The BACC thought the championship was primarily about honour, and financial consideration should come second, whilst the PBPA disagreed.

The status of the event is debated, with some historians only counting Thorburn's, Robertson's & Brecel's wins due to the field of just two players.

The pair met in a best of 145 frame match, held between 25 February and 8 March 1952 at the Houldsworth Hall in Manchester, England.

He also lost all three matches he played on level terms, 10–27 to Albert Brown, 8–29 to John Pulman, and 11–26 to Sidney Smith.

[8] 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.

[8] His last competitive tournament was the 1951 World Snooker Championship, in which he had lost to Walter Donaldson in the semi-final, trailing 25–36 on the final day.

[7] Lindrum became the first player from outside the British Isles to win the World Championship, and would remain the only Australian until compatriot Neil Robertson won the event in 2010.