WWW Snooker: Irish Open 1998 (original) (raw)

Tournaments:	1998/99:	Ranking:	Grand Prix \|UK	Irish	Welsh	Scottish	Thailand	China	British	World

Tallaght National Basketball arena, Tallaght (near Dublin), Ireland
Dec 15-20, 1998
WPBSA ranking tournament (#3 of 9)
�305,000 purse

Report

Williams wins first Irish title (20 Dec)

The Welsh "potting machine",Mark J Williams, clinched the inaugural Irish Open by beating Scotsman Alan McManus9-4 in the final. This was Williams' fourth ranking win and fifth major title.

Mark receives �50,000 for the victory plus an additional �3,000 for the highest break, a 139 total clearance from an earlier match. McManus pockets �26,000 after reaching his first ranking final since winning the 1996 Thailand Open.

Williams climbs one postition to No 7 in theprovisional rankings. McManus moves from 13th to eighth.

With eight wins in 10 matches the Welshman is third on the tour inwin percentages.Stephen Lee is the leader.

Antics at Irish Open (16 Dec)

UnHannsome Play

Australia's Quinten Hanncontinued his recent bizarre behaviour by conceding a frame in yesterday's First Round Irish Open match against Stephen Lee.

The irascible but talented player from Wagga Wagga scattered the reds with his cue in frame 3, thereby conceding it by default. Inevitably he lost 5-0 and questions must now be asked about his having the necessary temperament and character to continue as a professional player.

Angry Ebdon

Peter Ebdon was none too impressed with the local audience's obvious support for Jimmy White during their First Round match in the Irish Open.

In a match that never hit the heights he defeated the Whirlwind 5-4 and, according to eyewitness accounts, stood at the table after the match to jeer defiantly at spectators.

While obviously pumped up, it remains to be seen if this latest petulant outburst will land him in hot water with the governing bodies.

Patrick McWilliams ([email protected])

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Results

(Players are English unless stated)

Final

Mark J Williams (Wales) 9-4 Alan McManus (Scotland)

62-25 64-8 64-20 (64) 44-36 78-4 (64) 135-0 (101) 47-60 49-53 7-91 (71) 68-1 (53) 75-16 (62) 0-82 (82) 107-0 (65)

Semi-finals

Mark J Williams (Wales) 6-1 John Parrott

69-1 49-76 103-0 (103) 66-34 68-42 53-40 61-35 (41)

Alan McManus (Scotland) 6-3 Tony Drago (Malta)

62-29 74-30 (66) 0-91 (90) 91-0 (91) 120-0 (120) 15-122 (54,64) 46-54 111-12 (94) 71-40

Quarter-finals

John Parrott 5-2 Stephen Lee

74-29 82-65 79-1 (58) 36-69 28-65 (52) 67-62 (60-62) 75-0 (30)

Mark J Williams (Wales) 5-1 Ken Doherty (Ireland)

59-73 67-17 97-0 (40) 133-1 (133) 77-30 66-24 (55)

Alan McManus (Scotland) 5-3 Billy Snaddon (Scotland)

26-62 0-98 (98) 59-2 62-26 65-19 (49) 20-73 (45) 64-41 (46) 72-15

Tony Drago (Malta) 5-4 Stephen Hendry (Scotland)

43-66 35-60 106-0 (106) 52-19 36-94 38-76 67-50 (44H) 67-63 (56H) 56-48

Second round

Stephen Lee 5-3 John Higgins (Scotland) John Parrott 5-4 Matthew Couch
Mark J Williams (Wales) 5-0 Graeme Dott (Scotland) Ken Doherty (Ireland) 5-2 Bradley Jones Billy Snaddon (Scotland) 5-0 Jimmy Michie Alan McManus (Scotland) 5-4 Paul Davies (Wales) Tony Drago (Malta) 5-4 Peter Ebdon Stephen Hendry (Scotland) 5-3 Paul Hunter

First round

John Higgins (Scotland) 5-3 Tony Knowles Stephen Lee 5-0 Quinten Hann (Australia) Matthew Couch 5-1 Alain Robidoux (Canada) John Parrott 5-4 Dominic Dale (Wales) Mark J Williams (Wales) 5-3 Lee Walker (Wales) Graeme Dott (Scotland) 5-4 Mark King Bradley Jones 5-1 Nigel Bond Ken Doherty (Ireland) 5-4 Gerard Greene (N.Ireland) Jimmy Michie 5-4 Ronnie O'Sullivan Billy Snaddon (Scotland) 5-4 Anthony Hamilton Paul Davies (Wales) 5-4 James Wattana (Thailand) Alan McManus (Scotland) 5-4 Dave Harold Peter Ebdon 5-4 Jimmy White Tony Drago (Malta) 5-4 Karl Broughton Paul Hunter 5-4 Steve Davis Stephen Hendry (Scotland) 5-1 Joe Perry

