2003 World Snooker Championship

The 2003 World Snooker Championship (also referred to as the 2003 Embassy World Snooker Championship for the purposes of sponsorship) was a professional snooker tournament that took place from 19 April to 5 May 2003 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England. It was the final ranking event of the 2002–03 snooker season. This was the 26th consecutive year that the World Snooker Championship had been held at the Crucible, marking the 25th anniversary of the first staging of the event at this venue. The championships were sponsored by cigarette manufacturer Embassy.

2003 Embassy World Snooker Championship
Tournament information
Dates19 April – 5 May 2003
VenueCrucible Theatre
CitySheffield
CountryEngland
Organisation(s)WPBSA
FormatRanking event
Total prize fund£1,682,900
Winner's share£270,000
Highest breakRonnie O'Sullivan (147)
Final
ChampionMark Williams
Runner-upKen Doherty
Score18–16
← 2002
2004 →

Mark Williams won his second World Championship title by defeating Ken Doherty 18–16 in the final. Having won the UK Championship and the Masters earlier in the season, Williams held all three Triple Crown titles simultaneously. The defending champion, Peter Ebdon, lost 12–13 to Paul Hunter in the quarter-finals and became another first-time champion to fall to the Crucible curse by failing to defend his first world title. A total prize fund of £1,682,900 was awarded at the event, with the winner receiving £270,000.

Overview

The World Snooker Championship is a professional tournament and the official world championship of the game of snooker.[1] Founded in the late 19th century by British Army soldiers stationed in India,[2] the sport was popular in the British Isles.[3] However, in the modern era it has become increasingly popular worldwide, especially in East and Southeast Asian nations such as China, Hong Kong and Thailand.[lower-alpha 1][3][5][6]

The championship featured 32 professional players competing in one-on-one snooker matches in a single elimination format, each played over several frames. The 32 competitors in the main tournament were selected using a combination of the top players in the world snooker rankings and a pre-tournament qualification stage.[7] Joe Davis won the first World Championship in 1927, the final match being held in Camkin's Hall, Birmingham, England.[8][9] Since 1977, the event has been held in the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England.[10][11]

Format

The championship was held from 19 April and 5 May 2003 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England, the 26th consecutive time that the tournament was held at the venue.[11] It was the ninth and last ranking event of the 2001–02 snooker season on the World Snooker Tour.[12][13] There were a total of 120 entrants from the tour, and the competition's main draw had 32 participants.[14]

The top 16 players in the latest world rankings automatically qualified for the main draw as seeded players. As defending champion, Peter Ebdon was seeded first for the event; the remaining 15 seeds were allocated based on the payers' world ranking positions.[15] Matches in the first round of the main draw were played as best-of-19-frames. The number of frames needed to win a match increased to 13 in the second round and quarter-finals, and 17 in the semi-finals; the final match was played as best-of-35-frames.[14]

Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for the event is shown below:[16][17]

  • Winner: £270,000
  • Runner-up: £158,000
  • Semi-final: £79,000
  • Quarter-final: £39,500
  • Last 16: £22,000
  • Last 32: £15,000
  • Highest break: £22,000
  • Maximum break: £147,000
  • Highest pre-TV break: £5,000
  • Total: £1,682,900

Tournament summary

First round
Ronnie O'Sullivan made a maximum break in the first round

The opening round was played from 19 to 24 April as the best-of-19 frames, held over two sessions. Ronnie O'Sullivan compiled a maximum break in his first-round match against Marco Fu, making him the first player to have scored two 147s at the venue. This was the fifth maximum compiled at the world championships; the first since O'Sullivan at the 1997 World Championship.[18] However, Fu won the match 10–6. Stephen Hendry made a 132 break in his first round match against Gary Wilkinson, and became the first player to compile 100 century breaks at the Crucible.[19] Hendry won the match 10–7.[20]

