1996 World Snooker Championship

Embassy World Snooker Championship
Tournament information
Dates20 April – 6 May 1996 (1996-04-20 – 1996-05-06)
VenueCrucible Theatre
CitySheffield
CountryEngland
OrganisationWPBSA
FormatRanking event
Total prize fund£1,200,000
Winner's share£200,000
Highest break Peter Ebdon (ENG) (144)
 Tony Drago (MLT) (144)
Final
Champion Stephen Hendry (SCO)
Runner-up Peter Ebdon (ENG)
Score18–12
← 1995
1997 →

The 1996 World Snooker Championship (also referred to as the 1996 Embassy World Snooker Championship for the purposes of sponsorship) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 20 April and 6 May 1996 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England.

Stephen Hendry won his sixth World Championship by defeating Peter Ebdon 18–12, equalling the modern-day record of Steve Davis and Ray Reardon. The tournament was sponsored by cigarette manufacturer Embassy.

Tournament summary

  • In the first round, Alain Robidoux accused Ronnie O'Sullivan of showing him disrespect by playing left-handed for most of the eleventh frame of their match, and refused to shake hands with O'Sullivan when the match ended.[1] O'Sullivan's reaction to this was to claim that "I'm better with my left hand than he was with his right."[2]
  • O'Sullivan received a two-year suspended ban and a £20,000 fine, plus another £10,000 to be donated to charity, for an alleged assault on an official.[3]
  • Terry Griffiths won his first round match for the 14th time in a row (the first being in 1983),[4] a record that was beaten in 2018 by Ronnie O'Sullivan.[5][6] In the second round, Griffiths lost 8–13 against Steve Davis, his seventh loss in seven matches against Davis at the Crucible.
  • O'Sullivan's 13–4 victory over Tony Drago in the second round set the record for the fastest best-of-25-frames match in a professional tournament at just 167 minutes and 33 seconds.[7]
  • The final is the only time in Crucible history that the world champion did not take the last shot of the championship. Needing snookers, Peter Ebdon missed a shot and left Stephen Hendry a simple pot, but decided to concede the match rather than let Hendry continue.
  • This was Hendry's fifth consecutive title, a record for the modern era.
  • Legendary BBC commentator Ted Lowe retired after the conclusion of the final.

Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:[8][9]

  • Winner: £200,000
  • Runner-up: £120,000
  • Semi-final: £60,000
  • Quarter-final: £30,500
  • Last 16: £16,000
  • Last 32: £9,000
  • Highest break: £17,000
  • Maximum break: £147,000
  • Total: £1,200,000

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).[8][10][11]

