At the 1997 World Championship, McLellan won five matches to reach the main stages at the Crucible Theatre; he defeated Joe Jogia, Peter Lines and Tony Jones all 10–9, Nick Dyson 10–6 and Neal Foulds 10–9 to set up a meeting with the six-time World Champion Steve Davis in the last 32. In the event, Davis led 5–0, and prevailed 10–2.