The Betfred 2017 World Snooker Championships final - before and after

It was Day 17 of the 2017 Betfred World Snooker Championships and the fourth and final session of the final between defending champion Mark Selby and four-time winner John Higgins.

The stage is set, the audience are taking their seats.  MC Rob Walker is warming up teh crows and has one final request for all mobiles to be put on silent.

 The press are gathered to capture the formalities beforehand.

Barry Hearn, Chairman of World Snooker, makes a presentation of thanks to Star snooker tables for the 10 years that they have been involved with World Snooker.

 Jason Ferguson, head of the WPBSA.

After the play has finished and the presentations have been made, before all the masses and masses of de-construction to make the Crucible a theatre again.....the confetti still adorns the table.

 Referee Jan Verhaas at the Champion's Dinner afterwards at the Mercure hotel.

 Nico McBrain, drummer with Iron Maiden, with Mark Selby and then in action

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

2016 World Snooker Championships - the last evening

A few pictures from the evening of the last day of the 2016 World Snooker Championships.

 Mark Holmshaw, Barry Hearn and Richard Caborn

Kell Brook and Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor Talib Hussain

 Jason Ferguson, WPBSA Chairman, and Julie Dore, leader of Sheffield City Council

 Referee Paul Collier

 Ding Junhui makes his entrance

 Closely followed by Mark Selby

 A few frames later, and Leicester have two reasons to celebrate

World Snooker Championships to remain in Sheffield for an extra 10 years!

On a day when the BBC announced that it will continue to broadcast three of snooker's biggest tournaments until the end of the 2018-19 season, Barry Hearn and Sheffield City Council confirmed that the World Championship will continue to be staged in Sheffield until at least 2027.

The new BBC deal - a two-year extension to the previous agreement - covers the 'Triple Crown' of World Championship, UK Championship and the Masters.

The Crucible will continue to be the 'home' of snokker for another five years at least.

Barry Hearn and Julie Dore, leader of Sheffield City Council, making the annoucement in the Winter Gardens.

Ronnie O'Sullivan criticised for turning down 'too cheap' prize money for 147 break at Welsh Open

Ronnie O'Sullivan has been criticised by World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn after turning down the chance of a maximum 147 break at the Welsh Open because the £10,000 prize money was "too cheap".  Hearn described O'Sullivan's actions as "unacceptable" and "disrespectful" - "This is not a crime, but a shame.  Players have a duty to the fans to deliver the best standard and entertainment they can. Anything less than playing to their best ability is unacceptable and disrespectful to the paying public."

Ronnie O'Sullivan, World Snooker Championships 2014, Crucible, Sheffield

On-form Ronnie potted 14 reds and 13 blacks before then going for an easier pink as he made a 146 to beat Barry Pinches 4-1 in the first round, saying: "If it had been more, I'd have gone for the 147."

In a wonderful addendum today, Barry Hearn said:  "Some have said he has brought the game into disrepute but Ronnie brings the game into fine repute.....No-one is bigger than the game but Ronnie is close because he is a fabulous player and a fun personality."

It's over...the Betfred 2015 World Snooker Championship has it's gripping finish!

On a late night at the Crucible theatre in Sheffield, Stuart Bingham finally overcame Shaun Murphy 18-15  to win his first World Championship.

Beginning the session with a  14-11 lead, Murphy started a comeback that, at 15-15, had him the bookies favourite.  The 31st frame was an epic 63 minute 31 seconds long but Bingham eventually took it to close in on victory.

He made a steady break of 65 to go 17-15 in front and clinched the title with a brilliant 88.   In doing so, he became the oldest champion since 45 year old Ray Reardon in 1978.

Collecting £300,000 as the winner, he should rise from tenth to second in the world rankings.

 Stuart Bingham salutes the crowd who had cheered him on both days of the final.

 It had been a good final, enjoyed by both players who were genuine in their respect of each other.

 Barry Hearn, who has done so much in the last five years to turn around world snooker, and Kell Brook (IBF welterweight world champion).

 Fred Done of Betfred who were so welcome back to the Crucible this year.