The number one seed Peter Ebdon won the opening match of the event, with a 10–3 victory over Gerard Greene.[21] Ebdon lead 4–3 but then won six frames in a row to win. Ebdon thanked stronger contact lenses for his ability to stay in the match.[21][22] Ken Doherty lead qualifier Shaun Murphy 8–4, but Murphy won four frames to tie the match at 8–8.[23] The next two frames were tied, sending the match to a deciding frame, which was won on the final black ball by Doherty.[23]

Second round

The second round was played from 24 to 28 April as the best-of-25 frames, held over three sessions. Mark Williams lost the opening two frames of his second-round match against Quinten Hann before winning 13 in a row – a record for a single match in the modern era of snooker – to triumph 13–2.[24] Matthew Stevens played Paul Hunter, with Hunter compiling the 750th century at the Crucible in frame four.[19] He led 12–4 after two sessions, and won 13–6.[25] Ken Doherty had a second deciding frame in two matches as he defeated Graeme Dott. Doherty was 2–7 behind, but won 9 of the next 11 frames to lead 11–9. With the scores tied at 12–12, Doherty won a 42-minute final frame.[26] In an all Scottish clash, Stephen Hendry defeated Drew Henry 13–10 from 9–10 behind.[27]

Quarter-finals
Stephen Lee won five frames in a row and reached his first semi-final

The quarter-final was played on 29 and 30 April as the best-of-25 frames played over three sessions. Paul Hunter defeated the defending champion Peter Ebdon in a deciding frame 13–12.[28][29] The pair were tied 8–8 after the first two sessions, with Ebdon leading 10–9 after breaks of 76 and 109. Hunter won the next three frames with breaks of 55, 106 and 71 to be one frame from victory. Ebdon won the next two frames to tie the match 12–12 before Hunter won the decider.[28] Having not reached a single final during his year as champion, Ebdon commented that "it has been a disapointing season", whilst Hunter drew on his Masters final win to motivate him in the deciding frame.[30]

In his match against John Higgins, Ken Doherty won the first ten frames, before Higgins took the next seven.[31] In seeing his lead shrin, Doherty referred to it as the "biggest collapse since the Wall Street in the 20s".[32] Doherty eventually won the match 13–8.[31] Mark Williams defeated seven-time champion and close friend Stephen Hendry 13–7.[33] Stephen Lee and Marco Fu were tied at 4–4 after the first session of their match, but Lee won the next five frames to lead 9–4, and eventually win 13–7.[34]

Semi-finals
Ken Doherty was six frames behind, but won 17–16.

The semi-finals were played between 1 and 3 May, as the best-of-33 frames, held over four sessions.[14] In the first semi-final, Ken Doherty trailed Paul Hunter 9–15 at the start of the final session with Hunter only requiring two more frames for victory. Doherty won five in a row to reduce the deficit to a single frame. Hunter took frame 30 to lead 16–14, but Doherty won all three remaining frames to win the match 17–16.[35] After the match, Hunter commented that he was "devastated" by the result. A condensed version of the match was showcased on BBC Two on 28 April 2020 in place of the 2020 World Snooker Championship which was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.[36][37]

The other semi-final was played between Mark Williams and Stephen Lee. Williams took an early 7–1 lead after the first session, but Lee won five of the eight frames in the second session to trail 10–6.[38] Williams won the opening four frames of the third session, and lead 16–8 leading into the final session, and won the remaining frame to win 17–8.[39] After the match, Lee called Williams "dangerous", whilst Williams suggested the opening session was when the match was won.[39]

Final
Mark Williams regained the world number one spot with a 18–16 win in the final.

The final was held on 4 and 5 May between Ken Doherty and Mark Williams as a best-of-35 frames match.[40] The final was officiated by the Netherlands' Jan Verhaas, the youngest referee at a world final.[41][42] Williams took an early lead in the final, leading at 6–2 after the first session, and extended the lead to 10–2 in the second session.[40] Doherty won three of the remaining four frame in the session to, with Williams leading 11–5 overnight.[40] On the resumption in the third session, Doherty won six frames in-a-row to tie the match at 11–11.[40] The pair shared the next six frames with the scores tied at 14–14, before Williams won the next two frames to lead 16–14. Doherty won the next two, before Williams won frame 33 and then frame 34 with a break of 77 to win the match 18–16.[40][43]

