 | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 21 April – 7 May 2012 |
| Venue | Crucible Theatre |
| City | Sheffield |
| Country | England |
| Organisation | World Snooker |
| Format | Ranking event |
| Total prize fund | £1,152,500 |
| Winner's share | £250,000 |
| Highest break |  Stephen Hendry (SCO) (147) |
| Final | |
| Champion |  Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) |
| Runner-up | Ali Carter (ENG) |
| Score | 18–11 |
← 2011 2013 → | |
The 2012 World Snooker Championship (officially the 2012 Betfred.com World Snooker Championship) was a professional snooker tournament that took place from 21 April to 7 May 2012 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England. It was the 36th consecutive year that the World Snooker Championship had been held at the Crucible and the last ranking event of the 2011–12 snooker season. The event was broadcast in the United Kingdom by the BBC, and in Europe by Eurosport.
Ronnie O'Sullivan won his fourth world title by defeating Ali Carter 18–11 in the final. Aged 36, O'Sullivan became the oldest world champion since 45-year-old Ray Reardon in 1978. John Higgins, the defending champion, lost 4–13 to Stephen Hendry in the second round. Hendry made the highest break during the tournament, a maximum break of 147. Hendry, seven-time winner of the event, announced his retirement from professional snooker following his defeat by Stephen Maguire in the quarter-finals.