January 4th 1771.
Birth of François Mingaud, credited with inventing the leather cue tip in 1807 while
imprisoned in a French jail. Documentary proof seems to exist of leather being used
to protect the "tip" end of the cue before this date, so it is probably more accurate
to say Mingaud perfected the tip, being the first to shape it into a rounded dome. It
was this apparently simple innovation allowing a more reliable contact between tip
and ball that made true control over the cue-ball possible.
January 11th 1982. Snooker.
Steve Davis compiled the first televised maximum 147 break in a match against John
Spencer in the Lada Classic, at Oldham Civic Centre, Lancashire.
January 13th 1979. Snooker.
John Spencer compiled the first maximum 147 break in competitive play in a match
against Cliff Thorburn in the Holsten Lager Tournament at the Fulcrum Centre, Slough.
This would also have been the first televised maximum, but the camera crew had left
their posts for a tea break.
January 12th - 13th 1881. English Billiards.
Joseph Bennett won the championship for the third time by beating Tom Taylor by 90
points in a match of 1000 up.
January 14th 2007. Snooker.
Ding Junhui became the youngest player to score a maximum 147 break on live
television at the age of 19 years and 9 months. It was also the first 147 by a
Chinese player and came in the seventh frame of his first round 6 - 3 win against
Anthony Hamilton during the Saga Insurance Masters at Wembley Arena.
January 15th 1985. Snooker.
Stacey Hillyard became the first female to record a competitive century with a break
of 114 during a local league match in Bournemouth.
January 18th 1844. English Billiards.
Date of a match between a Mr. Mardon and a Mr. Porker. The winner to be the first
to reach 500 points. Towards the end of the game Mr. Porker led by 496 points to 475,
but Mardon ran out with a break of 25. This was considered such an achievement that
Mardon published his book, "Billiards: Game 500 Up" showing each stroke of the winning
break.
January 19th 1913.
Birth of Rudolf Walter Wanderone Jnr., who in later life claimed to be the 'real'
Minnesota Fats, and the inspiration for the character of the same name in Walter
Tevis's "The Hustler." A fact Tevis denied to his dying day.
January 19th & 20th 1932. English Billiards.
Walter Lindrum compiled the world record break of 4,137 in 2 hours 55 minutes
against Joe Davis, who immediately replied with a break of 1131.
January 22nd (Saturday), 1955. Snooker.
Date of Joe Davis's record break of 147 against Willie Smith in an exhibition at
Thurston's Leicester Square Hall. The break was officially recognised in March 1957.
January 24th 2002. Snooker.
Stephen Hendry claimed a record 550th competitive century with a break of 101
against Jimmy White during the Regal Welsh Open in Cardiff.
January 25th 1886.
Birth of Willie Smith. Twice Professional Billiards Champion - 1920 & 1923.
Twice runner-up to Joe Davis in the Professional Snooker Championship - 1933 & 1935.
January 27th 1982. Snooker.
In four consecutive frames Jim Meadowcroft made breaks of 105, 115, 117 and 125
(total 462) at the Connaught Leisure Centre, Worthing.
January 28th 1984. Snooker.
Kirk Stevens of Canada made a maximum 147 break against Jimmy White in the Benson
and Hedges Masters, at the Wembley Conference Centre, London.
January 30th 1871. English Billiards.
John Roberts Junior won the championship for the third time by beating Joseph Bennett
by 363 points in 3 hours and 29 minutes.
January 30th 2007. Snooker.
Stephen Hendry set yet another record by scoring a 127 break, his 700th competitive
century. It came in the 3rd frame of his match against Robert Milkins which Hendry
won 5 - 1, during the Malta Cup at the Hilton Conference Centre, Portomaso.
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February 8th 1587.
Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded at Fotheringay Castle.
The cloth was torn from her billiard table to cover the body.
February 11th 1870. English Billiards.
The first Professional Championship was held between John Roberts Senior and William
Cook. Cook won by 117 points in a match of 1200 up.
February 11th 1873.
John Roberts Junior appointed Court Billiard Player to the Maharaja of Jeypur during his
second tour of India.
February 13th 1872. Pyramids.
Playing the best of 21, and owing a ball, John Roberts Junior beat William Cook
by 11 games to 7 for £50.00; in a match held at the "White Bear", Manchester.
February 14th 2007. Snooker.
Shawn Murphy became the first player to make four consecutive century breaks in a
best-of-nine professional tournament during the Welsh Open at the Newport Centre,
Kingsway, Newport. His breaks of 135, 123, 102, and 101 helped defeat Jamie Cope
5 - 0 to earn a place in the last 16.
February 21st 1988. Snooker.
Geet Sethi of India became the first amateur player to make a 147 in competition
during the Indian Amateur Snooker Championships.
February 24th 1874. English Billiards.
William Cook won the championship for the fourth time by beating John Roberts Junior
by 216 points in a match of 1000 up, in 3 hours 10 minutes.
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March 4th 1872. English Billiards.
William Cook won the championship for the third time by beating John Roberts Junior by
201 points in a match of 1000 up, in 3 hours 30 minutes.
March 13th 1991. Snooker.
Ronnie O'Sullivan became the youngest player (aged 15 years and 97 days) to make
a competitive maximum 147 break during the Southern Area quarter-finals of the 1991
English Amateur Snooker Championship. He held this record for 13 years, see below.