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Breaks

| | | |

139

133

120

118

118

117

109

106

104

104

103

102

101

100

100

Qualifying Rounds

Plymouth Pavillions,Plymouth, England(Jul-Sep, 1998)
Results provided by Janie Watkins ([email protected])

(Players are English unless stated)

Round 7

(Tuesday 1st September)

Tony Knowles 5-3 Darren Morgan (Wales) Quinten Hann (Australia) 5-2 Jamie Burnett (Scotland) Matthew Couch 5-3 Chris Small (Scotland) Dominic Dale (Wales) 5-1 Marco Fu (Hong Kong) Lee Walker (Wales) 5-4 Gary Wilkinson Graeme Dott (Scotland) 5-3 Graham Horne (Scotland) Bradley Jones 5-2 Brian Morgan Gerard Greene (N.Ireland) 5-4 Andy Hicks Jimmy Michie w/o Terry Murphy (N.Ireland) Billy Snaddon (Scotland) 5-3 Kristjan Helgason (Iceland) Paul Davies (Wales) 5-1 Fergal O'Brien (Ireland) Dave Harold 5-4 Mick Price Jimmy White 5-4 Dave Finbow Karl Broughton 5-0 Martin Clark Paul Hunter 5-1 Leo Fernandez (Ireland) Joe Perry 5-3 Matthew Stevens (Wales)

Down to the serious business today as the Seeds ranked 17-32 join in the fray. Despite his car crash, Darren Morganhas somehow managed to get fit enough to play - and although he put up a creditable performance today, typical of his courage and tenacity, his opponent Tony Knowles proved the stronger, winning 5-3. A 54 from Knowles in the opener was his only serious contribution, while Morgan managed to stand on his damaged hip long enough to compile 55 in the second and 75 in Frame 7. Knowles' victory pairs him with John Higgins at the venue.

Marco Fu found Round 7 a step too far, as Grand Prix champion Dominic Dale started his campaign in style with a 5-1 victory. Dale notched up 62 in the fourth, but all the other frames saw chances for both players.

The seeds started poorly, with only Dale and Graeme Dott managing victories. Dale now playsJohn Parrott, while Dott will play the lively Mark King.

Aussie Quienten Hann made short work of Scotland's Jamie Burnett - despite 110 from Burnett in the first frame - breaks of 60 and 70 saw Hann on his way to a tie againstStephen Lee of Trowbridge.

Scotland's Chris Small notched 100 but to no avail as Scunthorpe's Matthew Couch continued his fine run at Plymouth taking the match 5-3.

Newbridge's Lee Walker earnt himself a match against close neighbourMark J Williams as he squeezed past Gary Wilkinson 5-4 in a long tough battle, where six frames lasted more than half an hour.

Londoner Bradley Jones put paid to Essex neigbour Brian Morgan. From 2-0 behind he compiled runs of 65,50,81 and 68 to win 5-2.

The most nerve tingling decider came between Andy Hicks of Tavistock, former World Semi Finalist and Gerard Greene. Hicks knocked in breaks of 63, 50 and 93, with Greene compiling 50 and 51 on the way to 4-4, but it was Greene who held his nerve to compiling a matchwinning 111 in the decider. Greene goes forward to playKen Doherty.

Jimmy struggles - but wins the decider against Finbow. Jimmy White toughed it out for a hard fought first victory of the season against Worcester's Dave Finbow. Finbow opened up with a 78, but White hit back with 71. From 2-1 up White slipped to 3-2 down before rallying to level, and again behind at 4-3, Jimmy hit back with 53 before taking a 12 minute decider 72-2.

White the highest regarded player currently outside the Top 16 is the player all the Top 16 want to avoid and Peter Ebdon will now await White at the Venue - which should be a mouthwatering match.

Michie trips over Murphy - Jimmy Michie benefitted from Terry Murphy's football accident, which has left him with a broken ankle, getting a walkover - his reward for a day off is a match with Ronnie O'Sullivan!

Snaddon's experience edges out Iceman Helgason. Behind all the way through by the odd frame, Scotland's Billy Snaddon drew on his experience to level up at 3-3 and then move away to take the game 5-3. Helgason will have greatly benefited from this experience at a higher level and he contributed runs of 58 and 55.

