2001 World Snooker Championship

Professional snooker tournament 2001 Embassy World Snooker Championship 2001 04 21 2001 05 7 y Crucible Theatre Sheffield England WPBSA Ranking event £1,532,000 £250,000 Joe Swail NIR (140) Ronnie O'Sullivan ENG John Higgins SCO 18–14 2000 2002 The 2001 World Snooker Championship (officially the 2001 Embassy World Snooker Championship) was a professional snooker tournament that took place from 21 April to 7 May 2001 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England. It was the 25th consecutive year that the World Snooker Championship was staged at the venue. Sponsored by cigarette brand Embassy, the tournament was the eighth and final ranking event of the 2000–01 season. The winner received £250,000 from a total prize pool of £1,532,000. The top 16 players from the snooker world rankings were seeded through to the main stage at the Crucible. They were joined by the 16 winning players from qualifying rounds, which took place from 20 February to 4 March at the Newport Centre in Newport, Wales. Mark Williams was the defending champion, having defeated Matthew Stevens 18–16 in the final of the 2000 World Snooker Championship. He lost in a deciding frame in his second-round match against Joe Swail, becoming the 10th player to experience the so-called Crucible curse, referring to the fact that no first-time champion had retained the title since the tournament moved to the Crucible in 1977. Ronnie O'Sullivan defeated John Higgins 18–14 in the final to claim his maiden world title. The main stage of the tournament produced 53 century breaks, of which the highest was a 140 compiled by Swail. Background alt=The Crucible Theatre from outside|thumb|upright=1.1|For the 24th consecutive year, the main stage of the tournament was held at the Crucible Theatre (pictured) in Sheffield, England. The inaugural 1927 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 at Camkin's Hall in Birmingham from 9 to 12 May 1927—and went on to win the tournament 15 consecutive times before retiring undefeated after the 1946 edition (no tournaments were held from 1941 to 1945 because of World War II).Everton Clive The History of Snooker and Billiards Partridge Press Haywards Heath 1986 978-1-85225-013-3 50Turner Chris World Professional Championship http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/world.html Chris Turner's Snooker Archive 2008 31 March 2024 6 June 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160606102115/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/world.html dead11 July 1978 Joe Davis, a snooker champion who retired unbeaten, Was 77 https://www.nytimes.com/1978/07/11/archives/joe-davis-a-snooker-champion-who-retired-unbeaten-was-77.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20231022194142/https://www.nytimes.com/1978/07/11/archives/joe-davis-a-snooker-champion-who-retired-unbeaten-was-77.html 22 October 2023 31 March 2024 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 The tournament went into abeyance after only two players contested the 1952 edition. The six editions of the World Professional Match-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. Then-professional player Rex Williams was instrumental in reviving the World Snooker Championship on a challenge basis in 1964. John Pulman, winner of the 1957 World Professional Match-play Championship, defended the world title across seven challenge matches between 1964 and 1968. The World Snooker Championship reverted to an annual knockout tournament for the 1969 edition, marking the beginning of the championship's "modern era".Nunns Hector Hendon David Full history https://wpbsa.com/about-us/history/full-history/ WPBSA 31 March 2024 31 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240331092827/https://wpbsa.com/about-us/history/full-history/ liveWright Joe Who has won the most World Snooker Championship titles? Hendry, O'Sullivan, Davis and the players with the most trophies https://www.sportingnews.com/us/snooker/news/most-world-snooker-championship-titles-hendry-osullivan-davis-trophies/joqsk1qyc3vivgpfptced4rl The Sporting News 30 April 2023 31 March 2024 14 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240114220848/https://www.sportingnews.com/us/snooker/news/most-world-snooker-championship-titles-hendry-osullivan-davis-trophies/joqsk1qyc3vivgpfptced4rl live The 1977 edition was the first staged at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, where it has remained since.Halo World Championship https://www.wst.tv/worldchampionship World Snooker Tour 10 April 2024 10 April 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240410053119/https://www.wst.tv/cazooworldchampionship/ liveWorld Snooker Championship in Sheffield https://www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/visit/headline-events/world-snooker-championship/ Sheffield City Council 31 