2008 World Snooker Championship

The 2008 World Snooker Championship (also referred to as the 2008 888.com World Snooker Championship for the purposes of sponsorship) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 19 April and 5 May 2008 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England.

888.com World Snooker Championship
Tournament information
Dates19 April – 5 May 2008
VenueCrucible Theatre
CitySheffield
CountryEngland
Organisation(s)WPBSA
FormatRanking event
Total prize fund£1,050,000
Winner's share£250,000
Highest break Ronnie O'Sullivan (147)
Ali Carter (147)
Final
Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan
Runner-up Ali Carter
Score18–8
← 2007
2009 →

John Higgins was the defending champion, but he lost in the second round 9–13 against Ryan Day.

Ronnie O'Sullivan won his third world title by defeating Ali Carter 18–8 in the final. It was O'Sullivan's 20th ranking title.[1] The tournament was sponsored by online casino 888.com.

Tournament summary

First round

Second round
  • Ryan Day reached the quarter-finals of the World Championship for the first time in his career by beating the defending champion John Higgins 13–9.[11]
  • Stephen Hendry reached the quarter-finals for the seventeenth time in his career.[12]
  • Liang Wenbo 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.[13]
  • Ronnie O'Sullivan scored a maximum break against Mark 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 O'Sullivan's third at the Crucible.[14]
  • Following his loss to Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Williams dropped out of the top 16 of the World Rankings after twelve seasons in it.[15]
  • Stephen Maguire repeated his first round feat by winning the first eight frames in the first session of his match against Neil Robertson.[10]

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 main draw of the same ranking tournament. Peter Ebdon came very close to a maximum 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.[16]
  • Stephen Hendry reached the 12th Crucible semi-final of his career, setting a record for one-table appearances that still stands.[17]
  • Liang Wenbo became the first player from mainland China to reach this stage.[16]

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. With winning the opening frame of the third session, he extended the winning streak to 12 consecutive frames. At one point O'Sullivan scored 448 points without reply. This was the first time Hendry had lost every frame in a full session at the Crucible.[18] O'Sullivan won the match 17–6 with a session to spare.[19]
  • This was Stephen Hendry's last World Championship semi-final, 19 years after his first.
  • Ali Carter reached his first ever ranking final by beating Joe Perry 17–15.[20]

Final
  • For the first time in the history of any snooker tournament, both finalists had compiled maximum breaks in earlier rounds.
  • For the first time since 1991 two Englishmen played in the final. In 1991 John Parrott defeated Jimmy White 18–11.[21]
  • Ronnie O'Sullivan became only the third player after Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry to win more than two World titles at the Crucible.[21]
  • 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".[22]

Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:[10][23]

Main draw

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).[10][24]

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 Williams (12)  7  
  Mark 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
    Ali Carter (14)  13  
  Ali Carter (14)  10
29 & 30 April
  Barry Hawkins  9  
  Ali 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  
  Ali 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[25]
Ronnie O'Sullivan (5)
 England		 18–8 Ali Carter (14)
 England
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, 62–16 Century breaks: 2
(O'Sullivan 1, Carter 1)

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, 62–16
Ronnie O'Sullivan wins the 2008 888.com World Snooker Championship

Preliminary qualifying

The preliminary qualifying rounds for the tournament took place at Pontin's in Prestatyn, Wales between 3 and 5 January 2008.[10]

Round 1

Phil Seaton5–2 Donald Newcombe

Round 2

Colin Mitchell5–4 Phil Seaton
Les Dodd1–5 David Singh
Adam Osbourne0–5 Sean Storey
Tony Knowles5–1 Ali Bassiri
Neil Selman5–1 John Wilson
Ian Stark5–4 Del Smith
Tony Brown5–1 Christopher Flight
Stephen Ormerodw/o–w/d Paul Wykes

Round 3

Colin Mitchell5–3 David Singh
Sean Storey5–0 Tony Knowles
Neil Selman4–5 Ian Stark
Tony Brown3–5 Stephen Ormerod

Qualifying

The qualifying rounds 1–4 for the tournament that place at Pontin's in Prestatyn, Wales between 6 and 11 January 2008. The final round of qualifying took place at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield between 7 and 10 March.[10]

Round 1

Patrick Wallace10–1 Sean Storey
Jimmy Robertson10–5 Stephen Ormerod
Rodney Goggins10–4 Ian Stark
Liu Chuang10–0 Colin Mitchell

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   Dave 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

Century breaks

[10]

Televised stage centuries

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. In total there were 63 century breaks made at this year's world championships.

Qualifying stage centuries
gollark: I *could* stand outside in my pyjamas for a while, but I would get cold and not like it.
gollark: Well, survive, yes.
gollark: Also mutants.
gollark: Clearly you are a MUTANT!
gollark: Or, well, not that weird, if you didn't stay out long.

References
  1. "O'Sullivan completes world hat-trick". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Archived from the original on 8 May 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  2. "Higgins shrugs off early nerves to thwart Stevens' fightback". The Independent on Sunday on HighBeam Research. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2012. (subscription required)
  3. "End Of The World For White". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  4. "Liang stuns Doherty; Liu hangs on". China Internet Information Center. Archived from the original on 9 February 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  5. Roopanarine, Les (22 April 2008). "King reigns supreme as Selby makes early exit". London: guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  6. Casey, Phil. "Higgins wary of Stevens threat". Sporting Life. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  7. King, John (20 April 2008). "Red has Matt feeling blue". Sunday Mirror on FindArticles. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  8. "Ding Junhui". betfred.com. Betfred. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  9. Everton, Clive (24 April 2008). "Liang downs off-form Doherty". London: guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  10. "World Snooker Championship 2008". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 10 March 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  11. Yates, Phil (27 April 2008). "Cut of the cloth leaves Higgins out and angry". London: guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  12. Yates, Phil (28 April 2008). "Steady approach gets Stephen Hendry to last eight". The Times. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  13. "Liang edges out Swail in classic". BBC Sport. 28 April 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  14. Everton, Clive (28 April 2008). "O'Sullivan hits maximum to complete win". London: guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  15. "World Rankings 2008/2009". Snooker.org. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  16. Everton, Clive (30 April 2008). "Carter's 'pure adrenaline rush' takes him to a maximum". London: guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  17. "O'Sullivan joins Carter, Perry and Hendry in semi-finals". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  18. "O'Sullivan sends Hendry reeling". London: guardian.co.uk. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  19. Humphries, Adrian. "Brilliant Rocket 7-1 to win with a session to spare". Racing Post on TheFreeLibrary.com. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  20. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7378823.stm
  21. Turner, Chris. "World Professional Championship". cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  22. "O'Sullivan wins third world title". BBC Sport. 5 May 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  23. Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 130.
  24. "888.Com World Championship 2008". Snooker.org. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  25. Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 143.
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