Who was the first official world champion in snooker?

Joe Davis was the first official world champion in snooker.

Davis won the inaugural World Snooker Championship in 1927, defeating Tom Dennis 20–11 in the final at Camkin’s Hall in Birmingham, England. He also made the tournament’s first century break, scoring 115 during the event.

He dominated the championship for two decades, winning every edition from 1927 through 1946. The tournament was not held from 1941 to 1945 because of the Second World War, so Davis’s reign covered 15 championship titles rather than 20 consecutive annual events.

Joe Davis is often confused with his younger brother Fred Davis, who became world champion after the Second World War. Joe retired from the world championship after his 1946 victory and remained one of snooker’s foundational figures.