2007 World Snooker Championship

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 started on 21 April 2007 and was scheduled to finish on 7 May 2007, but continued into the early hours of 8 May, ending at 12:54 a.m. BST. The final broke the record for the latest finish time in a World Snooker Championship final, narrowly beating the 2006 final by two minutes.

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 (2007-04-21 – 2007-05-07)
VenueCrucible Theatre
CitySheffield
CountryEngland
OrganisationWPBSA
FormatRanking event
Total prize fund£941,000
Winner's share£220,000
Highest break Ali Carter (ENG) (144)
Final
Champion John Higgins (SCO)
Runner-up Mark Selby (ENG)
Score18–13
← 2006
2008 →

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
  • There were five debutants in this year's tournament: future Masters champion Mark Allen was the only one of the five to win his opening match, knocking out third seed and 1997 Champion Ken Doherty 10–7.[1] Future world champion and future world number one Judd Trump won four 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 won two final-frame deciders in Qualifying against Barry Pinches and double world semi-finalist Alan McManus, but was heavily defeated by Matthew Stevens 10–2 having trailed 0–5.
  • Former world champion John Parrott made his final appearance at the Crucible, beating Steve Davis 10–9 in the first round before losing 8–13 to Shaun Murphy in the last 16.[2][3]
  • There were final-frame opening round wins for qualifiers Fergal O'Brien and Joe Swail over Barry Hawkins and Mark Williams respectively, Swail coming from 0–4 down. Mark Selby was even further behind, 0–5 against Stephen Lee before winning 10–7.
  • Ian McCulloch qualified for the first time since his semi-final appearance in 2005. Having beaten defending champion Graeme Dott in the first round, he lost 8–13 to Anthony Hamilton in the last 16, and this would also prove to be his last appearance at the Crucible.
  • Before the tournament began, Ronnie O'Sullivan alleged that the WPBSA draw had been fixed,[4] after having been drawn in the first round against Ding, considered by bookmakers to be among the favourites for the title,[4][5] and noting that he had drawn European Open and UK Champion, Stephen Maguire, in both 2004 and 2005.[4] O'Sullivan later withdrew the accusation,[6] and made no formal complaint to the WPBSA, who maintain that the draw was genuine.[4]
  • 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.[7]
  • In frame 29 of his semi-final match, John Higgins compiled the Crucible's 1,000th century break.[8][9]
  • Future four-time world champion Mark Selby reached his first final this year. He had a surprising run to the final, as he was a qualifier, he had only made his Crucible debut two years earlier, and he had not previously progressed beyond the last 16.
  • The final had the latest finish in World Championship history, with the conclusion of the 31st and final frame coming at 12:54 a.m. BST, just two minutes later than in 2006.[10]
  • John Higgins' second world title came nine years after his first,[11] the longest gap between wins since his namesake Alex Higgins. This was the longest gap between titles at the Crucible until 2018.

Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:[12][13]

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.[12][14][15][16][17]

First round
Best of 19 frames		Second round
Best of 25 frames		Quarter-finals
Best of 25 frames		Semi-finals
Best of 33 frames		Final
Best of 35 frames
21 April
Graeme Dott (1)7
26, 27 & 28 April
Ian McCulloch10
Ian McCulloch8
21 & 22 April
Anthony Hamilton (16)13
Anthony Hamilton (16)10
1 & 2 May
Marco Fu3
Anthony Hamilton (16)7
23 & 24 April
Stephen Maguire (9)13
Stephen Maguire (9)10
27 & 28 April
Joe Perry3
Stephen Maguire (9)13
24 April
Joe Swail8
Mark Williams (8)9
3, 4 & 5 May
Joe Swail10
Stephen Maguire (9)15
25 & 26 April
John Higgins (5)17
John Higgins (5)10
28, 29 & 30 April
Michael Holt4
John Higgins (5)13
22 & 23 April
Fergal O'Brien4
Barry Hawkins (12)9
1 & 2 May
Fergal O'Brien10
John Higgins (5)13
25 April
Ronnie O'Sullivan (4)9
Neil Robertson (13)10
29 & 30 April
Ryan Day5
Neil Robertson (13)10
22 & 23 April
Ronnie O'Sullivan (4)13
Ronnie O'Sullivan (4)10
6 & 7 May
Ding Junhui2
John Higgins (5)18
23 & 24 April
Mark Selby 13
Ken Doherty (3)7
27 & 28 April
Mark Allen10
Mark Allen9
21 & 22 April
Matthew Stevens (14)13
Matthew Stevens (14)10
1 & 2 May
Joe Delaney2
Matthew Stevens (14)12
21 & 22 April
Shaun Murphy (6)13
Steve Davis (11)9
26 & 27 April
John Parrott10
John Parrott8
23 April
Shaun Murphy (6)13
Shaun Murphy (6)10
3, 4 & 5 May
Judd Trump6
Shaun Murphy (6)16
21 & 22 April
Mark Selby 17
Peter Ebdon (7)10
29 & 30 April
Nigel Bond7
Peter Ebdon (7)8
24 & 25 April
Mark Selby13
Stephen Lee (10)7
1 & 2 May
Mark Selby10
Mark Selby13
25 & 26 April
Ali Carter (15)12
Ali Carter (15)10
28, 29 & 30 April
Andy Hicks4
Ali Carter (15)13
24 & 25 April
Stephen Hendry (2)6
Stephen Hendry (2)10
Dave Gilbert7
Final (Best of 35 frames) Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, 6 & 7 May 2007. Referee: Eirian Williams[18]
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
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.[12][19]

