| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 15 April – 1 May 2000 (2000-04-15 –2000-05-01) |
| Venue | Crucible Theatre |
| City | Sheffield |
| Country | England |
| Organisation | WPBSA |
| Format | Ranking event |
| Total prize fund | £1,460,000 |
| Winner's share | £240,000 |
| Highest break |  Matthew Stevens (WAL) (143) |
| Final | |
| Champion | Mark Williams (WAL) |
| Runner-up | Matthew Stevens (WAL) |
| Score | 18–16 |
←1999 2001 → | |
The2000 World Snooker Championship (officially the2000 Embassy World Snooker Championship) was a professionalsnooker tournament that took place from 15 April to 1 May 2000 at theCrucible Theatre inSheffield, England. It was the 23rd consecutive year that theWorld Snooker Championship was staged at the venue. Sponsored by cigarette manufacturerEmbassy, the tournament was the ninth and finalranking event of the1999–2000 season. The winner received £240,000 from a total prize fund of £1,460,000.
The top 16 players from thesnooker world rankings were seeded through to the main stage at the Crucible. They were joined by the 16 successful players from the qualifying rounds, which took place from 3 January to 20 March at theNewport Centre inNewport, Wales.
Stephen Hendry was the defending champion, having defeatedMark Williams 18–11 in the final of the1999 World Championship to win his seventh world title. He lost his first-round match againstStuart Bingham, a qualifier who was making his debut at the Crucible. Williams defeatedMatthew Stevens 18–16 in the first-ever all-Welsh world final to claim his maiden world title. The main stage of the tournament produced 54century breaks, of which the highest was a 143 compiled by Stevens in his semi-final match againstJoe Swail.
The inaugural1927 World Snooker Championship, then known as the Professional Championship of Snooker, took place at various venues in England between November 1926 and May 1927.Joe Davis won the final—held atCamkin's Hall inBirmingham from 9 to 12 May 1927—and went on to win the tournament 15 consecutive times before retiring undefeated after the1946 edition (no tournaments were held from 1941 to 1945 because ofWorld War II).[1][2][3] The tournament went into abeyance after only two players contested the1952 edition. The six editions of theWorld ProfessionalMatch-play Championship held between 1952 and 1957 are retroactively regarded as legitimate continuations of the World Snooker Championship, but that tournament was discontinued due to waning public interest in snooker in the post-war era. The world title was uncontested between 1958 and 1963.[1][2]
Then-professional playerRex Williams was instrumental in reviving the World Snooker Championship on a challenge basis in 1964.John Pulman, winner of the1957 World ProfessionalMatch-play Championship, defended the world title across sevenchallenge matches between 1964 and 1968. The World Snooker Championship reverted to an annual knockout tournament for the1969 edition, marking the beginning of the championship's "modern era".[4][5] The1977 edition was the first staged at theCrucible Theatre inSheffield, where it has remained since.[6][7] The most successful player in the modern era wasStephen Hendry, having won the title seven times.[8][9] Hendry was also the tournament's youngest winner, having captured his first title at the1990 event, aged 21 years and 106 days.[10]Ray Reardon became the oldest winner when he secured his sixth title at the1978 event, aged 45 years and 203 days.[11]
The 2000 World Snooker Championship was the ninth and lastranking tournament of the1999–2000 snooker season, held after theScottish Open. It took place between 15 April and 1 May.[12] It was sponsored by cigarette manufacturerEmbassy.[13] The 2000 edition marked the 23rd consecutive year that the tournament was held at the Crucible and the 31st successive year that the World Championship was contested through the modern knockout format.[7][14][15] The defending champion wasStephen Hendry, who had defeatedMark Williams 18–11 in the final of the1999 World Championship to win his seventh world title.[16]
The top 16 players in thesnooker world rankings wereseeded through to the main stage at the Crucible Theatre. They faced 16 players who progressed through the qualifying rounds, which took place from 3 January to 20 March at theNewport Centre in Wales.[17][18] First-round matches were played as the best of 19frames, held over twosessions. Second-round and quarter-final matches were played as the best of 25 frames, held over three sessions. The semi-final matches were played as the best of 33 frames, held over four sessions. The final was the best of 35 frames, also held over four sessions.[19][17]
The breakdown of prize money is shown below:[20][21]
The four rounds of qualifying were held between 3 January and 20 March at theNewport Centre inNewport, Wales. All the matches were played as the best of 19frames.[18]Stuart Bingham defeatedMehmet Husnu,Ian McCulloch,Dene O'Kane andQuinten Hann to secure his debut at the main stage of the tournament.[18][22]Colm Gilcreest advanced through three rounds of qualifying, but was eliminated in the fourth and last byBilly Snaddon.Tony Drago won 10–8 overJoe Perry in the final round to book a place at theCrucible Theatre.Nigel Bond beatEuan Henderson to qualify. BothGary Wilkinson andJoe Swail wondeciding frames in their fourth-round matches, againstJason Ferguson andStephen Maguire, respectively.[18] The match between Wilkinson and Ferguson became the longest best-of-19-frames match ever, lasting 11 hours and 38 minutes.[23]