The win was Williams' second world championship, having won the title in 2000. In winning the event, Williams completed the Triple Crown, having also won the UK Championship and Masters in the season.[40] He was only the third player to win these three events in a single season.[44] The win allowed Williams to regain the position as world number one, the first player to regain the position.[44][45][46] Williams had only lost 19 frames through the first four rounds, winning 52.[47] With three of his matches going to a deciding frame, Doherty played 132 frames in the tournament, a record for the modern era.[48]

Main draw

Shown below are the results for each round. The numbers in brackets represents players seeding, whilst those in bold denote match winners.[49][50][51]

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[21]            
  Peter Ebdon (ENG) (1)  10
24, 25 & 26 April[52]
  Gerard Greene (NIR)  3  
  Peter Ebdon (1)  13
22 & 23 April[53]
    Tony Drago  5  
  Joe Swail (NIR) (16)  8
29 & 30 April[28]
  Tony Drago (MLT)  10  
  Peter Ebdon (1)  12
23 & 24 April[54]
    Paul Hunter (9)  13  
  Paul Hunter (ENG) (9)  10
27 & 28 April[25]
  Ali Carter (ENG)  5  
  Paul Hunter (9)  13
22 & 23 April[55]
    Matthew Stevens (8)  6  
  Matthew Stevens (WAL) (8)  10
1, 2 & 3 May[35]
  Chris Small (SCO)  3  
  Paul Hunter (9)  16
20 & 21 April[23]
    Ken Doherty (5)  17
  Ken Doherty (IRE) (5)  10
26, 27 & 28[26]
  Shaun Murphy (ENG)  9  
  Ken Doherty (5)  13
20 & 21 April[56]
    Graeme Dott (12)  12  
  Graeme Dott (SCO) (12)  10
29 & 30 April[31]
  Robert Milkins (ENG)  4  
  Ken Doherty (5)  13
19 & 20 April[57]
    John Higgins (4)  8  
  Joe Perry (ENG) (13)  4
25 & 26 April[58]
  Sean Storey (ENG)  10  
  Sean Storey  7
21 & 22 April[59]
    John Higgins (4)  13  
  John Higgins (SCO) (4)  10
  Ian McCulloch (ENG)  7  
23 & 24 April[60]            
  Mark Williams (WAL) (3)  10
27 & 28 April[61]
  Stuart Pettman (ENG)  2  
  Mark Williams (3)  13
19 & 20 April[62]
    Quinten Hann (14)  2  
  Quinten Hann (AUS) (14)  10
29 & 30 April[33]
  John Parrott (ENG)  5  
  Mark Williams (3)  13
19 & 20 April[63]
    Stephen Hendry (6)  7  
  Mark King (ENG) (11)  5
24 & 25 April[27]
  Drew Henry (SCO)  10  
  Drew Henry  10
19 & 20 April[20]
    Stephen Hendry (6)  13  
  Stephen Hendry (SCO) (6)  10
1, 2 & 3 May[39]
  Gary Wilkinson (ENG)  7  
  Mark Williams (3)  17
21 April[64]
    Stephen Lee (7)  8
  Stephen Lee (ENG) (7)  10
25 & 26 April[65]
  Steve Davis (ENG)  6  
  Stephen Lee (7)  13
22 & 23 April[66]
    Jimmy White (10)  11  
  Jimmy White (ENG) (10)  10
29 & 30 April[34]
  James Wattana (THA)  6  
  Stephen Lee (7)  13
21 & 22 April[67]
    Marco Fu  7  
  Alan McManus (SCO) (15)  10
26, 27 & 28 April[68]
  Nigel Bond (ENG)  7  
  Alan McManus (15)  7
22 & 23 April[69]
    Marco Fu  13  
  Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) (2)  6
  Marco Fu (HKG)  10  
Final (Best of 35 frames) Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. 4 and 5 May.[40] Referee: Jan Verhaas.[70]
Ken Doherty (5)
 Ireland		 16–18 Mark Williams (3)
 Wales
37–60, 55–82, 97–0, 29–73, 30–86, 12–82, 30–77, 56–75, 85–24, 4–118, 1–76, 0–101, 79–0, 70–69, 0–75, 60–51, 73–10, 62–31, 128–6, 61–17, 82–49, 70–39, 41–68, 115–0, 19–62, 98–23, 0–87, 78–45, 0–121, 0–77, 68–17, 120–16, 28–96, 5–120 Century breaks: 6
(Doherty 3, Williams 3)

