How many Frames are there in the World Snooker Championship final?

In the illustrious realm of snooker, where precision meets nerves of steel, the World Snooker Championship reigns supreme as the pinnacle event. Renowned not only for its unparalleled prize purse but also for its gruelling encounters spanning the green baize, this championship stands as the ultimate test of skill and endurance.

At the heart of this grand spectacle lies the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, a hallowed ground where legends are made, and dreams are shattered. In the most recent chapter of this storied tournament, Kyren Wilson etched his name in history, triumphing over Welsh underdog Jak Jones in a mesmerising final showdown.

Yet, amidst the riveting drama and sublime displays of cue mastery, a fundamental question lingers: How many frames are in the World Snooker Championship final? 

When the World Snooker Championship final kicks off, it's a two-day showdown packed with excitement. Over these days, the players battle it out in up to 35 frames, split into four intense sessions.

But here's the twist: winning doesn't mean playing all 35 frames. To clinch victory, a player just needs to pass the halfway mark, which means winning 18 frames. That's because the final follows a best-of-35 format, where the first to reach 18 frames takes home the trophy.

Given the extensive nature of the event, the potential 35 frames in the World Snooker Championship final are distributed evenly across four sessions spanning two days. For instance, in the 2024 championship, the initial eight frames unfolded in the opening session. Following this, nine frames graced the table during the second session, with another eight frames slated for the third.

Should the match extend to its full breadth, a further 10 frames awaited in the fourth and concluding session. However, the showdown between Kyren Wilson and Jak Jones concluded earlier than anticipated, with only seven frames required in the final session. Ultimately, it was Kyren Wilson who emerged triumphant with an 18-14 victory, etching his name in the annals of snooker history with his maiden world title win.

Image credit: WST

Even in its preliminary stages, the World Snooker Championship remains the ultimate trial of skill and endurance on the baize. In these early rounds, all matches adhere to a minimum best-of-19 format, ensuring a rigorous examination of the players' abilities.

Here's a comprehensive breakdown of match durations across the tournament:

• Qualifying — best of 19 frames (first to 10 frames)
• Round 1 — best of 19 frames (first to 10 frames)
• Round 2 — best of 25 frames (first to 13 frames)
• Quarter-finals — best of 25 frames (first to 13 frames)
• Semi-finals — best of 33 frames (first to 17 frames)
• Final — best of 35 frames (first to 18 frames)

Contrary to popular belief, the World Snooker Championship final hasn't always adhered to its current best-of-35 frames format. In fact, its journey through the annals of history reveals a fascinating evolution marked by varying match lengths and structures.

The inaugural tournament in 1927, dubbed the Professional Snooker Championship, set the stage for this prestigious event. Matches back then unfolded over 15 frames, with the semi-finals spanning 23 frames and the climactic final stretching to a staggering 31 frames. Curiously, matches continued in their entirety, irrespective of a player securing victory, a practice aimed at maintaining audience engagement and compensating star players.

A pivotal moment arrived in 1975 when the championship ventured beyond British shores to Australia, where Ray Reardon clinched a thrilling 31-30 victory over Eddie Charlton on home soil. 

However, it was in 1977 that the iconic Crucible era commenced, anchoring the tournament in Sheffield for the next four and a half decades.

The format underwent further refinements during its Sheffield tenure. The 1978 final spanned a monumental 49 frames, gradually scaling down to 47 frames the following year. It was during this period that the modern blueprint emerged, with the first round featuring 19 frames, the second round and quarterfinals extending to 25 frames, and the semi-finals comprising 33 frames, culminating in a grand finale of 35 frames.

Yet, the championship's resilience was tested amidst the tumult of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020, amidst the height of the crisis, the tournament unfolded during the summer months, with qualifying rounds shrinking to a modest 11 frames.

Although, the winds of change blew once more in the 2022/23 season, as World Snooker announced a return to the longer format, with all qualifiers reverting to the best-of-19 frames structure. This decision underscored the championship's enduring commitment to tradition while adapting to the evolving landscape of professional snooker.

In essence, the World Snooker Championship final has journeyed through an intricate tapestry of formats and lengths, each iteration contributing to its storied legacy as one of the most revered events in the world of cue sports.

Image credit: WST