John Read defeatedMark Davis,Neal Foulds andBrian Morgan to qualify.Chris Small secured a place at the Crucible by winning overPaul Davies.Kristjan Helgason recorded victories againstJohn Lardner,Joe Johnson,Rod Lawler andTerry Murphy to become the first player from Iceland to qualify for the main stage of the World Championship.[18][24]Michael Judge reached the final round of qualifying, but was eliminated byDarren Morgan.Marco Fu defeatedAndy Hicks 10–3. Eddie Manning won three consecutive deciders againstTroy Shaw,Jonathan Birch andAlain Robidoux, but was beaten byGraeme Dott 3–10 in the final round.Anthony Davies won overNick Terry,Mick Price andMark Bennett before losing toDave Harold 7–10.[18]
_2012-02-05_49.jpg)
The first round was played between 15 and 20 April as the best of 19 frames held over twosessions.[19][25] The defending champion,Stephen Hendry, played Bingham, who was making his debut at the Crucible. Bingham was behind at 4–5, but recovered and eliminated Hendry with a 10–7 result. "When you are negative like that from the start you are going to lose. Mysafety was poor, not aggressive enough and I leftreds on," Hendry said.[22] Swail facedPaul Hunter, with whom he used to practise. Swail advanced to the second round with a 10–6 victory.[26]Drew Henry andFergal O'Brien both progressed with 10–8 wins overMark King and Small, respectively.[27] Theprevious edition's runner-upMark Williams had a one-frame advantage against qualifier Read at the end of the first session. Read only scored 69points in the second session, as Williams took all six frames for a 10–4 result. "[Read] didn't play as well. He was appearing here for the first time so might have been a bit nervous," Williams said afterwards.[28]Ronnie O'Sullivan ledDavid Gray 5–1 and 9–7 in a match in which he compiled fivecentury breaks. Gray took two consecutive frames to force a deciding frame, which he also won for a 10–9 victory. "When Ronnie [O'Sullivan]'s in the balls he's a genius but I knew he couldn't keep it going forever. It's a massive result. It's the best day of my career so far," Gray reflected.[29]Dominic Dale defeatedPeter Ebdon 10–6 andAnthony Hamilton advanced to the next round with a 10–4 win over Fu.[27]
Ken Doherty, winner in1997, had a 6–3 advantage at the end of the first session over qualifier Morgan, who had reached the semi-finals of the1994 World Championship. Doherty made a century break as he won all the remaining frames for a 10–3 victory. "I expected a tougher match against Darren [Morgan] because he's a very good player—but I'm glad to be through," Doherty said.[30]Matthew Stevens had a five-frame cushion going into the second session and produced further breaks of 75 and 91 for a 10–2 defeat of Drago. "The odds don't matter to me. I've got to concentrate on my game and if I continue to play like that I've got a chance," Stevens commented after the match.[30] From 7–9 behind,John Parrott forced a decider against Wilkinson and won it.Steve Davis took the first six frames of his match with Dott[31] and went on to win 10–6. Dott accused him of playing too slow: "I couldn't believe anyone could play so slow. [...] I think when someone plays that slow they should be pulled up for it."[32]Stephen Lee eliminated Helgason 10–3.Alan McManus andJimmy White both won 10–7 over Bond and Snaddon, respectively.John Higgins progressed into the second round with a 10–8 victory against Harold.[27]
The second round was played as the best of 25 frames, held over three sessions, between 20 and 24 April.[19] Dale had a 7–1 advantage against Gray at the conclusion of the first session and went on to win the match 13–1 with asession to spare. Dale made three century breaks in the process. He became the fourth player—after Davis andNeal Foulds in1988 and Parrott in1991—to get a 13–1 result in the second round of theWorld Championship. "I'm very pleased with my form and I don't think I have to improve an unfathomable amount to win the title. Someone will have to play well to beat me," Dale said.[33] Williams defeated Henry 13–9.[33] Bingham manufactured a two-frame lead against White, but White won eight consecutive frames to go 11–5. White also won frame seventeen to go one away from victory. Bingham replied by winning four on the trot, but White produced a 99 break to claim victory. "You're not just playing Jimmy [White] out there—you're playing the crowd," Bingham said.[34] From 5–11 behind, Lee made breaks of 102 and 98 to reduce O'Brien's lead to only four frames. O'Brien sealed victory with a 13–8 result.[34]
