2009 World Snooker Championship

Professional snooker tournament August 2018 2009 Betfred.com World Snooker Championship 2009 04 18 2009 05 4 y Crucible Theatre Sheffield England WPBSA Ranking event £1,111,000 £250,000 Stephen Hendry SCO (147) John Higgins SCO Shaun Murphy ENG 18–9 2008 2010 The 2009 World Snooker Championship (officially the 2009 Betfred.com World Snooker Championship) was a professional snooker tournament. It was held at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England, the 33rd consecutive year that the World Snooker Championship was staged at the venue. It took place between 18 April and 4 May 2009. The eighth and final ranking tournament of the 2008–09 snooker season, it was organised by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association and sponsored for the first time by online betting shop Betfred. The total prize fund was £1,111,000, of which the winner received £250,000. The qualifying rounds took place from 26 February to 4 March and from 8 to 10 March 2009 at the English Institute of Sport. The 16 qualifiers and the top 16 players from the snooker world rankings reached the tournament's main stage at the Crucible. Ronnie O'Sullivan was the defending champion, having defeated Ali Carter 18–8 in the 2008 final. He lost in the second round to Mark Allen. John Higgins defeated Shaun Murphy 18–9 in the final to win his third world title and 20th ranking title. The final was refereed by Michaela Tabb, who became the first woman to officiate at a World Snooker Championship final. A total of 83 century breaks were compiled during the event's main stage, the highest being a 147 by Stephen Hendry in his quarter-final match against Murphy. It was the highest number of centuries compiled at the tournament's main stage until 2015. Another 69 century breaks were made during the qualifying rounds. Background alt=The Crucible Theatre from outside|thumb|upright=1.1|For the 33rd consecutive year, the main stage of the tournament was held at the Crucible Theatre (pictured) in Sheffield, England. The inaugural 1927 World Snooker Championship, then known as the Professional Championship of Snooker, took place at various venues in England between November 1926 and May 1927. Joe Davis won the final—held at Camkin's Hall in Birmingham from 9 to 12 May 1927—and went on to win the tournament 15 consecutive times before retiring undefeated after the 1946 edition (no tournaments were held from 1941 to 1945 because of World War II).Everton Clive The History of Snooker and Billiards Partridge Press Haywards Heath 1986 978-1-85225-013-3 50Turner Chris World Professional Championship http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/world.html Chris Turner's Snooker Archive 2008 31 March 2024 6 June 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160606102115/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/world.html dead11 July 1978 Joe Davis, a snooker champion who retired unbeaten, Was 77 https://www.nytimes.com/1978/07/11/archives/joe-davis-a-snooker-champion-who-retired-unbeaten-was-77.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20231022194142/https://www.nytimes.com/1978/07/11/archives/joe-davis-a-snooker-champion-who-retired-unbeaten-was-77.html 22 October 2023 31 March 2024 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 The tournament went into abeyance after only two players contested the 1952 edition, due to a dispute between the Professional Billiards Players' Association (PBPA) and the Billiards Association and Control Council (BACC). The PBPA established an alternative tournament, the World Professional Match-play Championship, of which the six editions held between 1952 and 1957 are retroactively regarded as legitimate continuations of the World Snooker Championship. However, due to waning public interest in snooker during the post-war era, that tournament was also discontinued, and the world title was uncontested between 1958 and 1963. Then-professional player Rex Williams was instrumental in reviving the World Snooker Championship on a challenge basis in 1964. John Pulman, winner of the 1957 World Professional Match-play Championship, defended the world title across seven challenge matches between 1964 and 1968. The World Snooker Championship reverted to an annual knockout tournament for the 1969 edition, marking the beginning of the championship's "modern era".Nunns Hector Hendon David Full history https://wpbsa.com/about-us/history/full-history/ WPBSA 31 March 2024 31 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240331092827/https://wpbsa.com/about-us/history/full-history/ liveWright Joe Who has won the most World Snooker Championship titles? Hendry, O'Sullivan, Davis and the players with the most trophies https://www.sportingnews.com/us/snooker/news/most-world-snooker-championship-titles-hendry-osullivan-davis-trophies/joqsk1qyc3vivgpfptced4rl The Sporting News 30 April 2023 31 March 2024 14 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240114220848/https://www.sportingnews.com/us/snooker/news/most-world-snooker-championship-titles-hendry-osullivan-davis-trophies/joqsk1qyc3vivgpfptced4rl live The 1977 edition was the first staged at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, where it has remained since.Halo World Championship https://www.wst.tv/worldchampionship World Snooker Tour 10 April 2024 10 April 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240410053119/https://www.wst.tv/cazooworldchampionship/ liveWorld Snooker Championship in Sheffield https://www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/visit/headline-events/world-snooker-championship/ Sheffield City Council 31 March 2024 25 February 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240225012256/https://www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/visit/headline-events/world-snooker-championship/ live The most successful players in the modern era was Stephen Hendry, having won the title seven times.World Snooker Championship 2022: Ronnie O'Sullivan plays down record-equalling seventh title