<P> A number of changes to the qualifying system came into effect for the 2015 championship . All living world champions would be extended an opportunity to play in the qualifying rounds . The top 16 seeds would still qualify automatically for the first round at the Crucible, but all non-seeded players would have to start in the first of three qualifying rounds . Previously players seeded 17 to 32 only had to win one qualifying match to reach the final stages . The overall championship would increase from 128 to 144 players, with the additional places made available to former world champions and players from emerging countries . </P> <P> Before 1982 there were a number of different formats used for the Championship . In 1980 and 1981, 24 players played in the final stages at the Crucible . The top 8 seeds had a bye in the first round while seeds 9 to 16 played in the first round against 8 qualifiers . From 1977 to 1979, the first three years at the Crucible, only 16 players reached the final stages, 8 seeds playing 8 qualifiers in the first round . </P> <P> The' modern' era is considered to start in 1969, when the championship reverted to a knock - out tournament format from a challenge format . In the modern game, the best record is that of Stephen Hendry, who won seven times in the 1990s . Steve Davis won six times in the 1980s, as did Ray Reardon in the 1970s . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Name </Th> <Th> Nationality </Th> <Th> Winner </Th> <Th> Runner - up </Th> <Th> Semi-final or better </Th> <Th> 147s </Th> <Th> Appearances </Th> <Th> Winrate </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hendry, Stephen Stephen Hendry </Td> <Td> Scotland </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 27 </Td> <Td> 25.9% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Davis, Steve Steve Davis </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 30 </Td> <Td> 20.0% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Reardon, Ray Ray Reardon </Td> <Td> Wales </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> 31.6% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> O'Sullivan, Ronnie Ronnie O'Sullivan </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 25 </Td> <Td> 20.0% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Higgins, John John Higgins </Td> <Td> Scotland </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 23 </Td> <Td> 17.4% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Spencer, John John Spencer </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> 16.7% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Selby, Mark Mark Selby </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> 23.1% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Higgins, Alex Alex Higgins </Td> <Td> Northern Ireland </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> 10.5% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Williams, Mark Mark Williams </Td> <Td> Wales </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> 10.5% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Thorburn, Cliff Cliff Thorburn </Td> <Td> Canada </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> 5.3% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ebdon, Peter Peter Ebdon </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 24 </Td> <Td> 4.2% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Murphy, Shaun Shaun Murphy </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> 6.7% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Doherty, Ken Ken Doherty </Td> <Td> Ireland </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> 5.3% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dott, Graeme Graeme Dott </Td> <Td> Scotland </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> 5.6% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Taylor, Dennis Dennis Taylor </Td> <Td> Northern Ireland </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 4.8% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Griffiths, Terry Terry Griffiths </Td> <Td> Wales </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> 5.3% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Parrott, John John Parrott </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 23 </Td> <Td> 3.3% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Johnson, Joe Joe Johnson </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 12.5% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Robertson, Neil Neil Robertson </Td> <Td> Australia </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> 7.8% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bingham, Stuart Stuart Bingham </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> 9.1% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> White, Jimmy Jimmy White </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 25 </Td> <Td> 0% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Charlton, Eddie Eddie Charlton </Td> <Td> Australia </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 22 </Td> <Td> 0% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Stevens, Matthew Matthew Stevens </Td> <Td> Wales </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> 0% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Carter, Ali Ali Carter </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> 0% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hawkins, Barry Barry Hawkins </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> 0% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ding Junhui Ding Junhui </Td> <Td> China </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> 0% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Trump, Judd Judd Trump </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 0% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bond, Nigel Nigel Bond </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> 0% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mans, Perrie Perrie Mans </Td> <Td> South Africa </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> 0% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Owen, Gary Gary Owen </Td> <Td> Wales </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 0% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Pulman, John John Pulman </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> 0% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Miles, Graham Graham Miles </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> 0% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mountjoy, Doug Doug Mountjoy </Td> <Td> Wales </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> 0% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Simpson, Warren Warren Simpson </Td> <Td> Australia </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0% </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Who has won the most world snooker championships