2001 World Snooker Championship

Embassy World Snooker Championship
Tournament information
Dates21 April – 7 May 2001 (2001-04-21 – 2001-05-07)
VenueCrucible Theatre
CitySheffield
CountryEngland
OrganisationWPBSA
FormatRanking event
Total prize fund£1,532,000
Winner's share£250,000
Highest break Joe Swail (NIR) (140)
Final
Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG)
Runner-up John Higgins (SCO)
Score18–14
2000
2002

The 2001 World Snooker Championship (also referred to as the 2001 Embassy World Snooker Championship for the purposes of sponsorship) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 21 April and 7 May 2001 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England. The tournament was sponsored by cigarette manufacturer Embassy.

Defending champion Mark Williams lost in the second round 12–13 against Joe Swail, and became the latest first-time champion to fall to the Crucible curse, being unable to defend his first World title.

Ronnie O'Sullivan won his first World title by defeating John Higgins 18–14 in the final.

Tournament summary

[edit]
  • Both Steve Davis and Jimmy White failed to qualify for the championship for the first time since their World Championship debuts, in 1979 and 1981 respectively.[1][2] They were both eliminated in the final qualifying round; Davis lost 6–10 against Andy Hicks and White lost 7–10 against Michael Judge.[3]
  • Patrick Wallace reached the quarter-finals of the championship on his debut, however he never qualified for the main draw again.[4]

Prize fund

[edit]

The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:[5]

  • Winner: £250,000
  • Runner-up: £147,000
  • Semi-final: £73,000
  • Quarter-final: £36,500
  • Last 16: £20,000
  • Last 32: £14,000
  • Last 48: £10,500
  • Last 64: £6,600
  • Last 96: £4,000
  • Last 128: £1,100
  • Highest break: £20,000
  • Maximum break: £147,000
  • Total: £1,532,000

Main draw

[edit]

Shown 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).[6][7][8]

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
21 April[9]
Wales Mark Williams (1) 10
26, 27 & 28 April[10]
Scotland Billy Snaddon4
Wales Mark Williams (1)12
25 April[9]
Northern Ireland Joe Swail (16)13
Northern Ireland Joe Swail (16)10
1 & 2 May[11]
England Sean Storey9
Northern Ireland Joe Swail (16)13
24 April[9]
Northern Ireland Patrick Wallace11
Republic of Ireland Fergal O'Brien (9)8
29 & 30 April[10]
England Mark King10
England Mark King5
23 & 24 April[9]
Northern Ireland Patrick Wallace13
Scotland Alan McManus (8)2
3, 4 & 5 May[12]
Northern Ireland Patrick Wallace10
Northern Ireland Joe Swail (16)11
25 & 26 April[9]
England Ronnie O'Sullivan (4)17
England Stephen Lee (5) 10
28, 29 & 30 April[10]
England Nigel Bond3
England Stephen Lee (5)12
22 & 23 April[9]
England Peter Ebdon (12)13
England Peter Ebdon (12) 10
1 & 2 May[11]
Thailand James Wattana8
England Peter Ebdon (12)6
21 & 22 April[9]
England Ronnie O'Sullivan (4)13
England Dave Harold (13)10
27 & 28 April[10]
Australia Quinten Hann5
England Dave Harold (13)6
22 & 23 April[9]
England Ronnie O'Sullivan (4)13
England Ronnie O'Sullivan (4)10
6 & 7 May
England Andy Hicks2
England Ronnie O'Sullivan (4)18
25 & 26 April[9]
Scotland John Higgins (2)14
Scotland Stephen Hendry (3) 10
29 & 30 April[10]
England Mark Davis5
Scotland Stephen Hendry (3) 13
21 & 22 April[9]
England Paul Hunter (14)5
England Paul Hunter (14)10
1 & 2 May[11]
England David Roe6
Scotland Stephen Hendry (3)5
21 & 22 April
Wales Matthew Stevens (6)13
England Anthony Hamilton (11)10
26 & 27 April[10]
Scotland Marcus Campbell4
England Anthony Hamilton (11)5
21 & 22 April[9]
Wales Matthew Stevens (6)13
Wales Matthew Stevens (6)10
3, 4 & 5 May[13]
Malta Tony Drago1
Wales Matthew Stevens (6)15
23 April[9]
Scotland John Higgins (2)17
Republic of Ireland Ken Doherty (7)10
27 & 28 April[10]
England Nick Dyson7
Republic of Ireland Ken Doherty (7)13
23 & 24 April[9]
Republic of Ireland Michael Judge7
England John Parrott (10)6
1 & 2 May[11]
Republic of Ireland Michael Judge10
Republic of Ireland Ken Doherty (7)6
24 & 25 April[9]
Scotland John Higgins (2)13
Hong Kong Marco Fu (15)8
28, 29 & 30 April[10]
Scotland Chris Small 10
Scotland Chris Small8
24 & 25 April[9]
Scotland John Higgins (2)13
Scotland John Higgins (2)10
Scotland Graeme Dott4
Final (Best of 35 frames) Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. 6 & 7 May 2001.[14] Referee: Eirian Williams.[15]
Ronnie O'Sullivan (4)
 England
18–14 John Higgins (2)
 Scotland
92–41, 0–92, 81–0, 79–0, 56–47, 0–135, 90–28, 71–0, 49–72, 49–36, 2–53, 50–68, 99–0, 100–12, 22–108, 99–0, 81–26, 12–78, 139–0, 85–0, 133–0, 33–65, 21–67, 0–98, 19–68, 68–0, 78–43, 8–67, 5–101, 68–60, 69–71, 80–45 Century breaks: 4
(O'Sullivan 2, Higgins 2)

