View source for John Pulman

{{short description|English former professional snooker player, 8-time world champion (last 1968)}}
{{Featured article}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2012}}
{{Infobox snooker player
| name          = John Pulman
| image         = John Pulman.jpg
| alt=A man with round spectacles playing snooker
| caption       = 
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1923|12|12|df=y}}
| birth_place   = [[Teignmouth]], [[Devon]], England
| death_date    = {{death date and age|1998|12|25|1923|12|12|df=y}}
| death_place   = [[Northampton]], England
| Sport country = {{ENG}}
| Professional  = 1946–1981
| High ranking  = 7 ([[Snooker world rankings 1977/1978|1977/78]])
| Official maximums = 
| Best finish   = 
| World champ   = 8 times; [[1957 World Professional Match-play Championship|1957]], and won 7 challenges from [[1964–68 World Snooker Championships|1964–68]]
}}

'''Herbert John Pulman''' (12 December 1923{{spnd}}25 December 1998) was an English professional [[snooker]] player who was the [[World Snooker Championship|World Snooker Champion]] from 1957 to 1968. He first won the title at the [[1957 World Professional Match-play Championship|1957 Championship]] and retained it across seven [[Challenge (competition)|challenges]] from [[1964–68 World Snooker Championships|1964 to 1968]], three of them against [[Fred Davis (snooker player)|Fred Davis]] and two against [[Rex Williams]]. When the tournament reverted to a [[Single-elimination tournament|knockout event]] in [[1969 World Snooker Championship|1969]], he lost 18–25 in the first round to the eventual champion [[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]. After finishing as runner-up to [[Ray Reardon]] in [[1970 World Snooker Championship|1970]], Pulman never again reached the final, although he was a losing semi-finalist in [[1977 World Snooker Championship|1977]].

He turned professional in 1946, shortly after winning the [[English Amateur Championship]], and achieved three [[News of the World Snooker Tournament]] titles, in [[1953/1954 News of the World Snooker Tournament|1954]], [[1956/1957 News of the World Snooker Tournament|1957]] and [[1957/1958 News of the World Snooker Tournament|1958]]. An emotional player, he was prone to venting his frustration and missing important shots. He generally played attacking snooker in his early career, but he made more use of {{cuegloss|safety}} tactics in the 1970s.

Pulman became a television commentator towards the end of his playing career and retired from competitive play in 1981 after breaking his leg in a traffic accident. He died in 1998 following a fall down the stairs at his home. He was one of the inaugural inductees to the [[World Snooker]] Hall of Fame in 2011, alongside seven other winners of multiple world championships.

== Early life ==
Herbert John Pulman,<ref name=timesobit/> known as John Pulman, was born on 12&nbsp;December 1923 in [[Teignmouth]], [[Devon]], England.<ref name=timesobit>{{cite news |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=31 December 1998 |page=25 |title=John Pulman}}</ref><ref name="IOBIT"/> His father was Ernest Charles Pulman, a master baker and [[confectioner]], and his mother was Ernest's wife Gertrude Mary Pulman, née Kent.{{sfn|Cutler|2004|p=543}} In 1929, Ernest Pulman sold his bakery and confectionery business, and the family moved to [[Plymouth]], where he bought a [[billiard hall]] with two [[billiard table|tables]].{{sfn|Cutler|2004|p=543}}{{sfn|Smith|1991|pages=126–130}} Coached by his father,{{sfn|Lowe|1984|p=104}} John Pulman started playing [[English billiards|billiards]] at the age of nine and made his first billiards {{cuegloss|century break}} aged twelve.{{sfn|Smith|1991|pages=126–130}} In his teenage years he also played [[snooker]] and participated in local league competitions.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|page=51}} He attended Exeter Episcopal School,<ref name="WDM38">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Boys' Championship: Exonian in Extraordinary Finish |work=Western Morning News |location=Plymouth |date=28 December 1938 |page=11 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-morning-news-exoninan-in-extraor/142007359/ |via=Newspapers.com }}</ref> where he was a swimming champion and represented his county at [[water polo]].{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|page=51}}

In 1938, Pulman entered the British Boys Billiards Championship but left his [[Cue stick|cue]] on the train on his way to the event at [[Burroughes Hall]].<ref name="WDM38" /> He was invited to choose a cue from a selection at the venue, and he used that particular cue for the rest of his career.{{sfn|Smith|1991|pages=126–130}}<ref name="WDM38" /> In his first match at the event, against [[John Barrie (snooker player)|Barrie Smith]] (later known professionally as John Barrie), Pulman was 199–196 ahead in a 200-up match{{efn|A "200-up" match is one in which the first player to reach 200 points is the winner.{{sfn|Shamos|1999|p=270}}}} when he {{cuegloss|running a coup|ran a coup}}.{{sfn|Smith|1991||pages=126–130}}<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Everton |first=Clive |title=John Barrie: a giant of the three ball game |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=June 1996 |page=34 |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham}}</ref> Smith then got the {{cuegloss|points}} he needed to win. The cue that Pulman had chosen included a metal plate with professional [[Sidney Smith (snooker player)|Sidney Smith]]'s name engraved on it; he later filed Smith's name off, as he felt he could not play [[exhibition match]]es with a cue bearing another professional's name.{{sfn|Smith|1991||pages=126–130}}

During [[World War II]], Pulman was enlisted in the army for three months, making wings for [[Spitfire]]s, before being discharged on medical grounds; he later told journalist Terry Smith that he had [[varicose veins]].{{sfn|Cutler|2004|p=543}}{{sfn|Smith|1991|page=127}}

==Snooker career==
=== Early professional career (1946–1955) ===
In 1946, Pulman won the [[English Amateur Championship]] title, with a 5–3 win over [[Albert Brown (English cricketer)|Albert Brown]] in the final.{{sfn|Everton|1985|p=122}} Aged 20, Pulman was the youngest player to win the event since it was established in 1916.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|page=51}}{{sfn|Morrison|1989|p=132}} Working as an income tax clerk, he took the decision to become a professional player shortly after the championship, having taken advice from [[Joe Davis]], the reigning [[World Snooker Championship|World Champion]].{{sfn|Smith|1991||pages=126–130}}<ref>{{cite news |title='Stars' won't move very far |newspaper=Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette |date=16 November 1946 |page=7}}</ref> Later that year, he made his first two [[century break]]s, just ten days apart.<ref>{{cite news |title=Another Snooker 100 By Pulman |newspaper=Western Daily Press |date=8 November 1946 |page=2 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-daily-press-another-snooker-100/142133387/|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> 

At the start of his professional career, Pulman was living at the home of his patron Bill Lampard, who was a baker from Bristol and a member of the [[Billiards Association and Control Council]] (BA&CC).{{sfn|Lowe|1984|p=104}}{{sfn|Everton|2012|p=38}} Lampard built a [[billiard room]] at his house, where Pulman was able to practise.{{sfn|Everton|2012|p=38}} Snooker historian [[Clive Everton]] alleges that this arrangement ended after Pulman was discovered in bed with Lampard's wife.{{sfn|Everton|2012|p=38}} Pulman practised playing snooker for eight hours a day over several years, in pursuit of a level of consistency that would bring him to the standard of the top professionals.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|page=52}} Shortly after turning professional, he had started wearing spectacles for playing snooker, using the same type of swivel-lens glasses that were worn by his fellow professional [[Fred Davis (snooker player)|Fred Davis]].{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|page=52}}

