Men's singles in real tennis was the first world championship in any sport: it also predates the use of the term "real tennis," as the sport was called just "tennis" until lawn tennis gained popularity.
Except in cases where the champion has retired, the championship has always been on a challenge basis — the champion retains the title until losing an official challenge or retiring. Originally, the champion had the right to accept or reject a challenge, usually depending upon the prize money put up by the challenger's sponsor: several years could thus go by between challenge matches.
The top four ranked players in the world (excluding the champion himself) playoff for the right to challenge, with the champion and challenger playing a match of up to 13 sets over three days (4 sets, 4 sets and up to 5 sets on the final day). In theory, this is the only match the champion has to play in the two years since winning the last one.
The most recent men's world championship match was held in 2023, with sets being played on the 17th, 19th, and 21st of September in suburban Washington, D.C.
| Year | Venue | Winner | Runner-Up | Scores | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1740 |  Clergé, The Elder
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| 1765 | Raymond Masson
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| 1785 | Joseph Barcellon
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| 1816 | James Street, Haymarket |  Marchisio
|
 Philip Cox
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| 1819 | James Street, Haymarket | Philip Cox
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Amédée Charrier
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| 1829 | James Street, Haymarket | Jacques Edmond Barre
|
Philip Cox
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| 1862 | James Street, Haymarket[1] | Edmund Tompkins
|
Jacques Edmond Barre
|
1-0 (sets) | Barre retired due to injury |
| 1871 | N/A | George Lambert
|
N/A | N/A | claimed |
| 1885 | Hampton Court |  Tom Pettitt
|
George Lambert
|
7-5 (sets) | |
| 1890 | St Stephens Green, Dublin[2] | Tom Pettitt
|
Charles Saunders
|
7-2 (sets) | |
| 1890 | N/A | Charles Saunders
|
N/A | N/A | claimed |
| 1895 | Princes Club, Brighton | Peter Latham
|
Charles Saunders
|
7-2 (sets) | |
| 1898 | Princes Club, Brighton | Peter Latham
|
Tom Pettitt
|
7-0 (sets) | |
| 1904 | Princes Club, Brighton | Peter Latham
|
Cecil 'Punch' Fairs
|
7-4 (sets) | |
| 1905 | Queen's Club & Princes Club, Brighton | Cecil 'Punch' Fairs
|
Peter Latham
|
5-1 (sets) | |
| 1906 | Princes Club, Brighton[3] | Cecil 'Punch' Fairs
|
Ferdinand Garcin
|
7-4 (sets) | |
| 1907 | Princes Club, Brighton | Peter Latham
|
Cecil 'Punch' Fairs
|
7-3 (sets) | |
| 1908 | N/A | Cecil 'Punch' Fairs
|
N/A | N/A | claimed |
| 1909 | Princes Club, Brighton[4] | Cecil 'Punch' Fairs
|
Ted Johnson
|
7-2 (sets) | |
| 1910 | Princes Club, Brighton | Cecil 'Punch' Fairs
|
Fred Covey
|
7-6 (sets) | |
| 1912 | Prince's Club, London | Fred Covey
|
Cecil 'Punch' Fairs
|
7-3 (sets) | |
| 1914 | Philadelphia | Jay Gould II
|
Fred Covey
|
7-1 (sets) | |
| 1916 | N/A | Fred Covey
|
N/A | N/A | claimed |
| 1922 | Prince's Club, London | Fred Covey
|
Walter Kinsella
|
7-3 (sets) | |
| 1923 | Prince's Club, London | Fred Covey
|
Walter Kinsella
|
7-1 (sets) | |
| 1927 | Prince's Club, London | Fred Covey
|
Pierre Etchebaster
|
7-4 (sets) | |
| 1928 | Prince's Club, London | Pierre Etchebaster
|
Fred Covey
|
7-3 (sets) | |
| 1930 | Prince's Club, London | Pierre Etchebaster
|
Walter Kinsella
|
7-1 (sets) | |
| 1937 | Tuxedo Club | Pierre Etchebaster
|
Ogden Phipps
|
3-1 (sets) | Phipps retired due to injury |
| 1948 | New York | Pierre Etchebaster
|
Ogden Phipps
|
7-2 (sets) | |
| 1948 | New York | Pierre Etchebaster
|
Jim Dear
|
7-4 (sets) | |
| 1949 | New York | Pierre Etchebaster
|
Ogden Phipps
|
7-1 (sets) | |
| 1950 | New York | Pierre Etchebaster
|
Alastair Martin
|
7-0 (sets) | |
| 1952 | New York | Pierre Etchebaster
|
Alastair Martin
|
7-2 (sets) | |
| 1955 | New York & Queen's Club | Jim Dear
|
Albert "Jack" Johnson
|
11-10 (sets) | |
| 1957 | Queen's Club | Albert "Jack" Johnson
|
Jim Dear
|
7-3 (sets) | |
| 1959 | New York | Northrup R. Knox
|
Albert "Jack" Johnson
|
7-2 (sets) | |
| 1966 | New York | Northrup R. Knox
|
Ronald Hughes
|
7-0 (sets) | |
| 1968 | New York | Northrup R. Knox
|
Pete Bostwick Jr.