Highest break by O'Sullivan: 139
Highest break by Higgins: 135

92–41, 0–92, 81–0, 79–0, 56–47, 0–135, 90–28, 71–0, 49–72, 49–36, 2–53, 50–68, 99–0, 100–12, 22–108, 99–0, 81–26, 12–78, 139–0, 85–0, 133–0, 33–65, 21–67, 0–98, 19–68, 68–0, 78–43, 8–67, 5–101, 68–60, 69–71, 80–45
England Ronnie O'Sullivan wins the 2001 Embassy World Snooker Championship

Qualifying

[edit]

The qualifying matches were held between 20 February and 4 March 2001 at the Newport Centre in Newport, Wales.

Round 1

[edit]
Best of 19 frames
China Hasimu Tuerxun 10–3 Germany Lasse Münstermann
England Tom Ford 10–2 Thailand Charoen Phorat
England Ricky Walden 10–5 Republic of Ireland David McDonnell
England Shailesh Jogia 10–9 England Shaun Murphy
Canada Bob Chaperon 10–6 England Ian Hurdman
England Darryn Walker 10–3 England Eddie Barker
England Lee Spick 10–7 England Michael Rhodes
Australia Neil Robertson 10–7 England Paul Davison

Round 2–4

[edit]
Round 2
(Best of 19 frames)
Round 3
(Best of 19 frames)
Round 4
(Best of 19 frames)
Scotland Hugh Abernethy 10–4 China Hasimu Tuerxun Scotland Hugh Abernethy 10–8 Northern Ireland Jason Prince England Rod Lawler 10–4 Scotland Hugh Abernethy
England Nick Dyson 10–7 England Ian Brumby England Nick Dyson 10–8 England Mark Gray England Nick Dyson 10–7 England Steve James
England Tony Knowles 10–4 Republic of Ireland Colm Gilcreest England Tony Knowles 10–9 New Zealand Dene O'Kane England Jimmy Michie 10–2 England Tony Knowles
England Jason Weston 10–8 England Lee Richardson England Nick Pearce 10–6 England Jason Weston Canada Alain Robidoux 10–6 England Nick Pearce
England Tom Ford 10–4 Scotland Scott MacKenzie England Barry Pinches 10–5 England Tom Ford England Barry Pinches 10–5 England David Finbow
England Craig Harrison w/o–w/d England Martin Clark England Neal Foulds 10–9 England Craig Harrison] Scotland Jamie Burnett 10–5 England Neal Foulds
Sweden Farhan Mirza 10–8 England Craig Roper Pakistan Shokat Ali 10–3 Sweden Farhan Mirza Pakistan Shokat Ali 10–7 England Stuart Bingham
England Jeff Cundy 10–6 England Ricky Walden England Mark Davis 10–3 England Jeff Cundy England Mark Davis 10–4 England Peter Lines
Scotland Stephen Maguire 10–3 England Troy Shaw Scotland Stephen Maguire 10–3 Scotland John Lardner Scotland Stephen Maguire 10–2 England Stuart Pettman
England Sean Storey 10–6 England Wayne Saidler England Sean Storey 10–2 Republic of Ireland Stephen O'Connor England Sean Storey 10–8 England Gary Ponting
England Barry Hawkins w/o–w/d Wales Mark Bennett England Barry Hawkins 10–8 England Robert Milkins England Bradley Jones 10–8 England Barry Hawkins
Thailand Noppadon Noppachorn 10–8 England Anthony Bolsover Thailand Noppadon Noppachorn 10–5 England Mike Dunn Thailand Noppadon Noppachorn 10–9 England Paul Wykes
England Munraj Pal 10–2 Scotland Alan Burnett England Munraj Pal 10–3 England Mick Price Wales Anthony Davies 10–6 England Munraj Pal
