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He served for five years in the [[Royal Air Force]].<ref name="BPPP">{{cite magazine |title=Personality parade: Willie Leigh |work=The Billiard Player |publisher=Billiards Association and Control Council |date=September 1946 |page=8}}</ref> His second world championship entry was in [[1946 World Snooker Championship|1946 World Championship]].<ref name="KOBY" /> Against [[Stanley Newman (snooker player)|Stanley Newman]] in the qualifying competition, Leigh recovered from 11-14 to lead 15-14, Newman then taking the 30th frame to force a {{cuegloss|deciding frame|decider}}.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dramatic snooker finish |work=The People |date=13 January 1946 |page=6}}</ref> With the scores at 29 points each in the last frame, and only the {{cuegloss|colours}} left, Leigh failed to complete a straightforward {{cuegloss|pot}} of the {{cuegloss|yellow ball}}, and Newman went on to win the match 16-15.<ref name="KOBY" /> Later that month, Leigh was defeated 6,782-8,972 by [[John Barrie (snooker player)|John Barrie]] in the [[UK Open Billiards Championship|UK Professional English Billiards Championship]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Leigh well beaten |work=Nottingham Evening Post |date=21 January 1946 |page=4}}</ref> |
He served for five years in the [[Royal Air Force]].<ref name="BPPP">{{cite magazine |title=Personality parade: Willie Leigh |work=The Billiard Player |publisher=Billiards Association and Control Council |date=September 1946 |page=8}}</ref> His second world championship entry was in [[1946 World Snooker Championship|1946 World Championship]].<ref name="KOBY" /> Against [[Stanley Newman (snooker player)|Stanley Newman]] in the qualifying competition, Leigh recovered from 11-14 to lead 15-14, Newman then taking the 30th frame to force a {{cuegloss|deciding frame|decider}}.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dramatic snooker finish |work=The People |date=13 January 1946 |page=6}}</ref> With the scores at 29 points each in the last frame, and only the {{cuegloss|colours}} left, Leigh failed to complete a straightforward {{cuegloss|pot}} of the {{cuegloss|yellow ball}}, and Newman went on to win the match 16-15.<ref name="KOBY" /> Later that month, Leigh was defeated 6,782-8,972 by [[John Barrie (snooker player)|John Barrie]] in the [[UK Open Billiards Championship|UK Professional English Billiards Championship]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Leigh well beaten |work=Nottingham Evening Post |date=21 January 1946 |page=4}}</ref> |
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Leigh entered the World Snooker Championship twice more, winning two qualifying matches each time.<ref name="KOBY" /> In [[1947 World Snooker Championship|1947]] he eliminated Herbert Francis 19-16 and [[Sydney Lee (snooker player)|Sydney Lee]] 25-10 before losing 14-21 to [[Kingsley Kennerley]].<ref name="KOBY" /> At the [[1948 World Snooker Championship|1948 championship]] he defeated [[ |
Leigh entered the World Snooker Championship twice more, winning two qualifying matches each time.<ref name="KOBY" /> In [[1947 World Snooker Championship|1947]] he eliminated Herbert Francis 19-16 and [[Sydney Lee (snooker player)|Sydney Lee]] 25-10 before losing 14-21 to [[Kingsley Kennerley]].<ref name="KOBY" /> At the [[1948 World Snooker Championship|1948 championship]] he defeated [[Herbert Holt (snooker player)|Herbert Holt]] in the deciding frame, 18-17, and then, having trailed Barrie 5-9, won 14 of the next 16 and progressed with a 21-14 win. He lost on the {{cuegloss|black ball}} in the deciding frame against John Pulman, 17-18.<ref name="KOBY" /> |
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Leigh, one of whose bothers was footballer [[Syd Leigh]], became a resident professional at a [[billiard hall]] in Nottingham, and provided coaching. He died on 20 November 1972, aged 65.<ref>{{cite web |last=Smart |first=Andrew |title=Memories of Nottingham's dark, smoky billiard halls and snooker star Willie Leigh |url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/special-features/willie-leighs-world-professional-snooker-715844 |website=nottinghampost.com |date=2 November 2017 |access-date=29 April 2021}}</ref> |
Leigh, one of whose bothers was footballer [[Syd Leigh]], became a resident professional at a [[billiard hall]] in Nottingham, and provided coaching. He died on 20 November 1972, aged 65.<ref>{{cite web |last=Smart |first=Andrew |title=Memories of Nottingham's dark, smoky billiard halls and snooker star Willie Leigh |url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/special-features/willie-leighs-world-professional-snooker-715844 |website=nottinghampost.com |date=2 November 2017 |access-date=29 April 2021}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
Revision as of 16:45, 29 April 2021
Born | 1907 |
---|---|
Died | 20 November 1972 (aged 65) |
Sport country | England |
Professional | c.1927–1948 |
Willis "Willie" Leigh (born 1907) was an English professional snooker and English billiards player.
