The World Snooker Championship is renowned for throwing up some of the biggest sporting upsets of all-time, and ahead of the 2026 staging of the event we take a look at five matches that shook the iconic Crucible Theatre to its core.
No.1 - James Cahill 10-8 Ronnie O’Sullivan (2019)
Considered by many as one of the biggest sporting upsets of all-time, the relatively unknown James Cahill announced himself on the world stage in the most remarkable fashion back in 2019.
Having only a few days earlier become the first amateur to progress through three arduous rounds of World Snooker Championship qualifying, the youngster then went on to produce the performance of his life to send the bookmakers favourite Ronnie O’Sullivan packing in the first round.
Many had predicted a straightforward passage through to the last 16 for the Rocket – a clear 11/4 pre-tournament favourite – but he fell victim to an almighty shock as Cahill’s status hit an all-time high.
Priced up at 500/1 to win the 2019 World Snooker Championship, the then 23-year-old, displayed the composure and confidence of a champion to hold his nerve and record a 10-8 success that will live long in the memory of snooker enthusiasts around the world.
Such was the manner of his triumph, his odds were slashed to 50/1 on the back of his best-of-19 victory over an opponent who had been rampant throughout the 2018/19 campaign, winning five titles as well as becoming the first player in history to reach the milestone of 1000 century breaks.
Agonisingly, Cahill’s run at the worlds drew to a dramatic conclusion in the second round as he was edged out by Stephen Maguire 13-12.
The pair traded blows throughout proceedings, with both players absolutely prolific within the balls, but it was Maguire made the most of the opportunity he was handed in the decisive 25th frame to break the heart of the Blackpool man.
No.2 - Tony Knowles 10-1 Steve Davis (1982)
Steve Davis is a true Snooker icon who dominated the game for well over a decade, but he was forced to take an early bow from the Crucible in 1982 with his tail well and truly tucked between his legs!
It was just the sixth year that the World Snooker Championship had been hosted at the Sheffield venue, and just 12 months after the Nugget had swept aside everybody in his path en-route to his maiden world crown.
Yet despite being the well-backed favourite to land a double in 1982, Davis was dished a hiding by newcomer Tony Knowles who could do absolutely no wrong on the baize as he steamrolled his opponent 10-1.
What made the feat even more remarkable was the fact that Davis was chasing Triple Crown glory after sauntering to UK Championship and Masters success earlier in the campaign, while Knowles had never previously notched a solitary Crucible win.
What a way to break that duck!
No.3 - Michael Wasley 10-9 Ding Junhui (2014)
Along with Jimmy White, Ding Junhui is regarded as one of the most talented players never to have won the World Snooker Championship.
And whilst there may still be time for the Chinese superstar to end his wait for glory, it’s hard to imagine that he will ever have a better opportunity than of that in 2014.
Backed by many to go the distance in Sheffield, Ding arrived at the Crucible full of belief after enjoying a record-equalling campaign in which he had landed five ranking crowns.
His plethora of titles including the prestigious China Open just a couple of weeks before the start of the 2014 World Snooker Championship, and to further boost his cause, he was handed an opening round showdown with a qualifier in Michael Wasley who was well outside the top 64 at the time.
Ding, for whatever reason, has always struggled to deal with his hype and expectancy in Yorkshire, and despite labouring for large parts of the last 32 showdown, he was odds-on to avoid a first-round banana-skin as he moved into an 8-6 lead in the first-to-10 encounter.
However, Wasley, who fell off the tour a year or so later, staged the most unlikely of comebacks to force a decider, before prevailing in an understandably edgy decider to shatter the hopes of Ding and his expectant army of supporters back in his homeland.
No.4 - Joe Johnson 18-13 Steve Davis (1986)
Not the first time that Steve Davis features on this list, but it’s worth noting that the Nugget was rarely beaten during those heady heights at the top during the 80s.
As it was, when he was beaten, it wasn’t half spectacular – as was proven in the 1986 showpiece final!
His premature elimination against Knowles four years earlier paved the way for Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins to claim World Snooker Championship glory, but Davis came firing back to land back-to-back world titles in '83 and '84.
Despite missing out in 85, he was the overwhelming favourite to make it three out of four in '86 when he secured himself a spot in the final against an opponent in Joe Johnson, who was 150/1 to go the distance pre-event.
However, Davis came a cropper for the second time in his career as he fell victim to another monumental upset, being beaten by 150/1 tournament outsider.
Now a popular snooker pundit and commentator, Johnson reached the peak of his career as he secured an 18-12 triumph in the final – writing the final chapter of a quite incredible sporting success story.
No.5 - Stuart Bingham 10-7 Stephen Hendry (2000)
One of British sports most recognisable names, Stephen Hendry headed into the 2000 World Snooker Championship having sensationally won seven of the previous ten staging’s of the event.
As a consequence, there was absolutely no reason to believe that his strangle-hold on the game was in any danger of being loosened.
Yes, there were the talents of the now famous ‘Class of 92’ to contend with, but Hendry was only 31-years of age himself, and seemingly at the very peak of his powers as he sought further glory at the turn of the new Millennium.
Hendry was without doubt the man to beat, but that was no different than any other year, and more often than not, he had proved unbeatable…
But debutant Stuart Bingham was seemingly not made aware of that.
The talented Basildon cueist, who, of course, went on to win the world title 15 years later, caused a real stir on debut as he inflicted a 10-7 defeat upon an opponent who had reached the competition’s final in seven of the previous eight years.
And maybe, just maybe, the magnitude of the victory served as inspiration for his own world title run in 2015.
