Champions of Sport – Walter Lindrum, Billiards Champion of the World
We sincerely thank Nic Grigg and his father, Donald Grigg, for providing the front page of The Littlewood Sports Log (Nov. 6, 1937), which allows us to share Walter Lindrum's account of his passion for billiards. Your support is invaluable in expanding awareness and appreciation of his legacy. The original article written by Walter is further below.
On this page, Walter Lindrum explains his decision to pursue billiards over cricket, despite early promise as a spin bowler. Growing up in a family of billiards champions, he was drawn to the sport at a young age. He reflects on his dedication to mastering billiards, achieving milestones through hours of practice. Walter emphasises the game's challenges, especially the precision required for shots like the nursery cannon, and expresses his dedication to the sport with the same passion as in his youth.
Between 1929 and 1936, Walter Lindrum achieved remarkable milestones that solidified his status as one of the greatest billiards players in history:
- World Record Breaks: In 1929, Lindrum set a world-record break of 3,262 points against Willie Smith. In Manchester in 1930, Lindrum set a record aggregate of 30,817 points during a fortnight-long match against Willie Smith, including ten breaks over 1,000 points, with a highest of 2,419. On January 19, 1932, at Thurston's Hall in London, he achieved a world record break of 4,137 points in a match against Joe Davis, maintaining control of the table for nearly three hours and executing approximately 1,900 consecutive scoring shots.
- World Professional Billiards Championship: Lindrum won the World Professional Billiards Championship in 1933 and 1934, maintaining his title until his retirement in 1950.
- Retirement Announcement: In August 1936, after eight years as the world's professional champion, Lindrum announced his intention to retire from competitive billiards.
Lindrum's unparalleled skill and numerous records not only dominated the billiards world but also left an enduring legacy in the sport.
