By the time the World Snooker Championship started Cope was about 50 years old but he did play in the 1927 and 1928 events. In 1927 he beat Alec Mann before losing 16–7 to Joe Davis in the semi-final. In 1928 he played Mann again but lost this time. In his 1927 match against Joe Davis he scored a 60 break for which he later received a commemorative certificate from the Billiards Association and Control Council. The break remained the best in the World Championship until Davis made a 61 in the 1929 final. Cope died in early 1930.