2003 World Snooker Championship

Overview

The World Snooker Championship is a professional tournament and the official world championship of the game of snooker. Founded in the late 19th century by British Army soldiers stationed in India, the sport was popular in the British Isles. 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.

The championship featured 32 professional players competing in one-on-one snooker matches in a single elimination format, each played over several . 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. Joe Davis won the first World Championship in 1927, the final match being held in Camkin's Hall, Birmingham, England. Since 1977, the event has been held in the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England.

Format

The championship was held from 19 April and 5 May 2003 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England, the 27th consecutive time that the tournament was held at the venue. It was the ninth and last ranking event of the 2002–03 snooker season on the World Snooker Tour. There were a total of 120 entrants from the tour, and the competition's main draw had 32 participants.

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, with world number 1 Ronnie O'Sullivan seeded 2; the remaining seeds were allocated based on the players' world ranking positions. 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.

Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for the event is shown below:

• 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

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 and the first since O'Sullivan at the 1997 World Championship. 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. Hendry won the match 10–7.

The number one seed Peter Ebdon won the opening match of the event, with a 10–3 victory over Gerard Greene. 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. Ken Doherty led qualifier Shaun Murphy 8–4, but Murphy won four frames to tie the match at 8–8. The next two frames were tied, sending the match to a , which was won on the final by Doherty.

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. Matthew Stevens played Paul Hunter, with Hunter compiling the 750th century at the Crucible in frame four. He led 12–4 after two sessions, and won 13–6. 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. In an all-Scottish clash, Stephen Hendry defeated Drew Henry 13–10 from 9–10 behind.

Quarter-finals

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. 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. Having not reached a single final during his year as champion, Ebdon commented that "it's been a disappointing season".

In his match against John Higgins, Ken Doherty won the first ten frames, before Higgins took the next seven. In seeing his lead shrink, Doherty referred to it as the "biggest collapse since Wall Street in the 20s". Doherty eventually won the match 13–8. Mark Williams defeated seven-time champion Stephen Hendry 13–7. 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 won 13–7.

Semi-finals

The semi-finals were played between 1 and 3 May, as the best-of-33 frames, held over four sessions. 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. 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.

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. 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. After the match, Lee called Williams "dangerous", whilst Williams suggested the opening session was when the match was won.

Final

The final was held on 4 and 5 May between Ken Doherty and Mark Williams as a best-of-35 frames match. The final was officiated by the Netherlands' Jan Verhaas, the youngest referee at a world final. 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. Doherty won three of the remaining four frames in the session to leave Williams with an 11–5 lead overnight. On the resumption in the third session, Doherty won six frames in-a-row to tie the match at 11–11. 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.

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. He was only the third player to win these three events in a single season and is the most recent player to have achieved this. The win allowed Williams to become world number one again, the first player to regain the position under the current ranking system and only the second overall after Ray Reardon. Williams had only lost 19 frames through the first four rounds, winning 53. With three of his matches going to a deciding frame, Doherty played 132 out of a possible 137 frames in the tournament, a record for the modern era, with only his quarter final win over Higgins having been decided by more than two frames.

Main draw

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

| team-width = 175 Best of 19 frames Best of 25 frames Best of 25 frames Best of 33 frames Best of 35 frames |19 April |Peter Ebdon (1) |10|Gerard Greene|3 |22 & 23 April |Joe Swail (16)|8|Tony Drago|10 |23 & 24 April |Paul Hunter (9)|10|Ali Carter|5 |22 & 23 April |Matthew Stevens (8)|10|Chris Small|3 |20 & 21 April |Ken Doherty (5)|10|Shaun Murphy|9 |20 & 21 April |Graeme Dott (12) |10|Robert Milkins|4 |19 & 20 April |Joe Perry (13)|4|Sean Storey|10 |21 & 22 April |John Higgins (4)|10|Ian McCulloch|7 |23 & 24 April |Mark Williams (3)|10|Stuart Pettman|2 |19 & 20 April |Quinten Hann (14)|10|John Parrott|5 |19 & 20 April |Mark King (11)|5|Drew Henry|10 |19 & 20 April |Stephen Hendry (6)|10|Gary Wilkinson|7 |21 April |Stephen Lee (7)|10|Steve Davis|6 |22 & 23 April |Jimmy White (10)|10|James Wattana|6 |21 & 22 April |Alan McManus (15)|10|Nigel Bond|7 |22 & 23 April |Ronnie O'Sullivan (2)|6|Marco Fu|10 |24, 25 & 26 April |England Peter Ebdon (1)|13|Malta Tony Drago|5 |27 & 28 April |England Paul Hunter (9)|13|Wales Matthew Stevens (8)|6 |26, 27 & 28 |Ireland Ken Doherty (5)|13|Scotland Graeme Dott (12)|12 |25 & 26 April |England Sean Storey|7|Scotland John Higgins (4)|13 |27 & 28 April |Wales Mark Williams (3)|13|Australia Quinten Hann (14)|2 |24 & 25 April |Scotland Drew Henry|10|Scotland Stephen Hendry (6)|13 |25 & 26 April |England Stephen Lee (7)|13|England Jimmy White (10)|11 |26, 27 & 28 April |Scotland Alan McManus (15)|7|Hong Kong Marco Fu|13 |29 & 30 April |England Peter Ebdon (1)|12|England Paul Hunter (9)|13 |29 & 30 April |Ireland Ken Doherty (5)|13|Scotland John Higgins (4)|8 |29 & 30 April |Wales Mark Williams (3)|13|Scotland Stephen Hendry (6)|7 |29 & 30 April |England Stephen Lee (7)|13|Hong Kong Marco Fu|7 |1, 2 & 3 May |England Paul Hunter (9)|16|Ireland Ken Doherty (5)|17 |1, 2 & 3 May |Wales Mark Williams (3)|17|England Stephen Lee (7)|8 |4 and 5 May|Ireland Ken Doherty (5)|16|Wales Mark Williams (3)|18

