2001 World Snooker Championship

Embassy World Snooker Championship

Tournament information
Dates	21 April–7 May 2001
Venue	Crucible Theatre
City	Sheffield
Country	England
Organisation(s)	WPBSA
Format	Ranking event
Total prize fund	£1,532,000
Winner's share	£260,000
Highest break	Joe Swail (140)
Final
Champion	Ronnie O'Sullivan
Runner-up	John Higgins
Score	18–14
← 2000 2002 →

The 2001 World Snooker Championship (also referred to as the 2001 Embassy World Snooker Championship for the purposes of sponsorship) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between the 21 April and 7 May 2001 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England.

Mark Williams was the defending champion, but he lost in the second round 12–13 against Joe Swail and became another first-time champion who fell to the Crucible curse and could not defend his first World title.

Ronnie O'Sullivan won his first World title by defeating John Higgins 18–14 in the final. The tournament was sponsored by cigarette manufacturer Embassy.

Tournament summary

• Both Steve Davis and Jimmy White failed to qualify for the 2001 championship for the first time in their careers since 1979 and 1981 respectively.^[1][2] Davis lost 6–10 against Andy Hicks and White 7–10 against Michael Judge.^[3]
• Patrick Wallace reached the quarter-finals of the championship on his debut, however he never qualified for the main draw again.^[4]

Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:^[5]

• Winner: £250,000
• Runner-up: £147,000
• Semi-final: £73,000
• Quarter-final: £36,500
• Last 16: £20,000
• Last 32: £14,000
• Last 48: £10,500
• Last 64: £6,600
• Last 96: £4,000
• Last 128: £1,100
• Highest break: £20,000
• Maximum break: £147,000
• Total: £1,532,000

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).^[6][7][8]

First round

Second round

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Best of 19 frames

Best of 25 frames

Best of 25 frames

Best of 33 frames

21 April[9]

Mark Williams (1)

10

26, 27 & 28 April[10]

Billy Snaddon

4

Mark Williams (1)

12

25 April[9]

Joe Swail (16)

13

Joe Swail (16)

10

1 & 2 May[11]

Sean Storey

9

Joe Swail (16)

13

24 April[9]

Patrick Wallace

11

Fergal O'Brien (9)

8

29 & 30 April[10]

Mark King

10

Mark King

5

23 & 24 April[9]

Patrick Wallace

13

Alan McManus (8)

2

3, 4 & 5 May[12]

Patrick Wallace

10

Joe Swail (16)

11

25 & 26 April[9]

Ronnie O'Sullivan (4)

17

Stephen Lee (5)

10

28, 29 & 30 April[10]

Nigel Bond

3

Stephen Lee (5)

12

22 & 23 April[9]

Peter Ebdon (12)

13

Peter Ebdon (12)

10

1 & 2 May[11]

James Wattana

8

Peter Ebdon (12)

6

21 & 22 April[9]

Ronnie O'Sullivan (4)

13

Dave Harold (13)

10

27 & 28 April[10]

Quinten Hann

5

Dave Harold (13)

6

22 & 23 April[9]

Ronnie O'Sullivan (4)

13

Ronnie O'Sullivan (4)

10

Andy Hicks

2

25 & 26 April[9]

Stephen Hendry (3)

10

29 & 30 April[10]

Mark Davis

5

Stephen Hendry (3)

13

21 & 22 April[9]

Paul Hunter (14)

5

Paul Hunter (14)

10

1 & 2 May[11]

David Roe

6

Stephen Hendry (3)

5

21 & 22 April

Matthew Stevens (6)

13

Anthony Hamilton (11)

10

26 & 27 April[10]

Marcus Campbell

4

Anthony Hamilton (11)

5

21 & 22 April[9]

Matthew Stevens (6)

13

Matthew Stevens (6)

10

3, 4 & 5 May[13]

Tony Drago

1

Matthew Stevens (6)

15

23 April[9]

John Higgins (2)

17

Ken Doherty (7)

10

27 & 28 April[10]

Nick Dyson

7

Ken Doherty (7)

13

23 & 24 April[9]

Michael Judge

7

John Parrott (10)

6

1 & 2 May[11]

Michael Judge

10

Ken Doherty (7)

6

24 & 25 April[9]

John Higgins (2)

13

Marco Fu (15)

8

28, 29 & 30 April[10]

Chris Small

10

Chris Small

8

24 & 25 April[9]

John Higgins (2)

13

John Higgins (2)

