Thirty-six entrants were divided into eight groups playing. "Round Robins." the top two players from each group qualified for the last sixteen K.O. stage of the competition. This means, of course, that all entrants get at least three games, which makes for a good day's billiards.
R. Ingram, T. Colby. T. Scott. S. Deeming. A. Orion. J. Hills. M. Painter. K. Shirley. R. Evans. G. Willis. A. Keeling. N. Rewhorn. E. Lloyd. J. Birch. J. Smith. B. Dix. The highest breaks of the preliminary games were 109 from John Smith, and 99 from Ritchie Evans.