Pulman made his first appearance at the [[World Snooker Championship]] in [[1947 World Snooker Championship|1947]], losing 14–21 to Brown in the first round of qualification.{{sfn|Kobylecky|2019|pages=198–200}} The following season, he won the qualifying section of the [[1948 World Snooker Championship|1948 World Championship]], progressing through the first two matches and then defeating [[Willie Leigh]] 18–17 on the final {{cuegloss|black}} in the {{cuegloss|deciding frame}} of the last qualifying match.<ref>{{cite news |title=John Pulman Beats Willie Leigh – Wins on Black in Last Frame |work=Western Daily Press |page=3 |date=15 January 1948 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-daily-press-john-pulman-beats-wi/142007740/ |via=Newspapers.com }}</ref> He lost 29–42 to [[Clark McConachy]] in the first round of the main draw.{{sfn|Kobylecky|2019|pages=198–200}} Later the same year, he won the qualifying event for the [[1948 Sunday Empire News Tournament]] and, benefitting from a points [[handicap (sports)|handicap]], finished second in the main event behind Joe Davis. Pulman's total prize money was £400 ({{Inflation|UK|400|1948|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}), made up of £150 for his qualifying win and £250 for his second-place finish overall.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|pages=50–57}}

At the [[1949 World Snooker Championship|1949 World Championship]], Pulman eliminated Brown in his first match but then lost 22–49 to [[Walter Donaldson (snooker player)|Walter Donaldson]] in the semi-finals.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|page=53}} He lost his opening match in [[1950 World Snooker Championship|1950]] and withdrew from the [[1951 World Snooker Championship|following year's championship]] due to influenza when trailing 14–22 against Fred Davis in their semi-final match.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|page=53}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Snooker |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=26 January 1951 |page=7}}</ref> He also participated in the annual [[News of the World Snooker Tournament]], which was a [[Round-robin tournament|round-robin]] event with points handicaps applied, first staged in [[1949/1950 News of the World Snooker Tournament|1949/1950]].{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|page=53}}{{sfn|Morrison|1989|pages=86–88}} He was runner-up in the [[1950/1951 News of the World Snooker Tournament|1950/1951]] edition and won in [[1953/1954 News of the World Snooker Tournament|1953/1954]].{{sfn|Morrison|1989|pages=86–88}} He married Frances Anne Hayes in April 1953.{{sfn|Cutler|2004|p=543}}

=== World snooker championship contests (1955–1968) ===
Pulman first reached the final of the [[World Professional Match-play Championship]], which was now effectively the world championship, in [[1955 World Professional Match-play Championship|1955]].{{sfn|Everton|1985|pages=55–67}} He defeated [[Rex Williams]] 22–15 in the quarter-finals and [[Alec Brown (snooker player)|Alec Brown]] 37–24 in the semi-finals before losing 35–38 to Fred Davis in the final, which was played at [[Blackpool Tower Circus]].{{sfn|Everton|1985|pages=55–67}}<ref name="GH1"/> Davis was 10–2 ahead at the end of the first day,<ref name="GH1">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pkpAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=clkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2352%2C1628726 |title=Snooker |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=4 |date=15 March 1955 |access-date=2 July 2020 |archive-date=26 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426072635/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pkpAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=clkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2352%2C1628726 |url-status=live }}</ref> but Pulman had narrowed the gap, at 15–9, by the end of the second day of play.<ref name=day2>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p0pAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=clkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3687%2C1761164 |title=Snooker |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=4 |date=16 March 1955 |access-date=2 July 2020 |archive-date=26 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426020710/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p0pAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=clkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3687%2C1761164 |url-status=live }}</ref> Davis led 20–16 after day three, 27–21 after day four and 33–27 after day five;<ref name=day4>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qUpAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=clkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5327%2C2024672 |title=Snooker |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=4 |date=18 March 1955 |access-date=2 July 2020 |archive-date=26 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426075250/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qUpAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=clkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5327%2C2024672 |url-status=live }}</ref> he won the match on the sixth day to claim the title.<ref name=day6>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q0pAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=clkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2979%2C2382485 |title=Snooker & billiards |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=11 |date=21 March 1955 |access-date=2 July 2020 |archive-date=22 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222174038/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q0pAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=clkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2979%2C2382485 |url-status=live }}</ref> Pulman made three century breaks during the final: 103 on day two,<ref name=day2/> another 103 on day four,<ref name=day4/> and 101 in the last of the {{cuegloss|dead frames}}.<ref name=day6/> Davis defeated him again in the [[1956 World Professional Match-play Championship|1956]] final, at 33–37, with the score finishing at 35–38 after dead frames.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|page=54}} Pulman won all five of his matches at the [[1956/1957 News of the World Snooker Tournament]], to take the title for a second time.{{sfn|Kobylecky|2019|pages=198–200}}

Fred Davis was not among the four entrants for the [[1957 World Professional Match-play Championship]].{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|page=54}} In the semi-finals, Pulman was level at 12–12 with Williams before winning the match 19–16. In the final, he trailed [[Jack Rea]] at 2–4, 5–8 and 8–11 before equalising at 11–11. Rea then opened up another lead to leave Pulman 15–20 behind. Pulman took four successive frames to narrow his deficit to 19–20, going on to take the lead 24–22, and starting the final day 32–27 ahead. He won the title at 37–29, and the score finished at 39–34 after dead frames. The tournament received little media coverage, and the championship was not staged again for another seven years.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|pages=54–55}} Public interest in the sport had been declining since 1946 when Joe Davis retired from competing in the world championship.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wst.tv/wpbsa/history-of-snooker/ |title=History of Snooker |last1=Nunns |first1=Hector |last2=Hendon |first2=David |website=World Snooker |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815075857/https://wst.tv/wpbsa/history-of-snooker/ |archive-date=15 August 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=11 February 2021}}</ref> In preference to finding an alternative career, Pulman continued to play exhibition matches, despite the limited income he was able to earn from this.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|page=55}}