Scotland Paul McPhillips 10–7 England Shailesh Jogia Scotland Paul McPhillips 10–6 England Tony Jones Republic of Ireland Michael Judge 10–1 Scotland Paul McPhillips
Belgium Bjorn Haneveer 10–4 Richard King Belgium Bjorn Haneveer 10–2 Darren Clarke Belgium Bjorn Haneveer 10–4 England Jason Ferguson
England Craig Butler 10–9 Wales Ryan Day England Craig Butler 10–7 England Karl Broughton England Craig Butler 10–6 Wales Lee Walker
Belgium Patrick Delsemme w/o–w/d Wales Gareth Chilcott Belgium Patrick Delsemme 10–8 England Leigh Griffin Belgium Patrick Delsemme 10–3 Northern Ireland Gerard Greene
Netherlands Stefan Mazrocis 10–4 Cyprus Mehmet Husnu England Steve Judd 10–8 Netherlands Stefan Mazrocis England Alfie Burden 10–2 England Steve Judd
England Jason Barton 10–7 Chris Shade England Jason Barton 10–8 England Tony Chappel England Gary Wilkinson 10–5 England Jason Barton
England Andrew Higginson 10–7 Canada Bob Chaperon England Andrew Higginson 10–8 England Adrian Gunnell England Michael Holt 10–5 England Andrew Higginson
Wales Philip Williams 10–5 Netherlands Mario Wehrmann Wales Philip Williams 10–8 England Paul Sweeny England Andy Hicks 10–8 Wales Philip Williams
England Eddie Manning 10–9 England Mike Hallett England Wayne Brown 10–8 England Eddie Manning Scotland Euan Henderson 10–3 England Wayne Brown
England Darryn Walker 10–4 Wales Wayne Jones England Darryn Walker 10–9 Thailand Phaitoon Phonbun England Jonathan Birch 10–8 England Darryn Walker
England Stuart Mann 10–5 England Peter McCullagh England Stuart Mann 10–9 Scotland Martin Dziewialtowski England Stuart Mann 10–2 England Matthew Couch
Wales James Reynolds 10–9 Republic of Ireland Joe Delaney England Dean Reynolds 10–7 Wales James Reynolds England David Roe 10–8 England Dean Reynolds
England Karl Burrows w/o–w/d England Nick Terry England Karl Burrows 10–3 Scotland Craig MacGillivray England Karl Burrows 10–7 England John Read
Finland Robin Hull 10–7 England Barry Mapstone England Ali Carter 10–4 Finland Robin Hull Scotland Marcus Campbell 10–8 England Ali Carter
England Lee Spick 10–3 England Matt Wilson Iceland Kristján Helgason 10–7 England Lee Spick England David Gray 10–4 Iceland Kristján Helgason
Australia Neil Robertson 10–9 Scotland David McLellan Australia Neil Robertson 10–9 Wales Mark Fenton England Ian McCulloch 10–8 Australia Neil Robertson
Thailand Somporn Kathawung 10–4 England Graham Lee Thailand Somporn Kathawung 10–6 England Willie Thorne England Joe Johnson 10–2 Thailand Somporn Kathawung
England Simon Bedford 10–5 China Da Hailin England Simon Bedford 10–8 Republic of Ireland Leo Fernandez England Simon Bedford 10–3 Wales Paul Davies
England Mark Selby 10–4 England Stuart Reardon England Nick Walker 10–9 England Mark Selby Northern Ireland Patrick Wallace 10–2 England Nick Walker