|
7-2 (sets) | |
| 1969 | New York & Manchester | Pete Bostwick Jr.
|
Frank Willis
|
11-8 (sets) | |
| 1970 | New York | Pete Bostwick Jr.
|
Jimmy Bostwick
|
7-1 (sets) | |
| 1972 | New York | Jimmy Bostwick
|
Pete Bostwick Jr.
|
7-2 (sets) | |
| 1974 | New York | Jimmy Bostwick
|
Howard Angus
|
7-5 (sets) | |
| 1976 | New York & Queen's Club | Howard Angus
|
Eugene L Scott
|
11-4 (sets) | |
| 1977 | Hampton Court | Howard Angus
|
Eugene L Scott
|
7-2 (sets) | |
| 1979 | Hampton Court | Howard Angus
|
Chris Ronaldson
|
7-0 (sets) | |
| 1981 | Queen's Club | Chris Ronaldson
|
Howard Angus
|
6-1 (sets) | Angus retired due to injury |
| 1983 | Hampton Court | Chris Ronaldson
|
 Wayne Davies
|
7-4 (sets) | |
| 1985 | Queen's Club | Chris Ronaldson
|
Wayne Davies
|
7-1 (sets) | |
| 1987 | Queen's Club | Wayne Davies
|
Chris Ronaldson
|
7-4 (sets) | |
| 1988 | New York | Wayne Davies
|
Lachlan Deuchar
|
7-1 (sets) | |
| 1991 | New York | Wayne Davies
|
Lachlan Deuchar
|
7-4 (sets) | |
| 1993 | New York | Wayne Davies
|
Lachlan Deuchar
|
7-6 (sets) | |
| 1994 | Hobart & New York | Robert Fahey
|
Wayne Davies
|
9-5 (sets) | |
| 1995 | Hobart | Robert Fahey
|
Wayne Davies
|
6-2 (sets) | Davies retired due to injury |
| 1996 | Melbourne | Robert Fahey
|
Wayne Davies
|
7-1 (sets) | |
| 1998 | Melbourne | Robert Fahey
|
Julian Snow
|
7-4 (sets) | |
| 2000 | Hobart | Robert Fahey
|
Wayne Davies
|
7-0 (sets) | |
| 2002 | Hampton Court | Robert Fahey
|
Tim Chisholm
|
7-6 (sets) | |
| 2004 | Newport, Rhode Island | Robert Fahey[5]
|
Tim Chisholm
|
7-1 (sets) | |
| 2006 | Oratory | Robert Fahey[5]
|
Tim Chisholm
|
7-0 (sets) | |
| 2008 | Fontainebleau | Robert Fahey[5]
|
Camden Riviere
|
7-5 (sets) | |
| 2010 | Melbourne | Robert Fahey[5]
|
Steve Virgona
|
7-2 (sets) | |
| 2012 | Queen's Club | Robert Fahey
|
Steve Virgona
|
7-3 (sets) | |
| 2014 | Melbourne | Robert Fahey[6]
|
Camden Riviere
|
7-3 (sets) | |
| 2016 | Newport, Rhode Island | Camden Riviere[6]
|
Robert Fahey
|
7-2 (sets) | |
| 2018 | Queen's Club | Robert Fahey[7]
|
Camden Riviere
|
7-5 (sets) | |
| 2022 | Prested Hall | Camden Riviere
|
Robert Fahey
|
7-5 (sets) | |
| 2023 | Vienna, Virginia | Camden Riviere
|
John Lumley
|
7-3 (sets) |
The men's doubles title is earned in a tournament with the sport's eight top-ranked pairings. Competed every odd-numbered year, it is hosted in rotation among the countries with active courts in the following order: the United Kingdom, Australia, France, and the United States. The championship match uses a best of nine sets format.