Biography
Leigh was born in Derby in 1907.[1] His father was the licensee of the Station Hotel, Derby.[2] He won the 1923 under-16s British Junior English Billiards Championship, defeating Frank Edwards 600–482 in the final.[3] By 1927, having received coaching from Joe Davis and others, Leigh had turned professional.[4]
In 1933 he entered the World Professional Snooker Championship for the first time, taking a 4-0 lead against fellow debutant Walter Donaldson before Donaldson levelled the match at 4-4. The players were also tied at 8-8 and 10-10 before Donaldson won 13-11.[5] Leigh did not enter the championship again before it was suspended from 1940 to 1945 due to World War II.[6] He served for five years in the Royal Air Force.[1] His second world championship entry was in 1946 World Championship.[6] Against Stanley Newman in the qualifying competition, Leigh recovered from 11-14 to lead 15-14, Newman then taking the 30th frame to force a decider.[7] With the scores at 29 points each in the last frame, and only the colours left, Leigh failed to complete a straightforward pot of the yellow ball, and Newman went on to win the match 16-15.[6] Later that month, Leigh was defeated 6,782-8,972 by John Barrie in the UK Professional English Billiards Championship.[8]
Leigh entered the World Snooker Championship twice more, winning two qualifying matches each time.[6] In 1947 he eliminated Herbert Francis 19-16 and Sydney Lee 25-10 before losing 14-21 to Kingsley Kennerley.[6] At the 1948 championship he defeated Herbert Holt in the deciding frame, 18-17, and then, having trailed Barrie 5-9, won 14 of the next 16 and progressed with a 21-14 win. He lost on the black ball in the deciding frame against John Pulman, 17-18.[6]
Leigh, one of whose bothers was footballer Syd Leigh, became a resident professional at a billiard hall in Nottingham, and provided coaching. He died on 20 November 1972, aged 65.[9]
References
- ^ a b "Personality parade: Willie Leigh". The Billiard Player. Billiards Association and Control Council. September 1946. p. 8.
- ^ "Billiards". Derbyshire Courier. 17 December 1921. p. 10.
- ^ "Under 16 Champions". eaba.co.uk. English Amateur Billiards Association. 18 October 2013. Archived from the original on 16 September 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ Levi, Riso (24 September 1927). "Willie Leigh". Liverpool Echo. p. 7.
- ^ "Professional championship of snooker". The Billiard Player. Billiards Association and Control Council. May 1933. pp. 28–30.
- ^ a b c d e f Kobylecky, John (2019). The Complete International Directory of Snooker Players – 1927 to 2018. Kobyhadrian Books. pp. 137–138. ISBN 978-0993143311.
- ^ "Dramatic snooker finish". The People. 13 January 1946. p. 6.
- ^ "Leigh well beaten". Nottingham Evening Post. 21 January 1946. p. 4.
- ^ Smart, Andrew (2 November 2017). "Memories of Nottingham's dark, smoky billiard halls and snooker star Willie Leigh". nottinghampost.com. Retrieved 29 April 2021.