black (3) Template:Flagathlete 2–1
Runner-up 5. 1982 Pot Black Template:Flagathlete 0–2
Runner-up 6. 1982 Australian Masters Template:Flagathlete 100–254 points
Winner 26. 1984 Australian Professional Championship (14) Template:Flagathlete 10–3
Runner-up 7. 1985 Australian Professional Championship (3) Template:Flagathlete 7–10
Runner-up 8. 1987 Australian Professional Championship (4) Template:Flagathlete 7–10
Runner-up 9. 1991 World Seniors Championship Template:Flagathlete 4–5

Template:Reflist

Team finals: 2 (1 title)

Outcome No. Year Championship Team/partner Opponent(s) in the final Score
Winner 1. 1975 Ladbroke International Rest of the World Template:Flagcountry Cumulative score
Runner-up 1. 1988 World Cup Template:Flagcountry Template:Flagcountry 7–9

Charlton appeared in a comedy sketch in a 1992 episode of ABC Television's The Late Show, alongside Mick Molloy.<ref name="LateShow">Template:Cite web</ref> The sketch begins with Charlton, as himself, competing in a televised professional snooker game, then being interrupted by a comically boorish Molloy, behaving as if it were a casual eight-ball game in an Australian pub, demanding to play against Charlton and insisting the game be played according to "pub rules". The game proceeds, with Molloy heckling and interfering so much that Molloy wins the game with Charlton failing to pocket a single ball. At Molloy's suggestion, in accordance with unwritten rules of Australian pub pool, Charlton proceeds to drop his trousers and run a lap of the table.

References

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Books

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