Parrott had a 12–8 lead against Swail, needing only one more frame to book a place in the quarter-finals. Swail took four consecutive frames to force the decider, which he also won. "I've never won a match and cried afterwards. During the last frame all I thought about was my mother, who died a couple of years ago," Swail said.[35] Stevens, the ninth seed, defeated McManus 13–4. Doherty took four consecutive frames to build a 12–11 lead against Hamilton. The match went to a decider, which Hamilton won. "I would say it was probably the hardest victory I've ever had," Hamilton said.[35] Higgins eliminated Davis, six-time winner of the event, with a 13–11 result. "I'm delighted to have beaten him when he was playing so well. I threw a lot of big breaks at him and kept coming back strongly. He frightened me and I wouldn't have liked to play him in the 80s," Higgins said.[35]
The quarter-finals were played as the best of 25 frames, held over three sessions, between 25 and 26 April.[19] Facing O'Brien, Williams won all the frames save one of the second session and built a 12–4 lead. O'Brien won the first frame on the following day, but Williams sealed victory with an 82 break. "I felt good and if I can keep playing like that I've every chance of winning the tournament," Williams said.[36] Looking for place in the top 16 of theworld rankings, Swail enjoyed a 10–6 advantage at the conclusion of the first day. Dale won the first of the third session, but Swail replied with a break of 82. Even though Dale won two in a row to reduce the arrears to three frames, Swail won 13–9. "With the top 16 spot up for grabs, I was under enormous pressure, because it basically offered me financial security. So I was hugely relieved to get the win," Swail reflected on the result years later.[26][37]
Playing Hamilton, Higgins, a semi-finalist in the previous edition, won eight consecutive frames to go from 5–3 to victory at 13–3. He also recorded three century breaks in a row in the match. "Last year I cruised through every round until I came up against a brick wall in Mark Williams, who played brilliantly against me. I'm starting to hit the ball really well, and hopefully this time it will be different," Higgins said.[37] Stevens capitalised on an 11–5 lead to defeat White 13–7.[37] "I don't know whether I can win the championship now, but as along as I am a professional and still competing, I'll keep on trying," White said.[38]
The semi-finals were played as the best of 33 frames, held over four sessions, between 27 and 29 April.[19] In a repeat of one of the semi-finals of the previous edition, Williams faced Higgins. Williams had prevailed in 1999.[39] Breaks of 87, 78 and 69 by Higgins and of 66, 62, 52 and 50 by Williams meant that the first six frames of the match where shared. Higgins established a 13–8 advantage and also led 14–10. Williams manufactured breaks of 137 and 70 as he took four consecutive frames and tied the scores at 15–15. Williams won another one to move to one away from victory. Higgins then missed apot on thegreen twice and allowed Williams to win the match with a 17–15 result.[17][40] "I think I just held it together a bit better than John [Higgins]. You can't get more pressure than that, especially with the crowd getting into it. But I started to flow towards the end and really began to enjoy it," Williams said.[40] "It was really disappointing. My mind just wasn't there. I had two good chances [on the green ball] and bottled it," Higgins lamented.[40]
Swail made a 68 break to take the first frame of his semi-final match against Stevens, but Stevens then won three on the trot, including breaks of 114 and 143. Stevens led 12–6, five frames away from victory with still six to play in the session, so there was a chance that he could win the match with a session to spare. However, Swail recovered and took four of the next five frames. In the last of the day, Stevens got the twosnookers herequired to have the chance to force are-spotted black, but then wentin-off when playing thebrown ball. Swail then reduced the deficit to two frames at 11–13.[17][41] The first two frames of the afternoon session were shared, but Stevens took the next three to secure a place in the final with a 17–12 result.[17][42] "I'm glad to get through, because I felt tense out there. Joe [Swail] made it very hard for me. I'm pleased with my performance under pressure and with my shot selection," Stevens said.[42] "For some reason, I just couldn't get motivated. Maybe it's because I've never been this far. I'm not complaining—it's been a wonderful experience. It is unreal the confidence this has all given me," Swail explained.[42]
_2014-01-30_01.jpg)
The final was played as the best of 35 frames, held over four sessions, on 30 April and 1 May, between Stevens and Williams.[19] It was the first ever final between two Welsh players in the history of the World Championship. There had not been a World Champion from Wales sinceTerry Griffiths won the tournament in1979. "Ever since I have been a player, it's always been my dream to walk through the curtains at the Crucible on finals day. It must be a magical feeling and I'm just glad I'm going to have the chance to experience that," Stevens said ahead of the game.[27][43] John Newton officiated his first World Championship final and retired from refereeing after the match.[44] Stevens made an 84 break as he won the first two frames of the final. He also took the fourth with a century break for a 3–1 lead. Williams then won three consecutive frames, making a 123 break in the process. A 65-pointvisit allowed Stevens to tie the scores at 4–4 at the end of the first session. At the resumption, Stevens won five successive frames, with consecutive breaks of 111 and 114, to put himself 9–4 in front. The first day of play ended with a four-frame advantage for Stevens at 10–6.[27][43] "To be honest I feel drained, out of my head, and I'll have to try and stick in there the best I can. I don't know if what happened was down to events on Saturday against John Higgins—but if I still feel the same on Sunday I won't have much chance," Williams said at the end of the second session.[45] Stevens, on the other hand, conceded that the advantage he enjoyed was "pleasing".[45]
