Since 1977 there have been 24 different champions, most recently China’s Zhao Xintong who lifted the trophy in 2025, becoming the first champion from Asia. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan share the record of seven crowns apiece.

1977 John Spencer bt Cliff Thorburn 25-21

1978 Ray Reardon bt Perrie Mans 25-18

1979 Terry Griffiths bt Dennis Taylor 24-16

1980 Cliff Thorburn bt Alex Higgins 18-16

1981 Steve Davis bt Doug Mountjoy 18-12

1982 Alex Higgins bt Ray Reardon 18-15

1983 Steve Davis bt Cliff Thorburn 18-6

1984 Steve Davis bt Jimmy White 18-16

1985 Dennis Taylor bt Steve Davis 18-17

1986 Joe Johnson bt Steve Davis 18-12

1987 Steve Davis bt Joe Johnson 18-14

1988 Steve Davis bt Terry Griffiths 18-11

1989 Steve Davis bt John Parrott 18-3

1990 Stephen Hendry bt Jimmy White 18-12

1991 John Parrott bt Jimmy White 18-11

1992 Stephen Hendry bt Jimmy White 18-14

1993 Stephen Hendry bt Jimmy White 18-5

1994 Stephen Hendry bt Jimmy White 18-17

1995 Stephen Hendry bt Nigel Bond 18-9

1996 Stephen Hendry bt Peter Ebdon 18-12

1997 Ken Doherty bt Stephen Hendry 18-12

1998 John Higgins bt Ken Doherty 18-12

1999 Stephen Hendry bt Mark Williams 18-11

2000 Mark Williams bt Matthew Stevens 18-16

2001 Ronnie O’Sullivan bt John Higgins 18-14

2002 Peter Ebdon bt Stephen Hendry 18- 17

2003 Mark Williams bt Ken Doherty 18-16

2004 Ronnie O’Sullivan bt Graeme Dott 18-8

2005 Shaun Murphy bt Matthew Stevens 18-16

2006 Graeme Dott bt Peter Ebdon 18-14

2007 John Higgins bt Mark Selby 18-13

2008 Ronnie O’Sullivan bt Ali Carter 18-8

2009 John Higgins bt Shaun Murphy 18-9

2010 Neil Robertson bt Graeme Dott 18-13

2011 John Higgins bt Judd Trump 18-15

2012 Ronnie O’Sullivan bt Ali Carter 18-11

2013 Ronnie O’Sullivan bt Barry Hawkins 18-12

2014 Mark Selby bt Ronnie O’Sullivan 18-14

2015 Stuart Bingham bt Shaun Murphy 18-15

2016 Mark Selby bt Ding Junhui 18-14

2017 Mark Selby bt John Higgins 18-15

2018 Mark Williams bt John Higgins 18-16

2019 Judd Trump bt John Higgins 18-9

2020 Ronnie O‘Sullivan bt Kyren Wilson 18-8

2021 Mark Selby bt Shaun Murphy 18-15

2022 Ronnie O’Sullivan bt Judd Trump 18-13

2023 Luca Brecel bt Mark Selby 18-15

2024 Kyren Wilson bt Jak Jones 18-14

2025 Zhao Xintong bt Mark Williams 18-12

Michal Szubarczyk, 15, makes snooker history after becoming the youngest winner of a World Snooker Championship match; this year’s ​tournament begins on April 18 and runs until ⁠May 4 at The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield

Michal Szubarczyk of Poland made history in World Snooker Championship qualifying

Michal Szubarczyk became the youngest winner of a World Snooker Championship match in the first qualifying round.

Aged just 15 years, two months, and 25 days, the Polish prodigy beat the previous record that was set by Liam Davies in 2022 as he defeated Hong Kong star Ng On Yee 10-7 on day one of the World Championship qualifiers at the English Institute of Sport.

Three-time women’s world snooker champion, Ng, came into the match on a high after claiming wins on the women’s tour in February and March.

“I feel very proud,” Szubarczyk told the World Snooker Tour.

“I’m very excited to play the next match, and maybe this year or next year, I can become the youngest Crucible player.

“For me, it’s the first goal of every player in professional snooker [to play in the World Championship]. I’m enjoying the pressure. It doesn’t work in a bad way for me.