Round 5–6

[edit]

[6]

Round 5
(Best of 19 frames)
Round 6
(Best of 19 frames)
England Nick Dyson 10–8 England Rod Lawler England Nick Dyson 10–9 England Brian Morgan
England Jimmy Michie 10–7 Canada Alain Robidoux England Nigel Bond 10–6 England Jimmy Michie
England Barry Pinches 10–5 Scotland Jamie Burnett Scotland Chris Small 10–8 England Barry Pinches
England Mark Davis 10–5 Pakistan Shokat Ali England Mark Davis 10–9 Wales Dominic Dale
England Sean Storey 10–5 Scotland Stephen Maguire England Sean Storey 10–9 Northern Ireland Terry Murphy
England Bradley Jones 10–2 Thailand Noppadon Noppachorn England Mark King 10–6 England Bradley Jones
Republic of Ireland Michael Judge 10–9 Wales Anthony Davies Republic of Ireland Michael Judge 10–7 England Jimmy White
Belgium Bjorn Haneveer 10–7 England Craig Butler Scotland Graeme Dott 10–8 Belgium Bjorn Haneveer
Belgium Patrick Delsemme 10–7 England Alfie Burden Australia Quinten Hann 10–3 Belgium Patrick Delsemme
England Michael Holt 10–5 England Gary Wilkinson Scotland Billy Snaddon 10–6 England Michael Holt
England Andy Hicks 10–9 Scotland Euan Henderson England Andy Hicks 10–6 England Steve Davis
England Jonathan Birch 10–6 England Stuart Mann Thailand James Wattana 10–5 England Jonathan Birch
England David Roe 10–8 England Karl Burrows England David Roe 10–8 Wales Darren Morgan
Scotland Marcus Campbell 10–9 England David Gray Scotland Marcus Campbell 10–5 Scotland Drew Henry
England Ian McCulloch 10–4 England Joe Johnson Malta Tony Drago 10–9 England Ian McCulloch
Northern Ireland Patrick Wallace 10–9 England Simon Bedford Northern Ireland Patrick Wallace 10–4 England Joe Perry

Century breaks

[edit]

There were 53 century breaks in the Championship.[16] The highest break of the tournament was 140 made by Joe Swail.[6][17]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Steve Davis at the World Championships". Snooker Database. Retrieved 11 May 2012.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Jimmy White at the World Championships". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 13 December 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  3. ^ King, Steve. "End of an era as Davis misses out on Crucible". The Scotsman on HighBeam Research. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2012. (subscription required)
  4. ^ "Patrick Wallace at the World Championships". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 5 May 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  5. ^ Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 130.
  6. ^ a b c "World Championship 2001". global-snooker.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  7. ^ "Embassy World Championship 2001". Snooker.org. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  8. ^ Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. pp. 52–53.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Crucible: First round". BBC Sport. 27 April 2001. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h "Crucible: Second Round". BBC Sport. 28 April 2001. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  11. ^ a b c d "Crucible: Quarter-Finals". BBC Sport. 3 May 2001. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  12. ^ "Framewatch: O'Sullivan v Swail". BBC Sport. 5 May 2001. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  13. ^ "Framewatch: Higgins v Stevens". BBC Sport. 5 May 2001. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  14. ^ "Framewatch: O'Sullivan v Higgins". BBC Sport. 7 May 2001. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  15. ^ Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 143.
  16. ^ Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 150.
  17. ^ "Crucible Centuries". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.