Paul Davies, enjoying a pretty good run so far, sailed past Eire's Fergal O'Brien by an emphatic 5-1 margin. From 1-1 Davies moved into overdrive with runs of 74, 56, 75 and 60 to run away 5-1.

Price and Harold, closely matched in experience and tenacity swapped frames all the way to set up a decider and it was Stoke's Harold that finally got the upper hand, a run of 62 securing victory. An 85 had put Harold 4-2 up, but Price dug deep to level, helped by a run of 95 in the 8th frame.

Clark has a nightmare. Midlander Martin Clark was steamrollered by Louth's Karl Broughton as Broughton knocked in 56 and 69 on his way to a 5-0 win.

Paul Hunter found the Plymouth pressure cooker no problem as he sailed away to a 5-1 win over Leo Fernandez. 62 in the first set him and he closed out with 51 and 53 in the last two frames.

Disappointment for Welshman Stevens. Carmarthen's 20-year old Matthew Stevens has drawn Joe Perry twice in the overseas qualifiers and Marco Fu in the other - and he would have hoped for a much better opening, as Wisbech boy Perry put up a solid performance to win 5-3. Stevens nicked the first on the black, but 93 from Perry levelled. Stevens found his gear with 53 and 89 to go 3-2 up, but that was the end of his hopes as Perry knocked in 63 and 53 to forge away. Perry's reward is a choice tie against 6 times World champion -Stephen Hendry.

Round 6

(Thursday 20th August)

Tony Knowles 5-3 Stephen O'Connor (Ireland) Quinten Hann (Australia) 5-3 Tony Jones Matthew Couch 5-3 Gary Ponting Marco Fu (Hong Kong) 5-1 Patrick Wallace (N.Ireland) Lee Walker (Wales) 5-1 Peter Lines Graham Horne (Scotland) 5-3 Neal Foulds Bradley Jones 5-1 Drew Henry (Scotland) Gerard Greene (N.Ireland) 5-2 Alfie Burden Jimmy Michie 5-2 Oliver King Kristjan Helgason (Iceland) 5-3 Adrian Gunnell Paul Davies (Wales) 5-4 Willie Thorne Mick Price 5-4 Joe Swail (N.Ireland) Dave Finbow 5-3 Shaun Murphy Karl Broughton 5-1 Joe Johnson Leo Fernandez (Ireland) 5-3 Marcus Campbell (Scotland) Joe Perry 5-0 Paul Wykes

Good God, Patrick's lost! Fu has a 135, and 50,54,53 - not surprised he won!

Burden's miserable season continues.

Knowles is due to play Darren Morgan in the next round, but it is still doubtful whether Darren will be fit enough to play, as he is still recovering from a car smash. Fu plays Grand Prix champ Dominic Dale.

Round 5

(Wednesday 19th August)

Tony Knowles Stephen Tony Jones Quinten Hann (Australia) Gary Ponting Matthew Couch Marco Fu (Hong Kong) Patrick Lee Walker (Wales) Peter Lines Neal Foulds Graham Horne (Scotland) Drew Henry (Scotland) Bradley Jones Alfie Burden Gerard Greene (N.Ireland) Jimmy Michie Oliver King Adrian Gunnell Kristjan Willie Thorne Paul Davies (Wales) Mick Price Joe Swail (N.Ireland) Shaun Murphy Dave Finbow Karl Broughton Joe Johnson Leo Fernandez (Ireland) Marcus Paul Wykes Joe Perry 5-2 Steve James O'Connor (Ireland) 5-2 Dennis Taylor (N.Ireland) 5-3 David McDonnell 5-0 Philip Williams (Wales) 5-2 Jason Prince (N.Ireland) 5-4 Ian McCulloch 5-4 Nick Pearce Wallace (N.Ireland) 5-0 Dene O'Kane (New Zealand) 5-1 Darryn Walker 5-3 Wayne Brown 5-3 Craig MacGillivray (Scotland) 5-4 Michael Judge (Ireland) 5-3 John Lardner (Scotland) 5-3 Darren Clarke 5-4 David Gray 5-4 Chris Scanlon 5-4 David Roe 5-4 Jason Ferguson 5-4 Shokat Ali (Pakistan) Helgason (Iceland) 5-1 Dean Reynolds 5-3 Adrian Rosa 5-4 Nick Walker 5-1 Anan Terananon (Thailand) 5-2 Sean Storey 5-4 Jonathan Birch 5-2 Tony Chappel (Wales) 5-2 Wayne Jones (Wales) 5-3 Craig Harrison 5-4 Rod Lawler Campbell (Scotland) 5-3 Euan Henderson (Scotland) 5-3 Stuart Bingham 5-0 Mark Davis

Patrick Wallace remains unbeaten in 14 matches. Fu hasn't lost either. The two play each other tomorrow ...

