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Crucible curse

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The "Crucible curse" (also known as "The curse of the Crucible") is a quip in professional snooker, referring to the fact that no first-time winner of the World Snooker Championship has retained the title since the tournament moved to Sheffield's Crucible Theatre in 1977.[1][2][3] Beginning with the 1979 champion Terry Griffiths, who lost in the second round of the 1980 event, 19 first-time world champions have failed to defend their titles, although Joe Johnson and Ken Doherty made it to the final the year after their maiden victories. Most recently, the 2023 champion Luca Brecel lost in the first round of the 2024 World Snooker Championship. Kyren Wilson, winner of the 2024 event, is yet to attempt to break the Crucible curse.

Several world champions successfully defended their first title in the pre-Crucible era; the last to do so was John Pulman in 1964.[4]

The curse

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The first-time world champions listed below all experienced the "Crucible curse", as they did not successfully defend their title at the following year's World Championship.

Year[4][5] Defending champion[4][5] Progress Result Opponent Ref
1980  Terry Griffiths (WAL) Second round[a] 10–13  Steve Davis (ENG) [6]
1981  Cliff Thorburn (CAN) Semi-finals 10–16  Steve Davis (ENG) [7]
1982  Steve Davis (ENG) First round 1–10  Tony Knowles (ENG) [8]
1986  Dennis Taylor (NIR) First round 6–10  Mike Hallett (ENG) [9]
1987  Joe Johnson (ENG) Final 14–18  Steve Davis (ENG) [10]
1991  Stephen Hendry (SCO) Quarter-finals 11–13  Steve James (ENG) [11]
1992  John Parrott (ENG) Quarter-finals 12–13  Alan McManus (SCO) [12]
1998  Ken Doherty (IRL) Final 12–18  John Higgins (SCO) [13]
1999  John Higgins (SCO) Semi-finals 10–17  Mark Williams (WAL) [14]
2001  Mark Williams (WAL) Second round 12–13  Joe Swail (NIR) [15]
2002  Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) Semi-finals 13–17  Stephen Hendry (SCO) [16]
2003  Peter Ebdon (ENG) Quarter-finals 12–13  Paul Hunter (ENG) [17]
2006  Shaun Murphy (ENG) Quarter-finals 7–13  Peter Ebdon (ENG) [18]
2007  Graeme Dott (SCO) First round 7–10  Ian McCulloch (ENG) [19]
2011  Neil Robertson (AUS) First round 8–10  Judd Trump (ENG) [20]
2015  Mark Selby (ENG) Second round 9–13  Anthony McGill (SCO) [21]
2016  Stuart Bingham (ENG) First round 9–10  Ali Carter (ENG) [22]
2020  Judd Trump (ENG) Quarter-finals 9–13  Kyren Wilson (ENG) [23]
2024  Luca Brecel (BEL) First round 9–10  David Gilbert (ENG) [24]

Of the 19 players to have won their first world title at the Crucible Theatre, seven lost in their first match as defending champion: Terry Griffiths in 1980, Steve Davis in 1982, Dennis Taylor in 1986, Graeme Dott in 2007, Neil Robertson in 2011, Stuart Bingham in 2016 and Luca Brecel in 2024. Only two of the 19 were able to reach the final as defending champions: Joe Johnson in 1987 and Ken Doherty in 1998. Johnson came closest to breaking the curse, getting within four frames of retaining his crown, while Doherty came within six.

Four players have won consecutive world titles at the Crucible (having already won the championship previously): Steve Davis (1983–1984 and 1987–1989), Stephen Hendry (1992–1996), Ronnie O'Sullivan (2012–2013), and Mark Selby (2016–2017).[4][25]

Pre-Crucible

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Out of all the first-time world snooker champions, only three retained their title at the next World Championship: Joe Davis in 1928, his brother Fred Davis in 1949, and John Pulman at his first challenge match in 1964. No player in the modern era (post-1969) has successfully defended a first world title, even before the tournament was staged at the Crucible Theatre.

John Spencer, Ray Reardon and Alex Higgins won the World Championship for the first time before the event was moved to the Crucible in 1977, and failed to retain the title the following year (although this could not be attributed to the "Crucible curse"). All three players subsequently won the championship at the Crucible for the first time, but then fell to the "curse" when they failed to successfully defend the title the following year.

Year[4][5] Defending champion[4][5] Progress Result Opponent Ref
Defending first world title:
1970  John Spencer (ENG) Semi-finals 33–37  Ray Reardon (WAL) [26]
1971  Ray Reardon (WAL) Semi-finals 15–34  John Spencer (ENG) [27]
1973  Alex Higgins (NIR) Semi-finals 9–23  Eddie Charlton (AUS) [28]
Defending first world title at Crucible Theatre:
1978  John Spencer (ENG) Last 16 8–13  Perrie Mans (RSA) [29]
1979  Ray Reardon (WAL) Quarter-finals 8–13  Dennis Taylor (NIR) [30]
1983  Alex Higgins (NIR) Semi-finals 5–16  Steve Davis (ENG) [31]

Notes

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  1. ^ Griffiths, along with the other top 8 seeds, received a bye in the first round, thus the second round was his first match.

References

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  1. ^ Dee, John (28 April 2006). "Cruise for Ebdon as Crucible curse strikes champ". The Nation. Archived from the original on 14 July 2007. Retrieved 21 April 2007.
  2. ^ "Crucible Curse Strikes Ebdon". Sporting Life. 30 April 2003. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2007.
  3. ^ Jackson, Jamie (15 April 2011). "Australia's Neil Robertson aiming to break the curse of the Crucible". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 20 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Turner, Chris. "World Professional Championship". cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d "Hall of Fame". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 28 July 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  6. ^ "1980 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  7. ^ "1981 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  8. ^ "1982 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  9. ^ "1986 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  10. ^ "1987 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 6 May 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  11. ^ "1991 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 6 May 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  12. ^ "1992 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  13. ^ "1998 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  14. ^ "1999 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  15. ^ "2001 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  16. ^ "2002 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  17. ^ "2003 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  18. ^ "2006 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  19. ^ "2007 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  20. ^ "Betfred.com World Championship (2011) – Round 1". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 20 April 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  21. ^ "Betfred World Championship (2015) – Round 2". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 25 March 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  22. ^ "Betfred World Championship (2016) – Round 1"". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  23. ^ "Betfred World Championship (2020) – Quarter Final"". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  24. ^ "World Snooker Championship 2024 results: David Gilbert beats reigning champion Luca Brecel". BBC Sport. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  25. ^ Dirs, Ben (6 May 2013). "Ronnie O'Sullivan beats Barry Hawkins to win fifth World title". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 6 May 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  26. ^ "1970 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  27. ^ "1971 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  28. ^ "1973 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  29. ^ "1978 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  30. ^ "1979 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  31. ^ "1983 World Championships Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
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