1996 World Snooker Championship - Tournament Summary

Tournament Summary

• In the first round match between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Alain Robidoux, Robidoux accused O'Sullivan of not showing him due respect by playing left-handed for almost a frame, and refused to shake hands with him when the match ended. O'Sullivan reacted to this by claiming that "I'm better with my left hand than he was with his right". O'Sullivan was summoned to a disciplinary hearing in response to Robidoux's formal complaint, where he had to prove that he could play to a high level with his left hand. He played three frames of snooker against former World Championship runner-up Rex Williams, winning all three. The charge of bringing the game into disrepute was subsequently dropped.
• O'Sullivan also received a two-year suspended ban, plus a £20,000 fine and another £10,000 to be given to charity, for an alleged assault on an official.
• Terry Griffiths won his first round match for the 14th time in a row since 1983. This run of successive first round victories is still a record.