https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/61301395 Sutcliffe Steve BBC Sport 3 May 2022 29 March 2024 22 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231022211824/https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/61301395 liveBetfred World Championship World Snooker 27 March 2022 https://wst.tv/tournaments/betfred-world-championship/ 14 May 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210514143520/https://wst.tv/tournaments/betfred-world-championship/ dead Hendry was also the tournament's youngest winner, having captured his first title at the 1990 event, aged 1969-01-13 1990-04-29 and.Millington Sarah Looking back to 1990: when Stephen Hendry became a snooker champion https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/24091190.looking-back-1990-stephen-hendry-became-snooker-champion/ News and Star 2 February 2024 31 March 2024 31 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240331125625/https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/24091190.looking-back-1990-stephen-hendry-became-snooker-champion/ live en Ray Reardon became the oldest winner when he secured his sixth title at the 1978 event, aged 1932-10-08 1978-04-29 and.Snooker World Records https://www.snooker.org/plr/records.shtml snooker.org 6 May 2025 Organised by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, the 2009 tournament was sponsored by online betting shop Betfred for the first time.Betfred.com sign up to sponsor World Snooker Championship for next four years http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/snooker/2009/04/08/betfred-com-sign-up-to-sponsor-world-snooker-championship-for-next-four-years-86908-21263498/ Daily Record 19 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120113111022/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/snooker/2009/04/08/betfred-com-sign-up-to-sponsor-world-snooker-championship-for-next-four-years-86908-21263498/ 13 January 2012 live Prize fund The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-tournaments-world-championship-snooker-2009-prize-money-breakdown.asp Prize Money Global Snooker 17 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100419215240/http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-tournaments-world-championship-snooker-2009-prize-money-breakdown.asp 19 April 2010 usurped Downer Chris Crucible Almanac 2012 130 70% 50% Winner: £250,000 Runner-up: £125,000 Semi-final: £52,000 Quarter-final: £24,050 Last 16: £16,000 Last 32: £12,000 Last 48: £8,200 50% Last 64: £4,600 Stage one highest break: £1,000 Stage two highest break: £10,000 Stage one maximum break: £5,000 Stage two maximum break: £147,000 Total: £1,111,000 Summary First round thumb|alt=Steve Davis looking at a snooker table|Steve Davis (pictured in 2008) qualified for the main stage of the World Championship for a record-extending 29th time, but he was defeated 210 by Neil Robertson. The first round was played between 18 and 23 April as the best of 19 frame frames held over two session sessions.https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=61 Betfred.com World Championship (2009) snooker.org 16 May 2024 23 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231023094644/https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=61 live The defending champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan, made breaks of 61, 140, 104, 73, 78, 94, 100 and 97 for a 105 victory against Stuart Bingham, although he rated his performance with a five out of ten.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/8000771.stm O'Sullivan breezes into round two 18 April 2009 16 May 2024 BBC Sport 3 December 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231203225730/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/8000771.stm live Six-time world champion Steve Davis qualified for the main stage of the World Championship for a record-extending 29th time, but he was defeated 210 by Neil Robertson, who notched a century break of 135 in the process.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/22/snooker-world-championship-steve-davis Steve Davis's early exit may be his last at The Crucible 22 April 2009 The Guardian 15 May 2024 Clive Everton 15 October 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151015152223/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/22/snooker-world-championship-steve-davis live Clive Everton, writing for The Guardian, hinted that this could be Davis's last appearance at the Crucible. "To me it's not about going out in style. I've gone past that. I'm going down the wall hanging on by my fingernails," Davis said. In a duel between two former world champions, Stephen Hendry won 107 over Mark Williams, who had to have his cue stick repaired in the middle of the match.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/19/snooker-world-championship-ronnie-osullivan Stephen Hendry takes advantage of Mark Williams's cue break 19 April 2009 The Guardian 15 May 2024 Clive Everton Graeme Dott, winner in 2006, disposed of Barry Hawkins with a 108 result. There were four debutants at the Crucible in this edition—Rory McLeod, Martin Gould, Andrew Higginson and Ricky Walden—and they were all defeated in the first round. McLeod, who became the first-ever black player to play at the Crucible,http://www.todaysdrum.com/4424/rory-mcleod-set-to-become-first-black-player-at-world-snooker-championships/ Rory McLeod becomes first black player at World Snooker Championships Today's Drum 17 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20120422083609/http://todaysdrum.com/4424/rory-mcleod-set-to-become-first-black-player-at-world-snooker-championships/ 22 April 2012 dead dmy-all lost 510 to Mark King.