In 1964, the [[1964 Conayes Professional Tournament|Conayes Professional Tournament]] was held at the Rex Williams Snooker Centre in [[Blackheath, West Midlands|Blackheath]], being the first commercially sponsored professional snooker event since 1960. Pulman was one of the four competitors, along with Fred Davis, Rea, and Williams, and won the event.{{sfn|Morrison|1989|page=8}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Everton |first=Clive |title=Williams ready for snooker clash |work=Birmingham Daily Post |date=22 September 1964 |page=15}}</ref> Williams was the driving force behind the revival of the World Snooker Championship in 1964, obtaining sanction for the competition after an approach to the BA&CC chairman Harold Phillips. [[1964–68 World Snooker Championships|The championship was reinstated]] on a [[Challenge (competition)|challenge]] basis, with the first match scheduled between Pulman, who had won the most recent championship in 1957, and the challenger Fred Davis.{{sfn|Morrison|1989|page=8}} Pulman defeated Davis 19–16 at Burroughes Hall in April 1964 to retain the title that he had claimed seven years earlier.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|pages=50–57}}<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Professional snooker title for Pulman | work=The Times |location=London |date=23 April 1964 |page=4 }}</ref> Davis had been leading 15–12 when he failed to audibly nominate a {{cue gloss|free ball}}, and the referee called a {{cuegloss|foul}}; despite both players disagreeing with the referee's decision, he refused to change his ruling, and commentators felt that Davis's reaction led to a noticeable deterioration in the standard of his play.{{sfn|Kobylecky|2019|p=199}}{{sfn|Everton|1986|p=65}}

Williams challenged Pulman for the title in October 1964. The match was played over 73 frames and took place from 12 to 17&nbsp;October at Burroughes Hall. Williams led 8–4 at the end of the first day,<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=K21AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oaMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4497%2C1975697 |date=13 October 1964 |page=5 |title=Snooker |access-date=26 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210001716/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=K21AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oaMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4497%2C1975697 |archive-date=10 February 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> but Pulman won 11 of the 12 frames on the second day to lead 15–9.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LG1AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oaMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2979%2C2177634 |date=14 October 1964 |page=5 |title=Snooker |access-date=26 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210001716/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LG1AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oaMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2979%2C2177634 |archive-date=10 February 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> He extended his lead to 31–17 after the fourth day of play,<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Lm1AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oaMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1421%2C2571892 |date=16 October 1964 |page=6 |title=Snooker |access-date=26 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210001716/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Lm1AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oaMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1421%2C2571892 |archive-date=10 February 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> winning the match on the fifth day by taking a 37–23 lead.<ref name="GH64">{{cite news |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L21AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oaMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6487%2C2771180 |date=17 October 1964 |page=6 |title=Snooker |access-date=26 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210001716/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L21AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oaMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6487%2C2771180 |archive-date=10 February 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> After playing the remaining 13 dead frames on the sixth and final day, Pulman finished 40–33 ahead.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=19 October 1964 |page=5 |title=Snooker}}</ref>

In March 1965, Pulman retained his title in a final-frame decider by defeating his challenger Fred Davis, 37–36, winning the last two frames from 35–36 behind.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|pages=50–57}}<ref name="GH65">{{cite news |title=Pulman Champion |newspaper=Western Daily Press |date=22 March 1965 |page=12 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-daily-press-pulman-champion/142134141/ |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Williams and Pulman met again in late 1965 in a series of short matches in [[South Africa]], where Pulman won 25 of their 47 matches. At one of the venues, where there were no spectators present, the players reportedly [[Coin flipping|spun a coin]] to determine the winner, instead of playing the match.{{sfn|Everton|1985|pages=55–67}}{{sfn|Everton|2012|p=41}} In late 1965, Pulman defeated a further challenger, [[Fred Van Rensburg]], 39–12.{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=826–827}}

Fred Davis challenged Pulman for a third time in 1966, in a series of seven best-of-five-frames matches. Pulman won the series at four matches to Davis's two, also taking the seventh match to win 5–2.{{sfn|Kobylecky|2019|pages=198–200}} Pulman won the world title for the eighth time in 1968 by fending off a challenge from [[Eddie Charlton]].{{sfn|Kobylecky|2019|pages=198–200}} After the first 30 frames, Charlton was ahead 16–14; Pulman then took five of the next six frames, three of them on the final black, leaving Charlton 17–19 behind. Pulman eventually reached a winning lead of 37–28 and finished 39–34 ahead after dead frames.{{sfn|Kobylecky|2019|pages=198–200}}

=== Later career and retirement (1968–1998) ===
In 1967, Pulman had spent time touring snooker clubs across the [[Midlands]] doing promotional work for the tobacco brand [[John Player]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Harper |first=Ronnie |title=Players provide £4,000 in prizes |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |date=7 October 1967 |page=12}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Everton |first=Clive |title=Pulman—Man With Mission |newspaper=Birmingham Daily Post |date=10 November 1967 |page=17 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-post-pulman-man-with-mi/142133492/ |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and in turn the company sponsored his 1968 world title challenge match against Eddie Charlton.{{sfn|Everton|2012|p=46}} The good attendances for the Pulman/Charlton match led to John Player's decision to sponsor the [[1969 World Snooker Championship]] as a [[Single-elimination tournament|knockout tournament]].{{sfn|Everton|2012|p=46}} The 1969 event, with its updated format, is generally regarded as the start of the modern snooker era.<ref name="MODERA">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=John Higgins eyes more crucible titles |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/5276218/John-Higgins-eyes-more-Crucible-titles.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=5 May 2009 |access-date=13 April 2020 |url-access=registration |quote="the modern era, which began in 1969 when the World Championship became a knockout event." |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430020307/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/5276218/John-Higgins-eyes-more-Crucible-titles.html |archive-date=30 April 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Unable to defend his title, Pulman was eliminated 18–25 by the eventual champion [[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]] in the first round of the competition.{{sfn|Everton|1985|pages=53–55}} 

He reached the final of the [[1970 World Snooker Championship|1970 World Championship]] but lost 33–37 to [[Ray Reardon]], having earlier recovered from 14–27 behind to almost draw level at 33–34.{{sfn|Everton|1985|pages=53–55}} [[1971 World Snooker Championship|The following year]], he failed to qualify from the round-robin stages that determined the semi-finalists, and in [[1972 World Snooker Championship|1972]] he lost 23–31 to the eventual champion [[Alex Higgins]] in the quarter-finals.{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=826–827}}{{sfn|Everton|1985|pages=53–55}} In October 1972, he was rescued, unconscious, from a road traffic collision, but he fully recovered in time to play in the [[Park Drive 2000]] tournament that was held less than two weeks later.{{sfn|Everton|Silverton|1973|p=7}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Silverton |first=John |title=After 20 years – no Billiards League in Coventry |newspaper=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=7 October 1972 |page=6 |edition=Pink Final (Special) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph-after-20-year/142155745/ |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> That December, he was runner-up to Higgins in the [[1972 Ford Series Tournament]], an invitational event with four world champions in competition.<ref name="FORDT">{{cite magazine |title=Higgins in top gear at Ford tournament |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=February 1973 |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |page=9}}</ref> The following year, he reached the final of the [[1973 Norwich Union Open]].<ref name="GRAUN73">{{cite news |title=Spencer regains the title |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-spencer-regains-the-title/140098420/ |date=30 November 1973 |page=27 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> His opponent, Spencer, took a 5–2 lead before Pulman won five of the next seven frames to level the match at 7–7 and force a deciding frame. Spencer led by 57 points, but Pulman then made a break of 39 before failing to {{cuegloss|pot}} the {{cuegloss|green ball}}, allowing Spencer to {{cuegloss|clearance|clear the table}} as far as the {{cuegloss|pink}} and win the match.<ref name="GRAUN73"/>

