World Snooker Championship 2008

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The 2008 888.com World Snooker Championship took place between 19 April and 5 May at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. Ronnie O'Sullivan became the champion for the third time after beating Ali Carter 18-8.

Contents 1 Notable happenings 1.1 First round 1.2 Second round 1.3 Quarter-finals 1.4 Semi-finals 1.5 Final 2 Prize money 3 Results 4 List of centuries 5 Preliminary qualifying 5.1 Round 1 5.2 Round 2 5.3 Round 3 6 Qualifying 6.1 Round 1 6.2 Rounds 2-5 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Notable happenings

[edit] First round

• Debutants at the Crucible this year were Jamie Cope, Liu Chuang and Liang Wenbo.
• Steve Davis became the first player aged 50 or over to play at the Crucible since Doug Mountjoy in 1993.
• The previous year's runner up Mark Selby was knocked out by qualifier Mark King 10–8.
• Matthew Stevens's 10–5 defeat to John Higgins was the first time he had ever lost in the first round. Matthew Stevens attempted a 147 after fluking a black in the middle pocket but failed narrowly on 112.
• Ding Junhui's 10–9 victory over Marco Fu was his first ever win at the Crucible. Marco Fu also attempted a 147 but failed narrowly when the cue ball inadvertently fell into the bottom left pocket, after executing a canon on 2 reds.
• Ken Doherty's 10–5 defeat to qualifier Liang Wenbo caused him to drop out of the top 16 of the World Rankings for the first time since the 1992/93 season.
• Liu Chuang dropped off the main tour as a result of his defeat in Round 1 by Ronnie O'Sullivan.
• Debutant Liang Wenbo fast became a crowd favourite when he accidentally entered the arena with the match officials during his match against Ken Doherty and had to quickly scurry back to be introduced.
• Stephen Maguire took the first eight frames in the first session of his first round match against Anthony Hamilton. Hamilton then won the last frame of the session, thus avoiding a whitewash.

[edit] Second round

• Ryan Day reached the quarter-finals for the first time in this tournament by beating the 2007 defending champion John Higgins 13–9.
• Stephen Hendry reached the quarter-finals for the seventeenth time in his career but for the first time since 2005.
• Liang Wenbo caused further amusement during his Second Round match against Joe Swail by sitting down after taking a shot, not realising he had fluked a red into the corner pocket. Liang suffered embarrassment when he punched the air in premature celebration of a 13-10 victory over Swail, only for Swail to gain a snooker and take the frame. Swail recovered to level at 12-12, only to miss the brown while clearing the colours in the final frame and lose the match 13-12. The result meant that he would not be in the top 16 the following season. After the match Swail complained bitterly that in the final frame the referee had incorrectly replaced the cue ball after calling a miss, giving Liang an easier escape from a snooker, and accused Liang of unprofessional conduct for not pointing out the referee's mistake.^[1]
• Ronnie O'Sullivan scored a 147 against Mark J Williams in the final frame of their match, the ninth of his career in competitive competition, beating Stephen Hendry's record of eight. This was Ronnie's third at the Crucible. Ironically Mark Williams was the last player to make a maximum break at the Crucible in 2005.
• Following his loss to Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark J Williams dropped out of the top 16 of the World Rankings after twelve seasons in it.
• Stephen Maguire repeated his first round feat by winning the first eight frames in the first session of his match against Neil Robertson.

[edit] Quarter-finals

• Ali Carter made the third maximum break of the year (seventh of the 2007/2008 season). This came just a day after Ronnie O'Sullivan's maximum—the first time there have been two 147 breaks in the same ranking tournament. Peter Ebdon came very close to a 147 of his own just a frame earlier but narrowly missed the fifteenth black. Just minutes before on the other table, Stephen Hendry was also attempting a maximum of his own but missed the fifteenth red.
• Stephen Hendry reached the 12th Crucible semi-final of his career (the first time since 2004), surpassing Steve Davis' record of 11.
• Liang Wenbo became the first Chinese national to reach this stage.

