World Snooker Championship 40th Anniversary show - the Crucible, Sheffield

To mark the 40th anniversary of the World Snooker Championships being held at the Crucible in Sheffield there was a gathering of players past and present for a BBC 'special' on the eve of the 2017 event.

Shaun Murphy, Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins, John Parrott, Mark Selby, Joe Johnson

 Dennis Taylor enjoying a retake of his 1985 black ball win

 Cliff Thorburn has a couple of practices on the yellow ball that he faced when compiling the first ever televised 147 break at the Championships in 1983.

 He lines up for his 'real' (third) go...

 In it goes...

 ...to the delight of the crowd...

 ...and to Cliff himself.

 Councillor Julie Dore, leader of Sheffield City Council, and Barry Hearn, head of World Snooker, sign the agreement which will keep the World Championships in Sheffield until 2027.

 Ray Reardon embraces pupil Ronnie O'Sullivan

A gathering of past champions and players from this year's tournament