| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | March 1971 – 26 February 1972 |
| Final venue | Selly Park British Legion |
| Final city | Birmingham |
| Country | England |
| Organisation | WPBSA |
| Winner's share | £480 |
| Highest break |  Alex Higgins (NIR) (133) |
| Final | |
| Champion | Alex Higgins (NIR) |
| Runner-up |  John Spencer (ENG) |
| Score | 37–31 |
← 1971 1973 → | |
The 1972 World Snooker Championship was a professional snooker tournament that took place between March 1971 and 26 February 1972, as an edition of the World Snooker Championship. The final was played at Selly Park British Legion from 21 to 26 February. Alex Higgins won his first world title, defeating defending champion John Spencer 37–31 in the final. Higgins also made the highest known break of the tournament, 133. In all, he won six matches to secure the title, including a 31–30 deciding frame victory over Rex Williams in the semi-final after Williams had missed an attempt to pot a blue ball. Higgins became the first qualifier to win the World Championship, and, aged 22, the youngest champion until Stephen Hendry in 1990. Higgins's win led to increased interest in snooker from the media and sponsors.
The tournament ran from March 1971 to February 1972, with matches at various venues. Spectators at the final were seated on wooden boards placed atop beer barrels. On the first evening of the final, the session was conducted with reduced light provided by a mobile generator, as the normal power supply was interrupted due to the miners' strike.