Heavyweight World Championship finals: 5 of the best Sheffield showdowns

There have been some classic matches at the iconic venue over the years.

Published May 4

Snooker chiefs are considering moving the World Snooker Championship away from Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre when its existing contract expires at the end of the 2027 tournament.

On the eve of the 47th consecutive final to be held at the famous venue, the PA news agency picks out five of the best.

1982: Alex Higgins 18 Ray Reardon 15

Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins, the new World Snooker Champion — Alex Higgins celebrated his 1982 win with his wife and daughter (PA Archive)

1985: Dennis Taylor 18 Steve Davis 17

Embassy World Snooker Championship Final – Steve Davis v Dennis Taylor – The Crucible – Sheffield — Steve Davis was left stunned by Dennis Taylor’s famous black ball triumph in 1985 (PA Archive)

1994: Stephen Hendry 18 Jimmy White 17

Snooker – Embassy World Snooker Championship – Final – Jimmy White v Stephen Hendry – Crucible Theatre, Sheffield — Stephen Hendry denied Jimmy White a long-awaited world title (Malcolm Croft/PA)

2018: Mark Williams 18 John Higgins 16

2018 Betfred Snooker World Championships – Day Seventeen – The Crucible — Mark Williams staged a spectacular career resurgence to win the 2018 world title (Richard Sellers/PA)

2019: Judd Trump 18 John Higgins 9

2019 Betfred Snooker World Championship – Day Seventeen – The Crucible — Judd Trump struck seven centuries in his 2019 final win over John Higgins (Richard Sellers/PA)