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7987891.stm World Snooker 2009 16 May 2024 BBC Sport 21 April 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090421012233/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7987891.stm live Gould defeated the 2000 and 2005 runner-up, Matthew Stevens, in the qualifiers to earn a place at the Crucible,https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/mar/09/snooker-martin-gould-matthew-stevens Gould deals Stevens a crushing blow 9 March 2009 The Guardian 16 May 2024 David Hendon 12 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160312140514/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/mar/09/snooker-martin-gould-matthew-stevens live but he could not make it past Mark Allen, who knocked him out in the first round with a 106 result.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/20/world-snooker-championship-mark-allen-ronnie-osullivan Mark Allen fires warning to O'Sullivan 20 April 2009 The Guardian 16 May 2024 Allen, semi-finalist of the 2008 Bahrain Championship during the season, produced a half-century of 88 in the last frame. As he went into his first-round match against Higginson, Shaun Murphy, the 2005 winner, was threatened by his wife to be presented with the divorce papers at the Crucible.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/8012260.stm Distracted Murphy beats Higginson 22 April 2009 16 May 2024 BBC Sport 12 March 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230312160714/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/8012260.stm live Higginson took the lead at 65 at the beginning of the second session, but Murphy prevailed with a 108 result despite the personal issues. Walden, champion of both the invitational 2008 Six-red Snooker International and the ranking 2008 Shanghai Masters earlier in the season, lost 610 to Mark Selby, runner-up in 2007.https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?season=-1&player=62 Ricky Walden snooker.org 16 May 2024 22 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160322232800/http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?player=62&season=-1 live Selby made three centuries in the second session to seal victory.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/21/snooker-mark-selby-world-championship Mark Selby revs up and leaves Ricky Walden in his wake 21 April 2009 The Guardian 16 May 2024 Clive Everton thumb|alt=Stephen Lee playing a shot|Stephen Lee (pictured in 2011) was defeated in the first round by Ryan Day. Four years later, he was found guilty of conspiring to lose the match. The runner-up in the previous edition, Ali Carter, had won his first ranking event earlier in the season, the 2009 Welsh Open.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/17/ali-carter-snooker-world-championship Ali Carter hopes to go one better at snooker's world championship 17 April 2009 The Guardian 17 May 2024 Jamie Jackson In his first-round match, he beat Gerard Greene 105. Greene, having reached the Crucible on four occasions, had never made it past the first round of the event.https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?season=-1&player=38 Gerard Greene snooker.org 17 May 2024 Stephen Maguire compiled breaks of 98, 96, 101, 122, 79 and 127 for a 105 defeat of Jamie Burnett.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/24/snooker-world-championships-mcguire-burnett McGuire sees off Burnett in repeat of widely-scrutinised match-up 24 April 2009 The Guardian 16 May 2024 Clive Everton A few months earlier, at the 2008 UK Championship, the game between both players, which also went Maguire's way, was investigated after there were allegations of match fixing, but neither of the players was charged. Marco Fu constructed three centuries en route to a 104 victory over Joe Swail.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/22/snooker-murphy-higginson-fu Murphy overcomes health and wife fears to set up Fu showdown 22 April 2009 The Guardian 16 May 2024 16 June 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230616010611/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/22/snooker-murphy-higginson-fu live John Higgins, world champion in 1998 and 2007, fell 24 behind Michael Holt during the first session, but he only conceded one more frame as he completed the comeback for a 105 win.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/23/john-higgins-world-snooker-championship Higgins races past Holt at World Snooker Championship 23 April 2009 The Guardian 16 May 2024 16 May 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240516160318/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/23/john-higgins-world-snooker-championship live Ding Junhui led Liang Wenbo 74, but Liang won four frames on the trot to put himself ahead.http://www.china.org.cn/sports/2009-04/22/content_17647833.htm Ding wins thriller in snooker worlds 22 April 2009 china.org.cn 17 May 2024 Ding then took three consecutive frames, featuring a century break, to clinch victory with a 108 result. Only two out of the sixteen seeded players lost their first round matches. The 2002 world champion, Peter Ebdon, was defeated 510 by Nigel Bond,https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2009/0422/248207-crucible/ Day eases into next round 23 April 2009 RTÉ 17 May 2024 while Joe Perry lost 610 against Jamie Cope, who made good long pot long pots to advance into the second round of the World Championship for the first time in his career.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/8026833.stm Snooker's new aggressive breed BBC Sport 30 April 2009 17 May 2024 Stephen Lee lost 410 against Ryan Day. In September 2013, he was found guilty of conspiring to lose that match, as well as six more.World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) and Stephen Lee decision http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/9b/be/0,,13165~179867,00.pdf Sport Resolutions (UK) 16 September 2013 16 September 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140412060908/http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/9b/be/0%2C%2C13165~179867%2C00.pdf 12 April 2014 As part of a series of offenses, Lee received a 12-year ban and was ordered to pay £40,000 in costs.Stephen Lee: Snooker player given 12-year ban for match-fixing BBC News 25 September 2013 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/24223268 25 September 2013 25 September 