2007 World Snooker Championship

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This article is about the snooker tournament. For the sport simulation video game, see World Snooker Championship 2007 (video game).

888.com World Snooker Championship
Tournament information
Dates21 April – 7 May 2007
VenueCrucible Theatre
CitySheffield
CountryEngland
Organisation(s)WPBSA
FormatRanking event
Total prize fund£941,000
Winner's share£220,000
Highest breakEngland Ali Carter (144)
Final
ChampionScotland John Higgins
Runner-upEngland Mark Selby
Score18–13
← 2006
2008 →

The 2007 World Snooker Championship (also referred to as the 2007 888.com World Snooker Championship for the purposes of sponsorship) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England. It was scheduled to take place from 21 April through 7 May 2007, but continued into the early hours of 8 May 2007, ending at 12:54 am BST. The final broke the record of the time for the latest finish in a World Snooker Championship final, narrowly beating the 2006 final by two minutes.

Graeme Dott was the defending champion, but lost in the first round 7–10 to Ian McCulloch and became another World Champion who fell to the Crucible curse and could not defend his first World title.

John Higgins won his second World title by defeating qualifier Mark Selby 18–13 in the final. The tournament was sponsored by online casino 888.com.

Tournament summary[]

  • This year's tournament saw 5 debutants. With only future Masters champion Mark Allen winning his opening match, knocking out third seed and 1997 Champion Ken Doherty 10–7. Future world champion and future world number one Judd Trump won 4 qualifying matches, but lost 6–10 to Shaun Murphy after having led 6–5. Another future world number one, Ding Junhui, lost heavily to Ronnie O'Sullivan 2–10. David Gilbert led 7 time champion Stephen Hendry 5-1 at one stage before eventually losing 10-7. Irishman Joe Delaney who won 2 final frame deciders in Qualifying against Barry Pinches and double World Semi Finalist Alan McManus but was well beaten by Matthew Stevens 10-2 having trailed 5-0.
  • Former World champion John Parrott made his final appearance at the Crucible beating Steve Davis 10–9 in the first round before losing 13–8 to Shaun Murphy in the last 16.[1]
  • There where also final frame opening round wins for qualifiers and Joe Swail over Barry Hawkins and Mark Williams respectively, Swail coming from 4-0 down. Mark Selby was even further behind 5-0 against Stephen Lee before his 10-7 win.
  • Ian McCulloch qualified for the first time since his Semi Final appearance in 2005 having beaten defending champion Graeme Dott in round 1 he lost 13-8 to Anthony Hamilton in the last 16, and this would prove to also be his final ever appearance at the crucible.
  • Before the tournament began Ronnie O'Sullivan alleged that the WPBSA draw had been fixed,[2] after having been drawn in the first round against Ding, considered by bookmakers to be among the favourites for the title,[2][3] and noting that he had drawn European Open and UK Champion, Stephen Maguire, in both 2004 and 2005.[2] O'Sullivan later withdrew the accusation,[4] and made no formal complaint to the WPBSA, who maintain that the draw was genuine.[2]
  • Shaun Murphy came back from 7–12 down to win his quarter-final match 13–12 against Matthew Stevens, a feat never before accomplished in a best of 25 frame match.[5]
  • During his semi-final match, John Higgins compiled the Crucible's 1,000th century break in frame 29.[6][7]
  • Future four-time world champion Mark Selby reached his first final this year. Selby's run was a surprising one as he was a qualifier, had only made his debut in 2005 and had never previously got beyond the Last 16.
  • The final had the latest finish in history, with the conclusion of the 31st and final frame coming at 12:54 am BST, just two minutes later than in 2006.[8]
  • John Higgins' second title came nine years after his first, the longest gap between wins since his namesake Alex Higgins. Until 2018 this was the longest gap between titles at the Crucible.