First round
Best of 19 frames		Second round
Best of 25 frames		Quarter-finals
Best of 25 frames		Semi-finals
Best of 31 frames		Final
Best of 35 frames
20 April
Scotland Stephen Hendry (1)10
26 & 27 April
England Jason Ferguson8
Scotland Stephen Hendry (1)13
21 & 22 April
England Gary Wilkinson7
England David Roe (16)9
30 April & 1 May
England Gary Wilkinson10
Scotland Stephen Hendry (1)13
23 April
Wales Darren Morgan (8)5
Republic of Ireland Ken Doherty (9)10
28 & 29 April
England Nick Terry5
Republic of Ireland Ken Doherty (9)5
24 April
Wales Darren Morgan (8)13
Wales Darren Morgan (8)10
2, 3 & 4 May
Scotland Drew Henry8
Scotland Stephen Hendry (1)16
24 & 25 April
England Nigel Bond (12)7
Thailand James Wattana (5)10
27, 28 & 29 April
England Jimmy Michie8
Thailand James Wattana (5)4
22 & 23 April
England Nigel Bond (12)13
England Nigel Bond (12)10
30 April & 1 May
England Anthony Hamilton9
England Nigel Bond (12)13
20 & 21 April
England Dave Harold (13)7
England Dave Harold (13)10
25, 26 & 27 April
England Neal Foulds4
England Dave Harold (13)13
21 & 22 April
England Rod Lawler6
England John Parrott (4)6
5 & 6 May
England Rod Lawler10
Scotland Stephen Hendry (1)18
20 & 21 April
England Peter Ebdon (10)12
England Ronnie O'Sullivan (3)10
25 & 26 April
Canada Alain Robidoux3
England Ronnie O'Sullivan (3)13
20 & 21 April
Malta Tony Drago (14)4
Malta Tony Drago (14)10
30 April & 1 May
England Steve James2
England Ronnie O'Sullivan (3)13
23 & 24 April
Scotland John Higgins (11)12
Scotland John Higgins (11)10
27, 28 & 29 April
England Martin Clark5
Scotland John Higgins (11)13
22 & 23 April
Scotland Alan McManus (6)5
Scotland Alan McManus (6)10
2, 3 & 4 May
England Mick Price5
England Ronnie O'Sullivan (3)14
24 & 25 April
England Peter Ebdon (10)16
England Jimmy White (7)10
28 & 29 April
Scotland Euan Henderson9
England Jimmy White (7)12
20 & 21 April
England Peter Ebdon (10)13
England Peter Ebdon (10)10
30 April & 1 May
New Zealand Dene O'Kane1
England Peter Ebdon (10)13
23 & 24 April
England Steve Davis (2)10
Wales Terry Griffiths (15)10
26 & 27 April
Scotland Jamie Burnett9
Wales Terry Griffiths (15)8
22 April
England Steve Davis (2)13
England Steve Davis (2)10
England Willie Thorne8
Final: (Best of 35 frames) Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, 5 & 6 May 1996
Referee: John Williams[12]
 Stephen Hendry (SCO) (1) 18–12  Peter Ebdon (ENG) (10)
Session 1: 3–4
Frame 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Hendry 2 75† 34 34 65† 18 103† (83) N/A N/A N/A
Ebdon 121† (79) 42 78† (59) 61† 51 57† 4 N/A N/A N/A
Session 2: 7–2 (10–6)
Frame 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Hendry 74† 60† 125† (125) 22 70† (60) 70 (70) 134† (55, 79) 75† 82† N/A
Ebdon 39 58 0 81† (68) 31 77† (51) 0 0 0 N/A
Session 3: 4–4 (14–10)
Frame 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Hendry 85† (55) 1 86† (58) 83† (83) 34 0 60 96† (57) N/A N/A
Ebdon 14 75† (61) 21 23 89† 77† (77) 66† (51) 0 N/A N/A
Session 4: 4–2 (18–12)
Frame 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Hendry 54† 78† 77† 1 39 73† (73) N/A N/A N/A N/A
Ebdon 27 23 25 71† 83† (52) 16 N/A N/A N/A N/A
125 Highest break 79
1 Century breaks 0
11 50+ breaks 8
Stephen Hendry wins the 1996 World Snooker Championship
Breaks over 50 are shown in parentheses.

† = Winner of frame

Century breaks

There were 48 century breaks in the 1996 World Snooker Championship, a new record which would last until 1998.[8] The highest break of the tournament was 144 made by both Peter Ebdon and Tony Drago.[13] Stephen Hendry made 11 century breaks in the tournament,[8] one short of his record of 12 set the previous year.[14]

Qualifying

Ten qualifying rounds were played. Results for rounds 7 to 10 are shown below.[15]