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130925135404/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/24223268 live "There have been occasions when certain games have been questioned beforehand. You have heard there were certain betting patterns, but I heard nothing about any betting action at the time," Day said when he found out.Stephen Lee: Ryan Day shocked to be part of fixed snooker game BBC Sport 20 September 2013 https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/24171182 24 April 2025 Second round thumb|alt=Ronnie O'Sullivan playing a shot|Ronnie O'Sullivan (pictured in 2012) lost 1113 to Mark Allen in the second round and failed to defend his title. The second round of the event was played as the best of 25 frames, held over three sessions, between 23 and 27 April. Fourteen of the sixteen seeds reached the second round, along with two qualifiers, Bond and Cope. While the second round was being played, it was announced that the World Championship would continue to be played at the Crucible Theatre at least until 2014.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/28/snooker-world-championship-sheffield-crucible Crucible extends world snooker's stay in Sheffield The Guardian 17 May 2024 Allen, who trailed O'Sullivan 79 at the beginning of the last session, went on to win 1311.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/25/ronnie-osullivan-mark-allen-snooker Mark Allen spoils the party for Ronnie O'Sullivan at the Crucible 25 April 2009 The Guardian 24 April 2025 Phil Yates O'Sullivan failed to defend the title, a feat last achieved by Hendry in 1996. "Mark [Allen] played brilliantly. He was better than me and if he keeps on playing as well he's got a great chance of winning the whole thing," O'Sullivan said. Day, who had yet to win a ranking event, progressed into the quarter-finals with a 135 win over Bond.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/26/world-snooker-championship-snooker Allen puts himself in the spotlight 26 April 2009 The Guardian 24 April 2025 Clive Everton A break of 103, the third century of the match for him, put Cope 1210 up against Higgins, two frames ahead with only three left to play.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/27/snooker-world-championship-john-higgins John Higgins holds his nerve to beat Jamie Cope in dramatic finale 27 April 2009 The Guardian 24 April 2025 Clive Everton Higgins made a 96 break as he halved the deficit and then forced a deciding frame decider, which had to be stopped halfway through for some minutes as a spectator fell sick and was treated. Higgins sealed victory with an 80 break that began with a tricky shot to a centre pocket middle pocket. "I thought I'd got him," regretted Cope, who acknowledged he had had chances to win. Selby played Dott in a match which saw a controversial decision made by referee Alan Chamberlain. Dott had played a shot and was about to go in-off, but stopped the cue ball with his fist, not allowing it to drop into the pocket and leaving it on the bed of the table. The referee called a foul and awarded four penalty points to Selby. Convinced that he now had the cue ball in hand, as would have been the case after an in-off, Selby picked it up and placed it inside the D the "D". However, the referee called a foul on him and awarded four points to Dott. Chamberlain's reasoning, as he voiced to the players, was that since the cue ball had never left the bed of the table, Selby should have played his next shot from where it had finished and not from the "D". Even though both players disputed the referee's call, it remained unchanged.April 2025 Selby went on to win 1310. thumb|alt=Stephen Maguire playing a shot|Stephen Maguire (pictured in 2012) and Mark King played a frame that lasted 75 minutes, the longest in Crucible history at that point. Fu, who saw Murphy build a 71 lead against him in the first session, kicked off the second one with a 129 century break.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/8018355.stm Ruthless Murphy crushes feeble Fu 25 April 2009 BBC News 24 April 2025 Murphy, however, clinched victory with a 133 result and a session to spare. "I'm hitting the ball very well and I knew coming into the tournament that I'd put the work in and practised hard. I can play well enough to win this tournament for definite," Murphy claimed after the match. Scores were tied at the end of the second session of the duel between Hendry and Ding,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/8016649.stm High-flying Hendry sees off Ding 25 April 2009 BBC News 24 April 2025 who were playing each other at this stage of the tournament for the second year in a row. Hendry exploited an in-off by Ding to edge one ahead. In the following frame, which was the 1,000th Hendry won at the Crucible, he compiled a 140 break to equal O'Sullivan's highest break of the event thus far. He extended his lead to three in the following frame and, despite a 121 by Ding to reduce the difference, Hendry won 1310. "Vindication will only come with lifting the trophy, to me that's all I'm here for," Hendry claimed after the match. Seven times a winner of the tournament, his last victory had come a decade before. Robertson won four of the last five frames of the second session on the final black ball to build a two-frame cushion against Carter at 97.https://metro.co.uk/2009/04/27/robertson-gets-carter-60133/ Robertson gets Carter 27 April 2009 Metro 24 April 2025 At the resumption, he doubled his lead with breaks of 89 and 59, the second one aided by a fluke when playing a red ball red. Robertson went on to win the match 138. The first session of the match between Maguire and King, which was split at 44, featured a frame which was decided on the final black ball and lasted 75 minutes and 2 seconds, the longest in Crucible history. It was longer than the one played by Dott and Ebdon in the 2006 final, which held the record up to that point. Clive Everton, writing for The Guardian, stated that the session, which in total lasted three and a half hours, was "very slow by modern standards". Maguire