Pulman did not progress to the quarter-final stage of the World Championship again until [[1977 World Snooker Championship|1977]], the first time the event was held at the [[Crucible Theatre]] in Sheffield.{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=826–827}}{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|page=56}} He reached the semi-finals, with wins over Fred Davis and [[Graham Miles]], before losing 16–18 to Spencer, the eventual champion.{{sfn|Everton|1985|pages=53–55}} After 1977, he was unable to win another World Championship match, although he continued to enter until [[1982 World Snooker Championship|1982]].<ref name="GOBIT"/> He reached the final of the [[1977 Pontins Professional]] event, where he was again defeated by Spencer, 5–7.{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=826–827}} After the introduction of [[snooker world rankings]] in 1976, Pulman achieved his highest position of seventh in the [[Snooker world rankings 1977/1978|1977/1978]] ranking list.<ref name="RANK76"/><ref name="Ranking history"/>

His book ''Tackle Snooker This Way'', which had first been published in 1965, was revised and published as ''Tackle Snooker'' in 1974.{{sfn|Cutler|2004|p=544}} Pulman and his wife Frances divorced around 1978; they had three children.{{sfn|Cutler|2004|p=543}} He was declared bankrupt on 7&nbsp;February 1979 with personal debts of £5,916 ({{Inflation|UK|5916|1979|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}). By this time, he was suffering from severe motivational problems and living in a hotel in [[Bromley]].<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham|date=March 1979 |title=Untitled |page=25}}</ref> 

He did not play professionally again after his leg was broken in five places when he was hit by a London bus in October 1981.<ref name="IOBIT">{{cite news |last=Baxter |first=Trevor |date=26 January 1999 |title=Obituary: John Pulman |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-john-pulman-1076338.html |work=The Independent |location=London |access-date=27 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127230011/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-john-pulman-1076338.html |archive-date=27 November 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="GOBIT">{{cite news |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=28 December 1998 |title=John Pulman: Nights on the green beige table |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-nights-on-the-green-beige-t/140098181/ |work=The Guardian |location=London |page=13 |via=Newspapers.com }}</ref><ref name="SCENE82Q">{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Embassy world professional qualifying competition |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=June 1982 |pages=5–8}}</ref> He later admitted that he had already lost his enthusiasm for playing snooker by the time his accident happened.<ref name=timesobit /> While he was being treated in hospital, he accepted an offer from [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] to work as a snooker commentator, having previously worked in that role for the [[BBC]] and for [[Scottish Television|STV]].{{sfn|Smith|1991||pages=126–130}} He continued to commentate until his death.<ref name="IOBIT"/> Everton, who had taken Pulman to court in a dispute over payment for his contribution to Pulman's ''Tackle Snooker'',{{sfn|Everton|2012|pp=338–339}} later wrote that Pulman had "the voice, the authority, and of course the knowledge" to be a good commentator.{{sfn|Everton|2012|pp=338–339}}

In 1998, he fell down the stairs at home while his girlfriend was away, broke his hip, and lay on the floor unable to move for almost 24 hours. He was transferred to hospital and died soon afterwards, on 25&nbsp;December 1998, aged 75.{{sfn|Cutler|2004|p=544}}{{sfn|Everton|2012|p=376}}

==Playing style and influence==
Pulman was an emotional player, prone to venting his frustration and missing important shots.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|p=50}} For the first part of his career he generally played attacking snooker, but in the 1970s he made more use of {{cuegloss|safety}} tactics.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|p=50}} Fred Davis reflected that Pulman's impatience and lapses in concentration had probably cost him frames in their world championship finals in the mid-1950s and that, as Pulman became more patient in his play, he became a stronger opponent.{{sfn|Davis|1983|pages=21–23}} At 6{{nbsp}}feet 2{{nbsp}}inches (188{{nbsp}}cm), Pulman was unusually tall among the leading players of the 1940s, and adapted a stance where his legs were relatively close together, meaning that more weight was transferred to his back foot than was typical among professionals.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|p=52}} This enabled him to take full advantage of his height and his reach while playing shots.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|p=52}}

In their 2005 book ''Masters of the Baize'', Luke Williams and Paul Gadsby commented that Pulman "suffered the unenviable fate of being world champion for the 11-year period between 1957 and 1968 in which professional snooker all but died".{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|p=50}} Commentator [[Ted Lowe]], who had managed [[Leicester Square Hall]] from 1947 to 1955 and was a long-time snooker commentator for [[BBC Television]], considered that Pulman's exciting style of play and sense of humour "did a tremendous salvage job for the game when it needed it most".{{sfn|Lowe|1984|p=103}}

Alex Higgins, the world champion in 1972 and 1982 whose popularity helped make snooker a growing sport in the 1970s and 1980s,{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|p=80}} wrote of Pulman: "If I ever had a hero as a kid, I guess it was John Pulman{{nbsp}}... [when] I was growing up, Pulman was invincible: a brilliant potter, a tactician, and foxy in the safety department."{{sfn|Higgins|1981|p=33}} Pulman's all-round game was also praised by Ray Reardon.{{sfn|Reardon|Hennessey|1986|p=110}} John Spencer admired Pulman's aptitude when using a {{cuegloss|rest}}.{{sfn|Spencer|1978|p=114}} [[Steve Davis]], who met Pulman in a match at the 1977 [[Pontins Open]], observed how Pulman and Reardon both adapted to the poor quality of the snooker tables rather than complaining, and he found this to be a valuable lesson.{{sfn|Davis|2016|p=68}}

Pulman was one of the inaugural inductees to the [[World Snooker]] Hall of Fame in 2011, alongside seven other winners of multiple world championships.<ref name="WS2011">{{cite web|title=Higgins Voted Player Of The Year |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~2354226,00.html |website=World Snooker| date=7 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511191326/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~2354226,00.html|archive-date=11 May 2011}}</ref>

