The first championship was held in 1927, and the legendary Joe Davis helped to organise the event. Matches were held at various venues, and the final took place at Camkin`s Hall, Birmingham. Joe Davis won the event, beating Tom Dennis 20-11. His prize money was L6.10s. The highest break of the tournament was 60 by Albert Cope.

In subsequent years, finals were held at various venues. Joe Davis won every year until 1940, when he just beat his younger brother Fred 37-36. No tournaments were organised during the war years, and it only resumed in 1946 when Joe Davis won again for the 15th time, a record that still stands. Joe Davis never contested the world championship again, though he continued to play professional snooker. Some have speculated that he did not want to risk losing his unbeaten record.

Walter Donaldson won in 1947, but it was Fred Davis who dominated the next few years, winning it three times in 1948, 1949 and 1951.

In 1952, as a result of a disagreement between the governing bodies (the Billiards Association and Control Council), and some of the players, two tournaments were held. The World Matchplay, organised by the players and widely viewed as the "real" world championship, continued until 1957. The BA&CC event only lasted one year. Meanwhile the `official` world championship did attract two entrants in 1952, Horace Lindrum (Australia) beating New Zealander Clark McConachy – and it is Lindrum`s name that is inscribed on the familiar trophy.

Snooker then went into a period of decline, and no tournament was held between 1958 and 1963. In 1964 it was revived on a challenge basis, a format which lasted until 1968. This meant that matches took place on an irregular basis, sometimes more than once a year. John Pulman completely dominated during this period, overcoming all challengers in a total of seven matches.





The winners since 1927 with wins in brackets are:
       2007 John Higgins
       2006 Graeme Dott
       2005 Shaun Murphy
       2004 Ronnie O'Sullivan
       2003 Mark Williams
       2002 Peter Ebdon
       2001 Ronnie O'Sullivan
       2000 Mark Williams
       1999 Stephen Hendry
       1998 John Higgins
       1997 Ken Doherty
       1996 Stephen Hendry
       1995 Stephen Hendry
       1994 Stephen Hendry
       1993 Stephen Hendry
       1992 Stephen Hendry
       1991 John Parrott
       1990 Stephen Hendry
       1989 Steve Davis
       1988 Steve Davis
       1987 Steve Davis
       1986 Joe Johnson
       1985 Dennis Taylor
       1984 Steve Davis
       1983 Steve Davis
       1982 Alex Higgins
       1981 Steve Davis
       1980 Cliff Thorburn
       1979 Terry Griffiths
       1978 Ray Reardon
       1977 John Spencer
       1976 Ray Reardon
       1975 Ray Reardon
       1974 Ray Reardon
       1973 Ray Reardon
       1972 Alex Higgins
       1971 John Spencer
       1970 Ray Reardon
       1969 John Spencer
       1968 John Pulman
       1966 John Pulman
       1965 John Pulman
       1965 John Pulman
       1965 John Pulman
       1964 John Pulman
       1964 John Pulman
       1952 Horace Lindrum
       1951 Fred Davis
       1950 Walter Donaldson
       1949 Fred Davis
       1948 Fred Davis
       1947 Walter Donaldson
       1946 Joe Davis
       1940 Joe Davis
       1939 Joe Davis
       1938 Joe Davis
       1937 Joe Davis
       1936 Joe Davis
       1935 Joe Davis
       1934 Joe Davis
       1933 Joe Davis
       1932 Joe Davis
       1931 Joe Davis
       1930 Joe Davis
       1929 Joe Davis
       1928 Joe Davis
       1927 Joe Davis

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