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.
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.[1]
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.[2]
See main article: World Snooker Championship and World Professional Match-play Championship.
| 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 |
| Winner | Runner-up | Final score | Season | Venue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | data-sort-value="Davis, Joe" | data-sort-value="Dennis, Tom" | 20–11 | n/a | Camkin's Hall, Birmingham | ||
| 1928 | data-sort-value="Davis, Joe" | data-sort-value="Lawrence, Fred" | n/a | Camkin's Hall, Birmingham | |||
| 1929 | data-sort-value="Davis, Joe" | data-sort-value="Dennis, Tom" | 19–14 | n/a | Lounge Hall, Nottingham | ||
| 1930 | data-sort-value="Davis, Joe" | data-sort-value="Dennis, Tom" | 25–12 | n/a | Thurston's Hall, London | ||
| 1931 | data-sort-value="Davis, Joe" | data-sort-value="Dennis, Tom" | 25–21 | n/a | Lounge Hall, Nottingham | ||
| 1932 | data-sort-value="Davis, Joe" | data-sort-value="McConachy, Clark" | 30–19 | n/a | Thurston's Hall, London | ||
| 1933 | data-sort-value="Davis, Joe" | data-sort-value="Smith, Willie" | 25–18 | n/a | |||
| 1934 | data-sort-value="Davis, Joe" | data-sort-value="Newman, Tom" | 25–22 | n/a | Lounge Hall, Nottingham and Central Hall, Kettering | ||
| 1935 | data-sort-value="Davis, Joe" | data-sort-value="Smith, Willie" | 25–20 | n/a | Thurston's Hall, London | ||
| 1936 | data-sort-value="Davis, Joe" | data-sort-value="Lindrum, Horace" | 34–27 | n/a | |||
| 1937 | data-sort-value="Davis, Joe" | data-sort-value="Lindrum, Horace" | 32–29 | n/a | |||
| 1938 | data-sort-value="Davis, Joe" | data-sort-value="Smith, Sidney" | 37–24 | n/a | |||
| 1939 | data-sort-value="Davis, Joe" | data-sort-value="Smith, Sidney" | 43–30 | n/a | |||
| 1940 | data-sort-value="Davis, Joe" | data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" | 37–36 | n/a | |||
| 1941–1945: No tournament | |||||||
| 1946 | data-sort-value="Davis, Joe" | data-sort-value="Lindrum, Horace" | 78–67 | n/a | Royal Horticultural Hall, London | ||
| 1947 | data-sort-value="Donaldson, Walter" | data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" | 82–63 | n/a | Leicester Square Hall, London | ||
| 1948 | data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" | data-sort-value="Donaldson, Walter" | 84–61 | n/a | |||
| 1949 | data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" | data-sort-value="Donaldson, Walter" | 80–65 | n/a | |||
| 1950 | data-sort-value="Donaldson, Walter" | data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" | 51–46 | n/a | Tower Circus, Blackpool | ||
| 1951 | data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" | data-sort-value="Donaldson, Walter" | 58–39 | n/a | |||
| 1952 | data-sort-value="Lindrum, Horace" | data-sort-value="McConachy, Clark" | 94–49 | n/a | Houldsworth Hall, Manchester | ||
| 1952◊ | data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" | data-sort-value="Donaldson, Walter" | 38–35 | n/a | Tower Circus, Blackpool | ||
| 1953◊ | data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" | data-sort-value="Donaldson, Walter" | 37–34 | n/a | Leicester Square Hall, London | ||
| 1954◊ | data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" | data-sort-value="Donaldson, Walter" | 45–26 | n/a | Houldsworth Hall, Manchester | ||
| 1955◊ | data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" | data-sort-value="Pulman, John" | 38–35 | n/a | Tower Circus, Blackpool | ||
| 1956◊ | data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" | data-sort-value="Pulman, John" | 38–35 | n/a | |||
| 1957◊ | data-sort-value="Pulman, John" | data-sort-value="Rea, Jackie" | 39–34 | n/a | Jersey Billiards Association Match Room, St Helier, Jersey | ||
| 1958–1963: No tournament | |||||||
| 1964‡ | data-sort-value="Pulman, John" | data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" | 19–16 | 1963–64 | Burroughes Hall, London | ||
