1) Dennis Taylor beat Steve Davis, 18-17, 1985
The bespectacled Taylor, 8-0 adrift and, it seemed, hurtling towards an embarrassingly heavy defeat, fought tenaciously to force a decider over the burning of midnight oil.

It came down to the final black, Davis botched an obvious although far from simple chance to pot it and Taylor held his nerve to win 18-17. With it he created what remains one of British sport’s biggest feelgood stories.

2) Peter Ebdon beat Stephen Hendry, 18-17, 2002
Stephen Hendry compiled a record sixteen century breaks during the 2002 championship, played superbly to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan in the semi-finals but was denied an eighth Crucible title by Peter Ebdon.

Leading 10-6 after the first day of the final, Ebdon then trailed 14-13 but a monumental effort of concentration and sheer will secured him an 18-17 victory as Hendry uncharacteristically squandered the initial scoring opportunity in the decider.

3) Stephen Hendry beat Jimmy White, 18-17, 1994
In among the balls in the 35th and final frame, the end of White’s long, emotionally crushing wait to be crowned world champion was seemingly imminent.

Instead, White committed an error he will never forget, missing a black off its spot, and Hendry ruthless cleared up to win 18-17 and have his name engraved on the trophy for a fourth time in five years.

4) Ray Reardon beat Eddie Charlton, 31-30, 1975
In the final of the only World Championship ever staged outside England, at the Nunawading Basketball Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, it looked as though Eddie Charlton would author a home success story.

Steady Eddie was on the verge of beating Ray Reardon but the title-holder rallied from six frames down with nine to play to snatch the verdict 31-30.

5) Joe Davis beat Fred Davis, 37-35, 1940
Joe Davis was undefeated as world champion between 1927 and 1946 but was run close by his younger brother, Fred, in 1940, the last championship played before the Second World War intervened.

The all-conquering senior Davis was pushed like never before at Thurston’s in London but, with a century break – a far less common feat in those days – he won the 72nd frame to prevail 37-35.

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