Winners of the World Snooker Championship
The World Snooker Championship trophy
The World Snooker Championship is an annual snooker tournament founded in 1927 , and played at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield , England since 1977 . The tournament is now played over seventeen days in late April and early May, and is chronologically the third of the three Triple Crown events of the season. The event was not held from 1941 to 1945 because of World War II and between 1958 and 1963 due to declining interest from players.[ 1]
As of 2021[update] the governing body that organises this event is the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA). Prior to the WPBSA assuming control of the professional game in 1968, the world championship was organised by the Billiards Association and Control Council (BACC), except for between 1952 and 1957 when the Professional Billiards Players' Association (PBPA) staged their own event, the World Professional Match-play Championship , following a dispute with the BACC.[ 2]
As of 2024, 28 players have won the World Snooker Championship. The most successful player at the World Snooker Championship is Joe Davis , who won fifteen consecutive titles between 1927 and 1946. The record in the modern era, usually dated from the reintroduction in 1969 of a knock-out tournament format, rather than a challenge format, is shared by Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan , both having won the title seven times.[ 3] [ 4]
Format
Format
Organiser
Knockout tournament († )
BACC
Challenge event with defending champion receiving a bye to the final (*)
BACC
World Professional Match-play Championship (◊)
PBPA
Challenge matches (‡)
BACC
Knockout tournament
WPBSA
List of World Snooker Championship winners[ 10]
Year
Winner
Runner-up
Final score
Season
Venue
1927 †
Joe Davis (ENG )
Tom Dennis (ENG )
20–11
n/a
Camkin's Hall , Birmingham
1928 *
Joe Davis (ENG )
Fred Lawrence (ENG )
16–13
n/a
Camkin's Hall , Birmingham
1929 †
Joe Davis (ENG )
Tom Dennis (ENG )
19–14
n/a
Lounge Hall, Nottingham
1930 †
Joe Davis (ENG )
Tom Dennis (ENG )
25–12
n/a
Thurston's Hall , London
1931 †
Joe Davis (ENG )
Tom Dennis (ENG )
25–21
n/a
Lounge Hall, Nottingham
1932 †
Joe Davis (ENG )
Clark McConachy (NZL )
30–19
n/a
Thurston's Hall , London
1933 †
Joe Davis (ENG )
Willie Smith (ENG )
25–18
n/a
Joe Davis Centre, Chesterfield
1934 †
Joe Davis (ENG )
Tom Newman (ENG )
25–22
n/a
Lounge Hall, Nottingham and Central Hall, Kettering
1935 †
Joe Davis (ENG )
Willie Smith (ENG )
25–20
n/a
Thurston's Hall , London
1936 †
Joe Davis (ENG )
Horace Lindrum (AUS )
34–27
n/a
1937 †
Joe Davis (ENG )
Horace Lindrum (AUS )
32–29
n/a
1938 †
Joe Davis (ENG )
Sidney Smith (ENG )
37–24
n/a
1939 †
Joe Davis (ENG )
Sidney Smith (ENG )
43–30
n/a
1940 †
Joe Davis (ENG )
Fred Davis (ENG )
37–36
n/a
1941–1945: No tournament [ a]
1946 †
Joe Davis (ENG )
Horace Lindrum (AUS )
78–67
n/a
Royal Horticultural Hall , London
1947 †
Walter Donaldson (SCO )
Fred Davis (ENG )
82–63
n/a
Leicester Square Hall , London
1948 †
Fred Davis (ENG )
Walter Donaldson (SCO )
84–61
n/a
1949 †
Fred Davis (ENG )
Walter Donaldson (SCO )
80–65
n/a
1950 †
Walter Donaldson (SCO )
Fred Davis (ENG )
51–46
n/a
Tower Circus , Blackpool
1951 †
Fred Davis (ENG )
Walter Donaldson (SCO )
58–39
n/a
1952 †
Horace Lindrum (AUS ) [ b]