Round 7
Best of 19 frames		Round 8
Best of 19 frames		Round 9
Best of 19 frames		Round 10
Best of 19 frames
 Mark Rowing (ENG)7 Joe Johnson (ENG)7
 Dominic Dale (WAL)10 Dominic Dale (WAL)10 Dominic Dale (WAL)9 Jason Ferguson (ENG)10
 Robert Foxall (ENG)5 Doug Mountjoy (WAL)4 Gerard Greene (NIR)10 Gerard Greene (NIR)8
 Gerard Greene (NIR)10 Gerard Greene (NIR)10
 John Bayliss (ENG)2 Terry Murphy (NIR)10
 Graeme Dott (SCO)10 Graeme Dott (SCO)8 Terry Murphy (NIR)10 Gary Wilkinson (ENG)10
 Troy Shaw (ENG)3 Anthony Davies (WAL)10 Anthony Davies (WAL)6 Terry Murphy (NIR)4
 Martin Dziewialtowski (SCO)10 Martin Dziewialtowski (SCO)7
 Adrian Rosa (ENG)7 Nick Terry (ENG)10
 Steve Judd (ENG)10 Steve Judd (ENG)9 Nick Terry (ENG)10 Dean Reynolds (ENG)7
 Bjorn L'Orange (NOR)5 Stephen Murphy (IRL)10 Stephen Murphy (IRL)1 Nick Terry (ENG)10
 David McLellan (SCO)10 David McLellan (SCO)8
 Steve Archer (ENG)0 Drew Henry (SCO)10
 Noppadon Noppachorn (THA)10 Noppadon Noppachorn (THA)6 Drew Henry (SCO)10 Tony Knowles (ENG)8
 Joe Grech (MLT)9 Mark Johnston-Allen (ENG)4 Nick Dyson (ENG)9 Drew Henry (SCO)10
 Nick Dyson (ENG)10 Nick Dyson (ENG)10
 Barry Pinches (ENG)7 David Finbow (ENG)10
 Karl Payne (NIR)10 Karl Payne (NIR)9 David Finbow (ENG)5 Andy Hicks (ENG)6
 Yasin Merchant (IND)7 Tony Jones (ENG)4 Jimmy Michie (ENG)10 Jimmy Michie (ENG)10
 Jimmy Michie (ENG)10 Jimmy Michie (ENG)10
 Stephen O'Connor (IRL)10 Tony Chappel (WAL)10
 Tony Meo (ENG)8 Stephen O'Connor (IRL)8 Tony Chappel (WAL)8 Anthony Hamilton (ENG)10
 Nick Walker (ENG)10 Billy Snaddon (SCO)9 Nick Walker (ENG)10 Nick Walker (ENG)3
 Paul Hunter (ENG)4 Nick Walker (ENG)10
 Martin O'Neill (NIR)10 Stephen Lee (ENG)10
 Oliver King (ENG)8 Martin O'Neill (NIR)7 Stephen Lee (ENG)8 Neal Foulds (ENG)10
 Peter Lines (ENG)10 Chris Small (SCO)10 Chris Small (SCO)10 Chris Small (SCO)9
 Paul Davison (ENG)4 Peter Lines (ENG)7
 Wayne Brown (ENG)10 Steve Newbury (WAL)9
 David Wilson (ENG)3 Wayne Brown (ENG)10 Wayne Brown (ENG)6 Dennis Taylor (NIR)5
 Colin Morton (ENG)6 Rod Lawler (ENG)10 Rod Lawler (ENG)10 Rod Lawler (ENG)10
 Darren Clarke (ENG)10 Darren Clarke (ENG)8
 Ian Brumby (ENG)10 Mike Hallett (ENG)10
 John Giles (ENG)5 Ian Brumby (ENG)5 Mike Hallett (ENG)10 Alain Robidoux (CAN)10
 Chris Shade (SCO)10 Jonathan Birch (ENG)10 Jonathan Birch (ENG)8 Mike Hallett (ENG)8
 Stuart Pettman (ENG)6 Chris Shade (SCO)9
 Shokat Ali (PAK)9 Mark Flowerdew (ENG)10
 Garry Baldrey (ENG)10 Garry Baldrey (ENG)4 Mark Flowerdew (ENG)5 Steve James (ENG)10
 Karl Burrows (ENG)10 Mark Davis (ENG)10 Mark Davis (ENG)10 Mark Davis (ENG)7
 Robert Milkins (ENG)7 Karl Burrows (ENG)7
 John Read (ENG)10 Mark King (ENG)10
 Jim Chambers (ENG)2 John Read (ENG)9 Mark King (ENG)10 Martin Clark (ENG)10
 Andrew Cairns (ENG)10 Wayne Jones (WAL)10 Wayne Jones (WAL)5 Mark King (ENG)5
 Lee Richardson (ENG)9 Andrew Cairns (ENG)7
 Matt Wilson (ENG)5 Fergal O'Brien (IRL)10
