The World Snooker Championship is the longest-running and most prestigious tournament in professional snooker. It is also the richest, with total prize money of £2,395,000 in 2023, including £500,000 for the winner. First held in 1927, it is now one of the three tournaments that make up snooker's Triple Crown Series. The reigning world champion is Kyren Wilson.
Steve Davis is an English retired professional snooker player who is currently a commentator, DJ, electronic musician and author. He is best known for dominating professional snooker during the 1980s, when he reached eight World Snooker Championship finals in nine years, winning six world titles, and held the world number one ranking for seven consecutive seasons. He was runner-up to Dennis Taylor in one of snooker's most famous matches, the 1985 World Championship final, which ended in a dramatic black-ball conclusion that attracted 18.5 million viewers, still the largest British television audience for any broadcast after midnight and any broadcast on BBC Two.
Ken Doherty is an Irish professional snooker player who was World Snooker Champion in 1997. In addition to his ongoing playing career, he works as a regular commentator and pundit on televised snooker broadcasts. A director since 2012 of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, he has also served as inaugural chairman of the WPBSA Players organisation since 2021.
Ronald Antonio O'Sullivan is an English professional snooker player. Widely recognised as one of the most talented and accomplished players in snooker history, he has won the World Snooker Championship seven times, a modern-era record he holds jointly with Stephen Hendry. He has also won a record eight Masters titles and a record eight UK Championship titles for a total of 23 Triple Crown titles, the most achieved by any player. He holds the record for the most ranking titles, with 41, and has held the top ranking position multiple times.
The 1997 Pontins Professional was the twenty-fourth edition of the professional invitational snooker tournament, which took place between 12 and 16 May 1997 at Pontin's in Prestatyn, Wales.
The 1982 Irish Masters was the eighth edition of the professional invitational snooker tournament, which took place from 23 to 28 March 1982. The tournament was played at Goffs in Kill, County Kildare, and featured twelve professional players.
The 1983 Irish Masters was the ninth edition of the professional invitational snooker tournament, which took place from 22 to 27 March 1983. The tournament was played at Goffs in Kill, County Kildare, and featured twelve professional players.
The 1985 Irish Masters was the eleventh edition of the professional invitational snooker tournament, which took place from 26 to 31 March 1985. The tournament was played at Goffs in Kill, County Kildare, and featured twelve professional players.
The 1986 Irish Masters was the twelfth edition of the professional invitational snooker tournament, which took place from 8 to 13 April 1986. The tournament was played at Goffs in Kill, County Kildare, and featured twelve professional players.
The 1987 Irish Masters was the thirteenth edition of the professional invitational snooker tournament, which took place from 24 to 29 March 1987. The tournament was played at Goffs in Kill, County Kildare, and featured twelve professional players.
The 1990 Irish Masters was the sixteenth edition of the professional invitational snooker tournament, which took place from 27 March to 1 April 1990. The tournament was played at Goffs in Kill, County Kildare, and featured twelve professional players.
The 1991 Irish Masters was the seventeenth edition of the professional invitational snooker tournament, which took place from 2 to 7 April 1991. The tournament was played at Goffs in Kill, County Kildare, and featured twelve professional players.
The 1993 Irish Masters was the nineteenth edition of the professional invitational snooker tournament, which took place from 23 to 28 March 1993. The tournament was played at Goffs in Kill, County Kildare, and featured twelve professional players.
The 1995 Irish Masters was the twenty-first edition of the professional invitational snooker tournament, which took place from 21 to 26 March 1995. The tournament was played at Goffs in Kill, County Kildare, and featured twelve professional players.
The 2000 Irish Masters was the twenty-sixth edition of the professional invitational snooker tournament, which took place from 21 to 26 March 2000. The tournament was played at Goffs in Kill, County Kildare, and featured twelve professional players.
The 2001 Irish Masters was a professional invitational snooker tournament which was held at the Citywest Hotel in Saggart, Dublin, from 27 March to 1 April. It was the 24th Irish Masters and the fifth and final World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association invitational event in the 2000–01 snooker season. The tournament was co-sponsored by the Health Promotion Unit and the Office of Tobacco Control of the Department of Health and Children and hotel group Citywest.
The 2002 Irish Masters was a professional invitational snooker tournament which was held at the Citywest Hotel in Saggart, Dublin, from 19 to 24 March. It was the 25th edition of the Irish Masters and the fourth and final World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) invitational event of the 2001–02 season; it followed the third invitational event, the 2002 Masters, held in February. The tournament was co-sponsored by the Citywest hotel group and the Department of Health and Children and broadcast by RTÉ.
The 2001 Malta Grand Prix was a professional snooker tournament held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, Malta, from 21 to 25 February 2001. It was the seventh and last Malta Grand Prix, and the fourth of the five World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association invitational competitions in the 2000–01 snooker season. It preceded the season's antepenultimate invitational event, the 2001 Masters. The event featured 12 players and was played as a round-robin format until the semi-finals.
The 1985 Carlsberg Challenge was a non-ranking snooker tournament, which took place between 6 and 8 September 1985. The tournament featured four professional players and was filmed in RTÉ Studios, Dublin, for broadcast on RTÉ.
Ronnie O'Sullivan started his professional snooker career in 1992 and is widely considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. His play and accomplishments are described by some peers and pundits as being the greatest in the modern era of snooker. O'Sullivan is a seven-time world champion, and holds many records, including the fastest maximum break in professional competition; the highest number of century breaks; the highest number of maximum breaks, and the most Triple Crown event titles (23).
Stephen Lee (ENG) (139) [3] 
Stephen Hendry 