[edit] Semi-finals

• Ronnie O'Sullivan whitewashed Stephen Hendry 8-0 in their second session, extending O'Sullivan's streak to eleven consecutive frames against the former seven-time world champion (he also took the opening frame of the third session, for a winning streak of twelve consecutive frames). This was the first time Hendry had lost every frame in a full session at the Crucible. After the match, Hendry said that he considered O'Sullivan's performance to be "the best that anyone has played against me".^[2]
• Ali Carter reached his first ever ranking final by beating Joe Perry 17-15.

[edit] Final

• For the first time in the history of any snooker tournament, both finalists had scored 147 breaks in earlier rounds. No other player made a 147 break in the tournament.
• For the first time since 1991 two Englishmen played in the final. In 1991 John Parrott defeated Jimmy White 18-11.
• Ronnie O'Sullivan became only the third player after Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry to win more than two World titles at The Crucible.
• The start of the final session was briefly interrupted by a streaker who ran onto the stage and then crawled under the snooker table. He was quickly removed by stewards.^[3]
• In post-match interviews, both players admitted to not having played particularly well, with O'Sullivan commenting "Ali and I are disappointed not to put on a better performance". Carter's performance was described as "jaded".^[4]

[edit] Prize money

The prize breakdown was as follows:

• Winner: £250,000
• Runner-up: £125,000
• Semi-finalists: £52,000
• Quarter-finalists: £22,000
• Last 16 (round 2): £14,000
• Last 32 (round 1): £10,600
• 147 break: £147,000*
• Highest break: £10,000*

* Split between tying players Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ali Carter.

[edit] Results

Shown below are the results for each round. The numbers in brackets beside some of the players are their seeding ranks (each championship has 16 seeds and 16 qualifiers).

First Round

Second Round

Quarter-Finals

Semi-Finals

Best of 19 frames

Best of 25 frames

Best of 25 frames

Best of 33 frames

19 April

John Higgins (1)

10

24, 25 & 26 April

Matthew Stevens

5

John Higgins (1)

9

20 & 21 April

Ryan Day (16)

13

Ryan Day (16)

10

29 & 30 April

Michael Judge

6

Ryan Day (16)

7

22 April

Stephen Hendry (8)

13

Ding Junhui (9)

10

25 & 26 April

Marco Fu

9

Ding Junhui (9)

7

20 & 21 April

Stephen Hendry (8)

13

Stephen Hendry (8)

10

1 & 2 May

Mark Allen

9

Stephen Hendry (8)

6

23 & 24 April

Ronnie O'Sullivan (5)

17

Ronnie O'Sullivan (5)

10

26, 27 & 28 April

Liu Chuang

5

Ronnie O'Sullivan (5)

13

21 & 22 April

Mark J. Williams (12)

7

Mark J. Williams (12)

10

29 & 30 April

Mark Davis

3

Ronnie O'Sullivan (5)

13

19 & 20 April

Liang Wenbo

7

Stephen Lee (13)

4

27 & 28 April

Joe Swail

10

Joe Swail

12

23 April

Liang Wenbo

13

Ken Doherty (4)

5

Liang Wenbo

10

22 & 23 April

Shaun Murphy (3)

10

25 & 26 April

Dave Harold

3

Shaun Murphy (3)

4

19 & 20 April

Allister Carter (14)

13

Allister Carter (14)

10

29 & 30 April

Barry Hawkins

9

Allister Carter (14)

13

21 & 22 April

Peter Ebdon (6)

9

Mark Selby (11)

8

24 & 25 April

Mark King

10

Mark King

9

19 & 20 April

Peter Ebdon (6)

13

Peter Ebdon (6)

10

1, 2 & 3 May

Jamie Cope

9

Allister Carter (14)

17

19 & 20 April

Joe Perry

15

Neil Robertson (7)

10

26, 27 & 28 April

Nigel Bond

4

Neil Robertson (7)

7

23 & 24 April

Stephen Maguire (10)

13

Stephen Maguire (10)

