England hosted the first World Snooker Championship in 1927.
The inaugural championship was played at Camkin’s Hall in Birmingham, England. Joe Davis won the event, defeating Tom Dennis in the final. Davis made the first championship century break, scoring 60, and the tournament established a world title that would later become the sport’s most prestigious annual competition.
The championship did not begin in the modern Crucible Theatre format. Its early history included changing venues, long matches and periods when the event was not held. Joe Davis dominated the early years, winning every championship from 1927 through 1946, when he retired from the competition.
The first tournament is sometimes confused with later milestones. The event was in England, but the modern championship’s famous Sheffield venue arrived much later. The Crucible Theatre became the championship venue in 1977, while the professional game, television coverage and match formats evolved substantially across the twentieth century.