March 2024 25 February 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240225012256/https://www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/visit/headline-events/world-snooker-championship/ live The most successful player in the modern era was Stephen Hendry, having won the title seven times.World Snooker Championship 2022: Ronnie O'Sullivan plays down record-equalling seventh title https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/61301395 Sutcliffe Steve BBC Sport 3 May 2022 29 March 2024 22 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231022211824/https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/61301395 liveBetfred World Championship World Snooker 27 March 2022 https://wst.tv/tournaments/betfred-world-championship/ 14 May 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210514143520/https://wst.tv/tournaments/betfred-world-championship/ dead Hendry was also the tournament's youngest winner, having captured his first title at the 1990 event, aged 1969-01-13 1990-04-29 and.Millington Sarah Looking back to 1990: when Stephen Hendry became a snooker champion https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/24091190.looking-back-1990-stephen-hendry-became-snooker-champion/ News and Star 2 February 2024 31 March 2024 31 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240331125625/https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/24091190.looking-back-1990-stephen-hendry-became-snooker-champion/ live en Ray Reardon became the oldest winner when he secured his sixth title at the 1978 event, aged 1932-10-08 1978-04-29 and.Snooker World Records https://www.snooker.org/plr/records.shtml snooker.org 6 May 2025 Overview The 2001 World Snooker Championship was the eighth and last ranking tournament of the 2000–01 snooker season, held after the Scottish Open. It took place from 21 April to 7 May.https://www.snooker.org/Trn/0001/ The 2000/2001 Season snooker.org 1 September 2025 It was sponsored by cigarette brand Embassy.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/jan/19/snooker.gdnsport31 Snooker finds sponsor with deep pockets The Guardian Mike Anstead 19 January 2006 1 September 2025 25 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160325161804/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/jan/19/snooker.gdnsport31 live The 2001 edition marked the 25th consecutive year that the tournament was held at the Crucible and the 33rd successive year that the World Championship was contested through the modern knockout format.History of the World Snooker Championship http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/BetfredcomWorldChampionshipTournamentsArticle/0,,13165~2306123,00.html World Snooker Tour 2 March 2011 31 March 2024 29 October 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195714/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/BetfredcomWorldChampionshipTournamentsArticle/0,,13165~2306123,00.html deadEmbassy World Championship http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=36 Snooker Scene 31 March 2024 24 January 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130124071753/http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=36 dead The defending champion was Mark Williams, who had defeated Matthew Stevens 18–16 in the final of the 2000 World Championship to win his first world title.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/732666.stm Williams wins epic snooker final 1 May 2000 BBC Sport 1 September 2025 22 February 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130222031824/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/732666.stm live Format The top 16 players in the snooker world rankings were seeded through to the main stage at the Crucible Theatre. They faced 16 players who progressed through the qualifying rounds, which took place from 20 February to 4 March at the Newport Centre in Wales. First-round matches were played as the best of 19 frame frames, held over two session sessions. 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.Downer 2019 52–53 Prize fund The breakdown of prize money is shown below:Downer 2019 146Where the Money Went Snooker Scene June 2001 33 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 Highest pre-TV break: £2,200 Highest pre-qualifying break: £2,200 Maximum break: £147,000 Total: £1,532,000 Summary First round The first round was played between 21 and 26 April as the best of 19 frame frames held over two session sessions.Downer 2019 52–53 The defending champion, Mark Williams, defeated Billy Snaddon 10–4. The highest break of the match was a 69 by Williams in the last frame. Paul Hunter fell 1–4 behind David Roe, but produced breaks of 130, 60, 52, 100, 55, 108, 87 and 61 to win 10–6. Dave Harold and Quinten Hann shared the first ten frames of their match, but Harold made two half-century half-century breaks as he won five frames in a row to clinch victory. Anthony Hamilton won 10–4 over Marcus Campbell. Tony Drago scored point points in every frame save one of his match against Matthew Stevens, runner-up in the previous edition of the tournament, but lost 1–10. Peter Ebdon compiled breaks of 54, 55, 110, 55, 83, 99 and 67 as he defeated James Wattana 10–8. Andy Hicks only won two frames in his match against Ronnie O'Sullivan. Ken Doherty eliminated Nick Dyson with a 10–7 result in a contest that featured three century breaks.