122 from Joe Perry as he wins 5-0. 109 from Birch, but he loses a decider to snooker's youngest pro, Shaun Murphy. Paul wykes hits 79, 66, 88 ane 91 to win 5-3 against Bingham

Round 4

(Tuesday 18th August)

David McDonnell 5-2 Tom Finstad (Canada) Marco Fu (Hong Kong) 5-3 Barry Pinches Adrian Gunnell 5-3 Phaitoon Phonbun (Thailand) Kristjan Helgason (Iceland) 5-0 Richard Somauroo (Mauritius) Anan Terananon (Thailand) 5-2 Shawn Budd (Australia) Shaun Murphy 5-3 Mario Geudens (Belgium)

There's no stopping World Amateur Champion Marco Fu. He has breezed through his second overseas qualifying round. Today he beat the experienced Englishman Barry Pinches 5-3 and compiled a total clearance of 141 to win the match. Fu will play Gloucester's Nick Pearce tomorrow.

McDonnell - 111. He will play Tony Jones. Gunnell will play Shokat Ali. 54 & 52 from Helgason. He now plays Dean Reynolds. Terananon goes through to play Mick Price - beaten 5-0 by Fu yesterday. Snooker's youngest pro makes further headway. HE will play Jonathan Birch tomorrow.

Round 3

Tony Knowles 5-4 Karl Payne Stephen O'Connor (Ireland) 5-4 Paul Cavney David McDonnell 5-0 Martin Dziewialtowski (Scotland) Philip Williams (Wales) 5-3 Mark Gray Gary Ponting 5-1 Tai Pichit (Thailand) Matthew Couch 5-2 Jason Wallace Barry Pinches 5-1 Peter McCullagh Patrick Wallace (N.Ireland) 5-3 Troy Shaw Darryn Walker 5-3 Leigh Griffin Wayne Brown 5-4 Munraj Pal Craig MacGillivray (Scotland) 5-4 Hugh Abernethy (Scotland) Graham Horne (Scotland) 5-4 Mario Wehrmann (Netherlands) John Lardner (Scotland) 5-0 Sam Chong (Malaysia) Darren Clarke 5-1 Mark Fenton (Wales) Alfie Burden 5-4 Joe Delaney (Ireland) Chris Scanlon 5-2 Paul McPhillips (Scotland) Jimmy Michie 5-4 Mike Hallett Oliver King 5-2 Stuart Pettman Adrian Gunnell 5-2 Lee Richardson Kristjan Helgason (Iceland) 5-1 Anthony Davies (Wales) Adrian Rosa 5-4 Stefan Mazrocis Nick Walker 5-1 Nick Terry Anan Terananon (Thailand) 5-4 Steve Judd Sean Storey 5-1 Gary Lees Shaun Murphy 5-3 Karl Burrows Dave Finbow 5-4 Jeff Cundy Wayne Jones (Wales) 5-4 Simon Bedford Craig Harrison 5-4 Mark Bennett (Wales) Leo Fernandez (Ireland) 5-2 Ian Brumby Marcus Campbell (Scotland) 5-2 Stuart Reardon Stuart Bingham 5-0 John Read Joe Perry 5-2 John Whitty

Highlight of the day: Adrian Gunnel with successive breaks of 114 and 133 and 56, also had a 63.

Round 2

Tony Knowles 5-1 Neil Robertson (New Zealand) Paul Cavney 5-2 Paul Sweeny David McDonnell 5-2 Barry Mapstone Philip Williams (Wales) 5-3 Brian Rowswell Tai Pichit (Thailand) 5-3 Antony Bolsover Jason Wallace 5-2 Mark Johnston-Allen Barry Pinches 5-2 Eddie Manning Patrick Wallace (N.Ireland) 5-3 Steve Mifsud (Australia) Darryn Walker 5-1 Robin Hull (Finland) Munraj Pal 5-1 Hitesh Naran (South Africa) Hugh Abernethy (Scotland) 5-3 Sean Lanigan Mario Wehrmann (Netherlands) 5-4 Micky Roughan Sam Chong (Malaysia) 5-1 Joe Grech (Malta) Mark Fenton (Wales) 5-3 Mehmet Husnu (Cyprus) Joe Delaney (Ireland) 5-3 James Reynolds (Wales) Paul McPhillips (Scotland) 5-2 Matt Wilson Mike Hallett 5-3 David McLellan (Scotland) Oliver King 5-2 Surinder Gill Adrian Gunnell 5-4 Stephen Murphy (Ireland) Kristjan Helgason (Iceland) 5-3 Michael Holt Adrian Rosa 5-1 John Giles Nick Terry 5-2 Leigh Robinson Anan Terananon (Thailand) 5-2 Nigel Gilbert Gary Lees 5-1 Chris Shade (Scotland) Shaun Murphy 5-1 Steve Newbury (Wales) Jeff Cundy 5-0 Alan Burnett (Scotland) Simon Bedford 5-2 Dylan Leary (N.Ireland) Craig Harrison 5-3 Mark Miller Leo Fernandez (Ireland) 5-3 Eddie Barker Stuart Reardon 5-3 Paul S Davison Stuart Bingham 5-3 Jason Weston John Whitty 5-1 Robert Milkins