Prize fund[]

The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:[9][10]

Main draw[]

Shown below are the results for each round. The numbers in parentheses beside some of the players are their seeding ranks (each championship has 16 seeds and 16 qualifiers). The first round draw was done by presenters Bill Turnbull and Sian Williams of BBC Breakfast on 19 March and it was announced on Breakfast at 7.30 am BST the next day.[9][11][12][13][14]

First round Second round Quarter-finals Semi-finals
Best of 19 frames Best of 25 frames Best of 25 frames Best of 33 frames
                           
21 April            
 Scotland Graeme Dott (1)  7
26, 27 & 28 April
 England Ian McCulloch  10  
 England Ian McCulloch  8
21 & 22 April
   England Anthony Hamilton (16)  13  
 England Anthony Hamilton (16)  10
1 & 2 May
 Hong Kong Marco Fu  3  
 England Anthony Hamilton (16)  7
23 & 24 April
   Scotland Stephen Maguire (9)  13  
 Scotland Stephen Maguire (9)  10
27 & 28 April
 England Joe Perry  3  
 Scotland Stephen Maguire (9)  13
24 April
   Northern Ireland Joe Swail  8  
 Wales Mark Williams (8)  9
3, 4 & 5 May
 Northern Ireland Joe Swail  10  
 Scotland Stephen Maguire (9)  15
25 & 26 April
   Scotland John Higgins (5)  17
 Scotland John Higgins (5)  10
28, 29 & 30 April
 England Michael Holt  4  
 Scotland John Higgins (5)  13
22 & 23 April
   Republic of Ireland Fergal O'Brien  4  
 England Barry Hawkins (12)  9
1 & 2 May
 Republic of Ireland Fergal O'Brien  10  
 Scotland John Higgins (5)  13
25 April
   England Ronnie O'Sullivan (4)  9  
 Australia Neil Robertson (13)  10
29 & 30 April
 Wales Ryan Day  5  
 Australia Neil Robertson (13)  10
22 & 23 April
   England Ronnie O'Sullivan (4)  13  
 England Ronnie O'Sullivan (4)  10
 China Ding Junhui  2  
23 & 24 April            
 Republic of Ireland Ken Doherty (3)  7
27 & 28 April
 Northern Ireland Mark Allen  10  
 Northern Ireland Mark Allen  9
21 & 22 April
   Wales Matthew Stevens (14)  13  
 Wales Matthew Stevens (14)  10
1 & 2 May
 Republic of Ireland Joe Delaney  2  
 Wales Matthew Stevens (14)  12
21 & 22 April
   England Shaun Murphy (6)  13  
 England Steve Davis (11)  9
26 & 27 April
 England John Parrott  10  
 England John Parrott  8
23 April
   England Shaun Murphy (6)  13  
 England Shaun Murphy (6)  10
3, 4 & 5 May
 England Judd Trump  6  
 England Shaun Murphy (6)  16
21 & 22 April
   England Mark Selby  17
 England Peter Ebdon (7)  10
29 & 30 April
 England Nigel Bond  7  
 England Peter Ebdon (7)  8
24 & 25 April
   England Mark Selby  13  
 England Stephen Lee (10)  7
1 & 2 May
 England Mark Selby  10  
 England Mark Selby  13
25 & 26 April
   England Ali Carter (15)  12  
 England Ali Carter (15)  10
28, 29 & 30 April
 England Andy Hicks  4  
 England Ali Carter (15)  13
24 & 25 April
   Scotland Stephen Hendry (2)  6  
 Scotland Stephen Hendry (2)  10
 England Dave Gilbert  7  
Final (Best of 35 frames) Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, 6 & 7 May 2007. Referee: Wales Eirian Williams[15]
John Higgins (5)
 Scotland 		18–13 Mark Selby
 England
73–25, 58–32, 19–95, 25–76, 10–132, 97–0, 98–24, 86–5, 75–0, 85–9, 101–24, 70–61, 59–75, 98–0, 78–55, 116–0, 36–73, 0–110, 36–65, 4–74, 0–66, 48–72, 81–40, 63–70, 75–2, 22–82, 54–77, 71–33, 57–43, 129–1, 78–1 Century breaks: 5
(Higgins 3, Selby 2)