== Performance and rankings timeline ==

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;"
|+Performance timeline for John Pulman, 1946 to 1968
! scope="col" | '''Tournament'''
! scope="col" | 1946/47
! scope="col" | 1947/48
! scope="col" | 1948/49
! scope="col" | 1949/50
! scope="col" | 1950/51
! scope="col" | 1951/52
! scope="col" | 1952/53
! scope="col" | 1953/54
! scope="col" | 1954/55
! scope="col" | 1955/56
! scope="col" | 1956/57
! scope="col" | 1957/58
! scope="col" | 1958/59
! scope="col" | 1959/60
! scope="col" | [[1963–64 snooker season|1963/64]]
! scope="col" | Oct 1964
! scope="col" | Mar 1965
! scope="col" | Nov 1965
! scope="col" | Dec 1965
! scope="col" | Apr 1966
! scope="col" | Mar 1968
! scope="col" | {{ref heading}}
|-
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1948 Sunday Empire News Tournament|Sunday Empire News Tournament]]{{efn|name=nba|Round-robin handicap tournament{{sfn|Morrison|1989|pages=86–88}}}}
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" | Not Held
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;" | [[1948 Sunday Empire News Tournament|2nd/5]]
| colspan="18" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" | Tournament Not Held
|align="center" |{{sfn|Morrison|1989|p=86}}<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Morrison |first=Ian |title=History of a tournament{{nbsp}}... the Empire News tournament |magazine=Pot Black |date=December 1985 |page=40 |publisher=Mirus (UK) |location=Henley-on-Thames |issn=0268-2109}}</ref>
|-
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Professional Matchplay Championship]]
| colspan="5" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" | Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[1952 World Professional Match-play Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | [[1953 World Professional Match-play Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | [[1954 World Professional Match-play Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;" | [[1955 World Professional Match-play Championship|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;" | [[1956 World Professional Match-play Championship|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | [[1957 World Professional Match-play Championship|'''W''']]
| colspan="10" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" | Tournament Not Held
| align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=826–827}}
|-
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[News of the World Snooker Tournament]]{{efn|name=nba}}<!--<ref group="nb" name="rrh">Round-robin handicap tournament</ref>-->{{efn|[[Snooker Plus]] event in 1959/60 season{{sfn|Morrison|1989|pages=86–88}}}}
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" | Not Held
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;" | [[1949/1950 News of the World Snooker Tournament|6th/8]]
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;" | [[1950/1951 News of the World Snooker Tournament|2nd/8]]
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;" | [[1951/1952 News of the World Snooker Tournament|5th/9]]
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;" | [[1952/1953 News of the World Snooker Tournament|6th/9]]
| align="center" style="background:#0f0;" | [[1953/1954 News of the World Snooker Tournament|'''1st'''/9]]
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;" | [[1954/1955 News of the World Snooker Tournament|7th/9]]
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;" | [[1955/1956 News of the World Snooker Tournament|4th/6]]
| align="center" style="background:#0f0;" | [[1956/1957 News of the World Snooker Tournament|'''1st'''/6]]
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;" | [[1957/1958 News of the World Snooker Tournament|2nd/6]]
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;" | [[1958 News of the World Snooker Tournament|3rd/4]]
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;" | [[1959 News of the World Snooker Plus Tournament|3rd/3]]
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" | Tournament Not Held
|align="center" |{{sfn|Kobylecky|2019|pages=198–200}}<ref>
*{{cite news |title=Davis Surprises Himself |work=Western Daily Press |date=23 January 1950 |page=3 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-daily-press-davis-surprises-hims/142133546/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
*{{cite news |title=£1,500 snooker placings |work=Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer |date=22 January 1951 |page=3}}
*{{cite news |title=Professional Snooker |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=21 January 1952 |page=4}}
*{{cite news |title=Professional Snooker |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=19 January 1953 |page=9}}
*{{cite magazine |magazine=The Billiard Player |title=Professional play |publisher=The Billiards Association and Control Club |date=February 1954 |page=9 }}
*{{cite magazine |title=Final table – 'News of the World' £1,500 Snooker Tournament |magazine=The Billiard Player |publisher=The Billiards Association and Control Club |date=February 1955 |page=13}}
*{{cite magazine |title='News of the World' £1,500 Snooker Tournament |magazine=The Billiard Player |publisher=The Billiards Association and Control Club |date=March 1956 |page=11}}
</ref>
|-
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1964 Conayes Professional Tournament|Conayes Professional Tournament]]
| colspan="14" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" | Tournament Not Held
| align="center" style="background:#0f0;" | [[1964 Conayes Professional Tournament|'''W''']]
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" | Tournament Not Held
| align="center" |{{sfn|Morrison|1989|p=8}}<ref name="B23MAR"/>
|-
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[World Snooker Championship|World Championship]]{{efn|Tournaments between 1964 and 1968 were challenge matches.{{sfn|Everton|1985|pages=55–67}}}}
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" | [[1947 World Snooker Championship|LQ]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | [[1948 World Snooker Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | [[1949 World Snooker Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | [[1950 World Snooker Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | [[1951 World Snooker Championship|SF]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A
| colspan="8" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" | Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | [[1964–68 World Snooker Championships#Results|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | [[1964–68 World Snooker Championships#Results|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | [[1964–68 World Snooker Championships#Results|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | [[1964–68 World Snooker Championships#Results|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | [[1964–68 World Snooker Championships#Results|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | [[1964–68 World Snooker Championships#Results|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | [[1964–68 World Snooker Championships#Results|'''W''']]
| align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=826–827}}
|}


