12 Facts About Leslie Driffield

Leslie Driffield was an English world champion player of English billiards.

Leslie Driffield won the World Amateur Billiards Championship title twice, in 1952 and 1967; and the Billiards and Snooker Control Council version of the world professional championship, played on a challenge basis, in 1971 and 1973.

Leslie Driffield learnt on a 6x3 foot table at home, then played and practised at the YMCA for 23 years, before winning his first English Amateur Championship title.

Leslie Driffield was coached by George Nelson, and won the Yorkshire Championship in 1937,1938,1950, and 1951, and the Leeds Championship in 1949.

Beetham increased his lead to 271, but Leslie Driffield fought back, with the help of a 142 break, to be 174 behind at the end of that session.

Leslie Driffield was the only player in the competition to win all of his matches, netting 8,538 points for, and 4,254 against, and took the title.

Leslie Driffield left the original trophies in India because of the possible customs problems involved in returning them, and took replica trophies back to the United Kingdom.

Between winning the English and World titles, Leslie Driffield lost the Yorkshire title that he had been attempting to defend.

In 1958, having won further English Amateur titles, Leslie Driffield was the world championship runner-up to Wilson Jones.

Leslie Driffield was a member of the Billiards Association and Control Council, and was present at the meeting where the Council nominated him as the challenger to Rex Williams for the professional Billiards Championship.

Leslie Driffield was known for his concentration and tenacity as a player.

Leslie Driffield was married to Pia, and had three daughters, Barbara, Gitte and Jytte, and a son, Peter Leslie.