prevailed in the end with a 136 defeat of King. Quarter-finals thumb|alt=Stephen Hendry playing a shot|Stephen Hendry (pictured in 2011), playing in the quarter-finals for the 18th time, made a maximum break against Shaun Murphy, the tenth in the history of the main stage of the World Championship. The quarter-finals of the event were played as the best of 25 frames, held over three sessions, between 28 and 29 April. No qualifiers were left at this stage of the tournament. Allen went into the third session with a two-frame lead over Day, who produced a 106 break at the resumption.Good day for Allen https://www.skysports.com/more-sports/snooker/news/5256612/good-day-for-allen Sky Sports 30 April 2009 24 April 2025 Allen replied with another century and the players then exchanged frames until Allen sealed victory at 1311. Allen said that in winning the match he had proven wrong those who had deemed him a "one-hit wonder" after his defeat of O'Sullivan. "My dream was to one day play at the Crucible and I've done that. Another dream was to play in the one-table set-up with a chance of winning the World Championship and I'm going to have that in the next match," Allen said regarding his first time as a semi-finalist at the Crucible. Higgins and Selby shared the frames of the first session to end it levelled at 88.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/8023589.stm Epic win sees Higgins into semis 25 April 2009 BBC News 25 April 2025 Selby compiled three consecutive century breaks of 118, 124 and 117 and made two more, of 114 and 119, to equal the record for most centuries in a match at the World Championship with five.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/5246948/John-Higgins-sets-up-semi-final-with-Mark-Allen.html John Higgins sets up semi-final with Mark Allen 29 April 2009 The Telegraph 25 April 2025 Higgins, who fell behind Selby on several occasions, forced a decider, the second for him in two matches, and won it after two re-rack re-racks. "We were sitting there at the two re-racks and [Selby] said, 'Can we just call it a draw because there shouldn't be a loser in this match?'," Higgins said. "I'm flabbergasted. He's such a great player. That was probably my best win ever. That's how highly I regard Mark [Selby] and that's how highly I regard his performance," he added. thumb|alt=Shaun Murphy playing a shot|Shaun Murphy (pictured in 2009) replied to Stephen Hendry's maximum break by winning five consecutive frame frames and sealing a 1311 victory. Hendry was playing in the quarter-finals of the World Championship for a record 18th time.April 2025 He constructed a 42 lead against Murphy.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/28/stephen-hendry-147-maximum-snooker Shaun Murphy bounces back after Stephen Hendry's 147 28 April 2009 The Guardian 25 April 2025 Hendry then compiled a maximum break in the seventh frame, which guaranteed him £157,000 if no other player managed to make another one. "It's a tremendous feeling and I'm absolutely delighted," Hendry said. In doing so, Hendry equalled O'Sullivan's tally of nine 147s and became the second player, also after O'Sullivan, to score a maximum at the Crucible more than once, having done it for the first time in the semi-finals of the 1995 edition.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/8022722.stm Hendry behind despite 147 break 28 April 2009 BBC News 25 April 2025 "You have to grade maximums at the Crucible as the best because of the pressure of this venue," acknowledged six-time world champion Steve Davis. It was only the tenth maximum achieved in the history of the main stage of the World Championship.April 2025 After the maximum, Murphy replied with five frames on the trot, featuring breaks of 61, 117 and 78, and enjoyed a two-frame cushion going into the last session. Murphy claimed a 1311 victory with a century break.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/8024736.stm Murphy ousts Hendry to make semis 29 April 2009 BBC News 25 April 2025 "Stephen [Hendry] threw everything at me in the first session, including the kitchen sink. The problem for Stephen was I picked it up and threw it back. That's what happens in top-flight sport," Murphy said afterwards. "Ever since I made the maximum my concentration was nowhere," Hendry lamented. Robertson faced Maguire,https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/29/world-snooker-championship-murphy-hendry 'Awesome' Murphy beats Hendry to claim semi-final place 30 April 2009 The Guardian Clive Everton 25 April 2025 who had eliminated him in the second round of the previous edition.https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=242 888.com World Championship (2008) snooker.org 25 April 2025 Levelled at 55, Robertson took six of the following seven frames. Aided by a century break of 124, he moved within one frame of victory at 127 and eventually won 138. "My safety was really good, my long game was fantastic. There were three frames in a row when I rolled in a long one and clearance cleared up," Robertson said. Robertson was deemed by Clive Everton as "Australia's first authentic title contender since the late Eddie Charlton", runner-up in 1975 and the last Australian player before him to reach the semi-finals of the tournament. Semi-finals thumb|alt=Neil Robertson playing a shot|Neil Robertson (pictured in 2013) won seven frames on the trot to level the match at 1414, but he went on to lose 1417 against Shaun Murphy. The semi-finals were played as the best of 33 frames, held over four sessions, between 30 April and 2 May. Allen and Robertson were playing in the semi-finals of the World Championship for the first time.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/may/01/world-snooker-championship-shaun-murphy-neil-robertson Marathon minded John Higgins set for short sprint into final 1 May 2009 The Guardian Clive Everton 25 April 2025 Higgins was 62 and 133 ahead against Allen, firing centuries of 114, 129 and 104 in the process. Higgins was on the verge of winning the first frame of the third session as well: he needed two snooker snookers, which he got, but Allen then took it on the black. Allen pulled back to only three frames behind at 1215, although Higgins made a 116 century break and won the match 1713.