Highest break by Higgins: 129
Highest break by Selby: 116

73–25, 58–32, 19–95, 25–76, 10–132, 97–0, 98–24, 86–5, 75–0, 85–9, 101–24, 70–61, 59–75, 98–0, 78–55, 116–0, 36–73, 0–110, 36–65, 4–74, 0–66, 48–72, 81–40, 63–70, 75–2, 22–82, 54–77, 71–33, 57–43, 129–1, 78–1
Scotland John Higgins wins the 2007 888.com World Snooker Championship

Preliminary qualifying[]

The preliminary qualifying rounds for the tournament took place in Pontin's Prestatyn, Wales.[9][16]

Round 1

England Bradley Jones 5–0 England
England Del Smith 5–4 England Tony Knowles

Round 2

England Bradley Jones 5–0 England Stephen Ormerod
England Les Dodd w/o-w/d India
England 0–5 England Phil Seaton
England Del Smith 5–0 England

Qualifying[]

Qualifying for the 2007 World Snooker Championship, was held between 23 February to 2 March 2007 at Pontin's, Prestatyn, Wales. The final qualifying round took place at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield between the 12–15 March 2007.[9][16]

Round 1

Thailand Issara Kachaiwong 8–10 England Bradley Jones
Netherlands Roy Stolk 10–7 England Phil Seaton
England Ben Woollaston 10–3 England Del Smith
England James Leadbetter 10–8 England Les Dodd

Rounds 2–5

  Round 2
Best of 19 frames 		  Round 3
Best of 19 frames 		  Round 4
Best of 19 frames 		  Round 5
Best of 19 frames
England Alfie Burden 10   England Dave Gilbert 10   Northern Ireland Gerard Greene 6   England Mark King 6
Scotland Robert Stephen 9   England Alfie Burden 9   England Dave Gilbert 10   England Dave Gilbert 10
China Liu Song 10   Malta Tony Drago 9   England Adrian Gunnell 10   England Michael Holt 10
New Zealand Dene O'Kane 3   China Liu Song 10   China Liu Song 8   England Adrian Gunnell 7
England Judd Trump 10   Pakistan Shokat Ali 7   England Jamie Cope 7   Thailand James Wattana 5
England Bradley Jones 8   England Judd Trump 10   England Judd Trump 10   England Judd Trump 10
China Tian Pengfei 10   England Joe Jogia 10   Scotland Drew Henry 10   England Joe Perry 10
Netherlands Roy Stolk 2   China Tian Pengfei 4   England Joe Jogia 7   Scotland Drew Henry 5
England Mark Joyce 10   Finland Robin Hull w/d   Republic of Ireland Fergal O'Brien 10   England Stuart Bingham 5
United Arab Emirates Mohammed Shehab 6   England Mark Joyce w/o   England Mark Joyce 4   Republic of Ireland Fergal O'Brien 10
England Paul Wykes 3   England Rory McLeod 10   England Tom Ford 8   England Andy Hicks 10
Malta Alex Borg 10   Malta Alex Borg 6   England Rory McLeod 10   England Rory McLeod 4
England Lee Page 10   Wales Paul Davies 10   Republic of Ireland Michael Judge 10   Hong Kong Marco Fu 10
Northern Ireland Dermot McGlinchey 1   England Lee Page 1   Wales Paul Davies 5   Republic of Ireland Michael Judge 9
England Matthew Couch 10   England Jimmy Michie 10   England Mark Davis 10   China Ding Junhui 10
Wales Jamie Jones 5   England Matthew Couch 4   England Jimmy Michie 2   England Mark Davis 6
Wales Ian Preece 10   Republic of Ireland Joe Delaney 10   England Barry Pinches 9   Scotland Alan McManus 9
England Ben Woollaston 8   Wales Ian Preece 7   Republic of Ireland Joe Delaney 10   Republic of Ireland Joe Delaney 10
China Liang Wenbo 10   England Mike Dunn 10   England Dave Harold 10   Northern Ireland Joe Swail 10
England Jeff Cundy 5   China Liang Wenbo 3   England Mike Dunn 3   England Dave Harold 9
England Paul Davison 10   Scotland Jamie Burnett 10   England Jimmy White 4   England Nigel Bond 10
England Peter Lines 8   England Paul Davison 5   Scotland Jamie Burnett 10   Scotland Jamie Burnett 6
Thailand Passakorn Suwannawat 10   England David Roe 8   Scotland Marcus Campbell 10   Wales Ryan Day 10
Germany Patrick Einsle 4   Thailand Passakorn Suwannawat 10   Thailand Passakorn Suwannawat 9   Scotland Marcus Campbell 5
England Chris Melling 6   England Andrew Norman 10   Wales Dominic Dale 10   England Ian McCulloch 10
Republic of Ireland David Morris 10   Republic of Ireland David Morris 8   England Andrew Norman 8   Wales Dominic Dale 4
England Lee Spick 10   Northern Ireland Mark Allen 10   England Rod Lawler 5   England Robert Milkins 4
England Sean Storey 4   England Lee Spick 5   Northern Ireland Mark Allen 10   Northern Ireland Mark Allen 10
England Chris Norbury 9   England Stuart Pettman 3   England John Parrott 10   England David Gray 7
England James Leadbetter 10   England James Leadbetter 10   England James Leadbetter 7   England John Parrott 10
England Andrew Higginson 10   Scotland Scott MacKenzie 6   England Ricky Walden 10   England Mark Selby 10
Scotland Mark Boyle 4   England Andrew Higginson 10   England Andrew Higginson 9   England Ricky Walden 6

