World Snooker Championship successive title. There were 48 century breaks during the final stages, a new record. In the first round of 1997 championship Ronnie O'Sullivan made the fastest maximum break in snooker history, taking just 5 minutes and 20 seconds. The final was between Stephen Hendry and Irishman Ken Doherty. Doherty led 15–7 before Hendry won 5 frames in a row. Doherty then won the next three frames to win 18–12, ending Hendry's winning run of 29 consecutive matches. Stephen Hendry lost to Jimmy White in the first round of the 1998 championship. Doherty reached the final again meeting 22-year-old John Higgins.
1971 World Snooker Championship 1971 World Snooker Championship The 1971 World Snooker Championship was a professional snooker tournament that took place between 28 September and 7 November 1970 in Australia. Matches were held at various locations in New South Wales with one match played in Brisbane. John Spencer won his second World Championship title by defeating Warren Simpson 37–29 in the final. Eddie Charlton made the highest break of the tournament with a break of 129 in the final session of his match against Gary Owen. This was the first time the championship was held outside the United Kingdom. It would be hosted in