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“I even like it, and I think that’s good. For the last six years, I have been dreaming about playing at the Crucible.

“I love representing Poland. Without the Polish events I wouldn’t be here, because I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to play at European or World Championships.”

Szubarczyk has to win three more matches to become the youngest qualifier for the Crucible Theatre.

If he does, he will surpass the record held by Luca Brecel, who made his Crucible debut in 2012 aged 17 years and 45 days.

Jimmy White has not played at the World Championship since 2006

Six-time World Snooker Championship finalist Jimmy White bowed out in the first qualifying round to Gao Yang in agonising fashion.

The snooker legend, who turns 64 next month, established an early 5-1, but the 21 year-old from China battled back with the match decided in a final-frame thriller, won by Gao.

It means White’s 20-year wait to return to the Crucible continues – despite attempting to qualify every year.

Ronnie O’Sullivan through to 66th ranking final and a chance for a record-extending 42nd ranking title after battling back from 43-0 down in the decider to Wu Yize before pulling out a sensational clearance

Ronnie O’Sullivan made it through to World Open final after a sensational deciding-frame clearance

Ronnie O’Sullivan made it through to the World Open final after clinching a deciding-frame thriller against Wu Yize.

With O’Sullivan and Wu locked at 5-5 in the race to six frames, ‘The Rocket’ produced a wonderful 89 counter-clearance from 43-0 down to seal a dramatic 6-5 victory.

The seven-time world champion is through to a 66th ranking final and now has a chance to win a record-extending 42nd ranking title in Sunday’s final against Judd Trump or Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.

On Friday, O’Sullivan made the highest break in professional snooker by hitting a 153 at the tournament.

The 50-year-old achieved the feat after leaving quarter-final opponent Ryan Day in a snooker at the start of the opening frame and the Welshman’s failed attempt to get out of it handed O’Sullivan a free ball.

That allowed the seven-time world champion to commence his break with the green, followed by his opening black to put him on eight points before even beginning on the reds.

O’Sullivan then reeled off the 15 reds, accompanied by 13 further blacks and two pinks before clearing up the colours to land a record-breaking 153, paving the way for a dominant 5-0 victory.

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O’Sullivan’s route to World Open final

• Round one: Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-1 Ross Muir
• Round two: Ishpreet Singh Chadha 0-5 Ronnie O’Sullivan (bye)
• Round three: Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-0 Matthew Selt
• Round four: Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-3 Shaun Murphy
• Quarter-final: Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-0 Ryan Day
• Semi-final: Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-5 Wu Yize

Ronnie O’Sullivan overtakes Jamie Burnett’s record for the highest break on the World Snooker Tour by hitting a 153 in his quarter-final win over Ryan Day at the World Open in China.

Ronnie O’Sullivan made more snooker history

Ronnie O’Sullivan made the highest break in professional snooker by hitting a 153 at the World Open in China.

The 50-year-old achieved the feat after leaving quarter-final opponent Ryan Day in a snooker at the start of the opening frame, with the Welshman’s failed attempt to get out of it handed O’Sullivan a free ball.

That allowed the seven-time world champion to commence his break with the green, followed by his opening black to put him on eight points before even beginning on the reds.

O’Sullivan then reeled off the 15 reds, accompanied by 13 further blacks and two pinks before clearing up the colours to land a record-breaking 153.

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His rapid start paved the way for a dominant 5-0 victory as O’Sullivan stormed into the semi-finals in China.

O’Sullivan is seeking to win his first ranking event on the world tour since beating Judd Trump 10-7 in the World Grand Prix final in January 2024.

The former world No 1 had reached the quarter-finals with wins over Matthew Selt and Shaun Murphy.

Jamie Burnett previously held the World Snooker Tour record with his 148 break in UK Championship qualifying back in 2004.

Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored four tries against England

England fell agonisingly short of a famous victory in Paris as Thomas Ramos’ last-gasp penalty saw France snatch a stunning 48-46 victory to retain their Six Nations title.

Ramos nailed a long-range penalty with the clock in the red to settle a 13-try thriller which England looked to have won when Tommy Freeman crossed with four minutes remaining.