Century breaks[]

Televised stage centuries[]

There were 68 centuries scored in the televised stage of the 2007 championship, which was joint equal highest in the history of the tournament (with the tournament held in 2002) until 2009.[17][18]

Qualifying stage centuries[]

[9]

References[]

  1. ^ "Parrott edges out colleague Davis". BBC Sport. BBC News. 22 April 2007. Archived from the original on 27 May 2007. Retrieved 22 April 2007.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "O'Sullivan Draw Fix Claim Denied". BBC Sport. BBC News. 17 April 2007. Archived from the original on 28 April 2007. Retrieved 27 April 2007.
  3. ^ "World Championship – Outright". EasyOdds.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2007. Retrieved 27 April 2007.
  4. ^ Viner, Brian. "Interview: Snooker player Ding Junhui". The Independent. UK. Archived from the original on 9 February 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  5. ^ "Stevens hit for six as Murphy Prevails Archived 13 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine" WorldSnooker.com – Tournament News, 2 May 2007
  6. ^ "Snooker: Selby pockets a place in the final ; SNOOKER: 888.COM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FROM SHEFFIELD". Sunday Sun on HighBeam Research. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2012.(subscription required)
  7. ^ Lyon, Sam; Dirs, Ben (5 May 2007). "John Higgins (Sco) 17–15 Stephen Maguire (Sco)". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 20 April 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  8. ^ "Higgins beats brave Selby in epic". BBC Sport. 8 May 2007. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "World Snooker Championship 2007". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 10 March 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  10. ^ Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 130.
  11. ^ "888.Com World Championship 2007". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 27 March 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  12. ^ "2007 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  13. ^ "2007 888.com World Championship". Global Snooker Centre. Archived from the original on 19 August 2007.
  14. ^ Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. pp. 64–65.
  15. ^ Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 143.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b "2007 888.com World Championship Qualifying". Global Snooker Centre. Archived from the original on 19 August 2007.
  17. ^ Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 152.
  18. ^ "Crucible Centuries". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
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