10

29 & 30 April

Anthony Hamilton

3

Stephen Maguire (10)

12

21 April

Joe Perry

13

Steve Davis (15)

8

27 & 28 April

Stuart Bingham

10

Stuart Bingham

9

22 & 23 April

Joe Perry

13

Graeme Dott (2)

7

Joe Perry

10

Final (Best of 35 frames) Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, 4 May & 5 May, 2008. Referee: Jan Verhaas
Ronnie O'Sullivan (5)	18 - 8	Allister Carter (14)
81-56, 127-0, 99-0, 0-104, 86-4, 62-76, 65-18, 73-0, 78-0, 36-60, 86-4, 28-93, 45-80, 123-0, 77-32, 110-5, 66-48, 74-0, 25-64, 85-0, 0-84, 58-42, 4-89, 68-39, 75-32, 61-16	2 Century Breaks: 1 (Carter) 1 (O'Sullivan) Highest break by O'Sullivan: 106 Highest break by Carter: 104	81-56, 127-0, 99-0, 0-104, 86-4, 62-76, 65-18, 73-0, 78-0, 36-60, 86-4, 28-93, 45-80, 123-0, 77-32, 110-5, 66-48, 74-0, 25-64, 85-0, 0-84, 58-42, 4-89, 68-39, 75-32, 61-16
Ronnie O'Sullivan wins 2008 888.com World Snooker Championship

[edit] List of centuries

This is a list of century breaks made during the televised stages of the tournament. The highest break received a prize of £10,000, and a 147 break received a prize of £147,000 - a total of £157,000. This prize was shared, as two players made a 147, thus winning £78,500 each. 63 centuries in total were made. The record is 68 centuries, achieved twice, in 2002 and 2007.

Ronnie O'Sullivan - 147, 140, 138, 135, 133, 126, 123, 109, 106, 102, 102, 100 Ali Carter - 147, 128, 128, 106, 104, 100 Peter Ebdon - 143, 113, 109, 103 Stephen Hendry - 140, 124, 112, 112, 110 Stuart Bingham - 137 Joe Swail - 133, 105 Joe Perry - 132, 127, 121, 110, 104, 102

Stephen Maguire - 131, 118, 112, 110, 100 Jamie Cope - 126, 101 Graeme Dott - 126 Nigel Bond - 125 Liang Wenbo - 123, 104 Mark King - 121, 116, 112 John Higgins - 120, 103 Ding Junhui - 114, 113

Matthew Stevens - 112 Mark Selby - 108 Ryan Day - 104 Michael Judge - 104 Marco Fu - 103, 100 Mark Allen - 102 Anthony Hamilton - 102 Shaun Murphy - 102

[edit] Preliminary qualifying

The preliminary qualifying rounds for the tournament took place in Pontin's Prestatyn, Wales between 3 January and 5 January 2008.

[edit] Round 1

Phil Seaton

5-2

Donald Newcombe

[edit] Round 2

Colin Mitchell	5-4	Phil Seaton
Les Dodd	1-5	David Singh
Adam Osbourne	0-5	Sean Storey
Tony Knowles	5-1	Ali Bassiri
Neil Selman	5-1	John Wilson
Ian Stark	5-4	Del Smith
Tony Brown	5-1	Christopher Flight
Stephen Ormerod	w/o	Paul Wykes

[edit] Round 3

Colin Mitchell	5-3	David Singh
Sean Storey	5-0	Tony Knowles
Neil Selman	4-5	Ian Stark
Tony Brown	3-5	Stephen Ormerod

[edit] Qualifying

The qualifying rounds for the tournament took place in Pontin's Prestatyn, Wales between 6 January and 11 January 2008. The final round of qualifying took place at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield between 7 March and 10 March.

