List of world snooker champions

The World Snooker Championship is an annual snooker tournament created in 1927 and now (since 1977) played at the Crucible in Sheffield, England. The tournament is played during seventeen days in late April and early May, and is chronologically the third of the three Triple Crown events of the season since 1977/1978, when the UK Championship was first held. The event was not held from 1941 to 1945 because of World War II and 1958 to 1963 due to declining interest.

The governing body that currently organises this event is the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 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 a few years when the players staged their own event (the Professional Matchplay Championship) following a dispute with the organisation.

The most successful player at the World Snooker Championship was Joe Davis, who won fifteen titles between 1927 and 1946 and with this also holds the most consecutive titles won. The record in the modern era is held by Stephen Hendry, who won the title between 1990 and 1999 seven times. The current champion is John Higgins, who has won the title four times.

Contents

Champions

Joe Davis was the first World Champion and holds the record for most world titles with 15 in a row.
Stephen Hendry won 7 world titles in the 1990s and holds the record for the most titles won at the Crucible Theatre.
Steve Davis dominated the 1980s and won the world title six times.
John Higgins has won the World Championship four times and is the current champion.
Ronnie O’Sullivan is the only multiple time World Champion in the modern era who has never lost a World Championship final.
Alex Higgins won the World Championship in 1972 and 1982.
Mark Williams won the World Championship in 2000 and 2003.
Dennis Taylor won the world title in 1985 on the last black of the deciding frame.
John Parrott won the world title in 1991.
Shaun Murphy is the lowest ranked World Champion ever.
Graeme Dott won the world title in 2006 in one of the latest finishing finals.
Neil Robertson was the first Australian player to win the World Championship at the Crucible in 2010.
Main articles: World Snooker Championship and Professional Matchplay Championship
Format Organiser
Knockout tournament BACC
Defending champion received a bye to the final † BACC
Professional Matchplay Championships ◊ Independent
Challenge matches ‡ BACC
Knockout tournament (modern era) WPBSA

[1][2][3]