| 1964‡ | data-sort-value="Pulman, John" | data-sort-value="Williams, Rex" | 40–33 | 1964–65 | |||
| 1965‡ | data-sort-value="Pulman, John" | data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" | 37–36 | 1964–65 | |||
| 1965‡ | data-sort-value="Pulman, John" | data-sort-value="Williams, Rex" | 25–22 | 1965–66 | South Africa | ||
| 1965‡ | data-sort-value="Pulman, John" | data-sort-value="Van Rensburg, Fred" | 39–12 | 1965–66 | |||
| 1966‡ | data-sort-value="Pulman, John" | data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" | 5–2 | 1965–66 | St George's Hall, Liverpool | ||
| 1968‡ | data-sort-value="Pulman, John" | data-sort-value="Charlton, Eddie" | 39–34 | 1967–68 | Co-operative Hall, Bolton | ||
| 1969 | data-sort-value="Spencer, John" | data-sort-value="Owen, Gary" | 37–24 | 1968–69 | Victoria House, London | ||
| 1970 | data-sort-value="Reardon, Ray" | data-sort-value="Pulman, John" | 37–33 | 1969–70 | |||
| 1971 | data-sort-value="Spencer, John" | data-sort-value="Simpson, Warren" | 37–29 | 1970–71 | Chevron Hotel, Sydney | ||
| 1972 | data-sort-value="Higgins, Alex" | data-sort-value="Spencer, John" | 37–31[3] | 1971–72 | Selly Park British Legion, Birmingham | ||
| 1973 | data-sort-value="Reardon, Ray" | data-sort-value="Charlton, Eddie" | 38–32 | 1972–73 | City Exhibition Hall, Manchester | ||
| 1974 | data-sort-value="Reardon, Ray" | data-sort-value="Miles, Graham" | 22–12 | 1973–74 | Belle Vue, Manchester | ||
| 1975 | data-sort-value="Reardon, Ray" | data-sort-value="Charlton, Eddie" | 31–30 | 1974–75 | Nunawading Basketball Centre, Melbourne, Australia | ||
| 1976 | data-sort-value="Reardon, Ray" | data-sort-value="Higgins, Alex" | 27–16 | 1975–76 | Wythenshawe Forum, Manchester | ||
| 1977 | data-sort-value="Spencer, John" | data-sort-value="Thorburn, Cliff" | 25–21 | 1976–77 | Crucible Theatre, Sheffield | ||
| 1978 | data-sort-value="Reardon, Ray" | data-sort-value="Mans, Perrie" | 25–18 | 1977–78 | |||
| 1979 | data-sort-value="Griffiths, Terry" | data-sort-value="Taylor, Dennis" | 24–16 | 1978–79 | |||
| 1980 | data-sort-value="Thorburn, Cliff" | data-sort-value="Higgins, Alex" | 18–16 | 1979–80 | |||
| 1981 | data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" | data-sort-value="Mountjoy, Doug" | 18–12 | 1980–81 | |||
| 1982 | data-sort-value="Higgins, Alex" | data-sort-value="Reardon, Ray" | 18–15 | 1981–82 | |||
| 1983 | data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" | data-sort-value="Thorburn, Cliff" | 18–6 | 1982–83 | |||
| 1984 | data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" | data-sort-value="White, Jimmy" | 18–16 | 1983–84 | |||
| 1985 | data-sort-value="Taylor, Dennis" | data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" | 18–17 | 1984–85 | |||
| 1986 | data-sort-value="Johnson, Joe" | data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" | 18–12 | 1985–86 | |||
| 1987 | data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" | data-sort-value="Johnson, Joe" | 18–14 | 1986–87 | |||
| 1988 | data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" | data-sort-value="Griffiths, Terry" | 18–11 | 1987–88 | |||
| 1989 | data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" | data-sort-value="Parrott, John" | 18–3 | 1988–89 | |||
| 1990 | data-sort-value="Hendry, Stephen" | data-sort-value="White, Jimmy" | 18–12 | 1989–90 | |||
| 1991 | data-sort-value="Parrott, John" | data-sort-value="White, Jimmy" | 18–11 | 1990–91 | |||
| 1992 | data-sort-value="Hendry, Stephen" | data-sort-value="White, Jimmy" | 18–14 | 1991–92 | |||
| 1993 | data-sort-value="Hendry, Stephen" | data-sort-value="White, Jimmy" | 18–5 | 1992–93 | |||
| 1994 | data-sort-value="Hendry, Stephen" | data-sort-value="White, Jimmy" | 18–17 | 1993–94 | |||
| 1995 | data-sort-value="Hendry, Stephen" | data-sort-value="Bond, Nigel" | 18–9 | 1994–95 | |||
| 1996 | data-sort-value="Hendry, Stephen" | data-sort-value="Ebdon, Peter" | 18–12 | 1995–96 | |||