Highest break by Doherty: 128
Highest break by Williams: 120

 37–60, 55–82, 97–0, 29–73, 30–86, 12–82, 30–77, 56–75, 85–24, 4–118, 1–76, 0–101, 79–0, 70–69, 0–75, 60–51, 73–10, 62–31, 128–6, 61–17, 82–49, 70–39, 41–68, 115–0, 19–62, 98–23, 0–87, 78–45, 0–121, 0–77, 68–17, 120–16, 28–96, 5–120
Mark Williams wins the 2003 Embassy World Snooker Championship

Century breaks

There were 53 century breaks made in the tournament.[50][71][72] The highest break was a maximum break of 147 made by Ronnie O'Sullivan in the opening round.[73]

gollark: Not *really*? It'll only improve compile time performance.
gollark: Are there C minifiers?
gollark: Why are you compiling RPNCalc to x86?
gollark: It's squite something.
gollark: That looks like a combinator which is a combinator and exists.

References
  1. The "modern era" of snooker is understood to have started in 1969, when the World Championship reverted to a knockout format.[4]
  1. "World Snooker Championship to stay in UK". Matchroom Sport. 19 January 2015. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  2. Clare, Peter (2008). "Origins of Snooker". Billiard and Snooker Heritage Collection. Archived from the original on 3 January 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  3. "The Rise Of China". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 26 February 2018. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  4. "John Higgins eyes more crucible titles". The Daily Telegraph. London. 5 May 2009. Archived from the original on 30 April 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2020. the modern era, which began in 1969 when the World Championship became a knockout event.
  5. Wilson, Bill (24 April 2015). "Snooker looks to cue up more big breaks in China". BBC News. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  6. "Snooker world champion, Hongkonger Ng On-yee aims to change image of male-dominated game". Hong Kong Free Press. Agence France-Presse. 17 March 2018. Archived from the original on 16 August 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  7. "Crucible Draw And Format". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 9 April 2019. Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  8. "History of Snooker – a Timeline". wpbsa. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Archived from the original on 18 April 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  9. "1927 World Professional Championship". globalsnookercentre.co.uk. Global Snooker Centre. Archived from the original on 10 October 2004. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  10. Historic England. "The Crucible Theatre (1392311)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  11. "History of the World Snooker Championship". worldsnooker.com. [World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Archived from the original on 15 March 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  12. "snooker.org: Embassy World Championship 2003". snooker.org. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  13. "BBC SPORT | Other Sport | Snooker | Calendar | Calendar". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  14. "BBC SPORT | Other Sport | Snooker | Crucible results". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  15. "Greene hoping to put the breaks on Ebdon show". Irish Examiner. 19 April 2003. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  16. Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 130.
  17. Everton, Clive. "Where the money went". Snooker Scene. No. June 2003. Snooker Scene Ltd. p. 27.
  18. Turner, Chris. "World Professional Championship". cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  19. Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 161.
  20. Jones, Clive (20 April 2003). "Hendry edges past Wilkinson". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  21. Harlow, Phil (19 April 2003). "Ebdon makes strong start". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  22. Peter Ebdon "I'm delighted". BBC. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  23. Jones, Clive (21 April 2003). "Doherty through in thriller". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  24. "BBC SPORT | Other Sport | Snooker | Williams takes centre stage". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  25. Orlovac, Mark (28 April 2003). "Hunter makes light work". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  26. Orlovac, Mark (28 April 2003). "Doherty survives test". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  27. Harlow, Phil (25 April 2003). "Hendry squeezes through". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  28. Orlovac, Mark (1 May 2003). "Hunter edges out Ebdon". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  29. "Crucible curse is too much for Ebdon". Liverpool Daily Post. 1 May 2003. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2013 – via The Free Library.
  30. Everton, Clive. "Peter Ebdon 12-13 Paul Hunter". Snooker Scene. No. June 2003. Snooker Scene Ltd. p. 21.
