: Mark Williams entered as the defending champion but was eliminated in the second round, losing 11–13 to Joe Perry. Notable Records and Debuts
: In the semi-finals, O'Sullivan delivered a crushing 17–4 defeat to Stephen Hendry . This set a new record for the largest margin of victory in a World Championship semi-final, surpassing Hendry's own 1992 record. World Championship Snooker 2004
The Rocket Ascends: Ronnie O’Sullivan’s 2004 World Championship Triumph : Mark Williams entered as the defending champion
: Despite eventually winning 18–8, O'Sullivan initially trailed 0–5 to Graeme Dott in the first session before staging a massive recovery. The tournament concluded with a dominant performance by
: The tournament featured a total of 55 century breaks at the main stage. The highest break was a 145 compiled by Joe Perry .
The tournament concluded with a dominant performance by Ronnie O’Sullivan, who defeated Scotland's Graeme Dott in the final. Prize Money Ronnie O’Sullivan (ENG) 18 £250,000 Runner-up Graeme Dott (SCO) Semi-finalists Stephen Hendry , Matthew Stevens Quarter-finalists Joe Perry , David Gray, Anthony Hamilton, Ian McCulloch Key Tournament Highlights