1972 Marrickville Professional

The 1972 Marrickville Professional was a non-ranking professional snooker tournament held in Marrickville, Australia in August 1972. It featured three professional players: Alex Higgins, John Pulman, and Eddie Charlton.^[1] Charlton eliminated Pulman to meet Higgins in the final, which Charlton won 19–17.^[2]

Charlton won the first six frames of the final. Higgins took the next session 5–1, and Charlton won five of six frames in the third session to lead 12–6.^[3] The next two sessions were won 5–1 by Higgins to lead 16–14.^[3][4] The players were level at 16–16 before Charlton won frame 33. Higgins levelled the match again, but Charlton won the next two frames to secure victory.^[2] Charlton praised Higgins as a "bold player",^[2] and Higgins remarked that Charlton's "steadiness proved my downfall".^[2]

Higgins played two challenge matches against Paddy Morgan prior to the start of the tournament.^[1] He won 4–3 at Helensburg Workers' Club. but lost 4–5 at Lithgow Workers' Club.^[5] Charlton took a 4–2 lead against Pulman after their first session, and led 9–5 after to sessions, but Pulman went on to level at 10–10 before Charlton won the deciding frame.^[5]

Charlton compiled the highest break of the tournament, 110, during the final,^[2] although Higgins made a 136 break against Morgan.^[3]