Year Winner Runner-up Final score Season Venue of final
1927 Joe Davis Tom Dennis 20–11 n/a Camkins Hall, Birmingham
1928 † Joe Davis Fred Lawrence 16–13 n/a Camkins Hall, Birmingham
1929 Joe Davis Tom Dennis 19–14 n/a Camkins Hall, Nottingham
1930 Joe Davis Tom Dennis 25–12 n/a Thurston’s Hall, London
1931 † Joe Davis Tom Dennis 25–21 n/a Lounge Billiard Hall, Nottingham
1932 † Joe Davis Clark McConachy 30–19 n/a Thurston’s Hall, London
1933 Joe Davis Willie Smith 25–18 n/a Billiards Centre, Chesterfield
1934 † Joe Davis Tom Newman 25–23 n/a Lounge Billiard Hall, Nottingham
1935 Joe Davis Willie Smith 25–20 n/a Thurston’s Hall, London
1936 Joe Davis Horace Lindrum 34–27 n/a Thurston’s Hall, London
1937 Joe Davis Horace Lindrum 32–29 n/a Thurston’s Hall, London
1938 Joe Davis Sidney Smith 37–24 n/a Thurston’s Hall, London
1939 Joe Davis Sidney Smith 43–30 n/a Thurston’s Hall, London
1940 Joe Davis Fred Davis 37–36 n/a Thurston’s Hall, London
1946 Joe Davis Horace Lindrum 78–67 n/a Horticultural Hall, London
1947 Walter Donaldson Fred Davis 82–63 n/a Leicester Square Hall, London
1948 Fred Davis Walter Donaldson 84–61 n/a Leicester Square Hall, London
1949 Fred Davis Walter Donaldson 80–65 n/a Leicester Square Hall, London
1950 Walter Donaldson Fred Davis 51–46 n/a Tower Circus, Blackpool
1951 Fred Davis Walter Donaldson 58–39 n/a Tower Circus, Blackpool
1952 Horace Lindrum[a] Clark McConachy 94–49 n/a Houldsworth Hall, Manchester
1952 ◊ Fred Davis Walter Donaldson 38–35 n/a Tower Circus, Blackpool
1953 ◊ Fred Davis Walter Donaldson 37–34 n/a Leicester Square Hall, London
1954 ◊ Fred Davis Walter Donaldson 39–21 n/a Houldsworth Hall, Manchester
1955 ◊ Fred Davis John Pulman 37–34 n/a Tower Circus, Blackpool
1956 ◊ Fred Davis John Pulman 38–35 n/a Tower Circus, Blackpool
1957 ◊ John Pulman Jackie Rea 39–34 n/a Jersey
1964 ‡ John Pulman Fred Davis 19–16 n/a Burroughes Hall, London
1964 ‡ John Pulman Rex Williams 40–33 n/a Burroughes Hall, London
1965 ‡ John Pulman Fred Davis 37–36 n/a Burroughes Hall, London
1965 ‡ John Pulman Rex Williams 25–22[b] n/a South Africa
1965 ‡ John Pulman Fred Van Rensburg 39–12 n/a South Africa
1966 ‡ John Pulman Fred Davis 5–2[b] n/a St George's Hall, Liverpool
1968 ‡ John Pulman Eddie Charlton 39–34 n/a Co-operative Hall, Bolton
1969 John Spencer Gary Owen 37–24 n/a Victoria Hall, London
1970 Ray Reardon John Pulman 37–33 n/a Victoria Hall, London
1971 John Spencer Warren Simpson 37–29 n/a Sydney, Australia
1972 Alex Higgins John Spencer 37–32 n/a Selly Park British Legion, Birmingham
1973 Ray Reardon Eddie Charlton 38–32 n/a City Exhibition Hall, Manchester
1974 Ray Reardon Graham Miles 22–12 1973/74 Belle Vue, Manchester
1975 Ray Reardon Eddie Charlton 31–30 1974/75 Melbourne, Australia
1976 Ray Reardon Alex Higgins 27–16 1975/76 Wythenshawe Forum, Manchester
1977 John Spencer Cliff Thorburn 25–21 1976/77 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1978 Ray Reardon Perrie Mans 25–18 1977/78 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1979 Terry Griffiths Dennis Taylor 24–16 1978/79 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1980 Cliff Thorburn Alex Higgins 18–16 1979/80 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1981 Steve Davis Doug Mountjoy 18–12 1980/81 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1982 Alex Higgins Ray Reardon 18–15 1981/82 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1983 Steve Davis Cliff Thorburn 18–6 1982/83 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1984 Steve Davis Jimmy White 18–16 1983/84 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1985 Dennis Taylor Steve Davis 18–17 1984/85 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1986 Joe Johnson Steve Davis 18–12 1985/86 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1987 Steve Davis Joe Johnson 18–14 1986/87 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1988 Steve Davis Terry Griffiths 18–11 1987/88 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1989 Steve Davis John Parrott 18–3 1988/89 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1990 Stephen Hendry[c] Jimmy White 18–12 1989/90 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1991 John Parrott Jimmy White 18–11 1990/91 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1992 Stephen Hendry Jimmy White 18–14 1991/92 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1993 Stephen Hendry Jimmy White 18–5 1992/93 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1994 Stephen Hendry Jimmy White 18–17 1993/94 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1995 Stephen Hendry Nigel Bond 18–9 1994/95 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1996 Stephen Hendry Peter Ebdon 18–12 1995/96 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1997 Ken Doherty Stephen Hendry 18–12 1996/97 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1998 John Higgins Ken Doherty 18–12 1997/98 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1999 Stephen Hendry Mark Williams 18–11 1998/99 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
2000 Mark Williams Matthew Stevens 18–16 1999/00 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
2001 Ronnie O'Sullivan John Higgins 18–14 2000/01 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
2002 Peter Ebdon Stephen Hendry 18–17 2001/02 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
2003 Mark Williams Ken Doherty 18–16 2002/03 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
2004 Ronnie O'Sullivan Graeme Dott 18–8 2003/04 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
2005 Shaun Murphy Matthew Stevens 18–16 2004/05 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
2006 Graeme Dott Peter Ebdon 18–14 2005/06 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
2007 John Higgins Mark Selby 18–13 2006/07 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
2008 Ronnie O'Sullivan Ali Carter 18–8 2007/08 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
2009 John Higgins Shaun Murphy 18–9 2008/09 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
2010 Neil Robertson Graeme Dott 18–13 2009/10 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
2011 John Higgins Judd Trump 18–15 2010/11 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