After the first championship was won by Tim Chisholm and Julian Snow,[8] the title was won and then defended five times by singles world champion Rob Fahey and Steve Virgona. They lost their title in the final set of the final match in 2015, in a championship held at Prested Hall (UK).
The title now belongs to Camden Riviere and Tim Chisholm.
| Year | Venue | Winners | Runners-Up | Scores | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Middlesex University | Tim Chisholm/ Julian Snow
|
Steve Virgona/ Ruraidh Gunn
|
5-1 (sets) | |
| 2003 | Hobart | Robert Fahey/ Steve Virgona
|
Tim Chisholm/ John Bainton
|
5-0 (sets) | |
| 2005 | Fontainebleau | Robert Fahey/ Steve Virgona
|
David Woodman/ Neil Roxburgh
|
5-0 (sets) | |
| 2007 | Boston | Robert Fahey/ Steve Virgona
|
Tim Chisholm/ Camden Riviere
|
5-3 (sets) | |
| 2009 | Seacourt | Robert Fahey/ Steve Virgona
|
Bryn Sayers/ Ricardo Smith
|
5-0 (sets) | |
| 2011 | Melbourne | Robert Fahey/ Steve Virgona
|
Ben Taylor-Matthews/ Julian Snow
|
5-0 (sets) | |
| 2013 | Paris | Robert Fahey/ Steve Virgona
|
Tim Chisholm/ Camden Riviere
|
5-4 (sets) | |
| 2015 | Tuxedo | Tim Chisholm/ Camden Riviere
|
Robert Fahey/ Steve Virgona
|
5-0 (sets) | |
| 2017 | Prested Hall | Tim Chisholm/ Camden Riviere
|
Robert Fahey/ Ricardo Smith
|
5-4 (sets) | |
| 2019 | Hobart | Tim Chisholm/ Camden Riviere
|
Robert Fahey/ Nick Howell
|
5-1 (sets) | |
| 2022 | Bordeaux | Tim Chisholm/ Camden Riviere
|
John Lumley/ Steve Virgona
|
6/4 6/3 6/3 6/4 2/6 3/6 6/4 |
Unlike the men's singles title, the women's title is earned in a tournament: the title holder must win her way through the draw for the right to defend the championship.