{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%"
|+Performance timeline for John Pulman for the modern era of snooker, from 1968/69{{efn|The "modern era" of snooker can be said to begin from the 1969 World Championship.<ref name="MODERA"/>}}
|-
! scope="col" width=200| '''Tournament'''
! scope="col" | [[1968–69 snooker season|1968/69]]
! scope="col" | [[1969–70 snooker season|1969/70]]
! scope="col" | [[1970–71 snooker season|1970/71]]
! scope="col" | [[1971–72 snooker season|1971/72]]
! scope="col" | [[1972–73 snooker season|1972/73]]
! scope="col" | [[1973–74 snooker season|1973/74]]
! scope="col" | [[1974–75 snooker season|1974/75]]
! scope="col" | [[1975–76 snooker season|1975/76]]
! scope="col" | [[1976–77 snooker season|1976/77]]
! scope="col" | [[1977–78 snooker season|1977/78]]
! scope="col" | [[1978–79 snooker season|1978/79]]
! scope="col" | [[1979–80 snooker season|1979/80]]
! scope="col" | [[1980–81 snooker season|1980/81]]
! scope="col" | {{ref heading}}
|-
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Canadian Masters (snooker)|Canadian Open]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6" | Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" | A
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;" | [[1975 Canadian Open|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | [[1976 Canadian Open|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[1977 Canadian Open|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[1978 Canadian Open|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" | A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" | A
| align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=145, 826–827}}
|-
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[UK Championship]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9" | Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" | [[1977 UK Championship (snooker)|WD]]{{efn|Pulman withdrew due to an eye injury.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--not stated--> |title=Round by round |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=January 1978 |page=20}}</ref>}}
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[1978 UK Championship (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[1979 UK Championship (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[1980 UK Championship (snooker)|1R]]
| align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=826–827}}
|-
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Masters (snooker)|The Masters]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6" | Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | [[1975 Masters (snooker)|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | [[1976 Masters (snooker)|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[1977 Masters (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | [[1978 Masters (snooker)|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" | A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" | A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" | A
| align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=826–827}}
|-
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[British Open (snooker)|Yamaha Organs Trophy]]{{efn|The equivalent event was called the British Gold Cup in the 1979/1980 season.{{sfn|Everton|1985|p=66}}}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="11" | Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[1980 British Gold Cup|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" | [[1981 Yamaha Organs Trophy|LQ]]
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--not stated--> |title=Success story: the British gold cup |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=April 1980 |pages=5–7}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--not stated--> |title=Qualifying groups |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=February 1981 |page=5}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Park Drive 2000|Park Drive 2000 (Spring)]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[Park Drive 2000#1971 (January)|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[Park Drive 2000#1972 (Spring)|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9"|Tournament Not Held
|align="center" | {{sfn|Everton|1982|p=90}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Park Drive 2000|Park Drive 2000 (Autumn)]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3"|Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[Park Drive 2000#1971 (October)|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[Park Drive 2000#1972 (Autumn)|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="8"|Tournament Not Held
|align="center" | {{sfn|Everton|1982|p=90}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Men of the Midlands]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3"|Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[1972 Men of the Midlands|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[1973 Men of the Midlands|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="8"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Snooker clash |work=Birmingham Daily Post |location=Birmingham |date=1 January 1972 |page=16 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Men of the Midlands |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=April 1972 |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |page=15}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Men of the Midlands |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=March 1973 |page=14}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1974 World Masters|World Masters]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1974 World Masters|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite news |title=Charlton tops the bill |newspaper=The Age |date=29 June 1974 |page=28 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-charlton-tops-the-bill/142133122/ |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Reardon is beaten in snooker |newspaper=The Canberra Times |date=5 July 1974 |page=18 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110717925?searchTerm=%22Reardon%20is%20beaten%20in%20snooker%22 |via=Trove}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Norwich Union Open]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5"| Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;" | [[1973 Norwich Union Open|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | [[1974 Norwich Union Open|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=826–827}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1974 Watney Open|Watney Open]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6"| Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[1974 Watney Open|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The £3000 Watney open |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=December 1974 |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |page=19}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1976 Canadian Club Masters|Canadian Club Masters]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="7"| Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | [[1976 Canadian Club Masters|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5"|Tournament Not Held
|align="center" |<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Higgins beats Reardon to win Canadian Club masters |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=July 1976 |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |pages=16–17}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1979 Holsten Lager International|Holsten Lager International]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="10"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1979 Holsten Lager International|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
|align="center" |<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--No byline-->|title=Spencer first in Holsten lager international|magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=February 1979 |pages=12–15}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1980 Pontins Camber Sands|Pontins Camber Sands]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="11"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | [[1980 Pontins Camber Sands|QF]]{{efn|name=L1|There were only eight players in the tournament. Pulman lost his first match.<ref name="RWH"/>{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=826–827}}}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" | NH
|align="center" |<ref name="RWH">{{cite magazine |author=<!--No byline-->|title=Revenge win for Higgins |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=July 1980 |page=10}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Pontins Professional]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd; "| [[1974 Pontins Professional|QF]]{{efn|name=L1}}
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | [[1975 Pontins Professional|QF]]{{efn|name=L1}}
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | [[1976 Pontins Professional|QF]]{{efn|name=L1}}
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;" | [[1977 Pontins Professional|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[1978 Pontins Professional|RR]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=826–827}}
|-
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[World Snooker Championship|World Championship]]{{efn|This was a ranking event from 1974.<ref name="RANK76">{{cite magazine |title=Official rankings |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=August 1976 |page=10}}</ref>}}
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | [[1969 World Snooker Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;" | [[1970 World Snooker Championship|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[1971 World Snooker Championship|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | [[1972 World Snooker Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[1973 World Snooker Championship|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[1974 World Snooker Championship|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[1975 World Snooker Championship|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[1976 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | [[1977 World Snooker Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[1978 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" | LQ
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | [[1980 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" | LQ
| align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=826–827}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%"
|+Ranking timeline for John Pulman
! scope="col" width=200| '''Tournament'''
! scope="col" | [[1968–69 snooker season|1968/69]]
! scope="col" | [[1969–70 snooker season|1969/70]]
! scope="col" | [[1970–71 snooker season|1970/71]]
! scope="col" | [[1971–72 snooker season|1971/72]]
! scope="col" | [[1972–73 snooker season|1972/73]]
! scope="col" | [[1973–74 snooker season|1973/74]]
! scope="col" | [[1974–75 snooker season|1974/75]]
! scope="col" | [[1975–76 snooker season|1975/76]]
! scope="col" | [[1976–77 snooker season|1976/77]]
! scope="col" | [[1977–78 snooker season|1977/78]]
! scope="col" | [[1978–79 snooker season|1978/79]]
! scope="col" | [[1979–80 snooker season|1979/80]]
! scope="col" | [[1980–81 snooker season|1980/81]]
! scope="col" | {{ref heading}}
|-
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Snooker world rankings|World ranking]]
| align="center" colspan="8" style="color:#555555;" | No ranking system
| align="center" | [[Snooker world rankings 1976/1977|15]]
| align="center" | [[Snooker world rankings 1977/1978|7]]
| align="center" | [[Snooker world rankings 1978/1979|10]]
| align="center" | [[Snooker world rankings 1979/1980|14]]
| align="center" | [[Snooker world rankings 1980/1981|19]]
| align="center" |<ref name="Ranking history">{{cite web |title=Ranking History |url=https://www.snooker.org/rnk/history.asp |website=snooker.org |access-date=6 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219070820/https://www.snooker.org/rnk/history.asp |archive-date=19 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;"
! colspan="6" | Performance Table Legend
|-
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30" | LQ
| lost in the qualifying draw
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;" | #R
| lost in the early rounds of the tournament (RR = Round robin)
| align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;" | QF
| lost in the quarter-finals
|-
| align="center" style="background:yellow;" | SF
| lost in the semi-finals
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;" | F
| lost in the final
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
| won the tournament
|-
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30" | A
| did not participate in the tournament
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30" | WD
| withdrew from the tournament
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30" | NH
| not held
|}

== Career finals ==
=== Amateur (1 title) ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Amateur snooker finals contested by John Pulman
|-
! scope=col| Outcome
! scope=col| No.
! scope=col| Year
! scope=col| Championship
! scope=col| Opponent in the final
! scope=col| Score
! scope="col" align="center" class=unsortable |{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 1.
| 1946
| [[English Amateur Championship]]
| {{flagathlete|[[Albert Brown (English cricketer)|Albert Brown]]|ENG}}
| align="center" | {{sort|05–03|5–3}}
| align="center" |{{sfn|Smith|1991||pages=126–130}}{{sfn|Everton|1985|page=122}}
|-
|}