Clark McConachy (NZL )
94–49
n/a
Houldsworth Hall, Manchester
1952 ◊
Fred Davis (ENG )
Walter Donaldson (SCO )
38–35
n/a
Tower Circus , Blackpool
1953 ◊
Fred Davis (ENG )
Walter Donaldson (SCO )
37–34
n/a
Leicester Square Hall , London
1954 ◊
Fred Davis (ENG )
Walter Donaldson (SCO )
45–26
n/a
Houldsworth Hall, Manchester
1955 ◊
Fred Davis (ENG )
John Pulman (ENG )
38–35
n/a
Tower Circus , Blackpool
1956 ◊
Fred Davis (ENG )
John Pulman (ENG )
38–35
n/a
1957 ◊
John Pulman (ENG )
Jackie Rea (NIR )
39–34
n/a
Jersey Billiards Association Match Room, St Helier , Jersey
1958–1963: No tournament [ c]
1964 ‡
John Pulman (ENG )
Fred Davis (ENG )
19–16
1963–64
Burroughes Hall , London
1964 ‡
John Pulman (ENG )
Rex Williams (ENG )
40–33
1964–65
1965 ‡
John Pulman (ENG )
Fred Davis (ENG )
37–36
1964–65
1965 ‡
John Pulman (ENG )
Rex Williams (ENG )
25–22[ d]
1965–66
South Africa
1965 ‡
John Pulman (ENG )
Fred Van Rensburg (SAF )
39–12
1965–66
1966 ‡
John Pulman (ENG )
Fred Davis (ENG )
5–2[ d]
1965–66
St George's Hall , Liverpool
1968 ‡
John Pulman (ENG )
Eddie Charlton (AUS )
39–34
1967–68
Co-operative Hall, Bolton
1969
John Spencer (ENG )
Gary Owen (WAL )
37–24
1968–69
Victoria House , London
1970
Ray Reardon (WAL )
John Pulman (ENG )
37–33
1969–70
1971
John Spencer (ENG )
Warren Simpson (AUS )
37–29
1970–71
Chevron Hotel, Sydney
1972
Alex Higgins (NIR )
John Spencer (ENG )
37–31[ 14] [ e]
1971–72
Selly Park British Legion , Birmingham
1973
Ray Reardon (WAL )
Eddie Charlton (AUS )
38–32
1972–73
City Exhibition Hall, Manchester
1974
Ray Reardon (WAL )
Graham Miles (ENG )
22–12
1973–74
Belle Vue , Manchester
1975
Ray Reardon (WAL )
Eddie Charlton (AUS )
31–30
1974–75
Nunawading Basketball Centre, Melbourne , Australia
1976
Ray Reardon (WAL )
Alex Higgins (NIR )
27–16
1975–76
Wythenshawe Forum, Manchester
1977
John Spencer (ENG )
Cliff Thorburn (CAN )
25–21
1976–77
Crucible Theatre , Sheffield
1978
Ray Reardon (WAL )
Perrie Mans (SAF )
25–18
1977–78
1979
Terry Griffiths (WAL )
Dennis Taylor (NIR )
24–16
1978–79
1980
Cliff Thorburn (CAN )
Alex Higgins (NIR )
18–16
1979–80
1981
Steve Davis (ENG )
Doug Mountjoy (WAL )
18–12
1980–81
1982
Alex Higgins (NIR )
Ray Reardon (WAL )
18–15
1981–82
1983
Steve Davis (ENG )
Cliff Thorburn (CAN )
18–6
1982–83
1984
Steve Davis (ENG )
Jimmy White (ENG )
18–16
1983–84
1985
Dennis Taylor (NIR )
Steve Davis (ENG )
18–17
1984–85
1986
Joe Johnson (ENG )
Steve Davis (ENG )
18–12
1985–86
1987
Steve Davis (ENG )
Joe Johnson (ENG )
18–14
1986–87
1988
Steve Davis (ENG )
Terry Griffiths (WAL )
18–11
1987–88
1989
Steve Davis (ENG )
John Parrott (ENG )
18–3
1988–89
1990
Stephen Hendry (SCO )
Jimmy White (ENG )
18–12
1989–90
1991
John Parrott (ENG )
Jimmy White (ENG )
18–11
1990–91
1992
Stephen Hendry (SCO )
Jimmy White (ENG )
18–14
1991–92
1993
Stephen Hendry (SCO )
Jimmy White (ENG )
18–5
1992–93
1994
Stephen Hendry (SCO )
Jimmy White (ENG )
18–17
1993–94
1995
Stephen Hendry (SCO )
Nigel Bond (ENG )
18–9
1994–95
1996
Stephen Hendry (SCO )
Peter Ebdon (ENG )
18–12
1995–96
1997
Ken Doherty (IRL )
Stephen Hendry (SCO )
18–12
1996–97
1998
John Higgins (SCO )
Ken Doherty (IRL )
18–12
1997–98
1999
Stephen Hendry (SCO )
Mark Williams (WAL )
18–11
1998–99
2000
Mark Williams (WAL )
Matthew Stevens (WAL )
18–16
1999–00
2001
Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG )
John Higgins (SCO )
18–14