The championship tournament is held every odd-numbered year. Since 2011, the title has been held by Claire Fahey (née Vigrass).[9]
| Year | Venue | Winner | Runner-Up | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Melbourne | Judith Clarke
|
Lesley Ronaldson
|
2-1 (sets) |
| 1987 | Seacourt | Judith Clarke
|
Katrina Allen
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 1989 | Philadelphia | Penny Fellows
|
Sally Jones
|
2-1 (sets) |
| 1991 | Hobart | Penny Lumley (née Fellows)
|
Sally Jones
|
2-1 (sets) |
| 1993 | Bordeaux | Sally Jones
|
Charlotte Cornwallis
|
2-1 (sets) |
| 1995 | Newport | Penny Lumley (née Fellows)
|
Sue Haswell
|
2-1 (sets) |
| 1997 | Ballarat | Penny Lumley (née Fellows)
|
Sue Haswell
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 1999 | Hampton Court | Penny Lumley (née Fellows)
|
Sue Haswell
|
2-1 (sets) |
| 2001 | Washington | Charlotte Cornwallis
|
Penny Lumley (née Fellows)
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 2003 | Melbourne | Penny Lumley (née Fellows)
|
Charlotte Cornwallis
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 2005 | Paris | Charlotte Cornwallis
|
Jo Iddles
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 2007 | Manchester | Charlotte Cornwallis
|
Penny Lumley (née Fellows)
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 2009 | Newport | Charlotte Cornwallis
|
Karen Hird
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 2011 | Melbourne | Claire Vigrass
|
Karen Hird
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 2013 | Paris | Claire Vigrass
|
Sarah Vigrass
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 2015 | Leamington | Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)
|
Sarah Vigrass
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 2017 | Tuxedo | Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)
|
Sarah Vigrass
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 2019 | Ballarat | Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)
|
Isabel Candy
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 2022 | Fontainebleau | Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)
|
Lea van der Zwalmen
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 2023 | The Oratory | Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)
|
Lea van der Zwalmen
|
2-0 (sets) |
The women's doubles world championship[10] is held at the same time and venue as the women's singles championship. It is also a tournament format, rather than a challenge.
| Year | Venue | Winner | Runner-Up | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Melbourne | Judith Clarke/Ann Link
|
Lesley Ronaldson/ Karen Toates
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 1987 | Seacourt | Lesley Ronaldson/ Katrina Allen
|
Judith Clarke/ Jane Hyland
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 1989 | Philadelphia | Sally Jones/ Alex Garside
|
Katrina Allen/ Penny Fellows
|
2-1 (sets) |
| 1991 | Hobart | Sally Jones/ Alex Garside
|
Penny Lumley/ Helen Mursell
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 1993 | Bordeaux | Charlotte Cornwallis/ Penny Lumley
|
Sally Jones/ Alex Garside
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 1995 | Newport, Rhode Island | Sue Haswell/ Penny Lumley
|
Sally Jones/ Lesley Ronaldson
|
2-1 (sets) |
| 1997 | Ballarat | Sue Haswell/ Penny Lumley
|
Fiona Deuchar/ Kate Leeming
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 1999 | Hampton Court | Sue Haswell/ Penny Lumley
|
Alex Garside/ Sally Jones
|
2-1 (sets) |
| 2001 | Washington | Jo Iddles/ Penny Lumley
|
Alex Garside/ Charlotte Cornwallis
|
2-1 (sets) |
| 2003 | Melbourne | Jo Wood (née Iddles)/ Penny Lumley
|
Alex Garside/ Kate Leeming
|
2-1 (sets) |
| 2005 | Paris | Charlotte Cornwallis/ Sue Haswell
|
Frederika Adam/ Susay Castley
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 2007 | Manchester | Charlotte Cornwallis/ Penny Lumley
|
Sue Haswell/ Kate Leeming
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 2009 | Newport, Rhode Island | Charlotte Cornwallis/ Karen Hird
|
Amy Hayball/ Juliette Lambert
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 2011 | Melbourne | Claire Vigrass/ Sarah Vigrass
|
Karen Hird/ Rosie Snell
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 2013 | Paris | Claire Vigrass/ Sarah Vigrass
|
Penny Lumley/ Tara Lumley
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 2015 | Leamington | Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)/ Sarah Vigrass
|
Penny Lumley/ Tara Lumley
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 2017 | Tuxedo Club | Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)/ Sarah Vigrass
|
Amanda Avedissian/ Saskia Bollerman
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 2019 | Ballarat | Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)/ Tara Lumley
|
Penny Lumley/ Kate Leeming
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 2022 | Fontainebleau | Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)/ Sarah Vigrass
|
Saskia Bollerman/ Isabel Candy
|
2-0 (sets) |
| 2023 | The Oratory | Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)/ Tara Lumley
|
Lea van der Zwalmen/ Saskia Bollerman
|
2-0 (sets) |
