Crucible curse

The "Crucible curse" (also known as "The curse of the Crucible") is a quip in professional snooker, referring to the fact that no first-time winner of the World Snooker Championship has retained the title since the tournament moved to Sheffield's Crucible Theatre in 1977.[1][2][3] Beginning with the 1979 champion Terry Griffiths, who lost in the second round of the 1980 event, 19 first-time world champions have failed to defend their titles, although Joe Johnson and Ken Doherty made it to the final the year after their maiden victories. Most recently, the 2023 champion Luca Brecel lost in the first round of the 2024 World Snooker Championship. Kyren Wilson, winner of the 2024 event, is yet to attempt to break the Crucible curse.

Several world champions successfully defended their first title in the pre-Crucible era; the last to do so was John Pulman in 1964.[4]

  1. ^ Dee, John (28 April 2006). "Cruise for Ebdon as Crucible curse strikes champ". The Nation. Archived from the original on 14 July 2007. Retrieved 21 April 2007.
  2. ^ "Crucible Curse Strikes Ebdon". Sporting Life. 30 April 2003. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2007.
  3. ^ Jackson, Jamie (15 April 2011). "Australia's Neil Robertson aiming to break the curse of the Crucible". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 20 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk was invoked but never defined (see the help page).