10

Graeme Dott

4

Final (Best of 35 frames) Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. 6 & 7 May 2001.[14] Referee: Eirian Williams.[15]
Ronnie O'Sullivan (4)  England	18–14	John Higgins (2)  Scotland
92–41, 0–92, 81–0, 79–0, 56–47, 0–135, 90–28, 71–0, 49–72 , 49–36, 2–53, 50–68, 99–0, 100–12, 22–108, 99–0, 81–26, 12–78, 139–0, 85–0, 133–0, 33–65, 21–67, 0–98, 19–68, 68–0, 78–43, 8–67, 5–101, 68–60, 69–71, 80–45	Century breaks: 4 (O'Sullivan 2, Higgins 2) Highest break by O'Sullivan: 139 Highest break by Higgins: 135	92–41, 0–92, 81–0, 79–0, 56–47, 0–135, 90–28 , 71–0, 49–72, 49–36, 2–53, 50–68, 99–0, 100–12, 22–108, 99–0, 81–26, 12–78, 139–0, 85–0, 133–0, 33–65, 21–67, 0–98, 19–68, 68–0, 78–43, 8–67, 5–101, 68–60, 69–71, 80–45
Ronnie O'Sullivan wins the 2001 Embassy World Snooker Championship

Qualifying

The qualifying matches were held between 20 February and 4 March 2001 at the Newport Centre in Newport, Wales.

Round 1

Best of 19 frames
Hasimu Tuerxun	10–3	Lasse Münstermann
Tom Ford	10–2	Charoen Phorat
Ricky Walden	10–5	David McDonnell
Shailesh Jogia	10–9	Shaun Murphy
Bob Chaperon	10–6	Ian Hurdman
Darryn Walker	10–3	Eddie Barker
Lee Spick	10–7	Michael Rhodes
Neil Robertson	10–7	Paul Davison

Round 2–4

Round 2 (Best of 19 frames)	Round 3 (Best of 19 frames)	Round 4 (Best of 19 frames)
Hugh Abernethy 10–4 Hasimu Tuerxun	Hugh Abernethy 10–8 Jason Prince	Rod Lawler 10–4 Hugh Abernethy
Nick Dyson 10–7 Ian Brumby	Nick Dyson 10–8 Mark Gray	Nick Dyson 10–7 Steve James
Tony Knowles 10–4 Colm Gilcreest	Tony Knowles 10–9 Dene O'Kane	Jimmy Michie 10–2 Tony Knowles
Jason Weston 10–8 Lee Richardson	Nick Pearce 10–6 James Weston	Alain Robidoux 10–6 Nick Pearce
Tom Ford 10–4 Scott Mackenzie	Barry Pinches 10–5 Tom Ford	Barry Pinches 10–5 Dave Finbow
Craig Harrison w/o–w/d Barry Pinches	Neal Foulds 10–9 Craig Harrison	Jamie Burnett 10–5 Neal Foulds
Farhan Mirza 10–8 Craig Roper	Shokat Ali 10–3 Farhan Mirza	Shokat Ali 10–7 Stuart Bingham
Jeff Cundy 10–6 Ricky Walden	Mark Davis 10–3 Jeff Cundy	Mark Davis 10–4 Peter Lines
Stephen Maguire 10–3 Troy Shaw	Stephen Maguire 10–3 John Lardner	Stephen Maguire 10–2 Stuart Pettman
Sean Storey 10–6 Wayne Saidler	Sean Storey 10–2 Stephen O'Connor	Sean Storey 10–8 Gary Ponting
Barry Hawkins w/o–w/d Mark Bennett	Barry Hawkins 10–8 Robert Milkins	Bradley Jones 10–8 Barry Hawkins
Noppadon Noppachorn 10–8 Anthony Bolsover	Noppadon Noppachorn 10–5 Mike Dunn	Noppadon Noppachorn 10–9 Paul Wykes
Munraj Pal 10–2 Alan Burnett	Munraj Pal 10–3 Mick Price	Anthony Davies 10–6 Munraj Pal
Paul McPhillips 10–7 Shailesh Jogia	Paul McPhillips 10–6 Tony Jones	Michael Judge 10–1 Paul McPhillips
Bjorn Haneveer 10–4 Richard King	Bjorn Haneveer 10–2 Darren Clarke	Bjorn Haneveer 10–4 Jason Ferguson
Craig Butler 10–9 Ryan Day	Craig Butler 10–7 Karl Broughton	Craig Butler 10–6 Lee Walker
Patrick Delsemme w/o–w/d Gareth Chilcott	Patrick Delsemme 10–8 Leigh Griffin	Patrick Delsemme 10–3 Gerard Greene
Stefan Mazrocis 10–4 Mehmet Husnu	Steve Judd 10–8 Stefan Mazrocis	Alfie Burden 10–2 Steve Judd
Jason Barton 10–7 Chris Shade	Jason Barton 10–8 Tony Chappel	Gary Wilkinson 10–5 Jason Barton
Andrew Higginson 10–7 Bob Chaperon	Andrew Higginson 10–8 Adrian Gunnell	Michael Holt 10–5 Andrew Higginson
Philip Williams 10–5 Mario Wehrmann	Philip Williams 10–8 Paul Sweeny	Andy Hicks 10–8 Philip Williams
Eddie Manning 10–9 Mike Hallett	Wayne Brown 10–8 Eddie Manning	Euan Henderson 10–3 Wayne Brown
Darryn Walker 10–4 Wayne Jones	Darryn Walker 10–9 Phaithoon Phonbun	Jonathan Birch 10–8 Darryn Walker
Stuart Mann 10–5 Peter McCullagh	Stuart Mann 10–9 Martin Dziewialtowski	Stuart Mann 10–2 Matthew Couch
James Reynolds 10–9 Joe Delaney	Dean Reynolds 10–7 James Reynolds	David Roe 10–8 Dean Reynolds
Karl Burrows w/o–w/d Nick Terry	Karl Burrows 10–3 Craig MacGillivray	Karl Burrows 10–7 John Read
Robin Hull 10–7 Barry Mapstone	Allister Carter 10–4 Robin Hull	Marcus Campbell 10–8 Allister Carter
Lee Spick 10–3 Matt Wilson	Kristjan Helgason 10–7 Lee Spick	David Gray 10–4 Kristjan Helgason
Neil Robertson 10–9 David McLellan	Neil Robertson 10–9 Mark Fenton	Ian McCulloch 10–8 Neil Robertson
Somporn Kathawung 10–4 Graham Lee	Somporn Kathawung 10–6 Willie Thorne	Joe Johnson 10–2 Somporn Kathawung
Simon Bedford 10–5 Da Hai Lin	Simon Bedford 10–8 Leo Fernandez	Simon Bedford 10–3 Paul Davies
Mark Selby 10–4 Stuart Reardon	Nick Walker 10–9 Mark Selby	Patrick Wallace 10–2 Nick Walker

