List of World Snooker Champions - wikipedia List of World Snooker Champions The World Snooker Championship Trophy The World Snooker Championship is an annual ranking snooker tournament founded in 1927 and since 1977 played at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England. The tournament is played over 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 or between 1958 and 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 Professional Billiards Players ' Association ( PBPA ) staged their own event, the World Professional Match - play Championship, following a dispute with the BACC. The most successful player at the World Snooker Championship was 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 held by Stephen Hendry, who won the title seven times between 1990 and 1999. Contents 1 Champions 2 Statistics 2.1 Multiple champions 2.2 Champions by country 3 Notes 4 References Champions Main articles : World Snooker Championship and World Professional Match - play Championship 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 ( modern era ) WPBSA List of snooker World Champions Year Winner Runner - up Final score Season Venue 1927 Joe Davis Tom Dennis 16 -- 7 n / a Camkin 's Hall, Birmingham 1928 † Joe Davis Fred Lawrence 16 -- 13 n / a Camkin 's Hall, Birmingham 1929 Joe Davis Tom Dennis 17 -- 12 n / a Lounge 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 Hall, Nottingham 1932 Joe Davis Clark McConachy 25 -- 18 n / a Thurston 's Hall, London 1933 Joe Davis Willie Smith 25 -- 18 n / a Joe Davis Centre, Chesterfield 1934 Joe Davis Tom Newman 25 -- 22 n / a Lounge Hall, Nottingham and Kettering 1935 Joe Davis Willie Smith 28 -- 21 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 1941 -- 1945 : No tournament 1946 Joe Davis Horace Lindrum 78 -- 67 n / a Royal 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 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 45 -- 26 n / a Houldsworth Hall, Manchester 1955 ◊ Fred Davis John Pulman 38 -- 35 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 St Helier, Jersey 1958 -- 1963 : No tournament 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 n / a South Africa 1965 ‡ John Pulman Fred Van Rensburg 39 -- 12 n / a South Africa 1966 ‡ John Pulman Fred Davis 5 -- 2 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 1968 / 69 Victoria Hall, London 1970 Ray Reardon John Pulman 37 -- 33 1969 / 70 Victoria Hall, London 1971 John Spencer Warren Simpson 37 -- 29 1970 / 71 Chevron Hotel, Sydney, Australia 1972 Alex Higgins John Spencer 37 -- 32 1971 / 72 Selly Park British Legion, Birmingham 1973 Ray Reardon Eddie Charlton 38 -- 32 1972 / 73 City Exhibition Hall, Manchester Ray Reardon Graham Miles 22 -- 12 1973 / 74 Belle Vue, Manchester Ray Reardon Eddie Charlton 31 -- 30 1974 / 75 Nunawading Basketball Centre, 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 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 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 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 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 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 Neil Robertson Graeme Dott 18 -- 13 2009 / 10 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield 2011 John Higgins Judd Trump 18 -- 15 2010 / 11 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield 2012 Ronnie O'Sullivan Ali Carter 18 -- 11 2011 / 12 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield 2013 Ronnie O'Sullivan Barry Hawkins 18 -- 12 2012 / 13 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield 2014 Mark Selby Ronnie O'Sullivan 18 -- 14 2013 / 14 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield 2015 Stuart Bingham Shaun Murphy 18 -- 15 2014 / 15 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield 2016 Mark Selby Ding Junhui 18 -- 14 2015 / 16 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield 2017 Mark Selby John Higgins 18 -- 15 2016 / 17 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield 2018 Mark Williams John Higgins 18 -- 16 2017 / 18 Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Joe Davis ( 1927 -- 40 & 1946 ) Stephen Hendry ( 1990, 1992 -- 96 & 1999 ) Steve Davis ( 1981, 1983 -- 84 & 1987 -- 89 ) Ronnie O'Sullivan ( 2001, 2004, 2008 & 2012 -- 13 ) John Higgins ( 1998, 2007, 2009 & 2011 ) John Spencer ( 1969, 1971 & 1977 ) Mark Williams ( 2000, 2003 & 2018 ) Mark Selby ( 2014 & 2016 -- 17 ) Alex Higgins ( 1972 & 1982 ) Statistics Multiple champions Key Challenge match * World Professional Match - play Championship Player competed in 2018 Snooker World Champions multiple times 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 8 1957 *, 1964, 1964, 1965, 1965, 1965, 1966, 1968 Stephen Hendry 7 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999 Steve Davis 6 1981, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989 Ray Reardon 6 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978 Ronnie O'Sullivan 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013 John Higgins 1998, 2007, 2009, 2011 Mark Williams 2000, 2003, 2018 John Spencer 1969, 1971, 1977 Mark Selby 2014, 2016, 2017 Walter Donaldson 1947, 1950 Alex Higgins 1972, 1982 Champions by country Champions by country ( since 1969 ) Country Players Total First title Last title England 9 22 1969 2017 Scotland 12 1990 2011 Wales 10 1970 2018 Northern Ireland 1972 1985 Canada 1980 1980 Republic of Ireland 1997 1997 Australia Champions by country ( all - time ) Country Players Total First title Last title England 12 53 1927 2017 Scotland 14 1947 2011 Wales 10 1970 2018 Northern Ireland 1972 1985 Australia 1952 Canada 1980 1980 Republic of Ireland 1997 1997 Notes 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 ( Canada ), Ken Doherty ( Republic of Ireland ) and Neil Robertson ( Australia ) usually regarded as the only non-United Kingdom World Champions. The title was decided over a series of matches rather than frames. References Jump up ^ `` World Snooker Title ''. The Glasgow Herald. 