[edit] Round 1

Patrick Wallace	10-1	Sean Storey
Jimmy Robertson	10-5	Stephen Ormerod
Rodney Goggins	10-4	Ian Stark
Liu Chuang	10-0	Colin Mitchell

[edit] Rounds 2-5

	Round 2 Best of 19 frames			Round 3 Best of 19 frames			Round 4 Best of 19 frames			Round 5 Best of 19 frames
	Alex Davies	10		Ian Preece	10		Adrian Gunnell	10		Stuart Bingham	10
	Steve Mifsud	2		Alex Davies	9		Ian Preece	9		Adrian Gunnell	3
	Mark Joyce	10		Jimmy Michie	10		Michael Judge	10		Michael Holt	6
	Patrick Wallace	8		Mark Joyce	4		Jimmy Michie	6		Michael Judge	10
	James McBain	10		Marcus Campbell	9		Fergal O'Brien	10		Jamie Cope	10
	Kevin Van Hove	2		James McBain	10		James McBain	4		Fergal O'Brien	5
	Tian Pengfei	10		Mike Dunn	10		Andrew Norman	2		Dave Harold	10
	Ashley Wright	4		Tian Pengfei	2		Mike Dunn	10		Mike Dunn	4
	Munraj Pal	8		David Roe	10		Andy Hicks	10		Barry Hawkins	10
	Xiao Guodong	10		Xiao Guodong	5		David Roe	5		Andy Hicks	8
	Matthew Selt	10		Jimmy White	10		A Higginson	7		Mark King	10
	Fraser Patrick	6		Matthew Selt	4		Jimmy White	10		Jimmy White	3
	Liu Song	10		Scott MacKenzie	10		James Wattana	8		Anthony Hamilton	10
	Jimmy Robertson	6		Liu Song	5		Scott MacKenzie	10		Scott MacKenzie	2
	Kurt Maflin	9		Paul Davies	8		John Parrott	10		Joe Perry	10
	Gareth Coppack	10		Gareth Coppack	10		Gareth Coppack	3		John Parrott	8
	Shailesh Jogia	4		Barry Pinches	10		Robert Milkins	4		Nigel Bond	10
	Michael White	10		Michael White	4		Barry Pinches	10		Barry Pinches	7
	Lee Spick	9		Judd Trump	10		Jamie Burnett	2		Joe Swail	10
	Rodney Goggins	10		Rodney Goggins	4		Judd Trump	10		Judd Trump	9
	Jamie O'Neill	8		Stuart Pettman	4		Rory McLeod	10		Matthew Stevens	10
	Martin Gould	10		Martin Gould	10		Martin Gould	8		Rory McLeod	5
	Liang Wenbo	10		Rod Lawler	6		David Gilbert	3		Ian McCulloch	5
	Ben Woollaston	3		Liang Wenbo	10		Liang Wenbo	10		Liang Wenbo	10
	Lee Walker	9		Joe Delaney	5		David Gray	5		Dominic Dale	9
	Liu Chuang	10		Liu Chuang	10		Liu Chuang	10		Liu Chuang	10
	Leo Fernandez	10		Drew Henry	2		Mark Davis	10		Gerard Greene	2
	Alfred Burden	4		Leo Fernandez	10		Leo Fernandez	9		Mark Davis	10
	David Morris	9		Robin Hull			Alan McManus	10		Marco Fu	10
	Supoj Saenla	10		Supoj Saenla	W/O		Supoj Saenla	2		Alan McManus	3
	Tony Drago	9		Tom Ford	5		Ricky Walden	10		Mark Allen	10
	I Kachaiwong	10		I Kachaiwong	10		I Kachaiwong	4		Ricky Walden	8

[edit] See also

• Snooker world rankings 2007/2008

[edit] References

1. ^ "Liang edges out Swail in classic", BBC Sport, 28 April 2008
2. ^ World Snooker Latest News - O'SULLIVAN 17 HENDRY 6
3. ^ Streaker at 2008 World Championship Snooker Final, YouTube
4. ^ BBC Sport

[edit] External links

• Live-Replay video of the 888.com last 32 players Drawing in the Crucible theatre at 11th March 08
• Qualifying Stages at worldsnooker.com
• Main Draw at worldsnooker.com
• Video of O'Sullivan's 147

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