2000–01
2002
Peter Ebdon (ENG )
Stephen Hendry (SCO )
18–17
2001–02
2003
Mark Williams (WAL )
Ken Doherty (IRL )
18–16
2002–03
2004
Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG )
Graeme Dott (SCO )
18–8
2003–04
2005
Shaun Murphy (ENG )
Matthew Stevens (WAL )
18–16
2004–05
2006
Graeme Dott (SCO )
Peter Ebdon (ENG )
18–14
2005–06
2007
John Higgins (SCO )
Mark Selby (ENG )
18–13
2006–07
2008
Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG )
Ali Carter (ENG )
18–8
2007–08
2009
John Higgins (SCO )
Shaun Murphy (ENG )
18–9
2008–09
2010
Neil Robertson (AUS )
Graeme Dott (SCO )
18–13
2009–10
2011
John Higgins (SCO )
Judd Trump (ENG )
18–15
2010–11
2012
Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG )
Ali Carter (ENG )
18–11
2011–12
2013
Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG )
Barry Hawkins (ENG )
18–12
2012–13
2014
Mark Selby (ENG )
Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG )
18–14
2013–14
2015
Stuart Bingham (ENG )
Shaun Murphy (ENG )
18–15
2014–15
2016
Mark Selby (ENG )
Ding Junhui (CHN )
18–14
2015–16
2017
Mark Selby (ENG )
John Higgins (SCO )
18–15
2016–17
2018
Mark Williams (WAL )
John Higgins (SCO )
18–16
2017–18
2019
Judd Trump (ENG )
John Higgins (SCO )
18–9
2018–19
2020
Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG )
Kyren Wilson (ENG )
18–8
2019–20
2021
Mark Selby (ENG )
Shaun Murphy (ENG )
18–15
2020–21
2022
Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG )
Judd Trump (ENG )
18–13
2021–22
2023
Luca Brecel (BEL )
Mark Selby (ENG )
18–15
2022–23
2024
Kyren Wilson (ENG )
Jak Jones (WAL )
18–14
2023–24
Key
‡
Challenge match
*
World Professional Match-play Championship
¤
Player competed in 2024[ 16]
†
Date of death
^ Due to World War II [ 9]
^ Due to a disagreement with the Billiards Association and Control Club and the Professional Billiards Players' Association (PBPA), Lindrum and McConachy were the only players to compete, with most professional players playing in the World Professional Match-play Championship instead. As a result, Lindrum's title win is sometimes ignored, with Cliff Thorburn (CAN), Ken Doherty (IRL), Neil Robertson (AUS) and Luca Brecel (BEL) usually regarded as the only non-United Kingdom winners.[ 8]
^ Due to a lack of interest there was no championship organised between 1958 and 1963. In 1964, it was agreed between the Professional Billiard Players Association and the BACC that the championship would be contested by having the reigning champion play in challenge matches. There were seven such challenge matches between 1964 and 1968, until knockout competition resumed with the 1969 Championship.[ 1] The agreement in 1964 was that there should be a stake by both parties of £50 (equivalent to earnings of £2,000 in 2021[ 11] ), that matches could be of any duration agreed by both participants, and that the challenger would be responsible for finding a suitable venue.[ 12]
^ a b The title was decided over a series of matches rather than frames.[ 13]
^ Some sources give the score as 37–32. The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History (2004) says "Higgins triumphed 37-31 (not 37-32 as so many publications have wrongly printed)"[ 15]
^ a b Everton, Clive (1985). Guinness Snooker: The Records . Enfield: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. pp. 55–56. ISBN 978-0-85112-448-3 .