Statistics

Multiple champions

Title defended in a challenge match
Professional Matchplay Championship title[d]
Competed in 2011
Player Total Years
Joe Davis 15 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1946
Fred Davis 8 1948, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956
John Pulman 1957, 1964, 1964, 1965, 1965, 1965, 1966, 1968
Stephen Hendry 7 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999
Ray Reardon 6 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978
Steve Davis 1981, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989
John Higgins 4 1998, 2007, 2009, 2011
John Spencer 3 1969, 1971, 1977
Ronnie O'Sullivan 2001, 2004, 2008
Walter Donaldson 2 1947, 1950
Alex Higgins 1972, 1982
Mark Williams 2000, 2003

Champions by country

Country Players Total First title Last title
 England 10 47 1927 2008
 Scotland 4 14 1947 2011
 Wales 3 9 1970 2003
 Northern Ireland 2 3 1972 1985
 Australia 2 2 1952 2010
 Canada 1 1 1980 1980
 Republic of Ireland 1 1 1997 1997

Notes

  • a Due to a disagreement with the Billiards Association and Control Club, Lindrum and McConachy were the only players to compete, with most professional players playing in the Professional Matchplay Championship instead. As a result, Lindrum's title win is often ignored, with Cliff Thorburn (Can), Ken Doherty (Ire) and Neil Robertson (Aus) usually regarded as the only non-British World Champions.[3]
  • b The title was decided over a series of matches rather than frames.
  • c Stephen Hendry became the youngest World Champion at the final on 29 April 1990, aged 21 years, 106 days.
  • d The Guinness Book of World Records does not acknowledge the Professional Matchplay Championship results in its records, so accordingly only lists Fred Davis as having won the World Championship three times, and John Pulman seven times.

References

  1. ^ Turner, Chris. "World Professional Championship". cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/world.html. Retrieved 24 February 2011. 
  2. ^ "Hall of Fame". WWW Snooker. http://www.snooker.org/Trn/hof.asp?pEvent=World. Retrieved 24 February 2011. 
  3. ^ a b "History of the World Snooker Championship". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/BetfredcomWorldChampionshipTournamentsArticle/0,,13165~2306123,00.html. Retrieved 30 April 2011. 
World Snooker Champions
The early years
1927–1940 Joe Davis
Post-war to decline
1946 Joe Davis · 1947 Walter Donaldson · 1948–49 Fred Davis · 1950 Walter Donaldson · 1951 Fred Davis · 1952 Horace Lindrum
Professional Matchplay Championship
1952–56 Fred Davis · 1957 John Pulman
Challenge matches
1964–68 John Pulman
The modern era (pre-Crucible)
1969 John Spencer · 1970 Ray Reardon · 1971 John Spencer · 1972 Alex Higgins · 1973–76 Ray Reardon
The Crucible Theatre
1977 John Spencer · 1978 Ray Reardon · 1979 Terry Griffiths · 1980 Cliff Thorburn · 1981 Steve Davis · 1982 Alex Higgins · 1983–84 Steve Davis · 1985 Dennis Taylor · 1986 Joe Johnson · 1987–89 Steve Davis · 1990 Stephen Hendry · 1991 John Parrott · 1992–96 Stephen Hendry · 1997 Ken Doherty · 1998 John Higgins · 1999 Stephen Hendry · 2000 Mark Williams · 2001 Ronnie O'Sullivan · 2002 Peter Ebdon · 2003 Mark Williams · 2004 Ronnie O'Sullivan · 2005 Shaun Murphy · 2006 Graeme Dott · 2007 John Higgins · 2008 Ronnie O'Sullivan · 2009 John Higgins · 2010 Neil Robertson · 2011 John Higgins
The early years
1921 · 1922 · 1923 · 1924 · 1925 · 1926 · 1927 · 1928 · 1929 · 1930
1931 · 1932 · 1933 · 1934 · 1935 · 1936 · 1937 · 1938 · 1939 · 1940
Post-War to decline
1941 · 1942 · 1943 · 1944 · 1945 · 1946 · 1947 · 1948 · 1949 · 1950
1951 · 1952
Professional Matchplay Championship
1951 · 1952 · 1953 · 1954 · 1955 · 1956 · 1957
Challenge matches
1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964 · 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968
The modern era (pre-Crucible)
1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964 · 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 · 1969 · 1970
1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1976
The Crucible Theatre
1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979 · 1980
1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989 · 1990
1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 · 1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000
2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
2011 · 2012
Related articles
List of winners from 1927 to present · Crucible curse · Triple Crown · The Black Ball Final
Snooker lists
Players
Champions
<dfn style="border-bottom:1px dotted #0645AD; font-style:inherit;">Breaks</dfn>
Miscellaneous
General