19 February 1952. p. 2. Jump up ^ 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. Jump up ^ `` World Championship -- Roll of Honour ''. Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2013. Jump up ^ `` Hall of Fame ''. Snooker.org. Retrieved 24 February 2011. ^ Jump up to : `` History of the World Snooker Championship ''. worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Retrieved 30 April 2011. Jump up ^ `` Embassy World Championship ''. Snooker Scene. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2012. Jump up ^ Everton, Clive ( 1981 ). Guinness Book of Snooker. Enfield : Guinness Superlatives. p. 65. ISBN 0 - 85112 - 230 - 2. Snooker portal World Snooker Championships Early tournaments 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 World Professional Match - play 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 Challenge matches Apr 1964 Oct 1964 Mar 1965 Nov 1965 Dec 1965 Apr 1966 Mar 1968 Knockout tournaments 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 Crucible era 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Related articles List of winners Triple Crown Crucible Theatre Crucible curse World Professional Match - play Championship Black ball final ( 1985 ) World snooker champions Early events 1927 Joe Davis 1928 Joe Davis 1929 Joe Davis 1930 Joe Davis 1931 Joe Davis 1932 Joe Davis 1933 Joe Davis 1934 Joe Davis 1935 Joe Davis 1936 Joe Davis 1937 Joe Davis 1938 Joe Davis 1939 Joe Davis 1940 Joe Davis 1946 Joe Davis 1947 Walter Donaldson 1948 Fred Davis 1949 Fred Davis 1950 Walter Donaldson 1951 Fred Davis 1952 Horace Lindrum Match - play 1952 Fred Davis 1953 Fred Davis 1954 Fred Davis 1955 Fred Davis 1956 Fred Davis 1957 John Pulman Challenges 1964 ( Apr ) John Pulman 1964 ( Oct ) John Pulman 1965 ( Mar ) John Pulman 1965 ( Nov ) John Pulman 1965 ( Dec ) John Pulman 1966 John Pulman 1968 John Pulman Modern era 1969 John Spencer 1970 Ray Reardon 1971 John Spencer 1972 Alex Higgins 1973 Ray Reardon 1974 Ray Reardon 1975 Ray Reardon 1976 Ray Reardon 1977 John Spencer 1978 Ray Reardon 1979 Terry Griffiths 1980 Cliff Thorburn 1981 Steve Davis 1982 Alex Higgins 1983 Steve Davis 1984 Steve Davis 1985 Dennis Taylor 1986 Joe Johnson 1987 Steve Davis 1988 Steve Davis 1989 Steve Davis 1990 Stephen Hendry 1991 John Parrott 1992 Stephen Hendry 1993 Stephen Hendry 1994 Stephen Hendry 1995 Stephen Hendry 1996 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 2012 Ronnie O'Sullivan 2013 Ronnie O'Sullivan 2014 Mark Selby 2015 Stuart Bingham 2016 Mark Selby 2017 Mark Selby 2018 Mark Williams Snooker lists Players Champions World champions Ranking title winners Triple Crown winners Rankings World number ones Breaks Maximum break Century break Miscellaneous Players Match - fixing Nicknames Crucible curse Other Glossary of cue sports terms Referees Tournaments all ranking tournaments Cue sports Pool games Nine - ball Eight - ball Straight pool Ten - ball Blackball Artistic pool and trick shots Bank pool Baseball pocket billiards Bottle pool Bowlliards Chicago Chinese eight - ball Cowboy pool Cribbage Cutthroat Golf Honolulu Kelly pool Killer One - pocket Rotation Seven - ball Speed pool Three - ball Carom billiards Three - cushion Five - pins and goriziana Artistic billiards Balkline and straight rail Cushion caroms Four - ball Other games Snooker English billiards Russian pyramid Kaisa Danish pin billiards Bumper pool Bagatelle Bar billiards Novuss Carrom Resources Glossary Techniques Billiard table Billiard ball Billiard hall Cue stick Rack Major tournaments UMB World Three - cushion Championship World Snooker Championship champions Six - red World Championship WPA World Nine - ball Championship champions WPA World Ten - ball Championship World Straight Pool Championship WPA World Eight - ball Championship champions World Cup of Pool Mosconi Cup World Pool Masters Tournament Cue sports at the World Games Categories Cue sports Players Organizations Competitions The rules of games in italics are standardized by international sanctioning bodies. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_world_snooker_champions&oldid=847743696 '' Categories : Winners of the professional snooker world championship Lists of snooker players Hidden categories : Wikipedia articles needing clarification from May 2018 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Беларуская Български Dansk Deutsch Հայերեն Magyar Edit links This page was last edited on 27 June 2018, at 13 : 40 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who's won the snooker world championship the most
Answer: Joe Davis