^ "World Snooker Title" . The Glasgow Herald . 19 February 1952. p. 2. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016 .
^ a b "Seventh title for Hendry" . BBC News. 4 May 1999. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2020 .
^ "O'Sullivan one frame from seventh world title - video & text" . BBC Sport . 2022-05-01. Retrieved 2022-05-02 .
^ Turner, Chris. "World Professional Championship" . cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk . Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2011 .
^ "World Championship – Roll of Honour" . Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2013 .
^ "Hall of Fame" . Snooker.org . Archived from the original on 28 July 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2011 .
^ a b "History of the World Snooker Championship" . worldsnooker.com . World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association . Archived from the original on 15 March 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011 .
^ a b "Embassy World Championship" . snookerscene.co.uk . Snooker Scene. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2012 .
^ [ 5] [ 6] [ 7] [ 8] [ 9]
^ Officer, Lawrence H. "Five Ways to Compute the Relative Value of a UK Pound Amount, 1270 to Present" . MeasuringWorth . Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024 .
^ "Professional Snooker". Billiards and Snooker . the Billiards Association and Control Council. January 1964. p. 13.
^ Everton, Clive (1981). Guinness Book of Snooker . Enfield: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 65. ISBN 978-0-85112-230-4 .
^ "Snooker: Higgins makes final flourish". The Times . 28 February 1972. p. 7.
^ Hayton, Eric; Dee, John (2004). The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History . Rose Villa Publications. p. 8. ISBN 978-0954854904 .
^ "Betfred World Championship (2021)" . snooker.org . Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021 .
^ Hale, Janice (1987). Rothmans Snooker Yearbook 1987–88 . Aylesbury: Queen Anne Press. pp. 246–249. ISBN 978-0-356-14690-4 .
^ Morrison, Ian (1987). The Hamlyn Encyclopedia of Snooker . London: Hamlyn Publishing Group . pp. 27–30. ISBN 978-0-600-55604-6 .
^ a b c Hayton, Eric (2004). The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker . Lowestoft: Rose Villa Publications. p. 144. ISBN 978-0-9548549-0-4 .
^ "Ronnie O'Sullivan wins seventh World Snooker title and becomes oldest champion in history" . skynews.com . 2 May 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2023 .
^ "Ray Reardon" . wst.tv . Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2020 .
^ "Snooker legend Ray Reardon dies" . Sky News . 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024 .
^ "1989: Davis makes it six" . BBC Sport . 12 April 2002. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2020 .
^ Ashenden, Mark (2 May 2011). "Higgins beats Trump to win title" . BBC Sport . Archived from the original on 25 October 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2020 . 2 May 2011
^ Hincks, Michael (4 May 2021). "World Snooker Championship 2021 – Mark Selby wins fourth Crucible title with win over Shaun Murphy" . Eurosport . Retrieved 12 August 2021 .
^ "Then and Now: John Spencer" . Eurosport . 25 February 2010. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2012 .
^ Hafez, Shamoon (7 May 2018). "Williams wins world title for third time" . BBC Sport . Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020 .
^ Rawling, John (25 July 2010). "Alex Higgins obituary" . The Guardian . Retrieved 12 August 2021 .
Early events Match-play Challenges Knock-outs Crucible era