The 2008 UK Championship (officially the 2008 Maplin UK Championship) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 13 and 21 December 2008 at the Telford International Centre in Telford, England. It was the 32nd edition of the event.

2008 Maplin UK Championship
Tournament information
Dates13–21 December 2008 (2008-12-13 – 2008-12-21)
VenueTelford International Centre
CityTelford
CountryEngland
OrganisationWPBSA
FormatRanking event
Total prize fund£625,000
Winner's share£100,000
Highest break Ding Junhui (CHN) (147)
Final
Champion Shaun Murphy (ENG)
Runner-up Marco Fu (HKG)
Score10–9
2007
2009

World Snooker, the sports governing body, opened an investigation into allegations of match fixing, after Stephen Maguire beat Jamie Burnett 9–3 in the first round. Several bookmakers had stopped taking bets on the match before it even started, when reports of a number of large sums having been placed on the same correct score began to circulate within the industry.[1] Just prior to the 2009 World Championship, where Maguire and Burnett were drawn together the first round, it was announced that Strathclyde Police had opened an official enquiry into the match.[2] The enquiry was closed in 2011 with no criminal charges against either of them, and a World Snooker disciplinary enquiry was announced,[3] which ended without any regulatory action.[4] In September 2013 it was announced, that Stephen Lee was found guilty of agreeing to lose the first frame of his first and second round matches.[5]

Shaun Murphy won the title with a 10–9 victory over Marco Fu.[6][7]

Prize fund

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The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:[8]

Main draw

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[9][10][11]

Last 32
Best of 17 frames
Last 16
Best of 17 frames
Quarter-finals
Best of 17 frames
Semi-finals
Best of 17 frames
Final
Best of 19 frames
               
1   Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) 9
  Rory McLeod (ENG) 6
1   Ronnie O'Sullivan 5
12   Joe Perry 9
12   Joe Perry (ENG) 9
  Mark Davis (ENG)[n 1] 0
12   Joe Perry 7
14   Marco Fu 9
14   Marco Fu (HKG) 9
  Barry Hawkins (ENG) 6
14   Marco Fu 9
  Matthew Stevens 5
8   Ryan Day (WAL) 5
  Matthew Stevens (WAL) 9
14   Marco Fu 9
7   Ali Carter 7
7   Ali Carter (ENG) 9
  Ian McCulloch (ENG)[n 2] 2
7   Ali Carter 9
9   Peter Ebdon 5
9   Peter Ebdon (ENG) 9
  Andrew Higginson (ENG) 8
7   Ali Carter 9
  Mark Williams 8
13   Graeme Dott (SCO) 9
  Ken Doherty (IRL) 4
13   Graeme Dott 7
  Mark Williams 9
4   Mark Selby (ENG) 7
  Mark Williams (WAL) 9
14   Marco Fu 9
3   Shaun Murphy 10
3   Shaun Murphy (ENG) 9
  Martin Gould (ENG) 7
3   Shaun Murphy 9
16   Mark Allen 5
16   Mark Allen (NIR) 9
  Stuart Bingham (ENG) 2
3   Shaun Murphy 9
  Stephen Lee 3
15   Mark King (ENG) 9
  Judd Trump (ENG) 8
15   Mark King 5
  Stephen Lee 9
6   Stephen Hendry (SCO) 7
  Stephen Lee (ENG) 9
3   Shaun Murphy 9
2   Stephen Maguire 4
5   John Higgins (SCO) 9
  Joe Swail (NIR) 7
5   John Higgins 9
11   Ding Junhui 4
11   Ding Junhui (CHN) 9
  Steve Davis (ENG) 6
5   John Higgins 7
2   Stephen Maguire 9
10   Neil Robertson (AUS) 9
  Michael Holt (ENG) 7
10   Neil Robertson 8
2   Stephen Maguire 9
2   Stephen Maguire (SCO) 9
  Jamie Burnett (SCO) 3

Final

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Final: Best of 19 frames. Referee: Jan Verhaas.
Telford International Centre, Telford, England, 21 December 2008.[9][11]
Marco Fu (14)
  Hong Kong
9–10 Shaun Murphy (3)
  England
Afternoon: 34–74, 56–48, 0–99 (99), 103–17 (102), 4–70, 0–73 (73), 143–0 (69, 74), 31–66
Evening: 1–77 (77), 66–51, 75–52 (59), 58–45, 0–109 (54), 6–87 (87), 73–39, 73–40, 93–23, 1–69 (64), 24–69
102 Highest break 99
1 Century breaks 0
4 50+ breaks 6

Qualifying

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The qualifying took place from December 1 to 8 at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, England.[12][13]

