Who has the most World Snooker Championship wins?

[BBC]

Since the 'modern era' of snooker started in 1969, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry hold the joint record for most men's World Snooker Championship titles with seven.

Scotland's Hendry became the first to reach the mark - in 1999. All of his titles were won in the 1990s, including five in a row from 1992-1996.

O'Sullivan's Crucible titles have come over a longer period, with the Englishman winning his first in 2001 and repeating the feat in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020 and 2022.

Ray Reardon and Steve Davis are the next most successful players at the tournament with six titles each. All of Reardon's titles were won in the 1970s, with Davis' haul coming throughout the 1980s.

John Higgins - one of two four-time champions competing at the Crucible again this year - won his titles between 1998 and 2011. Mark Selby is also on four - all between 2014 and 2021.

John Spencer and Mark Williams are both on three titles each. Williams - another of those in action this year - won the first of his in 2000, while Spencer's trio are dated between 1969 and 1977.

The only other player with multiple titles in the modern era is Alex Higgins, who won in 1972, and again a decade later.

Prior to the start of the modern era, only two players entered the competition and would play much longer matches with significantly more frames than the best-of-35 finals that have been held since 1980.

Joe Davis won the first 15 editions of the tournament between 1927 and 1946. Fred Davis and John Pulman also won eight titles apiece before 1969, with Walter Donaldson claiming two titles and Horace Lindrum one.

Full list of multiple World Snooker Championship winners

Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry share the modern era record with seven World Snooker Championship wins each [Getty Images]