# 1997 World Snooker Championship

The 1997 World Snooker Championship (also referred to as the 1997 Embassy World Snooker Championship for the purposes of sponsorship) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 19 April and 5 May 1997. Staged at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England, the tournament was sponsored by cigarette manufacturer Embassy.
Ken Doherty won the only world title of his professional career by defeating the defending champion Stephen Hendry 18–12 in the final. The first player to win world championships at junior, amateur, and professional level, Doherty became the second player from outside the United Kingdom to win the title in the modern era, following Cliff Thorburn in 1980. Doherty remains the only world champion from the Republic of Ireland. Hendry's defeat in the final was his first loss in the World Championship since 1991, which ended his record 29 consecutive Crucible victories.

## Tournament summary

* The semi-final matches were best of 33 for the first time, having previously been best of 31.
* Ronnie O'Sullivan made the fastest maximum break in history with a time of 5 minutes and 8 seconds, and the fourth in the history of the tournament.
* Terry Griffiths' first round encounter against Mark Williams was his last ever professional match and meant that he retired having played 999 frames at The Crucible. This match was also three time World Champion Williams' Crucible debut.
* Other debutants this year were Bradley Jones (England); Graham Horne; David McLellan and future World Champion and twice runner-up Graeme Dott (all Scotland); Lee Walker and Dominic Dale (Wales). All these players lost in the first round except Dale and Walker, who reached the last-16 and quarter finals respectively. This meant that all three Welsh debutants won their first round matches.
* Alain Robidoux had his best run at the World Championship, reaching the semi-finals. The Canadian player lost 7–17 to Ken Doherty.
* James Wattana reached the semi-finals for the second time (after 1993) but the Thai player lost 13–17 to defending champion Stephen Hendry.
* Hendry's five-year run as World Champion came to an end after losing to Doherty 12–18. It was Hendry's first defeat at the World Championship since 1991, spanning 29 matches, a Crucible record.
* Doherty became only the second player from outside the United Kingdom to win the world title in the modern era, following Cliff Thorburn in 1980.
* Alan Chamberlain refereed his first and only World Championship final. He was the first referee since Jim Thorpe in 1984 to officiate a debut final. All finals up to this year were officiated by either John Williams, Len Ganley or John Street. The next four years also had referees debuting the final: Lawrie Annandale in 1998, Colin Brinded in 1999, John Newton in 2000 and Eirian Williams in 2001, before John Williams did his 10th final in 2002.

## Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:
* Winner: £210,000
* Runner-up: £126,000
* Semi-finalist: £63,000
* Quarter-finalist: £31,500
* Last 16: £16,800
* Last 32: £9,450
* Highest break: £18,000
* Maximum break: £147,000
* Total £1,260,000

