The 1998 World Snooker Championship (also referred to as the 1998 Embassy World Snooker Championship for the purposes of sponsorship) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 18 April and 4 May 1998 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England.
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 18 April – 4 May 1998 |
| Venue | Crucible Theatre |
| City | Sheffield |
| Country | England |
| Organisation | WPBSA |
| Format | Ranking event |
| Total prize fund | £1,323,000 |
| Winner's share | £220,000 |
| Highest break |  John Higgins (SCO) (143) Jimmy White (ENG) (143) |
| Final | |
| Champion | John Higgins (SCO) |
| Runner-up |  Ken Doherty (IRL) |
| Score | 18–12 |
← 1997 1999 → | |
John Higgins won his first World title by defeating defending champion Ken Doherty 18–12 in the final. Doherty became another World Champion who fell to the Crucible curse and could not defend his first World title. However, Doherty has come closer than any other first-time champion bar Joe Johnson to retaining his championship. The tournament was sponsored by cigarette manufacturer Embassy.
Tournament summary
edit- Stephen Hendry lost in the first round 4–10 to Jimmy White. It was the first time since his debut in 1986 that he lost in the last 32 and it was also the first quarter-final stage not to feature Hendry since 1988.[1]
- Simon Bedford, David Gray, Quinten Hann, Matthew Stevens, Terry Murphy, Alfie Burden, Peter Lines and Jason Prince made their Crucible debuts this year.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Only Stevens could advance to the second round by defeating Alain Robidoux 10–8.[10][11]
- Stephen Hendry's eight-year run as the world number one ended and he was replaced by John Higgins.[12]
Prize fund
editThe breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:[10][11][13]
- Winner: £220,000
- Runner-up: £132,000
- Semi-final: £66,000
- Quarter-final: £33,000
- Last 16: £17,750
- Last 32: £12,000
- Highest break £19,000
- Maximum break £147,000
- Total £1,323,000
Main draw
editShown below are the results for each round. The numbers in parentheses beside some of the players are their seeding ranks (each championship has 16 seeds and 16 qualifiers).[10][11][14][15]
| First round Best of 19 frames | Second round Best of 25 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 25 frames | Semi-finals Best of 33 frames | Final Best of 35 frames | |||||||||||||||||||
| 18 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ken Doherty (1) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 & 25 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Lee Walker | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ken Doherty (1) | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stephen Lee (16) | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stephen Lee (16) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 & 29 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Andy Hicks | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ken Doherty (1) | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 & 23 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Matthew Stevens | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Alain Robidoux (9) | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 26 & 27 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Matthew Stevens | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Matthew Stevens | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 & 21 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark King | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nigel Bond (8) | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 April 1 & 2 May | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark King | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ken Doherty (1) | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark Williams (4) | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peter Ebdon (5) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25, 26 & 27 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Terry Murphy | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peter Ebdon (5) | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 & 19 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fergal O'Brien | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 James Wattana (12) | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 & 29 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fergal O'Brien | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peter Ebdon (5) | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 & 20 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark Williams (4) | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Steve Davis (13) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23, 24 & 25 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Simon Bedford | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Steve Davis (13) | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 & 20 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark Williams (4) | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark Williams (4) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 & 4 May | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Quinten Hann | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ken Doherty (1) | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 & 19 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Higgins (3) | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Higgins (3) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 & 24 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jason Ferguson | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Higgins (3) | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 & 19 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anthony Hamilton (14) | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anthony Hamilton (14) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 & 29 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dave Harold | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Higgins (3) | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 & 19 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Parrott (6) | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Tony Drago (11) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 & 25 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alfie Burden | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tony Drago (11) | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 & 21 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Parrott (6) | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Parrott (6) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 April 1 & 2 May | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peter Lines | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Higgins (3) | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 & 22 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 26 & 27 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joe Swail | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alan McManus (10) | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alan McManus (10) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 & 29 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| David Gray | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 & 22 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jimmy White | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Darren Morgan (15) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 & 26 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jason Prince | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Darren Morgan (15) | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 & 23 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jimmy White | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stephen Hendry (2) | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jimmy White | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Final (Best of 35 frames) Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, 3 & 4 May 1998. Referee: Lawrie Annandale[16] | ||
| Ken Doherty (1) Ireland
|
12–18 | John Higgins (3) Scotland
|
| 73–34, 20–80, 7–86, 1–71, 0–113, 52–73, 0–130, 89–0, 112–0, 66–7, 97–18, 2–66, 4–103, 5–86, 0–138, 82–70, 90–39, 0–89, 61–6, 0–130, 90–0, 99–1, 48–58, 82–44, 14–60, 0–128, 58–71, 78–41, 16–66, 8–119 | Century breaks: 6 (Doherty 1, Higgins 5) Highest break by Doherty: 112 |
73–34, 20–80, 7–86, 1–71, 0–113, 52–73, 0–130, 89–0, 112–0, 66–7, 97–18, 2–66, 4–103, 5–86, 0–138, 82–70, 90–39, 0–89, 61–6, 0–130, 90–0, 99–1, 48–58, 82–44, 14–60, 0–128, 58–71, 78–41, 16–66, 8–119 |
| John Higgins wins the 1998 Embassy World Snooker Championship
| ||
Century breaks
editThere were 59 century breaks in the championship, a new record which would last until 2002.[10][17][18] John Higgins' 14 centuries in the tournament was a new record, beating the 12 made by Stephen Hendry in 1995.[19]
|
|
Qualifying
editThe qualifying matches were held between 2 January and March 1998 at the Newport Centre in Newport, Wales.
