What is the Crucible curse?

The Crucible curse refers to the fact that no first-time champion has been able to retain the World Snooker Championship title since the tournament moved to Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre in 1977.

A total of 19 winners have failed when attempting to defend their crown, and just two have reached the final.

Joe Johnson (1987) and Ken Doherty (1998) came the closest to breaking the ‘curse’ but fell at the final hurdle.

All-time greats such as Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby and Stephen Hendry have won multiple World Championships but failed to retain the title the year after their maiden victory.

O’Sullivan won his first in 2001 and went on to win again in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020 and 2022.

Selby won back-to-back in 2016 and 2017 after his maiden title in 2014. He also won in 2021.

The Crucible Theatre’s contract to host the event expires in 2027, with discussions around the future venue for the tournament ‘ongoing and constructive’.