Most World Snooker Championship wins

The World Snooker Championship was first played in 1927, albeit under the guise of the 'Professional Championship of Snooker', and was won by Joe Davis.

Over its first few decades, the World Championship alternated between a small knockout tournament featuring 10 players, and a 'challenge format', whereby defending champion Davis would advance to the final with six players competing for the opportunity to take on the champion.

The competition reverted to a straight knockout in 1969, in what is now recognised as the modern era.

In total, 28 players have been named world champion, and we look at the five most successful players in the tournament's history beginning in 1969.

Ronnie O'Sullivan - seven titles

Years won: 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020, 2022

Regarded by many - albeit not himself - as the best player to pick up a cue, Ronnie O'Sullivan tied Stephen Hendry's record of seven world titles in 2022 and may yet eclipse the Scot with eight.

Despite winning his first ranking title as a teenager at the 1992 UK Championship, it took O'Sullivan the better part of a decade to get to grips with the long format at the Crucible, not winning a first title until 2001.

While O'Sullivan's struggles returned after his maiden win, his victories in 2012 and 2013, which were separated by a year-long absence from the game, remains one of snooker's most impressive achievements.

• Ronnie O'Sullivan: 30 years of greatness

Stephen Hendry - seven titles

Years won: 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999

While O'Sullivan might have won two in a row and Steve Davis won three in a row, Stephen Hendry's five consecutive world titles between 1992 and 1996 won't be matched for many a year.

While Hendry might not have been able to break the 'Crucible Curse' of no first-time Crucible winner following up with victory the proceeding year, Hendry did win six titles in seven years, eventually losing a final in 1997 and returning for one final win in 1999.

Steve Davis - six titles

Years won: 1981, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989

Despite winning a then-record six world titles, Steve Davis is perhaps best remembered for his losses more than his wins at the Crucible.

After winning in 1981, Davis fell victim to the Crucible Curse, but won in 1983 and 1984. He'd then be on the wrong side of snooker's greatest match - the 1985 black ball final, as Davis and Dennis Taylor were tied at 17-17, with the decider being settled on the black.

Davis would then lose in the following year's final to rank outsider Joe Johnson, but went on to win the finals in 1987, 1988 and 1989.

Mark Selby - four titles

Years won: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021

As the older generation paved the way for the likes of Neil Robertson, Judd Trump and Mark Selby, it was the latter who thrived in the 2010s.

One of snooker's grittiest players, Selby won three titles between 2014 and 2017, adding a fourth against Shaun Murphy in 2021.

John Higgins - four titles

Years won: 1998, 2007, 2009, 2011

Part of snooker's fabled Class of '92, John Higgins made his Crucible breakthrough in 1998, beating defending champion Ken Doherty in the final, but had to wait nearly a decade to find himself in the winners' circle once again.

Higgins would beat Mark Selby, Shaun Murphy and Judd Trump in 2007 and 2009 and 2011, but was denied a fifth title, losing the 2017, 2018 and 2019 finals.