Round 1
Best of 17 frames
Round 2
Best of 17 frames
Round 3
Best of 17 frames
Round 4
Best of 17 frames
  Jimmy White (ENG)9  Ian Preece (WAL)8  Rory McLeod (ENG)9  Dave Harold (ENG)6
  David Grace (ENG)8  Jimmy White9  Jimmy White8  Rory McLeod9
  Scott MacKenzie (SCO)9  Mark Davis (ENG)9  Ricky Walden (ENG)7  Nigel Bond (ENG)2
  Vincent Muldoon (IRL)4  Scott MacKenzie2  Mark Davis9  Mark Davis9
  Jamie Jones (WAL)9  David Gray (ENG)4  Alan McManus (SCO)9  Barry Hawkins (ENG)9
  Robert Stephen (SCO)8  Jamie Jones9  Jamie Jones4  Alan McManus4
  Paul Davison (ENG)9  Robert Milkins (ENG)9  Marcus Campbell (SCO)9  Matthew Stevens (WAL)9
  Wayne Cooper (ENG)5  Paul Davison5  Robert Milkins4  Marcus Campbell3
  Daniel Wells (WAL)3  Joe Delaney (IRL)9  Mike Dunn (ENG)6  Ian McCulloch (ENG)9
  Li Hang (CHN)9  Li Hang7  Joe Delaney9  Joe Delaney1
  Matthew Couch (ENG)9  Barry Pinches (ENG)6  Andrew Higginson (ENG)9  Anthony Hamilton (ENG)4
  Stefan Mazrocis (NED)7  Matthew Couch9  Matthew Couch5  Andrew Higginson9
  James McBain (SCO)6  Mark Joyce (ENG)4  David Gilbert (ENG)1  Ken Doherty (IRL)9
  Liu Chuang (CHN)9  Liu Chuang9  Liu Chuang9  Liu Chuang4
  Rodney Goggins (IRL)9  David Roe (ENG)0  Gerard Greene (NIR)9  Mark Williams (WAL)9
  Declan Hughes (NIR)[n 3]1  Rodney Goggins9  Rodney Goggins3  Gerard Greene7
  Supoj Saenla (THA)9  Martin Gould (ENG)9  Tom Ford (ENG)6  Dominic Dale (WAL)6
  Andrew Pagett (WAL)7  Supoj Saenla1  Martin Gould9  Martin Gould9
  Peter Lines (ENG)9  Stuart Pettman (ENG)9  Jimmy Michie (ENG)9  Stuart Bingham (ENG)9
  Michael Georgiou (ENG)3  Peter Lines6  Stuart Pettman7  Jimmy Michie3
  Simon Bedford (ENG)8  Rod Lawler (ENG)6  Judd Trump (ENG)9  Michael Judge (IRL)6
  Jin Long (CHN)9  Jin Long9  Jin Long8  Judd Trump9
  Patrick Wallace (NIR)9  Andy Hicks (ENG)9  John Parrott (ENG)[n 4]1  Stephen Lee (ENG)9
  Stephen Craigie (ENG)5  Patrick Wallace7  Andy Hicks9  Andy Hicks6
  Lee Spick (ENG)9  Andrew Norman (ENG)7  Liang Wenbo (CHN)9  Joe Swail (NIR)9
  Chris McBreen (NZL)6  Lee Spick9  Lee Spick1  Liang Wenbo8
  Matthew Selt (ENG)9  Liu Song (CHN)8  Adrian Gunnell (ENG)9  Steve Davis (ENG)9
  Andy Lee (ENG)3  Matthew Selt9  Matthew Selt4  Adrian Gunnell7
  Kuldesh Johal (ENG)9  Paul Davies (WAL)5  Michael Holt (ENG)9  Fergal O'Brien (IRL)4
  Aditya Mehta (IND)5  Kuldesh Johal9  Kuldesh Johal5  Michael Holt9
  Lewis Roberts (ENG)8  David Morris (IRL)9  Jamie Burnett (SCO)9  Jamie Cope (ENG)7
  Atthasit Mahitthi (THA)9  Atthasit Mahitthi2  David Morris4  Jamie Burnett9

Century breaks

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Televised stage centuries

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[9]

Qualifying stage centuries

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[12]

Notes

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  1. ^ Mark Davis retired at 0–2 due to illness
  2. ^ Ian McCulloch retired at 2–6 due to illness.
  3. ^ Declan Hughes conceded the match due to illness.
  4. ^ John Parrott withdrew due to illness.

References

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  1. ^ "Scots snooker stars Stephen Maguire and Jamie Burnett in betting probe". Daily Record. 16 December 2008. Archived from the original on 24 February 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  2. ^ "Police investigate snooker match". BBC Sport. 17 April 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  3. ^ Everton, Clive (18 May 2011). "No charges against Stephen Maguire and Jamie Burnett over fixing claims". London: guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  4. ^ "WPBSA Statement on Maguire/Burnett Case". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  5. ^ "World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) and Stephen Lee decision" (PDF). Sport Resolutions (UK). 16 September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 April 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  6. ^ "Murphy defeats Fu to clinch title". BBC Sport. 22 December 2008. Archived from the original on 11 March 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  7. ^ "World Snooker News: Murphy Takes Glory In UK Thriller". Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  8. ^ "Prize Money". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  9. ^ a b c "UK Championship 2008 Results". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  10. ^ "Maplin UK Championship results". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  11. ^ a b "Maplin UK Championship 2008". Snooker.org. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  12. ^ a b "Maplin UK Championship 2008 Qualifying". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  13. ^ "Qualifying (Draw)". worldsnooker.org. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Archived from the original on 29 January 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2011.