List of champion snooker players

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This is a list of champion snooker players. Excluding Jimmy White, Marco Fu and Paul Hunter, all of the following (listed alphabetically) have won the World Snooker Championship. For a longer roster of notable professional snooker players, see List of snooker players. For a list of all World Champions by year, see List of World Snooker Champions. There is also a List of snooker player nicknames.

Name and Nickname(s)	Country	Notes
Fred Davis	ENG	Won three World Championships and five World Matchplays during the 1940s and 50s, once his elder brother Joe had retired.
Joe Davis	ENG	Generally considered the grandfather of modern snooker and largely responsible for making the game more popular than billiards in the 1930s and 40s. Dominated the World Championship during its pre-television era, winning twenty consecutive times from 1925 to 1945.
Steve Davis The Nugget "Interesting" Davis	ENG	Became in the 1980s the first player in the televised era to dominate the sport, raising the standard of the game and winning six World Championships. He was also one of the first players to develop a particularly strong safety game. Until his mantle was assumed by Stephen Hendry, Davis held the vast majority of snooker records and still holds the record for most professional titles won (73). (Not related to Fred or Joe Davis.)
Ken Doherty The Darling of Dublin Krafty Ken	IRL	To date the only player to win all three World Championships: Under 21 (1989), Amateur (1989) and Professional (1997). Also, the only man to miss the final black of a televised 147 attempt, in the 2000 Master Final.
Graeme Dott Pocket Dynamo Pocket Rocket	SCO	Reached the World Championship final in 2004 and won it in 2006, his first professional tournament victory.
Peter Ebdon Skeletor Psycho Ebdubai	ENG	World Champion 2002 and runner-up in 1996 and 2006. Known for his concentration and dogged determination although his occasional vocal outbursts of self-encouragement after winning matches or crucial frames have ceased in recent years.
Marco Fu Boy of Wonder/神奇小子	HKG	Voted at the WPBSA Newcomer of the Year and WSA Young Player of the Year in 1999. Won the gold medal in Snooker at the Asian Games in 1998 and 2002. Took his first ranking title at the 2007 Grand Prix.
Terry Griffiths The Golden Boy	WAL	Remains the only player in the televised era to win the World Championship at his first attempt, in 1979 - reached the final again in 1988. Noted for his tactical play.
Stephen Hendry The Ice Man	SCO	Dominated the 1990s, much as Steve Davis dominated the 1980s, during which time he seemed able to win most frames from one visit to the table (often owing to his mastery of playing the cue ball onto the pink ball so as to spread the red balls behind it and set up a high-scoring opportunity). Seven-time World Championship winner and rated by many as the greatest player to date. Briefly returned to the World #1 spot for 2006/2007.
Alex Higgins Hurricane	NIR	Brought the sport to new levels of popularity and won two World Championships, in 1972 and 1982. Another natural talent, but sometimes garnered more attention for his volatile temperament away from the snooker table.
John Higgins The Wizard of Wishaw	SCO	World Champion in 1998 and 2007. Holds the record for making the most centuries in consecutive frames during a match – four – and for amassing the most points without answer from an opponent during a match (494). These feats were achieved against Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final of the 2005 Grand Prix tournament. He was the player who achieved the 1000th century break at the Crucible Theatre, where the World Championship is held.
Paul Hunter The Beckham of the Baize]]	ENG	Masters Champion in 2001, 2002 and 2004, winning each final 10-9 after trailing by huge scores. Winner of three ranking events. Reached the World Championship semi-final in 2003, and led 15-9 against Ken Doherty before losing 17-16. Died of cancer in 2006 at the age of 27.
Shaun Murphy Smurphy	ENG	The surprise winner of the 2005 World Championship and the first qualifier to win since Terry Griffiths. Enjoyed a consistent 2007.
Ronnie O'Sullivan The Rocket Essex Exocet	ENG	Given his nicknames for the blisteringly fast and effortless rate at which he usually plays. Has won three World Championships (most recently in 2008) and compiled the five fastest maximum 147 breaks so far recorded. The top two of these (5'20" in 1997 and 6'30" in 2003 [1]) were both achieved during World Championships, making O'Sullivan the only player to date to compile more than one career maximum at the Crucible. Also noted for a very high level of skill with his left hand.
John Parrott	ENG	A noted amateur in the early 1980s, Parrott reached the World Championship final in 1989 and won it in 1991. He was ranked second only to Stephen Hendry for three seasons in the early 1990s, but in recent years his form has declined and currently he is no longer among the top thirty-two ranked players in the world.
John Pulman	ENG	Dominated the 1960s, winning the World Matchplay in 1957 and seven World Championships between 1964 and 1968 on a challenge basis.
Ray Reardon Dracula	WAL	Won six World Championships, mostly in the 1970s, straddling the pre-televised and televised eras. Earned his nickname as his dark widow's peak gives him a passing resemblance to portrayals of Bram Stoker's character.
John Spencer	ENG	Three-times World Champion during the late 1960s and 1970s.
Dennis Taylor	NIR	Won the famous 1985 World Championship final on the very last ball. Also became well-known for wearing glasses that appeared to have been put on upside-down; their design allowed them to be used when leaning over and looking along the cue.
Cliff Thorburn The Grinder	CAN	To date the only player from outside the British Isles to win the World Championship, in 1980. Earned his nickname from his highly tactical style of play which often led to long matches.
Jimmy White Whirlwind	ENG	The World Championship's eternal bridesmaid, runner-up no fewer than six times. He has, however, won virtually every other major event in the game, including the Masters, the UK Championship, and the Grand Prix. Another naturally talented and, in his heyday, fast player like Ronnie O'Sullivan, White is one of the most exciting and popular players of the game. Known for his sometimes incredible cue power and rest play. Since 2004 his form has declined, and he is in danger of dropping off the game's Main Tour.
Mark Williams The Welsh Potting Machine	WAL	Twice World Champion in 2000 and 2003. When on form, widely regarded as the greatest single ball potter in the game. In the 2002/2003 season Williams achieved the rare snooker 'Grand Slam' holding all four BBC televised titles simultaneously. After a couple of relatively poor years, he won the 2006 China Open.