  31. Orlovac, Mark (30 April 2003). "Doherty fends off Higgins". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  32. Everton, Clive. "Doherty beats Higgins 13-8". Snooker Scene. No. June 2003. Snooker Scene Ltd. p. 20.
  33. Warren, Dan (30 April 2003). "Williams eases through". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  34. Warren, Dan (30 April 2003). "Lee brushes past Fu". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  35. Warren, Dan (3 May 2003). "Doherty wins Crucible epic". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  36. Hafez, Shamoon; Phillips, Owen (17 April 2020). "World Snooker Championship: Stephen Hendry & Steve Davis relive Crucible classics". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 22 April 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  37. "BBC to show classic Crucible matches". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  38. "BBC SPORT | Other Sport | Snooker | Framewatch: Williams v Lee". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  39. Warren, Dan (3 May 2003). "Williams breezes past Lee". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  40. Warren, Dan (5 May 2003). "Williams wins Crucible thriller". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 27 January 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  41. Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 143.
  42. Everton, Clive. "Doherty beat Dott 13-12". Snooker Scene. No. June 2003. Snooker Scene Ltd. p. 19.
  43. Everton, Clive. "Final Report". Snooker Scene. No. June 2003. Snooker Scene Ltd. p. 27.
  44. "BBC SPORT | Other Sport | Snooker | Williams aims to stay on top". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  45. "BBC SPORT | Other Sport | Snooker | Griffiths: Williams to rule roost". news.bbc.co.uk. 6 May 2003. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  46. Warren, Dan; Orlovac, Mark (6 May 2003). "BBC SPORT | Other Sport | Snooker | Crucible diary". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  47. "BBC SPORT | Other Sport | Snooker | Williams takes centre stage". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  48. "Snooker: Williams is world star; Mark fights his way to snooker title". The Mirror on Questia Online Library. Retrieved 11 May 2012. (subscription required)
  49. "Embassy World Championship 2003". BBC Sport. 6 May 2003. Archived from the original on 20 April 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  50. "2003 Embassy World Championship". Global Snooker Centre. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  51. Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. pp. 56–57.
  52. Harlow, Phil (26 April 2003). "Ebdon sees off Drago". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  53. Jones, Clive (23 April 2003). "Drago edges Swail". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  54. Jones, Clive (24 April 2003). "Hunter eases through". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  55. Jones, Clive (23 April 2003). "Stevens sweeps through". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  56. Jones, Clive (21 April 2003). "Dott powers to victory". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  57. Jones, Clive (20 April 2003). "Storey sees off Perry". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  58. Jones, Clive (26 April 2003). "Higgins coasts to quarters". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  59. Jones, Clive (22 April 2003). "Higgins eases through". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  60. Jones, Clive (24 April 2003). "Williams cruises past Pettman". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  61. Warren, Dan (28 April 2003). "Williams powers past Hann". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  62. Jones, Clive (20 April 2003). "Hann ends Parrott challenge". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  63. Jones, Clive (20 April 2003). "Henry sweeps past King". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  64. Harlow, Phil (21 April 2003). "Lee ends Davis dream". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  65. Jones, Clive (26 April 2003). "Lee ends White challenge". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  66. Harlow, Phil (23 April 2003). "White storms past Wattana". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  67. Jones, Clive (23 April 2003). "McManus grinds out victory". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  68. Warren, Dan (28 April 2003). "Fu charges into quarters". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  69. Harlow, Phil (23 April 2003). "O'Sullivan stunned by qualifier". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  70. Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 143.
  71. "Crucible century breaks". BBC Sport. 5 May 2003. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  72. "Crucible Centuries". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  73. Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 151.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.