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/may/02/shaun-murphy-neil-robertson-world-snooker-championship-semi-final John Higgins holds off Mark Allen to reach world championship final 2 May 2009 The Guardian Katy Murrells 25 April 2025 "I feel total relief. I was just thinking I could throw this away here," Higgins said.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/8027621.stm Higgins downs Allen to make final 2 May 2009 BBC News 25 April 2025 He described Allen as "a street-fighter" and praised him as being "great for the game". "It was a weird match. I was always way behind and although I came back into it I gave myself far too much to do after the first two sessions," Allen admitted. In the other semi-final, Murphy opened a seven-frame advantage against Robertson at 147.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/8028089.stm Murphy resists Robertson comeback 2 May 2009 BBC News 25 April 2025 Robertson won seven frames on the bounce to level the scores. "I spent so much time in the chair that the skills I learned as a child had just abandoned me. I just needed to regroup and start again," Murphy said. He spent some time on the practice table during the interval and manufactured a 106 century break at the re-start to put himself ahead once more. Further breaks of 81 and 94 gave him the two frames he needed to advance into the final. "I'm really disappointed. But those breaks [Murphy] made in the final three frames were world-class so he definitely deserved to win," Robertson conceded. Final thumb|alt=Michaela Tabb refereeing a match|Michaela Tabb (pictured in 2013) became the first woman to referee a World Championship final. The final was played as a best-of-35-frames, held over four sessions on 3 and 4 May, between Higgins and Murphy. Higgins had already made it to the final at the Crucible on three occasions: he had defeated Ken Doherty in 1998 and Selby in 2007, but he had lost against O'Sullivan in 2001. Murphy was playing his second final, having won the 2005 event coming to the Crucible as a qualifier. The pair had met already once at the Crucible, in that 2005 edition, with Murphy prevailing in the second-round match. Referee Michaela Tabb officiated the final, becoming the first woman to take charge of a World Championship final.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/7998235.stm Tabb named Crucible final referee 14 April 2009 BBC News 25 April 2025 "I've been chosen because of my standard of refereeing," she proclaimed. It was the first final contested by two former world champions since 2003, when Williams defeated Doherty.Turner Chris World Professional Championship http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/world.html https://web.archive.org/web/20130416080933/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/world.html 16 April 2013 cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk Chris Turner's Snooker Archive 24 February 2011 Higgins took the first three frames of the final, featuring breaks of 78 and 52.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/8031596.stm Higgins v Murphy as it happened 3 May 2009 BBC Sport 29 April 2025 Sheffield Mark Ashenden Murphy replied with four on the trot, including a 109 break. Higgins made a half-century of his own in the last frame of the first session, but he then missed a pink ball into a middle pocket. After a series of misses by both players, Murphy could have cleared the colour ball colours to pinch the frame by only two points and go two ahead, but he missed the green ball green and allowed Higgins back in. Higgins potted both the green and the brown ball brown to end the session all-square at 44. Both players made half-centuries at the resumption to go level once again at 55. Higgins then won six consecutive frames, featuring breaks of 95 and twice of 128.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/may/04/john-higgins-shaun-murphy-world-snooker-championship John Higgins surges ahead as Shaun Murphy toils under unwanted strain The Guardian Clive Everton 4 May 2009 29 April 2025 The second session ended with Higgins 115 ahead. Higgins also took the first frame of the third session and, although Murphy responded with a 91 break, Higgins won three more to race into a 146 lead.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/may/04/john-higgins-world-snooker-championship-shaun-murphy John Higgins just two frames away from world championship title The Guardian 4 May 2009 29 April 2025 According to the report by The Guardian, Murphy "wasted an abundance of chances to close the gap amid patchy play by both men", and the session ended with a 168 lead for Higgins. Going into the fourth and last session, Higgins only needed two more frames to seal victory. He took the first with a break of 56 to close within one of victory. The following frame, which Murphy won with a half-century, was Higgins's 1,000th frame at the Crucible.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/8032596.stm Higgins v Murphy as it happened 4 May 2009 BBC Sport 29 April 2025 Sheffield Mark Ashenden Higgins then produced a 73 break to claim the trophy with an 189 result.