=== Non-ranking finals: 26 (15 titles) ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Legend
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| World Championship{{efn|Known as the [[World Professional Match-play Championship]] between 1952 and 1957{{sfn|Morrison|1987|page=163}}}}<!--<ref group="nb">Known as [[World Professional Match-play Championship]] between 1952 and 1957</ref>-->
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Finals contested by John Pulman, and league tournaments in which he finished in first or second place
|-
! width="80" | Outcome
! width="20" | No.
! width="50" | Year
! Championship
! Opponent
! Score
! {{ref heading}}
|-
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 1.
| 1948
| Sunday Empire News Qualifying Tournament 
| data-sort-value="Kennerley, Kingsley"| {{flagathlete|[[Kingsley Kennerley]]|ENG}}
| align="center" | League
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite news |title=Kennerley second |work=Birmingham Gazette |date=4 October 1948 |page=4 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-gazette-kennerley-second/142132658/ |via=Newspapers.com }}</ref>
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 1.
| 1948
| [[Sunday Empire News Tournament]]
| data-sort-value="Davis, Joe" |{{flagathlete|[[Joe Davis]]|ENG}}
| align="center" | League
| align="center" |{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|pages=50–57}}
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 2.
| [[1950/1951 News of the World Snooker Tournament|1951]]
| [[News of the World Snooker Tournament]]
| data-sort-value="Brown, Alec" |{{flagathlete|[[Alec Brown (snooker player)|Alec Brown]]|ENG}}
| align="center" | League
| align="center" |{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|pages=50–57}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Alec Brown winner of £1,500 snooker |work=Birmingham Gazette |date=22 January 1951 |page=2 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-gazette-alec-brown-winner-of/142132953/ |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
|-
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 2.
| [[1953/1954 News of the World Snooker Tournament|1954]]
| [[News of the World Snooker Tournament]]
| data-sort-value="Davis, Joe" |{{flagathlete|[[Joe Davis]]|ENG}}
| align="center" | League
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite news |title=Fred Davis Beats Joe on Level Terms |work=Birmingham Daily Post |date=18 January 1954 |page=10 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-post-fred-davis-beats-joe/142133018/ |via=Newspapers.com }}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 3.
| [[1955 World Professional Match-play Championship|1955]]
| [[World Professional Match-play Championship]]
| data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" |{{flagathlete|[[Fred Davis (snooker player)|Fred Davis]]|ENG}}
| align="center" | {{sort|35–38|35–38}}{{efn|Davis won the match when the score reached 37–31.<ref>{{cite news |title=Davis retains his world title |newspaper=Lancashire Evening Post |date=21 March 1955 |page=5}}</ref>}}
| align="center" |{{sfn|Everton|1985|pages=55–67}}
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 4.
| [[1956 World Professional Match-play Championship|1956]]
| [[World Professional Match-play Championship]] <small>(2)</small>
| data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" |{{flagathlete|[[Fred Davis (snooker player)|Fred Davis]]|ENG}}
| align="center" | {{sort|35–38|35–38}}{{efn|Davis won the match when the score reached 33–37.{{sfn|Kobylecky|2019|pages=198–200}}}}
| align="center" |{{sfn|Everton|1985|pages=55–67}}
|-
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 3.
| [[1956/1957 News of the World Snooker Tournament|1957]]
| [[News of the World Snooker Tournament]] <small>(2)</small>
| data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" |{{flagathlete|[[Fred Davis (snooker player)|Fred Davis]]|ENG}}
| align="center" | League
| align="center" |{{sfn|Morrison|1989|pages=86–88}}
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 4.
| [[1957 World Professional Match-play Championship|1957]]
| [[World Professional Match-play Championship]]
| data-sort-value="Rea, Jackie" |{{flagathlete|[[Jackie Rea]]|NIR}}}
| align="center" | {{sort|39–34|39–34}}{{efn|Pulman won the match when the score reached 37–29.{{sfn|Kobylecky|2019|pages=198–200}}}}
| align="center" |{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|pages=50–57}}{{sfn|Everton|1985|pages=55–67}}
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 5.
| [[1957/1958 News of the World Snooker Tournament|1958]]
| [[News of the World Snooker Tournament]] <small>(2)</small>
| data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" |{{flagathlete|[[Fred Davis (snooker player)|Fred Davis]]|ENG}}
| align="center" | League
| align="center" |{{sfn|Morrison|1989|pages=86–88}}
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 5.
| [[1964–68 World Snooker Championships|1964]]{{efn|name=chall|Challenge match{{sfn|Everton|1985|pages=55–67}}}}
| [[World Snooker Championship]] <small>(2)</small>
| data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" |{{flagathlete|[[Fred Davis (snooker player)|Fred Davis]]|ENG}}
| align="center" | {{sort|19–16|19–16}}
| align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=826–827}}
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 6.
| [[1964–68 World Snooker Championships|1964]]{{efn|name=chall}}
| [[World Snooker Championship]] <small>(3)</small>
| data-sort-value="Williams, Rex" |{{flagathlete|[[Rex Williams]]|ENG}}
| align="center" | {{sort|40–33|40–33}}{{efn|Pulman won the match when the score reached 37–23.<ref name="GH64"/>}}
| align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=826–827}}
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 7.
| 1964
| [[1964 Conayes Professional Tournament|Conayes Professional Tournament]]
| data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" |{{flagathlete|[[Fred Davis (snooker player)|Fred Davis]]|ENG}}
| align="center" | League
| align="center" |<ref name="B23MAR">{{cite news |title=Pulman top man |work=Birmingham Daily Post |date=23 March 1964 |page=24 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-post-pulman-top-man/142133620/ |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
|-
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 8.
| [[1964–68 World Snooker Championships|1965]]{{efn|name=chall}}
| [[World Snooker Championship]] <small>(4)</small>
| data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" |{{flagathlete|[[Fred Davis (snooker player)|Fred Davis]]|ENG}}
| align="center" | {{sort|37–36|37–36}}
| align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=826–827}}
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 9.
| [[1964–68 World Snooker Championships|1965]]{{efn|A challenge from Williams for the title held by Pulman, held over a series of matches rather than frames{{sfn|Everton|1985|pages=55–67}}}}
| [[World Snooker Championship]] <small>(5)</small>
| data-sort-value="Williams, Rex" |{{flagathlete|[[Rex Williams]]|ENG}}
| align="center" | {{sort|25–22|25–22}}{{efn|name=mnf|Matches rather than frames{{sfn|Everton|1985|pages=55–67}}}}
| align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=826–827}}
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 10.
| [[1964–68 World Snooker Championships|1965]]{{efn|name=chall}}
| [[World Snooker Championship]] <small>(6)</small>
| data-sort-value="Van Rensburg, Fred" |{{flagathlete|[[Fred Van Rensburg]]|RSA|1928}}
| align="center" | {{sort|39–12|39–12}}
| align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=826–827}}
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 11.
| [[1964–68 World Snooker Championships|1966]]{{efn|A challenge from Davis for the title held by Pulman, held over a series of matches rather than frames{{sfn|Everton|1985|pages=55–67}}}}
| [[World Snooker Championship]] <small>(7)</small>
| data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" |{{flagathlete|[[Fred Davis (snooker player)|Fred Davis]]|ENG}}
| align="center" | {{sort|05–02|5–2}}{{efn|name=mnf}}
| align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=826–827}}
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 12.
| [[1964–68 World Snooker Championships|1968]]{{efn|name=chall}}
| [[World Snooker Championship]] <small>(8)</small>
| data-sort-value="Charlton, Eddie" |{{flagathlete|[[Eddie Charlton]]|AUS}}
| align="center" | {{sort|39–34|39–34}}{{efn|Pulman won the match when the score reached 37–28.{{sfn|Kobylecky|2019|pages=198–200}}}}
| align="center" |{{sfn|Kobylecky|2019|pages=198–200}}{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=826–827}}
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 6.
| [[1970 World Snooker Championship|1970]]
| [[World Snooker Championship]] <small>(3)</small>
| data-sort-value="Reardon, Ray" |{{flagathlete|[[Ray Reardon]]|WAL}}
| align="center" | {{sort|35–38|35–38}}{{efn|Reardon won the match when the score reached 33–37.{{sfn|Kobylecky|2019|pages=198–200}}}}
| align="center" |{{sfn|Kobylecky|2019|pages=198–200}}
|-
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner
| 13.
| 1972
| Championship Plate{{efn|name="PLATEN"|For losers in the early rounds of the World Championship<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Plate |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=June 1974 |page=18 }}</ref>}}
| data-sort-value="Thorburn, Cliff" |{{flagathlete|[[Cliff Thorburn]]|CAN}}
| align="center" |{{sort|16–13|16–13}}
| align="center" |{{sfn|Kobylecky|2019|pages=198–200}}
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 7.
| [[1972 Ford Series Tournament|1972]]
| [[1972 Ford Series Tournament|Ford Series Tournament]]
| data-sort-value="Higgins, Alex" |{{flagathlete|[[Alex Higgins]]|NIR}}
| align="center" | {{sort|02–04|2–4}}
| align="center" |<ref name="FORDT"/>
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 8.
| [[1973 Norwich Union Open|1973]]
| [[Norwich Union Open]]
| data-sort-value="Spencer, John" |{{flagathlete|[[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]|ENG}}
| align="center" | {{sort|07–08|7–8}}
| align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=826–827}}
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;" | Winner
| 14.
| 1973
| Championship Plate{{efn|name="PLATEN"}}
| data-sort-value="Thorburn, Cliff" |{{flagathlete|[[Cliff Thorburn]]|CAN}}
| align="center" | {{sort|16–12|16–12}}
| align="center" |{{sfn|Kobylecky|2019|pages=198–200}}
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;" |Runner-up 
|9.
| 1974
| Championship Plate{{efn|name="PLATEN"}}
| data-sort-value="Spencer, John" |{{flagathlete|[[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]|ENG}}
| align="center" | 5–15
| align="center" |{{sfn|Kobylecky|2019|pages=198–200}}
|- 
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 10.
| [[1975 Canadian Open|1975]]
| [[Canadian Masters (snooker)|Canadian Open]]
| data-sort-value="Higgins, Alex" |{{flagathlete|[[Alex Higgins]]|NIR}}
| align="center" | {{sort|07–15|7–15}}
| align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=826–827}}
|-
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner
| 15.
| 1976
| [[Castle_Snooker_Club#Castle_Professional|Castle Professional]]
| data-sort-value="Fagm, Patsy" |{{flagathlete|[[Patsy Fagan]]|IRL}}
| align="center" | League
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Pulman is best of three |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=April 1976 |page=13 }}</ref>
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 11.
| [[1977 Pontins Professional|1977]]
| [[Pontins Professional]]
| data-sort-value="Spencer, John" |{{flagathlete|[[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]|ENG}}
| align="center" | {{sort|05–07|5–7}}
| align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pages=826–827}}
|-
|}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