Round 5–6

^[6]

Round 5 (Best of 19 frames)	Round 6 (Best of 19 frames)
Nick Dyson 10–8 Rod Lawler	Nick Dyson 10–9 Brian Morgan
Jimmy Michie 10–7 Alain Robidoux	Nigel Bond 10–6 Jimmy Michie
Barry Pinches 10–5 Jamie Burnett	Chris Small 10–8 Barry Pinches
Mark Davis 10–5 Shokat Ali	Mark Davis 10–9 Dominic Dale
Sean Storey 10–5 Stephen Maguire	Sean Storey 10–9 Terry Murphy
Bradley Jones 10–2 Noppadon Noppachorn	Mark King 10–6 Bradley Jones
Michael Judge 10–9 Anthony Davies	Michael Judge 10–7 Jimmy White
Bjorn Haneveer 10–7 Craig Butler	Graeme Dott 10–8 Bjorn Haneveer
Patrick Delsemme 10–7 Alfie Burden	Quinten Hann 10–3 Patrick Delsemme
Michael Holt 10–5 Gary Wilkinson	Billy Snaddon 10–6 Michael Holt
Andy Hicks 10–9 Euan Henderson	Andy Hicks 10–6 Steve Davis
Jonathan Birch 10–6 Stuart Mann	James Wattana 10–5 Jonathan Birch
David Roe 10–8 Karl Burrows	David Roe 10–8 Darren Morgan
Marcus Campbell 10–9 David Gray	Marcus Campbell 10–5 Drew Henry
Ian McCulloch 10–4 Joe Johnson	Tony Drago 10–9 Ian McCulloch
Patrick Wallace 10–9 Simon Bedford	Patrick Wallace 10–4 Joe Perry

Century breaks

There were 53 century breaks in the Championship.^[16] The highest break of the tournament was 140 made by Joe Swail.^[6][17]

140, 138, 114, 107 Joe Swail 139, 139, 136, 135, 126, 121, 113, 110, 107, 105, 103 John Higgins 139, 134, 133, 126, 100, 100 Matthew Stevens 139, 133, 119, 114, 108, 108, 106, 100, 100 Ronnie O'Sullivan 137 Mark King 135, 125, 104 Patrick Wallace 130, 108, 100 Paul Hunter 129, 106, 100 Stephen Hendry

121, 100 Stephen Lee 116, 114, 101 Ken Doherty 114, 110 Anthony Hamilton 110, 101 Peter Ebdon 108 Michael Judge 102 Nick Dyson 101 Chris Small 101 Mark Williams

References

1. "Steve Davis at the World Championships". Snooker Database. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
2. "Jimmy White at the World Championships". Snooker Database. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
3. King, Steve. "End of an era as Davis misses out on Crucible". The Scotsman on HighBeam Research. Retrieved 11 May 2012. (subscription required)
4. "Patrick Wallace at the World Championships". Snooker Database. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
5. Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 130.
6. "World Championship 2001". Global Snooker. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
7. "Embassy World Championship 2001". Snooker.org. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
8. Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. pp. 52–53.
9. "Crucible: First round". BBC News. 27 April 2001. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
10. "Crucible: Second Round". BBC News. 28 April 2001. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
11. "Crucible: Quarter-Finals". BBC News. 3 May 2001. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
12. "Framewatch: O'Sullivan v Swail". BBC News. 5 May 2001. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
13. "Framewatch: Higgins v Stevens". BBC News. 5 May 2001. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
14. "Framewatch: O'Sullivan v Higgins". BBC News. 7 May 2001. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
15. Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 143.
16. Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 150.
17. "Crucible Centuries". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.