The
'Embassy' World Championships
- Year by Year |
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1976
- Winner Ray Reardon
In
1976 the final of the first embassy world championships
was played in Manchester at the Wythenshaw arena.
Ray Reardon was up against self-professed, "peoples champion"
Alex "Hurricane" Higgins. Reardon won easily after Higgins
conceded the match in the penultimate session after missing
an easy pink.
With Higgins conceding the frame and match early, the last
session was not played. |
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1977
- Winner John Spencer
In this year the tournament moved to Sheffield and was to
be played at the Crucible Theatre for the very first time.
The final was contested between John Spencer and Canadian
Cliff Thorburn, with Spencer winning 25 -21. |
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1978
- Winner Ray Reardon
After dominating the game of snooker in the 1970's Ray Reardon
won his sixth and last world title against left handed Perry
Manns in 1978.
This followed earlier wins in 1970, 73, 74, 75 and 1976. |
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1979
- Winner Terry Griffiths
After a hard fought victory over Eddie Charlton in the semi-finals,
Griffith's made the now famous quote "I'm in the final now".
Facing him was Irishman Dennis Taylor, but after another
close game Griffith's emerged triumphant to collect the
£10,000 first prize. |
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1980 - Winner Cliff Thorburn
Fondly
remembered as the year of the grinder, this final was a
classic mix of styles. Featuring Cliff Thorburn against
Alex Higgins, the match combined Thorburn's tactical ability
and safety play, with Higgin's natural potting and bravado.
An excellent final, saw Thorburn keep his nerve to win 18
- 16. Many wondered if Higgins would ever be world champion
again. |
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1981 - Winner Steve Davis
The
1980's began an era of domination by Steve Davis. Over the
course of the next 9 years, Davis would feature in eight
finals, winning six.
The Davis era began here, when Davis convincingly beat Doug
Mountjoy, 18 -12. |
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1982 - Winner Alex Higgins
In 1982 the final was contested between two of the most
famous names in snooker history, and also two men playing
in their last Embassy final, Ray Reardon and Alex Higgins.
Higgins proved too strong for Reardon and a 135 clearance
in the final frame meant he was champion again, a full ten
years after his first win. This prompted the memorable scenes
of Higgins calling for his wife and daughter in an emotional
aftermath to victory. |
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1983 - Winner Steve Davis
After
his shock exit in 1982 to Tony Knowles, Steve Davis was
determined to regain his place at the forefront of the game.
In the final however, he was up against 1980 champion Cliff
Thorburn still celebrating a 147 total clearance in an earlier
round against Terry Griffiths. The first televised 147 in
Crucible history.
The final was somewhat of an anti-climax with Davis winning
comfortably against a strangely subdued Thorburn. |
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1984 - Winner Steve Davis
In 1984, Steve Davis went on to win his third title in four
years against the magic of Jimmy "Whirlwind" White.
Davis
totally dominated the first session and the match looked
as good as over. Jimmy, with a combination of skill and
courage managed to bring himself back into the game, enjoying
an excellent second day of the final.
The lead proved too great, the match finished 18 - 16 and
Steve Davis was again a worthy Champion. |
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1985 - Winner Dennis Taylor
Perhaps the most famous match in snooker history.
Played between reigning World Champion Steve Davis and 1979
loser Dennis Taylor the match had everything. As in the
previous year Steve raced into a commanding lead in the
first session, only for Dennis to counter attack brilliantly
to close the gap.
The race continued with both players neck and neck at 17
frames each. The last frame was a little scrappy, which
was hardly surprising with all the tension and pressure.
After a compelling battle on the final black in the final
frame, 18.5 million viewers, a record for a televised sporting
event, saw Dennis Taylor triumph 62 -66, after Davis missed
a thin cut back, on the black.
Taylor was a very popular winner, breaking Davis's stranglehold
on the World Crown. |
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1986 - Winner Joe Johnson
Joe's
Year.
Playing with the freedom of a man with nothing to lose,
150 - 1 shot Joe Johnson stunned the snooker world when
he defeated Steve Davis18 - 12 in 1986.
Ever the sportsman, Davis conceded that Johnson had played
the best snooker and thoroughly deserved his win. |
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1987 - Winner Steve Davis
This
final was a repeat of the previous year when Davis met Johnson.
There
was to be no repeat result however, with Davis playing excellently
to win his fourth world crown 18 - 14. |
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1988 - Winner Steve Davis
The 1988 final had Davis playing 1979 champion Griffiths.