|(Best of 35 frames) Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. 4 and 5 May. Referee: Jan Verhaas. |Ken Doherty (5)

|16–18 |Mark Williams (3)

|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 |WAL Mark Williams wins the 2003 Embassy World Snooker Championship |Best of 19 frames |Best of 25 frames |Best of 25 frames |Best of 33 frames

Century breaks

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

• 147 Ronnie O'Sullivan
• 140, 125, 102, 100 Stephen Lee
• 135, 127, 109, 105, 100 Peter Ebdon
• 135, 128, 128, 120, 110, 106, 101 Paul Hunter
• 133, 114, 109 Marco Fu
• 132, 130, 120, 115, 114, 111 Stephen Hendry
• 131, 128, 115, 115, 112, 112, 111, 107 Ken Doherty
• 131, 120, 118, 115, 102, 101 Mark Williams
• 128 Matthew Stevens
• 127, 122, 113, 103 John Higgins
• 127 Alan McManus
• 117 Nigel Bond
• 113, 107 Tony Drago
• 104 Graeme Dott
• 101 Ali Carter
• 101 Shaun Murphy
• 100 Ian McCulloch

References

References

1. (19 January 2015). "World Snooker Championship to Stay in UK". Matchroom Sport.
2. Clare, Peter. (2008). "Origins of Snooker". Billiard and Snooker Heritage Collection.
3. . (5 May 2009). ["John Higgins Eyes More Crucible Titles"](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/5276218/John-Higgins-eyes-more-Crucible-titles.html). *The Daily Telegraph*.
4. Wilson, Bill. (24 April 2015). "Snooker Looks to Cue up More Big Breaks in China". BBC News.
5. (17 March 2018). "Snooker World Champion, Hongkonger Ng On-Yee Aims to Change Image of Male-Dominated Game". Hong Kong Free Press.
6. (9 April 2019). "Crucible Draw And Format". World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association.
7. "History of Snooker – a Timeline". World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association.
8. "1927 World Professional Championship". Global Snooker Centre.
9. {{National Heritage List for England
10. "Snooker.org: Embassy World Championship 2003". snooker.org.
11. (17 October 2000). "BBC SPORT {{!}} Other Sport {{!}} Snooker {{!}} Calendar {{!}} Calendar". news.bbc.co.uk.
12. (19 April 2003). "Greene Hoping to Put the Breaks on Ebdon Show". Irish Examiner.
13. Downer, Chris. (2012). "Crucible Almanac".
14. (June 2003). "Where the Money Went". Everton's News Agency.
15. Turner, Chris. "World Professional Championship". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive.
16. Downer, Chris. (2012). "Crucible Almanac".
17. Jones, Clive. (20 April 2003). "Hendry Edges Past Wilkinson". [[BBC Sport]].
18. Harlow, Phil. (19 April 2003). "Ebdon Makes Strong Start". [[BBC Sport]].
19. "Peter Ebdon "I'm Delighted"". BBC.
20. Jones, Clive. (21 April 2003). "Doherty Through in Thriller". [[BBC Sport]].
21. Warren, Dan. (6 May 2003). "Williams Takes Centre Stage". news.bbc.co.uk.
22. Orlovac, Mark. (28 April 2003). "Hunter Makes Light Work". [[BBC Sport]].
23. Orlovac, Mark. (28 April 2003). "Doherty Survives Test". [[BBC Sport]].
24. Harlow, Phil. (25 April 2003). "Hendry Squeezes Through". [[BBC Sport]].
25. Orlovac, Mark. (1 May 2003). "Hunter Edges out Ebdon". [[BBC Sport]].
26. (1 May 2003). "Crucible Curse Is Too Much for Ebdon". [[Liverpool Daily Post]].
27. Hendon, Dave. (June 2003). "Hunter beat Ebddon 13–11 Paul Hunter". Everton's News Agency.