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Wales snap 15-game losing streak in Six Nations with bonus-point win over Italy in Cardiff; Aaron Wainwright scores two tries with captain Dewi Lake and fly-half Dan Edwards also dotting down; it is Wales’ first home win in Six Nations since beating Scotland in February 2022

Aaron Wainwright scored two first-half tries

Wales emphatically ended their three-year wait for a Six Nations win with a 31-17 crushing of Italy in Cardiff.

Steve Tandy’s side have shown marked improvement since their shambolic loss to England in round one and were finally rewarded with a win as Aaron Wainwright’s first-half double put them on course for a much-needed victory, their first in the tournament since March 2023 to snap a 15-game Six Nations losing streak.

It will not prevent a third successive wooden spoon unless England fall to a record loss in Paris, but it at least gives some reasons for optimism during uncertain times in Welsh rugby.

No 8 Wainwright crossed twice in 11 minutes during a man-of-the-match display, with captain Dewi Lake also dotting down on the half-hour to give Wales a 21-0 lead at the interval.

The Wales players celebrate Dewi Lake’s try

Fly-half Dan Edwards bagged the bonus-point try, while also adding 11 points with the boot, with replacements Luigi Di Bartolomeo and Tommaso Allan and fly-half Paolo Garbisi responding for the outclassed Italians.

Italy were a shadow of the side that claimed a historic win over England. They employed a kick-heavy gameplan and did edge their hosts in the air on occasion, but it was a frustrating afternoon for their talented backline which was spent mostly on the back foot.

An early Tommaso Menoncello break from inside his own half proved a false dawn, with Garbisi squandering the chance to open the scoring as he dragged a penalty across the posts. Things went steadily downhill from there.

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Wales went in front on 15 minutes through Wainwright, who ran over Giacomo Nicotera on his way to the tryline, and he forced his way over for a second after the hosts mauled to within a metre of the whitewash.

Another catch and drive on 30 minutes resulted in a try for captain Lake, Edwards converting all three during a dream first period.

Dan Edwards scores Wales’ bonus-point try

Edwards crossed for the bonus-point try after the restart, dummying his way over on penalty advantage, and he tagged on a drop-goal to make it 31-0 after 48 minutes.

Luigi Di Bartolomeo touched down from a driving maul to get Italy on the scoreboard, with replacement prop Archie Griffin yellow-carded for his cynical attempts to take it to ground, but they failed to further reduce the deficit during the 10-minute sin-bin period.

Fellow replacement Allan scored their second, moments after butchering a chance down the right wing, while the TMO ruled out late efforts from Monty Ioane and Leonardo Marin.

Garbisi did dive over in the corner on the final play but Wales supporters were already basking in a first home Six Nations win since February 2022.

Ronnie O’Sullivan will be competing in the 2026 Seniors Snooker Championship and the World Snooker Championship within just weeks of each other; the 50-year-old won his first world title 25 years ago and looks to add another accolade to his name

Ronnie O’Sullivan will be going for his eighth world title and first Seniors world title this spring

After a record-equalling seven world titles, Ronnie O’Sullivan will be making his debut on the senior world stage in May at the 2026 World Seniors Snooker Championship.

However, the 50-year-old is still expected to play in the main World Championship, which finishes just two days before the seniors starts, with both events taking place at the Crucible.

Ronnie O’Sullivan tried to defend his first Masters title against Steven Hendry in 1996 as the youngest winner of the title at 19-years and 69 days

He joins an impressive seniors line-up that includes 2015 world champion Stuart Bingham, 12-time women’s world champion Reanne Evans and former Masters and UK champion Matthew Stevens.

Chairman Jason Francis branded O’Sullivan the “most commercially valuable player the sport has ever seen” and that he expects The Rocket’s participation to drive ticket sales even higher.

The seniors tournament will take place May 6-10, being prefaced by World Championship from April 18-May 4.

O’Sullivan relocated to Dubai last year but will spend April and May in Sheffield as he also attempts to win an eighth world title when he appears in his 34th consecutive World Snooker Championship.

Changes to the seniors tournaments rules have meant players ranked in the world top 64 are eligible to take part with several having taken the opportunity.

With four title wins, the most successful player in the seniors is Jimmy White, with the 10-time ranking event winner also slated to take part.

This comes 25 years after O’Sullivan won his first World Snooker Championship which he won in his 10th year of being a professional at the age of 25, as he seeks to add yet another record to his CV.