 Jamie Woodman (ENG)10 Jamie Woodman (ENG)7 Fergal O'Brien (IRL)6 Mick Price (ENG)10
 Ian McCulloch (ENG)10 Nigel Gilbert (ENG)8 Ian McCulloch (ENG)10 Ian McCulloch (ENG)6
 Richy McDonald (SCO)5 Ian McCulloch (ENG)10
 Jason Wallace (ENG)9 Les Dodd (ENG)6
 Antony Bolsover (ENG)10 Antony Bolsover (ENG)10 Antony Bolsover (ENG)6 Joe Swail (NIR)9
 Sean Storey (ENG)8 Paul McPhillips (SCO)5 Euan Henderson (ENG)10 Euan Henderson (ENG)10
 Euan Henderson (ENG)10 Euan Henderson (ENG)10
 Paul Davies (WAL)10 Cliff Thorburn (CAN)3
 Marcus Campbell (SCO)8 Paul Davies (WAL)10 Paul Davies (WAL)10 Dene O'Kane (NZL)10
 Chris Scanlon (ENG)10 Jason Prince (NIR)10 Jason Prince (NIR)9 Paul Davies (WAL)7
 Stefan Mazrocis (ENG)8 Chris Scanlon (ENG)4
 Ian Hurdman (ENG)3 Mark Bennett (WAL)9
 Craig MacGillivray (SCO)10 Craig MacGillivray (SCO)10 Craig MacGillivray (SCO)1 Brian Morgan (ENG)7
 Jamie Burnett (SCO)10 Mark Williams (WAL)8 Jamie Burnett (SCO)10 Jamie Burnett (SCO)10
 Geoff Dunn (SCO)1 Jamie Burnett (SCO)10
 Michael Judge (IRL)10 Danny Fowler (ENG)10
 Gary Ponting (ENG)9 Michael Judge (IRL)7 Danny Fowler (ENG)10 Willie Thorne (ENG)10
 David Taylor (ENG)6 Alex Higgins (NIR)7 Surinder Gill (ENG)7 Danny Fowler (ENG)4
 Surinder Gill (ENG)10 Surinder Gill (ENG)10

References

  1. ^ "Anger over left-leaning O'Sullivan". The Independent. London. 22 April 1996. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  2. ^ "Bad breaks mount up for a troubled soul". The Independent. London. 15 December 2006. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2007.
  3. ^ "Bad Boys: Ronnie O'Sullivan". BBC Sport. 7 May 2003. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  4. ^ "Terry Griffiths at the World Championships". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  5. ^ Kastner, Hugo. "SNOOKER – Spieler, Regeln & Rekorde (May 2011 update)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  6. ^ Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 119.
  7. ^ Turner, Chris. "Various Snooker Records". cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d "Embassy World Championship". Snooker.org. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  9. ^ Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 130.
  10. ^ "Embassy World Championship". Snooker Scene. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  11. ^ Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. pp. 42–43.
  12. ^ Downer 2026, p. 189.
  13. ^ Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 148.
  14. ^ Eric, Hayton (2004). The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History. London: Rose Villa Publications. ISBN 978-0-9548549-0-4.
  15. ^ Downer 2026, pp. 252–253.

Books

  • Downer, Chris (2026). Crucible Almanac. 2025 edition. Bournemouth.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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