Charles Raynor Dawson (20 December 1866 – 16 July 1921) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

champion player of

English billiards English billiards, called simply billiards in the United Kingdom and in many former British colonies, is a cue sport that combines the aspects of carom billiards and pool. Two (one white and one yellow) and a red are used. Each player or team us ...

. He held the world professional title in billiards in 1899, 1900, 1901 and 1903, when it was held on a challenge basis.

Biography

Stevenson was born in

Huddersfield Huddersfield is a market town in the Kirklees district in West Yorkshire, England. It is the administrative centre and largest settlement in the Kirklees district. The town is in the foothills of the Pennines. The River Holme's confluence into ...

in 1866. He worked in the

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trade before becoming manager of the George and Dragon Hotel in Huddersfield in 1887, where he learnt to play billiards to a high standard He played matches for money before challenging for the

world championship A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game, ...

title. Dawson won the billiards title against John North in 1899, but the match attracted little attention as leading player John Roberts Jr. was not involved. In 1900, H. W. Stevenson and Edward Diggle challenged Dawson for the Billiards Association title. Stevenson beat Diggle in the preliminary round, compiling a break of 648 in the match, but lost 6,775–9,000 to Dawson. In January 1901, Stevenson beat Dawson to win the

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, but Dawson then won it back in April. Following the April match, Stevenson challenged Dawson again. The match was due to be played within three months of the challenge being made, but both players agreed to a postponement until November. Although Dawson was aware that the match was due to be played in November, he organised an exhibition match with Diggle in

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for that month and was unavailable for the championship match. Stevenson refused a further extension, and was awarded the title. Dawson and Stevenson contested the title again in 1903, with Dawson winning a close match 9,000–8,700. Following this, the championship was not contested for several years. In 1908, the Billiards Association declared

Melbourne Inman Melbourne Inman (15 July 1878 – 11 August 1951) was the World Billiards Champion in 1908, 1909, 1912, 1913, 1914 and 1919. Biography He was born on 15 July 1878 in Twickenham, Middlesex, England, to Robert Withy Inman (1844–1919) and Annie ...

the champion. In 1904, Dawson published a book called "Practical Billiards," which included player biographies. He won the snooker competition of the 1908 American Tournament at Burroughes Hall. His highest break at billiards, excluding the anchor stroke, was 823. He retired from playing in 1909, due to failing eyesight, and later died in Storthes Hall Asylum, Huddersfield on 16 July 1921.

World Professional Billiards Titles

*January 1899, beat John North 9,000–4,715 *April 1900, beat H. W. Stevenson 9,000–6,775 *April 1901, beat H. W. Stevenson9,000–5,796 *March 1903, beat H. W. Stevenson 9,000–8,700

References

External links

Charles Dawson biography at the Billiard and Snooker Heritage Collection
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dawson, Charles 1866 births 1921 deaths English players of English billiards World champions in English billiards Sportspeople from Huddersfield