 March 13th 2004. Snooker.
Judd Trump made a maximum break against Chris Peach in an Under-16 tournament at
Coalville, Leicester, and became the youngest player in history to compile a 147 in an
official tournament at the age of 14 years and 197 days.
March 16th 2003. English Billiards.
At the age of 70, Tony James became the oldest winner of the English Amateur
Billiards Championship by beating his 20 year-old opponent, Mathew Sutton, by
899 points to 694.
March 23rd 1894. English Billiards.
Birth of Tom Newman. Professional Champion 1921, 1922, 1924, and 1925.
March 25th 1886.
A.J. Aspinall obtained a patent for a spring-loaded billiard cue.
March 28th 1888. English Billiards.
Mr. H.A.O. Lonsdale became the winner of the first Amateur Billiards Championship.
March 30th - 31st & April 1st, 1885. English Billiards.
John Roberts Junior won the championship for the seventh time by beating William Cook
by 92 points in a match of 3000 up.
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April 6th 1876.
John Roberts Junior left England on his first tour of Australia.
April 14th 1870. English Billiards.
John Roberts Junior first won the championship by beating William Cook by 478 points in
a match of 1000 up in 3 hours 4 minutes.
April 14th 1990. Snooker.
Steve James compiled the first 16 red total clearance in competitive play. He was
awarded a free ball before any red had been potted and produced a break of 135
against Alex Higgins during the World Professional Snooker Championships at Sheffield.
April 15th 1901.
Birth of Joe Davis. Professional Billiards Champion 1928 - 1932, Professional Snooker
Champion 1927 - 1946.
April 22nd 2003. Snooker.
Ronnie O'Sullivan became the first player to make two maximum breaks in the World
Championships when he made a 147 in 6 minutes and 30 seconds in the seventh frame
of his first round match against Marco Fu of Hong Kong. Fu won by 10 frames to 6.
April 23rd 1983. Snooker.
Cliff Thorburn of Canada made the first maximum 147 break in the history of the World
Professional Snooker Championships, in a 2nd round match against Terry Griffiths at
the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield.
April 24th 1891. English Billiards.
Tom Taylor made a break of 1467 by the 'Jam Shot', in a match at the Royal Aquarium,
London.
April 24th 2003. Snooker.
Stephen Hendry set a new record by becoming the first player to achieve 100
century breaks in competitive play in one venue, when he compiled a break of
115 in the seventh frame of his second round World Championship match against
Drew Henry at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield.
April 28th 2008. Snooker.
Having equalled Stephen Hendry's record of eight maximum breaks in competitive play
on the 15th December 2007, Ronnie went one better by making one in the final frame
of his second round match of the World Championships against Mark Williams.
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May 2nd 1929. Snooker.
E.J. (Murt) O'Donoghue of Australia became the first player to clear the table from the
break. Playing in Aukland, he broke, fluked a red, and took the lot to make a break of 134.
May 5th 2007. Snooker.
John Higgins scored his 350th competitive century, and the 1000th century to be
made at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, during his semi-final World Championship
match against Stephen Maguire with a break of 122.
May 9th - 12th 1927. Snooker.
The final of the first World Professional Snooker Championship. Joe Davis beat T.A.
Dennis by 20 frames to 11.
May 24th 1875. English Billiards.
John Roberts Junior won the championship for the fourth time by beating William Cook
by 163 points in a match of 1000 up, in 3 hours 42 minutes.
May 28th 1877. English Billiards.
John Roberts Junior won the championship for the sixth time by beating William Cook by
221 points in a match of 1000 up, in 2 hours 45 minutes.
May 29th - June 7th 1907. English Billiards.
William Cook made the highest officially recognIsed break of 42,746.
May 30th 1870. English Billiards.
John Roberts Junior won the championship for the second time by beating Alfred Bowles
by 241 in a match of 1000 up.
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June 1st 1978. Snooker.
David Taylor (The "Silver Fox") made 3 consecutive century breaks - 130, 140 and
139 (total 409) during an exhibition at Butlins Holiday Centre, Minehead, Somerset.
June 1st - 4th 1885. English Billiards.
John Roberts Junior won the championship for the eighth time by beating Joseph
Bennett by 1640 points in a match of 3000 up.
June 3rd 1907. English Billiards.
Tom Reece began his 'Cradle Cannon' break of 499,135. To read the full story
behind this incredible break, and the events that led up to it, click here.
June 4th 1907. English Billiards.
William Cook (Junior), playing at Thurston's in a two week match against Alec Taylor
of 150,000 up, completed the highest official break of 42,746. The break could have
been even higher but ended when, to everyone's surprise, he failed to cannon by the
slimmest of margins.
June 15th 1823.
Birth of John Roberts Senior. The 'Father' of modern (English) Billiards. He assumed the
title of 'Champion' in 1849 after challenging Edwin (or 'Jonathan') Kentfield, who failed
to respond. He held the title until February 11th 1870, losing to William Cook.
June 15th 1849. English Billiards.
Birth of William Cook (Senior) at Sandy, Bedfordshire. Winner of the first professional
championship held on February 11th 1870.
June 30th 1893.
Death of William Cook (Senior) at the Brompton Consumption Hospital, London.
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