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/may/04/john-higgins-world-snooker-championship-shaun-murphy1 John Higgins beats Shaun Murphy to seal world championship title The Guardian 4 May 2009 29 April 2025 thumb|upright=0.8|alt=John Higgins lifting a trophy|John Higgins (pictured lifting the 2007 World Championship trophy) defeated Shaun Murphy 189 in the final to claim his third world title. Higgins afterwards pointed to the second session as the one that had made the difference. "Shaun [Murphy] missed a couple of balls he normally wouldn't miss and I just managed to get in there and pinch a couple of frames," he said. The BBC reported that Murphy was "unable to produce the fantastic long potting he had shown in earlier rounds". Clive Everton wrote that Murphy, who only managed to win back-to-back frames on two occasions during the final, "fought an uphill battle manfully". "It is a 17-day tournament, and the first 15-and-a-half days of it were fantastic for me. The last day-and-a-half I am not so pleased with, but I can't let that ruin what has been a great season," Murphy said after the final. Higgins won the title two weeks before his 34th birthday, what made him the oldest world champion since 36-year-old Dennis Taylor in 1985.https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2009/0503/248655-worldchampionship/ Higgins takes commanding lead 4 May 2009 RTÉ 25 April 2025 He became the ninth player to win the World Championship three or more times after Joe Davis, Fred Davis, John Pulman, John Spencer, Ray Reardon, Davis, Hendry and O'Sullivan.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/8032814.stm Higgins earns third world crown 4 May 2009 BBC Sport 25 April 2025 Sheffield Mark Ashenden https://web.archive.org/web/20090505011910/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/8032814.stm 5 May 2009 live "I am over the moon. It's brilliant. To be classed with someone like Ronnie [O'Sullivan], it's an unbelievable honour", Higgins said. Victory allowed Higgins to climb to the fourth place in the rankings going into the following season behind O'Sullivan, Maguire and Murphy.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/may/04/john-higgins-world-snooker-championship-shaun-murphy2 John Higgins joins the greats with third world title The Guardian Clive Everton 4 May 2009 29 April 2025 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).Betfred.com World Championship http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=61 Snooker.org 9 March 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120314011857/http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=61 14 March 2012 live http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-tournaments-08-09-world-championship-results.asp Crucible Results Global Snooker 17 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20120306014525/http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-tournaments-08-09-world-championship-results.asp 6 March 2012 usurped The draw for the televised stage of the World Snooker Championship was made on 11 March 2009 on Radio Sheffield.Davis revival seals Crucible spot https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/7931688.stm BBC Sport 19 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20140407085343/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/7931688.stm 7 April 2014 10 March 2009 live numbered First roundBest of 19 frames Second roundBest of 25 frames Quarter-finalsBest of 25 frames Semi-finalsBest of 33 frames FinalBest of 35 frames 18 April ENG Ronnie O'Sullivan (1) 10 ENG Stuart Bingham 5 19 & 20 April NIR Mark Allen (16) 10 ENG Martin Gould 6 21 April ENG Peter Ebdon (9) 5 ENG Nigel Bond 10 22 April WAL Ryan Day (8) 10 ENG Stephen Lee 4 22 & 23 April SCO John Higgins (5) 10 ENG Michael Holt 5 20 & 21 April ENG Joe Perry (12) 6 ENG Jamie Cope 10 18 & 19 April SCO Graeme Dott (13) 10 ENG Barry Hawkins 8 19 & 20 April ENG Mark Selby (4) 10 ENG Ricky Walden 6 21 & 22 April ENG Shaun Murphy (3) 10 ENG Andrew Higginson 8 20 April HKG Marco Fu (14) 10 NIR Joe Swail 4 20 & 21 April CHN Ding Junhui (11) 10 CHN Liang Wenbo 8 18 & 19 April SCO Stephen Hendry (6) 10 WAL Mark Williams 7 18 & 19 April ENG Ali Carter (7) 10 NIR Gerard Greene 5 21 & 22 April AUS Neil Robertson (10) 10 ENG Steve Davis 2 18 & 19 April ENG Mark King (15) 10 ENG Rory McLeod 6 22 & 23 April SCO Stephen Maguire (2) 10 SCO Jamie Burnett 5 23, 24 & 25 April ENG Ronnie O'Sullivan (1) 11 NIR Mark Allen (16) 13 24 & 25 April ENG Nigel Bond 5 WAL Ryan Day (8) 13 25, 26 & 27 April SCO John Higgins (5) 13 ENG Jamie Cope 12 26 & 27 April SCO Graeme Dott (13) 10 ENG Mark Selby (4) 13 24 & 25 April ENG Shaun Murphy (3) 13 HKG Marco Fu (14) 3 23 & 24 April CHN Ding Junhui (11) 10 SCO Stephen Hendry (6) 13 25, 26 & 27 April ENG Ali Carter (7) 8 AUS Neil Robertson (10) 13 26 & 27 April ENG Mark King (15) 6 SCO Stephen Maguire (2) 13 28 & 29 April NIR Mark Allen (16) 13 WAL Ryan Day (8) 11 28 & 29 April SCO John Higgins (5) 13 ENG Mark Selby (4) 12 28 & 29 April ENG Shaun Murphy (3) 13 SCO Stephen Hendry (6) 11 28 & 29 April AUS Neil Robertson (10) 13 SCO Stephen Maguire (2) 8 30 April 1 & 2 May NIR Mark Allen (16) 13 SCO John Higgins (5) 17 30 April 1 & 2 May ENG Shaun Murphy (3) 17 AUS Neil Robertson (10) 14 3 & 4 May SCO John Higgins (5) 18 ENG Shaun Murphy (3) 9 Final: frame scores (Best of 35 frames) Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, 3 & 4 May 2009Referee: Michaela Tabb John Higgins (5) player seeding 189 Shaun Murphy (3) player seeding 44 (44) 71 (115) 53 (168) 21 (189) (frames 14 and 16) 128 109 (frame 6) 2 1 11 7 SCO John Higgins wins the 2009 World Snooker Championship Higgins Murphy 83 (78) 85 (52) 79 7 50 4 49 69 (50) 98 (57) 12 70 95 (95) 70 132 (128) 82 (50) 128 (128) N/A 64 0 60 76 28 49 94 80 (52) 106 (56) 0 105 (73) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0 6 20 83 (58) 96 114 (109) 63 34 1 87 (52) 51 11 45 0 0 6 N/A 42 91 (91) 49 43 70 79 (79) 26 59 (52) 21 78 (59) 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Preliminary qualifying The preliminary qualifying rounds for the tournament took place from 25 February 2009 at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. (World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association members not on The Tour.)Betfred.com World Championship Qualifiers 1 http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=62 Snooker.org 9 March 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120314012041/http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=62 14 March 2012 live Round 1 IRL Bill Kelly 1–5 IND David Singh ENG Neil Selman 5–3 ENG Paul Cavney ENG Barry Stark 5–3 ENG Les Dodd ENG Stephen Ormerod 5–0 ENG Christopher Flight ENG Del Smith 5–0 ENG Adam Osbourne ENG Phil Seaton 5–2 ENG