28. Orlovac, Mark. (30 April 2003). "Doherty Fends off Higgins". [[BBC Sport]].
29. Yates, Phil. (June 2003). "Doherty beat Higgins 13–8". Everton's News Agency.
30. Warren, Dan. (30 April 2003). "Williams Eases Through". [[BBC Sport]].
31. Warren, Dan. (30 April 2003). "Lee Brushes Past Fu". [[BBC Sport]].
32. Warren, Dan. (3 May 2003). "Doherty Wins Crucible Epic". [[BBC Sport]].
33. (17 April 2020). "World Snooker Championship: Stephen Hendry & Steve Davis Relive Crucible Classics". BBC Sport.
34. "BBC to Show Classic Crucible Matches". BBC Sport.
35. (31 May 2003). "Framewatch: Williams v Lee". news.bbc.co.uk.
36. Warren, Dan. (3 May 2003). "Williams Breezes Past Lee". [[BBC Sport]].
37. Downer, Chris. (2012). "Crucible Almanac".
38. Yates, Phil. (June 2003). "Doherty Beat Dott 13–12". Everton's News Agency.
39. Yates, Phil. (June 2003). "Final". Everton's News Agency.
40. (6 May 2003). "Williams Aims to Stay on Top". news.bbc.co.uk.
41. (6 May 2003). "Griffiths: Williams to Rule Roost". news.bbc.co.uk.
42. (6 May 2003). "Crucible Diary". news.bbc.co.uk.
43. "Snooker: Williams Is World Star; Mark Fights His Way to Snooker Title.". [[Daily Mirror.
44. (6 May 2003). "Embassy World Championship 2003". [[BBC Sport]].
45. "2003 Embassy World Championship". Global Snooker Centre.
46. Downer, Chris. (2012). "Crucible Almanac".
47. Jones, Clive. (23 April 2003). "Drago Edges Swail". [[BBC Sport]].
48. Jones, Clive. (24 April 2003). "Hunter Eases Through". [[BBC Sport]].
49. Jones, Clive. (23 April 2003). "Stevens Sweeps Through". [[BBC Sport]].
50. Jones, Clive. (21 April 2003). "Dott Powers to Victory". [[BBC Sport]].
51. Jones, Clive. (20 April 2003). "Storey Sees off Perry". [[BBC Sport]].
52. Jones, Clive. (22 April 2003). "Higgins Eases Through". [[BBC Sport]].
53. Jones, Clive. (24 April 2003). "Williams Cruises Past Pettman". [[BBC Sport]].
54. Jones, Clive. (20 April 2003). "Hann Ends Parrott Challenge". [[BBC Sport]].
55. Jones, Clive. (20 April 2003). "Henry Sweeps Past King". [[BBC Sport]].
56. Harlow, Phil. (21 April 2003). "Lee Ends Davis Dream". [[BBC Sport]].
57. Harlow, Phil. (23 April 2003). "White Storms Past Wattana". [[BBC Sport]].
58. Jones, Clive. (23 April 2003). "McManus Grinds out Victory". [[BBC Sport]].
59. Harlow, Phil. (23 April 2003). "O'Sullivan Stunned by Qualifier". [[BBC Sport]].
60. Harlow, Phil. (26 April 2003). "Ebdon Sees off Drago". [[BBC Sport]].
61. Jones, Clive. (26 April 2003). "Higgins Coasts to Quarters". [[BBC Sport]].
62. Warren, Dan. (28 April 2003). "Williams Powers Past Hann". [[BBC Sport]].
63. Jones, Clive. (26 April 2003). "Lee Ends White Challenge". [[BBC Sport]].
64. Warren, Dan. (28 April 2003). "Fu Charges into Quarters". [[BBC Sport]].
65. Warren, Dan. (5 May 2003). "Williams Wins Crucible Thriller". [[BBC Sport]].
66. (5 May 2003). "Crucible Century Breaks". [[BBC Sport]].
67. "Crucible Centuries". Snooker.org.
68. Downer, Chris. (2012). "Crucible Almanac".
69. (26 February 2018). "The Rise Of China". World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association.
70. "History of the World Snooker Championship". [World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association.
71. (6 May 2003). "BBC SPORT {{!}} Other Sport {{!}} Snooker {{!}} Crucible Results". news.bbc.co.uk.