## Main draw

Shown below are the results for each round. The numbers in parentheses beside some of the players are their seeding ranks (each championship has 16 seeds and 16 qualifiers).
| First round Best of 19 frames | First round Best of 19 frames | First round Best of 19 frames | Second round Best of 25 frames | Second round Best of 25 frames | Second round Best of 25 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 25 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 25 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 25 frames | Semi-finals Best of 33 frames | Semi-finals Best of 33 frames | Semi-finals Best of 33 frames | Final Best of 35 frames | Final Best of 35 frames | Final Best of 35 frames |
| 19 April | 19 April | 19 April | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Hendry (1) | Stephen Hendry (1) | 10 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Hendry (1) | Stephen Hendry (1) | 10 | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 6 | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | | | | | | | |
| Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 6 | Stephen Hendry (1) | Stephen Hendry (1) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | Stephen Hendry (1) | Stephen Hendry (1) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | Mark Williams (16) | Mark Williams (16) | 8 | | | | | | | |
| Mark Williams (16) | Mark Williams (16) | 10 | Mark Williams (16) | Mark Williams (16) | 8 | | | | | | | |
| Mark Williams (16) | Mark Williams (16) | 10 | | | | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | | | | | | |
| Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 9 | | | | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | | | | |
| Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 9 | | | | Stephen Hendry (1) | Stephen Hendry (1) | 13 | | | | |
| 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | | | | Stephen Hendry (1) | Stephen Hendry (1) | 13 | | | | |
| 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | | | | Darren Morgan (9) | Darren Morgan (9) | 10 | | | | |
| Darren Morgan (9) | Darren Morgan (9) | 10 | | | | Darren Morgan (9) | Darren Morgan (9) | 10 | | | | |
| Darren Morgan (9) | Darren Morgan (9) | 10 | 24, 25 & 26 | 24, 25 & 26 | 24, 25 & 26 | | | | | | | | | |
| Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | 24, 25 & 26 | 24, 25 & 26 | 24, 25 & 26 | | | | | | | |
| Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | Darren Morgan (9) | Darren Morgan (9) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | Darren Morgan (9) | Darren Morgan (9) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | Ronnie O'Sullivan (8) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (8) | 12 | | | | | | | |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan (8) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (8) | 10 | Ronnie O'Sullivan (8) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (8) | 12 | | | | | | | |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan (8) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (8) | 10 | | | | | | | 1, 2 & 3 May | 1, 2 & 3 May | 1, 2 & 3 May | | | |
| Mick Price | Mick Price | 6 | | | | | | | 1, 2 & 3 May | 1, 2 & 3 May | 1, 2 & 3 May | |
| Mick Price | Mick Price | 6 | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry (1) | Stephen Hendry (1) | 17 | |
| 22 April | 22 April | 22 April | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry (1) | Stephen Hendry (1) | 17 | |
| 22 April | 22 April | 22 April | | | | | | | James Wattana (12) | James Wattana (12) | 13 | |
| Nigel Bond (5) | Nigel Bond (5) | 8 | | | | | | | James Wattana (12) | James Wattana (12) | 13 | |
| Nigel Bond (5) | Nigel Bond (5) | 8 | 27 & 28 April | 27 & 28 April | 27 & 28 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 10 | 27 & 28 April | 27 & 28 April | 27 & 28 April | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 10 | Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 7 | | | | | | | |
| 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 7 | | | | | | | |
| 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | James Wattana (12) | James Wattana (12) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| James Wattana (12) | James Wattana (12) | 10 | James Wattana (12) | James Wattana (12) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| James Wattana (12) | James Wattana (12) | 10 | | | | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | | | | | | |
| Graeme Dott | Graeme Dott | 9 | | | | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | | | | |
| Graeme Dott | Graeme Dott | 9 | | | | James Wattana (12) | James Wattana (12) | 13 | | | | |
| 23 April | 23 April | 23 April | | | | James Wattana (12) | James Wattana (12) | 13 | | | | |
| 23 April | 23 April | 23 April | | | | John Parrott (4) | John Parrott (4) | 10 | | | | |
| Jimmy White (13) | Jimmy White (13) | 9 | | | | John Parrott (4) | John Parrott (4) | 10 | | | | |
| Jimmy White (13) | Jimmy White (13) | 9 | 26, 27 & 28 April | 26, 27 & 28 April | 26, 27 & 28 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 10 | 26, 27 & 28 April | 26, 27 & 28 April | 26, 27 & 28 April | | | | | | | |
| Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 10 | Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 11 | | | | | | | |
| 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 11 | | | | | | | |
| 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | John Parrott (4) | John Parrott (4) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| John Parrott (4) | John Parrott (4) | 10 | John Parrott (4) | John Parrott (4) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| John Parrott (4) | John Parrott (4) | 10 | | | | | | | | | | 4 & 5 May | 4 & 5 May | 4 & 5 May |
| Bradley Jones | Bradley Jones | 9 | | | | | | | | | | 4 & 5 May | 4 & 5 May | 4 & 5 May |