Stevens kick-started the third session, on the second day of the final, with a century break and won another frame for a 12–6 lead. The following two frames were shared. Williams won the remaining four of the session, featuring breaks of 80 and 65, to edge closer at 11–13. Williams also took the first frame of the fourth and final session aided by a 77 break. Stevens won the next with a 67 break, but then Williams won two on the trot to tie the scores at 14–14. Stevens replied with a 120clearance in frame twenty-nine. Williams capitalised on a missed red by Stevens to win the next and then moved in front at 16–15 by winning a frame that lasted 37 minutes. Stevens tied the scores once again, but Williams won back-to-back frames to claim his maiden World Championship trophy. He was awarded £242,000 for the win. "At one point it looked like Matthew [Stevens] was going to run away with it. But I managed to keep in there and did quite well to come back," Williams said.[46] The first left-handed player to lift the trophy, Williams climbed to the first position in the world rankings. "Everything looked good at 13–7—but Mark [Williams] played brilliantly to come back and that's why he's world number one," lamented Stevens, who added: "I was going to buy a Ferrari, but now that I've lost it will probably have to be a Mini."[46]
The draw for the main tournament is shown below. The numbers in parentheses after the players' names denote theseedings for the 16 seeded players (1–16). The match winners are shown in bold.[47]
| Round 1 (Last 32) Best of 19 frames | Round 2 (Last 16) Best of 25 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 25 frames | Semi-finals Best of 33 frames | Final Best of 35 frames | |||||||||||||||||||
| 15 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Stephen Hendry (SCO)(1) | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 & 22 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Stuart Bingham (ENG) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stuart Bingham | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 & 20 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jimmy White(16) | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jimmy White (ENG)(16) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 & 26 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Billy Snaddon (SCO) | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jimmy White(16) | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 & 18 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Matthew Stevens(9) | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Matthew Stevens (WAL)(9) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 & 24 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Tony Drago (MLT) | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Matthew Stevens(9) | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alan McManus(8) | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alan McManus (SCO)(8) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28, 28 & 29 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nigel Bond (ENG) | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Matthew Stevens(9) | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Joe Swail | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Parrott (ENG)(5) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22, 23 & 24 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gary Wilkinson (ENG) | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Parrott(5) | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 & 16 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joe Swail | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Paul Hunter (ENG)(12) | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 & 26 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joe Swail (NIR) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joe Swail | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 & 17 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dominic Dale | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peter Ebdon (ENG)(13) | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 & 21 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dominic Dale (WAL) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dominic Dale | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 & 17 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| David Gray | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG)(4) | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 April & 1 May | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| David Gray (ENG) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Matthew Stevens(9) | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 & 16 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark Williams(3) | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark Williams (WAL)(3) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 & 21 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Read (ENG) | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark Williams(3) | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 & 16 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drew Henry | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark King (ENG)(14) | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 & 26 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drew Henry (SCO) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark Williams(3) | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 & 16 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Fergal O'Brien(11) | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fergal O'Brien (IRL)(11) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 & 22 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chris Small (SCO) | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fergal O'Brien(11) | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 & 19 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stephen Lee(6) | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stephen Lee (ENG)(6) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28, 28 & 29 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Kristján Helgason (ISL) | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark Williams(3) | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 & 18 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Higgins(2) | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ken Doherty (IRL)(7) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22, 23 & 24 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Darren Morgan (WAL) | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ken Doherty(7) | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anthony Hamilton(10) | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anthony Hamilton (ENG)(10) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 & 26 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Marco Fu (HKG) | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anthony Hamilton(10) | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 & 19 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Higgins(2) | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Steve Davis (ENG)(15) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 & 24 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graeme Dott (SCO) | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Steve Davis(15) | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 & 20 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Higgins(2) | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Higgins (SCO)(2) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dave Harold (ENG) | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Final: (Best of 35 frames)Crucible Theatre,Sheffield, 30 April & 1 May 2000 Referee: John Newton[44] | ||||||||||
| Matthew Stevens(9) Wales | 16–18 | Mark Williams(3) Wales | ||||||||
| Session 1: 4–4 (4–4) | ||||||||||
| Frame | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stevens | 62† | 84† (77) | 33 | 103† (103) | 18 | 61 | 0 | 75† (65) | N/A | N/A |
| Williams | 50 | 28 | 56† | 23 | 65† | 76† (57) | 123† (123) | 35 | N/A | N/A |
| Session 2:6–2 (10–6) | ||||||||||
| Frame | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Stevens | 64† | 91† (85) | 59† | 117† (111) | 114† (114) | 6 | 73† (73) | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Williams | 24 | 37 | 21 | 0 | 7 | 79† | 22 | 68† (63) | N/A | N/A |
| Session 3: 3–5 (13–11) | ||||||||||
| Frame | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Stevens | 133† (108) | 66† | 0 | 55† | 0 | 34 | 46 | 37 | N/A | N/A |
| Williams | 0 | 48 | 106† | 54 | 81† (80) | 79† | 71† | 79† (65) | N/A | N/A |
| Session 4: 3–7 (16–18) | ||||||||||
| Frame | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Stevens | 33 | 67† (67) | 6 | 0 | 120† (120) | 13 | 66 | 60† | 8 | 21 |
| Williams | 77† (77) | 0 | 75† | 74† (67) | 16 | 61† | 70† | 29 | 76† (56) | 73† |
| (frame 29) 120 | Highest break | 123 (frame 7) | ||||||||
| 5 | Century breaks | 1 | ||||||||
| 10 | 50+ breaks | 8 | ||||||||
| Mark Williams wins the 2000 World Snooker Championship[17] † = Winner of frame | ||||||||||
The qualifying matches were held between 3 January and 20 March at theNewport Centre inNewport, Wales. All the matches were played as the best of 19 frames.[18]
A total of 54century breaks were made during the main stage of the tournament.[48][19] The highest break was a 143 made byMatthew Stevens.[21]
|
|
| Early events | |
|---|---|
| Match-play | |
| Challenges | |
| Knock-outs | |
| Crucible era | |
| Related articles | |
