The championship, which fell to Hendry for a fifth time, was overshadowed by a story in the first week which threw a shadow over the integrity of the game.

Betting had been suspended on Jimmy White's first round match against South African Peter Francisco shortly before it began.

There had been a suspicious preponderance of bets on White to win 10-2, which was indeed the final score.

A WPBSA panel analysed the match and later banned Francisco for five years.

No suspicion ever fell on White, who went on to reach the semi-finals, in which Hendry made the Crucible's third 147 in beating him 16-12. Nigel Bond became a surprise finalist by beating Andy Hicks, the first round conqueror of Steve Davis, 16-11 in the semis.

But Hendry was simply too strong for him and clinched his 18-9 victory with a run of 103, his 12th century of the tournament, a record for the World Championship at that time.