McConachy had played in 1951/1952 News of the World Snooker Tournament from September 1951 to January 1952. This was the annual round-robin handicap tournament played by the leading professionals. McConachy had performed badly, losing all 8 matches and winning an average of 11 frames in each 37 frame match. He lost all three matches he played on level terms, 27–10 to Albert Brown, 29–8 to John Pulman and 26–11 to Sidney Smith. He lost 26–11 to Joe Davis, despite receiving a 21-point start in each frame. On 19 February, the Tuesday before the final, McConachy had scored one of the early snooker maximum breaks in a practice frame at the Beaufort Club in London. An official of the BACC later examined the table and found it slightly over the standard size and so the break was not accepted as official. At the time Joe Davis held the record for the highest official break of 146. Lindrum did not play in the 1951/1952 News of the World Snooker Tournament, his last competitive tournament being the 1951 World Snooker Championship. In that championship he had lost to Walter Donaldson in the semi-final, Donaldson taking a winning 36–25 lead on the final day. Lindrum had played in the 1950/1951 News of the World Snooker Tournament beating Fred Davis on level terms but losing his other 6 matches. He had lost 24–13 to Joe Davis, receiving a 25-point start in each frame.
Detail
Lindrum and McConachy met in the 145-frame match. The score was 6–6 after the first day but Lindrum pulled ahead, leading 14–10 after the second day and 22–14 after three days. The 12 frames were shared on day 4 but Lindrum still led 28–20, extending his lead to 38–22 after day 5. Lindrum led 44–28 after the first week after another level day. Lindrum won eight frames on the second Monday, to lead 52–32 and then nine frames on the second Tuesday to leave him 61–35 ahead. After another good day, in which he won 10 frames, Lindrum led 71–37, needing just 2 of the remaining 37 for victory. On the Thursday, Lindrum won the first two frames to reach a winning 73–37 position. The remaining 35 "dead" frames were due to be played, although in the end only a total of 143 frames were played, Lindrum winning 94–49. Lindrum became the first non-British player to win the World Championship.