Round 1

Neil Robertson (New Zealand) 5-0 Björn Haneveer (Belgium) Paul Cavney 5-2 Alastair Fleming (Scotland) David McDonnell 5-2 Ben Reicker (Canada) Brian Rowswell 5-2 Kirk Stevens (Canada) Tai Pichit (Thailand) 5-4 Mike Dunn Mark Johnston-Allen 5-1 Mario Cutajar (Malta) Barry Pinches 5-4 Hasimu Tuerxun (China) Steve Mifsud (Australia) 5-3 Wayne Saidler Robin Hull (Finland) 5-1 Mike Henson (Germany) Hitesh Naran (South Africa) 5-1 Allister Carter Sean Lanigan 5-3 Saleh Muhammad (Pakistan) Mario Wehrmann (Netherlands) 5-3 Geoff Dunn (Scotland) Sam Chong (Malaysia) 5-2 Colm Gilcreest (Ireland) Mehmet Husnu (Cyprus) 5-1 Farhan Mirza (Pakistan) Joe Delaney (Ireland) 5-3 Li Jian-Bing (China) Matt Wilson 5-3 Patrick Delsemme (Belgium) Mike Hallett 5-1 Darren Hackeson Surinder Gill 5-1 Simon Parker Adrian Gunnell 5-3 Johl Younger (Australia) Kristjan Helgason (Iceland) 5-4 Darren Limburg John Giles 5-3 Les Dodd Leigh Robinson 5-3 Dermot McGlinchey (N.Ireland) Anan Terananon (Thailand) 5-3 Alex Borg (Malta) Gary Lees 5-3 Chatchawan Rutphae (Thailand) Shaun Murphy 5-0 Wael Talaat (Egypt) Jeff Cundy 5-2 Bob Chaperon (Canada) Dylan Leary (N.Ireland) 5-1 Keith E (Singapore) Mark Miller 5-2 Guo Hua (China) Eddie Barker 5-4 Ian Sargeant (Wales) Stuart Reardon 5-2 Matthew Bray Stuart Bingham 5-2 Gary Natale (Canada) John Whitty 5-2 David Coles

HIGHLIGHT: 140 clearance by Tai Pichit for his highest ever tournament break.

Kirk Stevens is beaten again, but manages breaks of 73 and 93.

Good win for Hitesh Naran of South Africa.

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Prize Money

� Not payable to overseas qualifiers who lose their first match

�
Winner	1	*	50,000		50,000
Runner Up	1	*	26,000		26,000
Losing Semi-finalist	2	*	13,000		26,000
Losing Quarter-finalist	4	*	7,555		30,220
Last 16	8	*	3,750		30,000
Last 32	16	*	3,100		49,600
Last 48	16	*	1,800		28,800
Last 64	16	*	1,250		20,000
Last 96	32	*	890		28,480
Overseas Play-off Round	6	*	890	�	5,340
Last 134	32	*	205		6,560
High TV Break	1	*	3,000		3,000
High Pre TV Break	1	*	1,000		1,000

Total	305,000

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Points

Here is an overview of the points system used in the 1998 Irish Open.

The points are awarded to the losing players in each round.

Round	Points
Last 198	200
Last 166	270
(seeds 97-128)	200
Last 134	360
(seeds 65-96)	270
Last 102	480
(overseas seeds)	360
Last 96	480
(seeds 33-64)	360
Last 64	640
Last 48	855
(seeds 17-32)	640
Last 32	1,140
(seeds 1-16)	855
Last 16	1,330
Q-F	1,520
S-F	2,025
R-up	3,040
Winner	4,560