Davis was seeking his fifth world title and never looked
in danger during this match.
A full nine years after winning the world title against
Dennis Taylor, this would be Terry Griffith's last appearance
in a crucible final.
Although
only victorious once at the Crucible, Griffith's overall
record stands comparison with most others in the world championships.
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1989 - Winner Steve Davis
This final saw Steve Davis run out an easy 18 - 3 victor
against John Parrot. Parrot struggled to find his best form
and seemed to be completely in awe of both Davis and the
occasion.
Davis meanwhile was at his imperious best, equalling Ray
Reardon's record of six world titles. |
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1990 - Winner Stephen Hendry
The start of an era of dominance by the brilliant Stephen
Hendry and the beginning of years of despair for Jimmy White,
now known as the best player never to win the world title.
After predicting in season 86/87 that he would win the title
within five years, Hendry defeated White 18 - 12 to become
the youngest ever player to win the world championship title.
This was the first of five consecutive appearances in the
final for Jimmy White |
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1991 - Winner John Parrot
This final was contested between 1989 runner-up John Parrot
and 1990 runner-up Jimmy White.
After dominating the the first session 7 - 0, Parrot never
looked back winning the match and World Championship title,
18 - 11. |
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1992 - Winner Stephen Hendry
A repeat of the 1990 final saw Stephen Hendry again playing
Jimmy White.
The
match appeared to be going White's way as he progressed
into a 14 - 9 lead. At this stage however, Hendry demonstrated
all the attributes that have made him arguably the greatest
player ever.
A ten frame winning run saw him take the title 18 - 14. |
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1993 - Winner Stephen Hendry
Capturing his third title in four years Stephen Hendry completely
dominated this final against Jimmy White.
An opening frame break of 136 by Hendry set the tone for
the rest of the match, with the final score finishing 18
- 5 |
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1994 - Winner Stephen Hendry
Perhaps Jimmy's best chance of winning the title came and
went in the final frame of this tremendous match. With the
match and title staring him in the face, Jimmy missed a
relatively easy black off the spot, allowing Hendry the
opportunity to get back to the table.
Displaying
his customary nerve Hendry completed a 58 clearance to win
the title 18 - 17.
For
Jimmy's legion of fans this was perhaps the most upsetting
of his defeats in the Embassy World Championship final. |
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1995 - Winner Stephen Hendry
After three consecutive White v Hendry finals, this championship
witnessed a White - Hendry semi-final. The outcome remained
the same however, with Stephen Hendry victorious, a maximum
clearance to go 8 - 4 up adding to his enjoyment during
the match.
This resulted in the 1995 title being fought out between
Nigel Bond and a Stephen Hendry seeking his fourth consecutive
victory and his fifth title in six seasons.
With a century to finish the match in the final frame, Hendry
waltzed home a convincing 18 - 9 victor. This was no disgrace
to Bond who had enjoyed an excellent tournament. |
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1996 - Winner Stephen Hendry
"C'mon.
C'mon". This phrase had reverberated around the Crucible
as Peter Ebdon fought his way into the final stages of the
tournament and ultimately the final against, who else, but
Stephen Hendry. For all his passion however, Ebdon was no
match for ice cool Hendry.
A
wonderful display of consistent snooker would see Hendry
comfortably see off the dogged Ebdon 18 - 12, equalling
the record of both Ray Reardon and Steve Davis as six times
World Champion. |
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1997 - Winner Ken Doherty
Trying to win his sixth consecutive world title Stephen
Hendry was this time drawn to play the brilliant Irishman,
Ken Doherty, in the final of the world championship.
Alas for Hendry it was not to be, with Doherty winning the
match 18 - 12 |
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1998 - Winner John Higgins
1998
saw a newcomer to the world final with John Higgins fighting
his way through. Higgins had been earmarked for world title
glory many years before as an outstanding junior and was
now really beginning to make his talent show on the world
stage.
Facing
him was Ken Doherty playing in his second consecutive world
final. Doherty however, was unable to reproduce the form
of the previous year enabling Higgins to push home his superiority
for an 18 - 12 victory. |
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1999 - Winner Stephen Hendry
Record
breaking Scotsman Stephen Hendry did it again. A seventh
world title made him the most successful player in world
championship history.
Up against first time finalist Mark Williams Hendry was
rarely in danger, winning 18 - 11.
