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.
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.
As of 2023, 27 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.
Champions
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
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 |
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) |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
|
Mark Williams (2000, 2003 and 2018)
|
Multiple champions
Key
|
Challenge match |
* |
World Professional Match-play Championship |
¤ |
Player competed in 2024 |
|
Date of death |