The first semi-final commenced on 23 April. Davis won the first four frames against Lawrence in 65 minutes, compiling of 58, 50, 48, 44 and 37 in the process. W.W. Thornton wrote in the Birmingham Daily Gazette that this was "a performance which I can not recollect having been equalled by Davis himself or any other player under championship conditions, and described Lawrence during the session as "an amazed spectator." This was followed by Davis winning all four of the first day's evening frames to lead 8–0. Although Davis did not play to the same standard on the second afternoon, he again took all four frames for 12–0, playing some shots with his left hand rather than his normal right. The thirteenth frame was won by Lawrence, who added the fourteenth by winning it on the final black ball before Davis secured victory at 13–2 with a day to spare. On the 25th, the pair played exhibition matches of billiards, over 75 minutes with Davis to win only if he scored twice as many points as Lawrence, and snooker. Davis won the afternoon billiards match 571–271, but lost the evening one (under the conditions agreed) by outscoring Lawrence 578–368, and won both frames of snooker played in each session.