Philip Minchin ENG Ali Bassiri 1–5 ENG Tony Knowles Round 2 ENG Colin Mitchell 5–1 IND David Singh ENG Neil Selman 5–1 ENG Barry Stark ENG Stephen Ormerod 1–5 ENG Del Smith ENG Phil Seaton 2–5 ENG Tony Knowles Qualifying The qualifying rounds 1–4 for the tournament took place between 26 February and 4 March 2009 at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. The final round of qualifying took place between 8 and 10 March 2009 at the same venue.http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-tournaments-08-09-world-championship-snooker-qualifying-results.asp Qualifying (Results) Global Snooker 17 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100413132756/http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-tournaments-08-09-world-championship-snooker-qualifying-results.asp 13 April 2010 usurped Round 1 CHN Li Hang 10–2 ENG Colin Mitchell NIR Declan Hughes wd–wo ENG Neil Selman NZL Chris McBreen 10–8 ENG Del Smith NLD Stefan Mazrocis 9–10 ENG Tony Knowles Rounds 2–5 no Round 2Best of 19 frames Round 3Best of 19 frames Round 4Best of 19 frames Round 5Best of 19 frames 200 ENG Matthew Couch 10 ENG Michael Georgiou 8 ENG Lee Spick 10 ENG Stephen Craigie 5 ENG Jimmy White 10 IRL Vincent Muldoon 8 WAL Daniel Wells 10 CHN Li Hang 9 THA Supoj Saenla 10 CHN Liu Chuang 5 SCO Scott MacKenzie 9 ENG Wayne Cooper 10 NIR Patrick Wallace 10 ENG Neil Selman 2 ENG Matthew Selt 10 SCO Robert Stephen 3 SCO James McBain 10 NZL Chris McBreen 2 ENG Simon Bedford 10 ENG David Grace 6 WAL Jamie Jones 10 THA Atthasit Mahitthi 9 ENG Lewis Roberts 10 IND Aditya Mehta 8 ENG Kuldesh Johal 8 CHN Jin Long 10 ENG Peter Lines 10 ENG Andy Lee 8 ENG Paul Davison 5 WAL Andrew Pagett 10 IRL Rodney Goggins 10 ENG Tony Knowles 4 ENG Andrew Norman 4 ENG Matthew Couch 10 ENG Barry Pinches 5 ENG Lee Spick 10 ENG Andy Hicks 10 ENG Jimmy White 8 WAL Ian Preece 9 WAL Daniel Wells 10 CHN Liu Song 10 THA Supoj Saenla 9 IRL Joe Delaney 10 ENG Wayne Cooper 8 ENG Mark Joyce 6 NIR Patrick Wallace 10 ENG Rod Lawler 10 ENG Matthew Selt 5 IRL David Morris 10 SCO James McBain 3 ENG David Roe 7 ENG Simon Bedford 10 ENG Robert Milkins 7 WAL Jamie Jones 10 WAL Paul Davies 10 ENG Lewis Roberts 7 ENG David Gray 8 CHN Jin Long 10 ENG Mark Davis 10 ENG Peter Lines 6 ENG Stuart Pettman 10 WAL Andrew Pagett 3 ENG Martin Gould 10 IRL Rodney Goggins 7 ENG John Parrott 3 ENG Matthew Couch 10 ENG Adrian Gunnell 2 ENG Lee Spick 10 ENG Rory McLeod 10 ENG Andy Hicks 8 SCO Marcus Campbell 9 WAL Daniel Wells 10 NIR Gerard Greene 10 CHN Liu Song 6 ENG Judd Trump 10 IRL Joe Delaney 1 ENG Tom Ford 10 NIR Patrick Wallace 8 ENG Ricky Walden 10 ENG Rod Lawler 1 CHN Liang Wenbo 10 IRL David Morris 8 SCO Jamie Burnett 10 ENG Simon Bedford 8 ENG Andrew Higginson 10 WAL Jamie Jones 8 ENG Jimmy Michie 6 WAL Paul Davies 10 ENG Mike Dunn 10 CHN Jin Long 7 ENG Michael Holt 10 ENG Mark Davis 9 SCO Alan McManus 10 ENG Stuart Pettman 8 ENG Dave Gilbert 8 ENG Martin Gould 10 NIR Joe Swail 10 ENG Matthew Couch 1 ENG Steve Davis 10 ENG Lee Spick 8 ENG Ian McCulloch 7 ENG Rory McLeod 10 ENG Barry Hawkins 10 WAL Daniel Wells 9 IRL Ken Doherty 5 NIR Gerard Greene 10 ENG Stephen Lee 10 ENG Judd Trump 8 WAL Mark Williams 10 ENG Tom Ford 5 ENG Anthony Hamilton 5 ENG Ricky Walden 10 ENG Dave Harold 3 CHN Liang Wenbo 10 IRL Fergal O'Brien 6 SCO Jamie Burnett 10 IRL Michael Judge 4 ENG Andrew Higginson 10 ENG Jamie Cope 10 WAL Paul Davies 5 ENG Nigel Bond 10 ENG Mike Dunn 7 WAL Dominic Dale 7 ENG Michael Holt 10 ENG Stuart Bingham 10 SCO Alan McManus 6 WAL Matthew Stevens 4 ENG Martin Gould 10 Century breaks This is complete list of century breaks scored in both the qualifying and the televised stages.http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-snooker-tounaments-world-championship-2009-century-breaks-board.asp Century Breaks Global Snooker 17 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100328081820/http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-snooker-tounaments-world-championship-2009-century-breaks-board.asp 28 March 2010 usurped Televised stage centuries There were 83 century breaks in the televised stage of the World Championship, a new record beating the 68 achieved both in 2002 and 2007; this record was surpassed in 2015.December 2019 147, 140, 117, 114 Stephen Hendry 141, 131, 129, 128, 128, 128, 116, 114, 113, 107, 104 John Higgins 140, 107, 105, 104, 103 Ronnie O'Sullivan 137, 123, 115, 110, 109, 106, 104, 102, 101, 101 Shaun Murphy 134, 120, 106 Ryan Day 133, 127, 122, 115, 101 Stephen Maguire 130, 121, 112, 111 Ding Junhui 129, 124, 122, 111 Marco Fu 129, 119, 119, 115, 108, 108, 106, 103, 103, 103 Mark Allen 129, 105 Barry Hawkins 127, 124, 119, 118, 117, 117, 114, 104, 101, 101 Mark Selby 125, 124, 112, 105, 101 Neil Robertson 118, 103, 102 Jamie Cope 117 Graeme Dott 114 Mark King 113 Peter Ebdon 110 Joe Perry 102 Michael Holt 100 Stuart Bingham 100 Ricky Walden Qualifying stage centuries There were 69 century breaks in the qualifying stage of the World Championship:December 2019 145 Mark Williams 137, 100 Judd Trump 135, 102 Andy Hicks 134, 124, 120, 104 Jimmy White 134, 120, 100 Liang Wenbo 134, 103 Matthew Selt 131 John Parrott 129, 127, 106, 100 Daniel Wells 129 Matthew Couch 128, 103 Ricky Walden 128, 103 Barry Hawkins 127 Michael Holt 127 Rory McLeod 126 David Morris 125, 122, 103 Ian McCulloch 121, 105, 104 Tom Ford 119 Dave Gilbert 117 Mark Davis 117 Jamie Burnett 116 Stefan Mazrocis 116 Ken Doherty 115 Anthony Hamilton 114 Nigel Bond 113, 108, 105, 100 Martin Gould 112, 109 Li Hang 111 Wayne Cooper 110 Stuart Pettman 110 Dominic Dale 109, 101 Lee Spick 109 Aditya Mehta 105, 105 Jin Long 104 Gerard Greene 103 Jamie Cope 102 Scott MacKenzie 102 Jamie Jones 102 Paul Davison 100 Liu Song References 30em External links Photos at the BBC MAszIEdIlSk Stephen Hendry 147 World Championship 2009 Crucible Sheffield April 2013 Category:World Snooker Championships Category:2000s in Sheffield World Championship World Snooker Championship Category:Sports competitions in Sheffield World Snooker Championship World Snooker Championship