History

The Embassy World Championship is snooker’s premier event and one of the highlights of the sporting calendar. The rich history of the tournament, marathon format and prestige of the title make it the ultimate goal for all the leading players.

The event was first staged back in 1927 and was dominated in the early years by Joe Davis. Embassy became the sponsor in 1976 and the following year the Championship moved to the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, where it has remained ever since.

Steve Davis ruled the roost at the Crucible for most of the 1980s, winning six titles. Stephen Hendry took up the mantle in the 1990s and went one better in 1999 when he lifted the famous trophy for the seventh time.

Ronnie O’Sullivan is this year’s defending champion, having scored his second title last year with an 18-8 defeat of Graeme Dott.

Previous finals

1976 Ray Reardon bt Alex Higgins 27-16
1977 John Spencer bt Cliff Thorburn 25-12
1978 Ray Reardon bt Perrie Mans 25-18
1979 Terry Griffiths bt Dennis Taylor 24-16
1980 Cliff Thorburn bt Alex Higgins 18-16
1981 Steve Davis bt Doug Mountjoy 18-12
1982 Alex Higgins bt Ray Reardon 18-15
1983 Steve Davis bt Cliff Thorburn 18-6
1984 Steve Davis bt Jimmy White 18-16
1985 Dennis Taylor bt Steve Davis 18-17
1986 Joe Johnson bt Steve Davis 18-12
1987 Steve Davis bt Joe Johnson 18-14
1988 Steve Davis bt Terry Griffiths 18-11
1989 Steve Davis bt John Parrott 18-3
1990 Stephen Hendry bt Jimmy White 18-14
1991 John Parrott bt Jimmy White 18-11
1992 Stephen Hendry bt Jimmy White 18-14
1993 Stephen Hendry bt Jimmy White 18-5
1994 Stephen Hendry bt Jimmy White 18-17
1995 Stephen Hendry bt Nigel Bond 18-9
1996 Stephen Hendry bt Peter Ebdon 18-12
1997 Ken Doherty bt Stephen Hendry 18-12
1998 John Higgins bt Ken Doherty 18-12
1999 Stephen Hendry bt Mark Williams 18-11
2000 Mark Williams bt Matthew Stevens 18-16
2001 Ronnie O'Sullivan bt John Higgins 18-14
2002 Peter Ebdon bt Stephen Hendry 18-17
2003 Mark Williams bt Ken Doherty 18-16
2004 Ronnie O'Sullivan bt Graeme Dott 18-8