Williams looked somewhat drained from his encounters in
earlier rounds, but one thing was sure this talented Welshman
would be back again |
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2000 - Winner Mark Williams
The
first all Welsh world championship final in snooker history,
between beaten finalist from 1999, Mark Williams and the
newcomer Matthew Stevens.
Williams
won 8- 9 to win his first world title in a match that failed
to live up to expectations. |
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2001 - Winner Ronnie O'Sullivan
Ronnie
O'Sullivan celebrates with the trophy after the match -
Snooker - Embassy World Championship - Crucible Theatre,
Sheffield Tuesday May 8.
A shell shocked John Higgins,the match finished 18 - 14
and O'Sullivan was a worthy Champion. |
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2002 - Winner Peter Ebdon
New world champion Peter Ebdon admitted he felt he was
on a "different planet" as he won a thrilling
final at The Crucible.
Ebdon
held on in a tense deciding frame to beat Stephen Hendry
and win a match that finished at past midnight.
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2003 - Winner Mark Williams
Mark
Williams seals a dramatic 18-16 victory over Ken Doherty
to clinch the World Snooker Championship. |
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2004
- Winner Ronnie Osullivan
The
2004 Embassy World Snooker Championship took place between
17 April and 3 May 2004 at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
between Osullivan and Graeme Dott.
Tthe
final winner was Ronnie O'Sullivan, beating Graeme Dott
by 18 frames to 8 (the fourth biggest margin in a final,
equalled by O'Sullivan against Ali Carter in 2008) in
the final, despite Dott having led 5–0.
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2005 - Winner Shaun Murphy
The
2005 Embassy World Snooker Championship professional ranking
snooker tournament took place between 16 April and 2 May
2005 at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England.
Ronnie
O'Sullivan looked to defend his world title which he won
in 2004, but the final winner was the relatively fresh
faced Shaun Murphy, beating Matthew Stevens by 18 frames
to 16 in the final.
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2006
- Winner Graeme Dott
The
final was contested between Ebdon and Graeme Dott, and
the victor was Dott by 18 frames to 14, earning him his
first professional title in his 12-year career, and a
£200,000 cheque.
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2007 - Winner John Higgins
The
2007 888.com World Snooker Championship professional ranking
snooker tournament began on 21 April and ran until 7 May
2007 (with the final continuing into the early hours of
8 May) at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield.
It
was won by John Higgins, who defeated Mark Selby 18–13
in the final.
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2008 - Winner Ronnie Osullivan
The
2008 888.com World Snooker Championship professional ranking
snooker tournament took place between 19 April and 5 May
2008 at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield.
Ronnie
O'Sullivan became the champion for the third time after
beating Ali Carter 18–8.
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2009 - Winner John Higgins
The
2009 World Snooker Championship (also known as the 2009
Betfred.com World Snooker Championship for sponsorship
purposes) professional ranking snooker tournament took
place between 18 April and 4 May at the Crucible Theatre
in Sheffield. This was the first time that the World Snooker
Championship had been sponsored by Betfred.
John
Higgins beat Shaun Murphy by 18–9, winning the third
world title of his career
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2010 - Winner Neil Robertson
The
2010 Betfred.com World Snooker Championship snooker tournament
took place between 17 April and 4 May 2010 at the Crucible
Theatre in Sheffield, England.
John
Higgins, who entered the tournament as the defending champion,
lost in the second round 11–13 against Steve Davis.
In
the semi-finals, Neil Robertson defeated Ali Carter 17–12
and Graeme Dott beat Mark Selby 17–14. Robertson
won the final 18–13, becoming the first Australian
in the modern era to win the title.
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2011 - Winner John Higgins
The
2011 Betfred.com World Snooker Championship professional
ranking snooker tournament took place between 16 April
and 2 May 2011 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England.
It was the 74th edition of the event and was the last
ranking event of the 2010/2011 snooker season. Neil Robertson
was the defending champion, but lost 8–10 against
Judd Trump in the first round.
Trump
and John Higgins reached the final by defeating Ding Junhui
17–15 and Mark Williams 17–14 respectively.
John Higgins won his fourth World Championship title defeating
Judd Trump by 18–15 in the final.
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2012 - Winner Ronnie Osullivan
The
2012 Betfred.com World Snooker Championship professional ranking
snooker tournament took place between 21st April and 7 May
2012 at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield.
Ronnie
O'Sullivan became the champion for the forth time after
beating Ali Carter 18–11.
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