| 1997 | data-sort-value="Doherty, Ken" | data-sort-value="Hendry, Stephen" | 18–12 | 1996–97 | |||
| 1998 | data-sort-value="Higgins, John" | data-sort-value="Doherty, Ken" | 18–12 | 1997–98 | |||
| 1999 | data-sort-value="Hendry, Stephen" | data-sort-value="Williams, Mark" | 18–11 | 1998–99 | |||
| 2000 | data-sort-value="Williams, Mark" | data-sort-value="Stevens, Matthew" | 18–16 | ||||
| 2001 | data-sort-value="O'Sullivan, Ronnie" | data-sort-value="Higgins, John" | 18–14 | 2000–01 | |||
| 2002 | data-sort-value="Ebdon, Peter" | data-sort-value="Hendry, Stephen" | 18–17 | 2001–02 | |||
| 2003 | data-sort-value="Williams, Mark" | data-sort-value="Doherty, Ken" | 18–16 | 2002–03 | |||
| 2004 | data-sort-value="O'Sullivan, Ronnie" | data-sort-value="Dott, Graeme" | 18–8 | 2003–04 | |||
| 2005 | data-sort-value="Murphy, Shaun" | data-sort-value="Stevens, Matthew" | 18–16 | 2004–05 | |||
| 2006 | data-sort-value="Dott, Graeme" | data-sort-value="Ebdon, Peter" | 18–14 | 2005–06 | |||
| 2007 | data-sort-value="Higgins, John" | data-sort-value="Selby, Mark" | 18–13 | 2006–07 | |||
| 2008 | data-sort-value="O'Sullivan, Ronnie" | data-sort-value="Carter, Ali" | 18–8 | 2007–08 | |||
| 2009 | data-sort-value="Higgins, John" | data-sort-value="Murphy, Shaun" | 18–9 | ||||
| 2010 | data-sort-value="Robertson, Neil" | data-sort-value="Dott, Graeme" | 18–13 | 2009–10 | |||
| 2011 | data-sort-value="Higgins, John" | data-sort-value="Trump, Judd" | 18–15 | 2010–11 | |||
| 2012 | data-sort-value="O'Sullivan, Ronnie" | data-sort-value="Carter, Ali" | 18–11 | 2011–12 | |||
| 2013 | data-sort-value="O'Sullivan, Ronnie" | data-sort-value="Hawkins, Barry" | 18–12 | 2012–13 | |||
| 2014 | data-sort-value="Selby, Mark" | data-sort-value="O'Sullivan, Ronnie" | 18–14 | 2013–14 | |||
| 2015 | data-sort-value="Bingham, Stuart" | data-sort-value="Murphy, Shaun" | 18–15 | 2014–15 | |||
| 2016 | data-sort-value="Selby, Mark" | data-sort-value="Ding, Junhui" | 18–14 | 2015–16 | |||
| 2017 | data-sort-value="Selby, Mark" | data-sort-value="Higgins, John" | 18–15 | 2016–17 | |||
| 2018 | data-sort-value="Williams, Mark" | data-sort-value="Higgins, John" | 18–16 | 2017–18 | |||
| 2019 | data-sort-value="Trump, Judd" | data-sort-value="Higgins, John" | 18–9 | 2018–19 | |||
| 2020 | data-sort-value="O'Sullivan, Ronnie" | data-sort-value="Wilson, Kyren" | 18–8 | 2019–20 | |||
| 2021 | data-sort-value="Selby, Mark" | data-sort-value="Murphy, Shaun" | 18–15 | 2020–21 | |||
| 2022 | data-sort-value="O'Sullivan, Ronnie" | data-sort-value="Trump, Judd" | 18–13 | 2021–22 | |||
| 2023 | data-sort-value="Brecel, Luca" | data-sort-value="Selby, Mark" | 18–15 | 2022–23 | |||
| 2024 | data-sort-value="Wilson, Kyren" | data-sort-value="Jones, Jak" | 18–14 | 2023–24 | |||
| Challenge match | ||
| World Professional Match-play Championship | ||
| ¤ | Player competed in 2024[4] | |
| Date of death |
| Total | Years | Status | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1946 | data-sort-value=1978-07 | †10 July 1978 | [5] [6] | |
| 8 | 1948, 1949, 1951, 1952*, 1953*, 1954*, 1955*, 1956* | data-sort-value=1998-04 | †16 April 1998 | [7] | |
| 1957*, 1964, 1964, 1965, 1965, 1965, 1966, 1968 | data-sort-value=1998-12 | †25 December 1998 | |||
| 7 | 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999 | Active | [8] | ||
| 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020, 2022 | ¤ | [9] | |||
| 6 | 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978 | data-sort-value=2024-07 | †19 July 2024 | [10] [11] | |
| 1981, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989 | retired | [12] | |||
| 4 | 1998, 2007, 2009, 2011 | ¤ | [13] | ||
| 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021 | ¤ | [14] | |||
| 3 | 1969, 1971, 1977 | data-sort-value=2006-07 | †11 July 2006 | [15] | |
| 2000, 2003, 2018 | ¤ | [16] | |||
| 2 | 1947, 1950 | data-sort-value=1973-05 | †24 May 1973 | ||
| 1972, 1982 | data-sort-value=2010-07 | †24 July 2010 | [17] |