Round 1

Bradley Jones5–0 Neil Selman
Del Smith5–4 Tony Knowles

Round 2

Bradley Jones5–0 Stephen Ormerod
Les Doddw/o-w/d David Singh
Ali Bassiri0–5 Phil Seaton
Del Smith5–0 Barry Stark

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.[12][19]

Round 1

Issara Kachaiwong8–10 Bradley Jones
Roy Stolk10–7 Phil Seaton
Ben Woollaston10–3 Del Smith
James Leadbetter10–8 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
Alfie Burden10 Dave Gilbert10 Gerard Greene6 Mark King6
Robert Stephen9 Alfie Burden9 Dave Gilbert10 Dave Gilbert10
Liu Song10 Tony Drago9 Adrian Gunnell10 Michael Holt10
Dene O'Kane3 Liu Song10 Liu Song8 Adrian Gunnell7
Judd Trump10 Shokat Ali7 Jamie Cope7 James Wattana5
Bradley Jones8 Judd Trump10 Judd Trump10 Judd Trump10
Tian Pengfei10 Joe Jogia10 Drew Henry10 Joe Perry10
Roy Stolk2 Tian Pengfei4 Joe Jogia7 Drew Henry5
Mark Joyce10 Robin Hullw/d Fergal O'Brien10 Stuart Bingham5
Mohammed Shehab6 Mark Joycew/o Mark Joyce4 Fergal O'Brien10
Paul Wykes3 Rory McLeod10 Tom Ford8 Andy Hicks10
Alex Borg10 Alex Borg6 Rory McLeod10 Rory McLeod4
Lee Page10 Paul Davies10 Michael Judge10 Marco Fu10
Dermot McGlinchey1 Lee Page1 Paul Davies5 Michael Judge9
Matthew Couch10 Jimmy Michie10 Mark Davis10 Ding Junhui10
Jamie Jones5 Matthew Couch4 Jimmy Michie2 Mark Davis6
Ian Preece10 Joe Delaney10 Barry Pinches9 Alan McManus9
Ben Woollaston8 Ian Preece7 Joe Delaney10 Joe Delaney10
Liang Wenbo10 Mike Dunn10 Dave Harold10 Joe Swail10
Jeff Cundy5 Liang Wenbo3 Mike Dunn3 Dave Harold9
Paul Davison10 Jamie Burnett10 Jimmy White4 Nigel Bond10
Peter Lines8 Paul Davison5 Jamie Burnett10 Jamie Burnett6
Passakorn Suwannawat10 David Roe8 Marcus Campbell10 Ryan Day10
Patrick Einsle4 Passakorn Suwannawat10 Passakorn Suwannawat9 Marcus Campbell5
Chris Melling6 Andrew Norman10 Dominic Dale10 Ian McCulloch10
David Morris10 David Morris8 Andrew Norman8 Dominic Dale4
Lee Spick10 Mark Allen10 Rod Lawler5 Robert Milkins4
Sean Storey4 Lee Spick5 Mark Allen10 Mark Allen10
Chris Norbury9 Stuart Pettman3 John Parrott10 David Gray7
James Leadbetter10 James Leadbetter10 James Leadbetter7 John Parrott10
Andrew Higginson10 Scott MacKenzie6 Ricky Walden10 Mark Selby10
Mark Boyle4 Andrew Higginson10 Andrew Higginson9 Ricky Walden6

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.[20][21]

Qualifying stage centuries

[12]

References
  1. "Debutant overcomes nerves to stun Doherty". The Guardian. 24 April 2007. Archived from the original on 3 October 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. "Parrott edges out colleague Davis". BBC Sport. 22 April 2007. Archived from the original on 27 May 2007. Retrieved 22 April 2007.
  3. Everton, Clive (28 April 2007). "Murphy turns the screw and puts an end to Parrott's party". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  4. "O'Sullivan draw fix claim denied". BBC Sport. 17 April 2007. Archived from the original on 28 April 2007. Retrieved 27 April 2007.
  5. "World Championship – Outright". EasyOdds.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2007. Retrieved 27 April 2007.
  6. Viner, Brian (20 April 2007). "Interview: Snooker player Ding Junhui". The Independent. UK. Archived from the original on 9 February 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  7. "Stevens hit for six as Murphy prevails". WorldSnooker.com. 2 May 2007. Archived from the original on 13 January 2008.
  8. "Snooker: Selby pockets a place in the final; Snooker: 888.com World Championship from Sheffield". Sunday Sun on HighBeam Research. 6 May 2007. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  9. 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.
  10. "John Higgins held off a dogged fightback from Mark Selby to claim his second World Snooker Championship title at The Crucible". BBC Sport. 8 May 2007. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  11. Weaver, Paul (7 May 2007). "Higgins rallies to take title after Selby comeback". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 6 May 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  12. "World Snooker Championship 2007". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 10 March 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  13. Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 130.
  14. "888.Com World Championship 2007". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 27 March 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  15. "2007 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  16. "2007 888.com World Championship". Global Snooker Centre. Archived from the original on 19 August 2007.
  17. Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. pp. 64–65.
  18. Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 143.
  19. "2007 888.com World Championship Qualifying". Global Snooker Centre. Archived from the original on 19 August 2007.
  20. Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 152.
  21. "Crucible Centuries". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
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