Round 1–2
edit
| Round 1 (Best of 19 frames) |
| Leo Fernandez 10–8 Robert Milkins
|
| Philip Williams 10–6 Steve Meakin
|
| Brian Rowswell 10–4 Joe Jogia
|
| Jeff Cundy 10–9 Chris Shade
|
 Bjorn Haneveer 10–5 Ali Carter
|
| Surinder Gill 10–4 Stuart Reardon
|
| Barry Pinches 10–3 Nic Barrow
|
| Nick Terry 10–1 Garry Baldrey
|
| Simon Bedford 10–6 Mark Johnston-Allen
|
| Jason Wallace 10–4 Oliver King
|
| Joe Delaney 10–8 Gary Lees
|
| Munraj Pal 10–4 Christopher McGee
|
| Adrian Rosa 10–7 Stuart Bingham
|
 Marco Fu 10–2 Mike Hallett
|
| Andrew Higginson 10–6 Simon Parker
|
| Ian Sargeant 10–0 Andy Neck
|
Round 2–3
edit| Round 2 (Best of 19 frames) |
Round 3 (Best of 19 frames) |
| Leo Fernandez 10–6 Philip Williams
|
Leigh Griffin 10–7 Leo Fernandez
|
| Brian Rowswell 10–9 Jeff Cundy
|
John Lardner 10–5 Brian Rowswell
|
| Bjorn Haneveer 10–5 Surinder Gill
|
Bjorn Haneveer 10–5 Troy Shaw
|
| Barry Pinches 10–2 Nick Terry
|
Joe Perry 10–7 Barry Pinches
|
| Simon Bedford 10–2 Jason Wallace
|
Simon Bedford 10–9 Mark Gray
|
| Joe Delaney 10–8 Munraj Pal
|
Joe Delaney 10–1 Peter McCullagh
|
| Adrian Rosa 10–8 Marco Fu
|
David Gray 10–5 Adrian Rosa
|
| Andrew Higginson 10–7 Ian Sargeant
|
Andrew Higginson 10–5 Craig MacGillivray
|
Round 1
edit
Round 2–3
editReferences
edit- ^ "Stephen Hendry profile". Betfred. Archived from the original on 16 April 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
- ^ "Simon Bedford at the World Championship". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
- ^ "David Gray at the World Championship". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
- ^ "Quinten Hann at the World Championship". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
- ^ "Matthew Stevens at the World Championship". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
- ^ "Terry Murphy at the World Championship". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
- ^ "Alfie Burden at the World Championship". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 2 September 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
- ^ "Peter Lines at the World Championship". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
- ^ "Jason Prince at the World Championship". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Embassy World Championship 1998". Snooker.org. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ a b c d e "World Championship 1998". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 10 March 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- ^ "Ranking History". snooker.org. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
- ^ Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 130.
- ^ "Embassy World Championship". Snooker Scene. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
- ^ Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. pp. 46–47.
- ^ Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 143.
- ^ "Crucible Centuries". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
- ^ Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 149.
- ^ Eric, Hayton (2004). The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History. London: Rose Villa Publications. ISBN 978-0-9548549-0-4.