Charles Chambers

Charles Chambers ( 1894 – 21 July 1941) was a referee for the cue sports of snooker and English billiards. He worked at Thurston's Hall in London for three decades and was as well known in billiards circles as the leading players. He was the referee during Walter Lindrum's world record billiards of 4,137 points in 1932. Chambers was the first referee to receive an "A class" certificate from the Billiards Association and Control Council, and refereed the final of the 1937 World Snooker Championship between Joe Davis and Horace Lindrum. His ruling in a 1938 match led to a minimum length being specified in the official rules of the game. Snooker historian Clive Everton wrote that Chambers was "recognised as supreme in his profession". Biography Chambers was born 1894. Willie Smith recalled that Chambers had first refereed in 1910, when Smith played H. W. Stevenson at English billiards. Chambers had been working at Thurston's Hall as a , but took over refereeing duties in the match when the original referee did not appear for the second day of the match. Among the matches he refereed were the final of the 1929 World Professional Billiards Championship, and the final of the 1937 World Snooker Championship between Joe Davis and Horace Lindrum. An annual benefit match was played at Thurston's for Chambers, with professionals playing amateurs in a gala that attracted celebrities from the sporting and showbusiness spheres. He was the referee during Walter Lindrum's world record billiards of 4,137 points in 1932.