At the 1989 World Championship, Browne defeated Steve Meakin 10–9 having trailed 4–9, before overcoming Murdo MacLeod 10–6 and recording a 10–0 victory over Steve Longworth to reach the main stages at the Crucible Theatre for the first time. In the last 32, he played Willie Thorne, leading 5–4 but going on to lose 5–10. He finished the season ranked 44th.