Born Kalgoorlie WA
10 April 1910 – 24 February 2004
The delicate art of playing billiards is one the world’s most fascinating sports and Bob Marshall carved a reputation of being a wizard with the cue over six decades.
He dominated amateur billiards before and after World War II, winning the world championship four times (1936,38,51,62) and being runner-up in 1952,1954 and 1985 when he returned to the international scene after a 16-year break.
At home Marshall was the master craftsman of the billiard table, winning the Australian title a record of 21 times, the last being in 1986 at the age of 76 after he emerged from retirement a year earlier. Despite his age, Marshall showed that billiards can be mastered with a keen eye, intense concentration and considerable coolness.
Even though he had been away from the local competitive arena for 15 years, he tackled his comeback with great professionalism and surprised everyone by winning the national title against a host of modern-day stars.
His victory in 1985 gave him the incentive to make another bid for the world title in India where he won all his matches except the final, in which he was hampered due to a mix-up over the whereabouts of this favourite cue.
Marshall was recognized as one of the most prolific and consistent high scorers in the game. His many world records included a break of 702 in 37 minutes in the final of the 1953 Australian Championship. His great strength was his masterful top-of-the-table play where his quick striking and delicate touch enabled him to score at a furious pace.
He twice recorded seven breaks of 100 or more in a two-hour session and in the 1938 world championship final in Melbourne he raced to a break of 335 in little more than 15 minutes.
Marshall retired from competition in 1963, but returned (the first time) in 1969 to win two more Australian titles before his second retirement in 1970. His 1962 world title success earned him the WA Sportsman of the Year award and the Lindy Award, and all-sports award names after the great billiard champion of a previous era, Walter Lindrum.
Marshall was invited to India in 1962 and won both national titles for billiards and snooker.
His highest break was 1056 made in 49 minutes and he averaged 100 or more in a two-hour session on 34 occasions. He holds all world amateur billiard records under the two-pot and baulk-line rule.