| Bradley Jones | Bradley Jones | 9 | | | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry (1) | Stephen Hendry (1) | 12 |
| 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | | | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry (1) | Stephen Hendry (1) | 12 |
| 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | | | | | | | | | | Ken Doherty (7) | Ken Doherty (7) | 18 |
| Peter Ebdon (3) | Peter Ebdon (3) | 3 | | | | | | | | | | Ken Doherty (7) | Ken Doherty (7) | 18 |
| Peter Ebdon (3) | Peter Ebdon (3) | 3 | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Stefan Mazrocis | Stefan Mazrocis | 10 | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Stefan Mazrocis | Stefan Mazrocis | 10 | Stefan Mazrocis | Stefan Mazrocis | 9 | | | | | | | | | |
| 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | Stefan Mazrocis | Stefan Mazrocis | 9 | | | | | | | | | |
| 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | Alain Robidoux (14) | Alain Robidoux (14) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| Alain Robidoux (14) | Alain Robidoux (14) | 10 | Alain Robidoux (14) | Alain Robidoux (14) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| Alain Robidoux (14) | Alain Robidoux (14) | 10 | | | | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | | | | | | |
| Brian Morgan | Brian Morgan | 8 | | | | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | | | | | | |
| Brian Morgan | Brian Morgan | 8 | | | | Alain Robidoux (14) | Alain Robidoux (14) | 13 | | | | | | |
| 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | | | | Alain Robidoux (14) | Alain Robidoux (14) | 13 | | | | | | |
| 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | | | | Lee Walker | Lee Walker | 8 | | | | | | |
| Dave Harold (11) | Dave Harold (11) | 7 | | | | Lee Walker | Lee Walker | 8 | | | | | | |
| Dave Harold (11) | Dave Harold (11) | 7 | 24 & 25 April | 24 & 25 April | 24 & 25 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Lee Walker | Lee Walker | 10 | 24 & 25 April | 24 & 25 April | 24 & 25 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Lee Walker | Lee Walker | 10 | Lee Walker | Lee Walker | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | Lee Walker | Lee Walker | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | Alan McManus (6) | Alan McManus (6) | 10 | | | | | | | | | |
| Alan McManus (6) | Alan McManus (6) | 10 | Alan McManus (6) | Alan McManus (6) | 10 | | | | | | | | | |
| Alan McManus (6) | Alan McManus (6) | 10 | | | | | | | 1 & 2 May | 1 & 2 May | 1 & 2 May | | | |
| Billy Snaddon | Billy Snaddon | 9 | | | | | | | 1 & 2 May | 1 & 2 May | 1 & 2 May | | | |
| Billy Snaddon | Billy Snaddon | 9 | | | | | | | Alain Robidoux (14) | Alain Robidoux (14) | 7 | | | |
| 19 & 20 | 19 & 20 | 19 & 20 | | | | | | | Alain Robidoux (14) | Alain Robidoux (14) | 7 | | | |
| 19 & 20 | 19 & 20 | 19 & 20 | | | | | | | Ken Doherty (7) | Ken Doherty (7) | 17 | | | |
| Ken Doherty (7) | Ken Doherty (7) | 10 | | | | | | | Ken Doherty (7) | Ken Doherty (7) | 17 | | | |
| Ken Doherty (7) | Ken Doherty (7) | 10 | 26 & 27 April | 26 & 27 April | 26 & 27 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Davis | Mark Davis | 8 | 26 & 27 April | 26 & 27 April | 26 & 27 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Davis | Mark Davis | 8 | Ken Doherty (7) | Ken Doherty (7) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| 21 April | 21 April | 21 April | Ken Doherty (7) | Ken Doherty (7) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| 21 April | 21 April | 21 April | Steve Davis (10) | Steve Davis (10) | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Davis (10) | Steve Davis (10) | 10 | Steve Davis (10) | Steve Davis (10) | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Davis (10) | Steve Davis (10) | 10 | | | | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | | | | | | |
| David McLellan | David McLellan | 2 | | | | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | | | | | | |
| David McLellan | David McLellan | 2 | | | | Ken Doherty (7) | Ken Doherty (7) | 13 | | | | | | |
| 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | | | | Ken Doherty (7) | Ken Doherty (7) | 13 | | | | | | |
| 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | | | | John Higgins (2) | John Higgins (2) | 9 | | | | | | |
| Tony Drago (15) | Tony Drago (15) | 9 | | | | John Higgins (2) | John Higgins (2) | 9 | | | | | | |
| Tony Drago (15) | Tony Drago (15) | 9 | 27 & 28 April | 27 & 28 April | 27 & 28 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 10 | 27 & 28 April | 27 & 28 April | 27 & 28 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 10 | Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | John Higgins (2) | John Higgins (2) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| John Higgins (2) | John Higgins (2) | 10 | John Higgins (2) | John Higgins (2) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| Graham Horne | Graham Horne | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Final (Best of 35 frames) Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, 4 & 5 May 1997. Referee: Alan Chamberlain :
| Stephen Hendry (1) Scotland | 12–18 | Ken Doherty (7) Ireland |
| 7–67, 117–5, 106–0, 13–77, 9–78, 51–75, 11–69, 122–0, 76–12, 32–89, 55–62, 43–57, 13–65, 50–85, 74–47, 28–60, 70–23, 24–71, 110–4, 0–86, 16–85, 45–59, 137–0, 75–12, 61–30, 114–0, 61–57, 23–82, 19–69, 49–71 | Century breaks: 5 (Hendry 5) Highest break by Hendry: 137 Highest break by Doherty: 85 | 7–67, 117–5, 106–0, 13–77, 9–78, 51–75, 11–69, 122–0, 76–12, 32–89, 55–62, 43–57, 13–65, 50–85, 74–47, 28–60, 70–23, 24–71, 110–4, 0–86, 16–85, 45–59, 137–0, 75–12, 61–30, 114–0, 61–57, 23–82, 19–69, 49–71 |
| Ken Doherty wins the 1997 Embassy World Snooker Championship |||

