2002 World Snooker Championship 2002 World Snooker Championship The 2002 World Snooker Championship (also referred to as the 2002 Embassy World Snooker Championship for the purposes of sponsorship) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 20 April and 6 May 2002 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England. Ronnie O'Sullivan was the defending champion, but he lost in the semi-finals 13 frames to 17 against Stephen Hendry and became another first time champion who fell to the Crucible curse and could not defend his first World title. Peter Ebdon won his only world title by defeating seven-time World Champion Hendry 18–17
2003 World Snooker Championship 2003 World Snooker Championship The 2003 World Snooker Championship (also referred to as the 2003 Embassy World Snooker Championship for the purposes of sponsorship) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 19 April and 5 May 2003 at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. Peter Ebdon was the defending champion, but he lost 12–13 to Paul Hunter in the quarter-finals and became another first-time champion who fell to the Crucible curse and could not defend his first World title. Mark Williams won his second World title by defeating Ken Doherty 18–16 in the final. Williams had previously won the