Peter Ebdon won the 2002 World Snooker Championship by beating Stephen Hendry 18–17 in the final.
The deciding-frame victory gave Ebdon his first world title. Hendry was seeking an eighth championship, which would have put him alone at the top of the modern Crucible era, but Ebdon held on in a tense finish.
Ebdon had already reached the world final in 1996, losing to Hendry. The 2002 result therefore reversed the outcome of an earlier championship meeting between the two players.
The final is also remembered for its contrasting styles. Ebdon was known for careful, methodical match play, while Hendry was celebrated for fast scoring and attacking break-building. Their one-frame margin underlined how closely contested the match was.