## Century breaks

There were 39 century breaks in this year's championship.

## Qualifying

The qualifying matches were held between 2 January and March 1997 at the Newport Centre in Newport, Wales. The last round was played at Telford International Centre, Telford on 24 and 25 March 1997.

### Round 2–3

| Round 2 (Best of 19 frames) | Round 3 (Best of 19 frames) |
| Matthew Stevens 10–7 Jason Prince | Andy Hicks 10–7 Matthew Stevens |
| Alfie Burden 10–6 Barry Pinches | Terry Griffiths 10–4 Alfie Burden |
| Michael Judge 10–5 Anthony Davies | Gary Wilkinson 10–9 Michael Judge |
| Jimmy Michie 10–9 Paul Davies | Mick Price 10–9 Jimmy Michie |
| Drew Henry 10–3 Alan Burnett | Stephen Lee 10–5 Drew Henry |
| Graeme Dott 10–7 Geoff Dunn | Graeme Dott 10–8 Joe Swail |
| Karl Broughton 10–5 Fergal O'Brien | Anthony Hamilton 10–5 Karl Broughton |
| Bradley Jones 10–9 Jamie Burnett | Bradley Jones 10–4 David Finbow |
| Stefan Mazrocis 10–9 Jason Weston | Stefan Mazrocis 10–4 Chris Small |
| Brian Morgan 10–7 Nick Pearce | Brian Morgan 10–6 Dene O'Kane |
| Lee Walker 10–8 Euan Henderson | Lee Walker 10–7 Dennis Taylor |
| Billy Snaddon 10–3 Paul Davison | Billy Snaddon 10–7 Rod Lawler |
| Mark Davis 10–6 Terry Murphy | Mark Davis 10–5 Jason Ferguson |
| David McLellan 10–6 Nick Dyson | David McLellan 10–9 Neal Foulds |
| Dominic Dale 10–3 Jonathan Birch | Dominic Dale 10–6 Willie Thorne |
| Graham Horne 10–6 Mark King | Graham Horne 10–7 Steve James |