'''Books'''
*{{cite book |last=Cutler |first=Rachel |chapter=Pulman, John |pages=543–544 |title=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |volume=45 |year=2004 |location=Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-861395-4}}
*{{cite book |last=Davis |first=Fred |title=Talking Snooker |publisher=A&C Black |location=London |year=1983 |isbn=978-0-7136-2409-0 }}
*{{cite book |last=Davis |first=Steve |title=Interesting: My Autobiography |publisher=Ebury |location=London |year=2016 |isbn=978-0-09-195865-7}}
*{{cite book |last1=Everton |first1=Clive |last2= Silverton |first2= John |title= Park Drive Official Snooker and Billiards Year Book |publisher= Gallagher |year= 1973 |oclc=498112105}}
*{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=1982 |title=The Guinness Book of Snooker |edition=Revised |publisher=Guinness Superlatives |location=Enfield |isbn=978-0-85112-256-4}}
*{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=1985 |title=Snooker: The Records |location=Enfield |publisher=Guinness Superlatives |isbn=978-0-85112-448-3 }}
*{{cite book|last=Everton |first=Clive |date=1986 |title=The History of Snooker and Billiards|publisher=Partridge Press |location=Haywards Heath |isbn=978-1-85225-013-3}}
*{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=2012 |title=Black Farce and Cue Ball Wizards |publisher=Mainstream |location=Edinburgh |isbn=978-1-78057-568-1}}
*{{cite book |last1=Hayton |first1=Eric |last2=Dee |first2=John |date=2004 |title=The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History |publisher=Rose Villa Publications|isbn=978-0-9548549-0-4 }}
*{{cite book |last=Higgins |first=Alex |title='Hurricane' Higgins{{'}} Snooker Scrapbook |year=1981 | location=London |publisher=Souvenir Press |isbn=978-0-285-62485-6}}
*{{cite book |last=Kobylecky |first=John |date=2019 |title=The Complete International Directory of Snooker Players – 1927 to 2018 |publisher=Kobyhadrian Books |isbn=978-0-9931433-1-1 }}
*{{cite book |last=Lowe |first=Ted |title=Between Frames |year=1984 |publisher=A & C Black |location=London| isbn=978-0-7136-2446-5}}
*{{cite book |last=Morrison |first=Ian |date=1987 |title=The Hamlyn Encyclopedia of Snooker |location=Twickenham |publisher=Hamlyn Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-600-55604-6 }}
*{{cite book |last=Morrison|first=Ian |date=1989 |title=Snooker: Records, Facts and Champions |publisher=Guinness Superlatives Ltd |isbn=978-0-85112-364-6 }}
*{{cite book |last1=Reardon |first1=Ray |last2=Hennessey |first2=John |title=Enjoying Snooker with Ray Reardon |edition=Revised |year=1986 |location=London |publisher=Orbis |oclc=60071113}}
*{{cite book |last=Shamos |first=Mike |title=The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Billiards |publisher=The Lyons Press |location=New York |year=1999 |isbn=978-1-55821-797-3}}
*{{cite book |editor-first=Terry |editor-last=Smith |date=1991 |title=Benson and Hedges Snooker Year |location=London |publisher=Pelham Books |pages=126–130 |isbn=978-0-7207-1983-3|edition=Eighth }}
*{{cite book |last=Spencer |first=John |title=Spencer on Snooker |edition=Revised |year=1978 |publisher=Cassell |location=London |isbn=978-0-304-30119-5 }}
*{{cite book |last1=Williams |first1=Luke |last2=Gadsby |first2=Paul |date=2005 |title=Masters of the Baize |location=Edinburgh |publisher=Mainstream |isbn=978-1-84018-872-1 |chapter=John Pulman: For the Love of the Game |pages=50–57}}</ref>

== External links ==
* {{cite web |last=Turner |first=Chris |title=Player Profile – John Pulman |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Players/Pulman.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313150104/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Players/Pulman.html |archive-date=13 March 2012 |website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive |access-date=27 February 2011 |ref=no}}

{{World snooker champions}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pulman, John}}
[[Category:English snooker players]]
[[Category:Snooker commentators]]
[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category:1998 deaths]]
[[Category:Winners of the professional snooker world championship]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in England]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths from falls]]