The 1946 Albany Club Professional Snooker Tournament was an invitational snooker tournament held at the Albany Club in London between 8 July 1946 and 20 September 1946, featuring the eleven players that had been eliminated before the final in the 1946 World Snooker Championship. Walter Donaldson won the title, defeating Alec Brown 20âÂÂ11 in the final.
The tournament was promoted by, and held at, the Albany Club in Savile Row, London, in 1946. The invited players were the eleven who were eliminated before the final in the 1946 World Snooker Championship, with the draw for the even being made on 21 June 1946 in the presence of players and representatives from the press and BBC. There was a prize fund of ã500.
There were three first round matches each contested over two days as the best-of-21 , starting on 8 July 1946 when Conrad Stanbury played Alec Brown. Brown took a 7âÂÂ3 lead, and won 13âÂÂ8. The following week, Fred Davis defeated Sydney Lee 14âÂÂ7. Lee, taking penicillin during the first session due to painful boils on his arm, had taken a 3âÂÂ2 lead before Davis finished the first day 6âÂÂ4 ahead. Stanley Newman and Fred Lawrence were level at 5âÂÂ5 after the first day, with Newman winning 11âÂÂ8 when the pair did not play the final two scheduled frames.
In the quarter-finals, Kingsley Kennerley received a bye when John Barrie withdrew due to illness. Donaldson led Herbert Holt 4âÂÂ1 and 8âÂÂ2, and progressed 14âÂÂ7. Brown eliminated Willie Leigh 13âÂÂ8 after the first day had finished at 5âÂÂ5. Davis defeated Lawrence 14âÂÂ7, after their first day had ended with Davis leading 6âÂÂ4.
Brown converted a 6âÂÂ4 overnight lead into a 14âÂÂ7 win over Kennerley in the first semi-final. Donaldson also had a 6âÂÂ4 overnight lead in his semi-final, against Fred Davis, and also won 14âÂÂ7.
On the first day of the final, played as the best-of-31 frames, Donaldson took an 8âÂÂ2 lead over Brown. By the end of the second day, Donaldson had won the 16 frames he needed for victory, whilst Brown had won 4 frames. Donaldson compiled an 80 break on the last day and led 18âÂÂ7 before the match concluded at 20âÂÂ11.
A further tournament, where handicaps were applied, was held at the Albany Club in 1950. It was won by Brown, receiving 38 points start in each frame, who defeated Joe Davis 16âÂÂ9 in the final. Brown had earlier eliminated Donaldson 15âÂÂ8 in the second round, receiving 30 points start in each frame.