Snooker: Nearly-man Charlton Dies at 75

Eddie Charlton, who died yesterday in a New Zealand hospital at the age of 75, will be best remembered for his late-night epics in the World Championship in Sheffield.

The Australian's most memorable match was in 1979 when he lost 19-17 to Terry Griffiths in a marathon semi-final which included a final session lasting 5hr 25min and finished at 1.40am. It was his last realistic title chance.

This was one of the matches on his mind when a few years ago he reviewed a career embracing defeats in two world finals, six semi-finals and three quarter-finals. "With a bit of luck I could have won the championship three times," he said. "But the reason I haven't won is because I wasn't good enough. If I had been, I wouldn't have needed the luck."

Griffiths, who went on to become the champion, said yesterday: "Eddie was always as tough as they come but he was also very sporty at the table. We all know how much he liked to win but he was humble in both victory and defeat."

John Spencer, three times the world champion in the 1970s and himself suffering from stomach cancer, said: "He was slow but when he was on his game he was as good as anyone. He did a lot for the game in Australia."

Alex Higgins, whose lifestyle was the opposite of Charlton's disciplined approach, once said: "We don't get on. In fact, I don't like him. But sometimes I wish I could be like him."

Of all the shots he played, the one Charlton would most like to take again was the brown from its spot which would have put him five up with six to play against Ray Reardon in their 1975 world final. His eventual 31-30 defeat seemed to create a fissure in his confidence which was never fully repaired.

There was also an instance in the deciding frame after a Reardon foul when Charlton's natural conservatism got the better of him. "There was a long pot to go at but Eddie put me back in," Reardon recalled yesterday. "I potted it and he literally fell out of his chair." Reardon helped him up and then secured the title at that visit with a break of 62.

Reardon returned to the hotel at 4am "and there was Eddie sitting on a sofa by the door. He didn't drink and he wasn't a night owl so I asked him what he was doing. He said, 'I've been waiting for you. I want to buy you a drink'."

Jimmy White recalled their first match in the 1981 Masters: "Eddie beat me and drove me up the wall with his slow play, but he always made me laugh with his wisecracks."

In 1989 he played another unhurried player, Cliff Thorburn, in the first round at the Crucible. Both were past their best. Both competed as if their lives depended upon it. A sizeable press contingent, working its way through a jeroboam of champagne provided by a well-wisher, stuck it out with 50 discerning patrons until Charlton prevailed 10-9 at 2.40am.

It would not do if all snooker matches were like that but every sport thrives on its variety of character and style.