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

The opening event of the World Snooker Championships - the Cue Ball

For the past 13 years there has been a black-tie event on the eve of the Snooker World Championships to raise money for the nominated charity of the Championships.  The St Paul's hotel is the venue and this year's charity is Sheffield Children's hospital: http://www.tchc.org.uk/

Rob Walker was the compere for the evening, and Dan Walker (no relation) was there supporting the Children's Hospital.

 Stuart Bingham made a welcome appearance to do a short presentation.

This included a presentation to the Children's Hospital Charity of a photograph of the world's top 16 Snooker players from earlier in the day, with the mount signed by each player.  Another copy of the same was auctioned for £1000 on the night!