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/in_depth/2001/world_snooker_championship/1300326.stm Crucible: First round 27 April 2001 BBC Sport 29 August 2025 23 May 2004 https://web.archive.org/web/20040523184046/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2001/world_snooker_championship/1300326.stm livehttps://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12169477.drago-can-offer-no-resistance-to-stevens-demolition-job/ Drago can offer no resistance to Stevens demolition job 23 April 2001 The Herald 29 August 2025 Patrick Wallace produced breaks of 64, 135, 55, 69 and 52 for a 10–2 defeat of Alan McManus. Mark King manufactured a 137 break to go 8–6 in front of Fergal O'Brien. O'Brien tied the scores again at 8–8, but King won the match with two half-centuries. John Higgins established a 5–2 lead against Graeme Dott and secured a 10–4 victory making breaks of 139, 67, 136 and 80 in the process. Joe Swail took back-to-back frames against Sean Storey to force a decider, which he won. Chris Small made a century break in his 10–8 defeat of Marco Fu. Nigel Bond only won three frames in his duel with Stephen Lee. Breaks of 53, 78, 60 and 80 aided Stephen Hendry to a 10–5 win against Mark Davis. Second round thumb|alt=Mark Williams playing a shot|The defending champion, Mark Williams (pictured in 2013), lost 12–13 against Joe Swail and became the 10th player to experience the so-called Crucible curse, being unable to retain the title after having won it for the first time. The second round was played as the best of 25 frames, held over three sessions, between 26 and 30 April.Downer 2019 52–53 Stevens made a century break as he raced into a 4–0 lead against Hamilton, who won the next frame with a 114 break. Stevens made three more centuries, including a 139, to clinch a 13–5 victory. Swail made a 91 break to force a decider against Williams and won the match with another half-century.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2001/world_snooker_championship/1289351.stm Crucible: Second round 28 April 2001 BBC Sport 29 August 2025 2 December 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20241202014926/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/in_depth/2001/world_snooker_championship/1289351.stm live This made Williams the 10th first-time champion who failed to defend his title since the tournament moved to the Crucible Theatre in 1977, succumbing to what has been called the 'Crucible curse'.https://snookerhq.com/2025/04/19/curse-of-the-crucible-history-sorcery-sheffield/ What is the Crucible Curse? A history of sorcery in Sheffield SnookerHQ David Caulfield 19 April 2025 29 August 2025 13 June 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250613040420/https://snookerhq.com/2025/04/19/curse-of-the-crucible-history-sorcery-sheffield/ live O'Sullivan made breaks of 100, 92 and 73 for a 3–1 lead against Harold. O'Sullivan went on to win 13–6, with two more centuries. Doherty won 13–7 over Judge. Higgins made breaks of 64, 67 and 103 as he took a 6–2 lead against Small. Higgins clinched a 13–8 victory with a half-century in the last frame. King lost 5–13 to Wallace, who won two long frames that lasted 49 and 42 minutes and two consecutive frames on the final black ball. Hendry eliminated Hunter by the same margin, making breaks of 71, 129, 51, 100, 95, 54, 60, 65 and 54 in the process. Writing for The Guardian, Clive Everton praised Hendry, stating that "he hardly made a mistake in the tactical exchanges and still scored heavily enough." Lee took an early lead against Ebdon with breaks of 121 and 66. At 36 seconds per shot, Ebdon was said by Everton to have used "attritional tactics". The match went to a decider, which Ebdon won.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2001/may/01/snooker.worldsnookerchampionship2001 Hunter falls prey to Hendry The Guardian Clive Everton 1 May 2001 29 August 2025 Quarter-finals The quarter-finals were played as the best of 25 frames, held over three sessions, between 1 and 2 May.Downer 2019 52–53 Stevens and Hendry shared the first two frames of their match, but Stevens then made breaks of 87, 56 and 65 to go 5–1 in front. Hendry replied with a century break, but Stevens, who recorded a 134 break, went on to win 13–5. "I was just outplayed. Matthew [Stevens] was outstanding. If his cue action isn't the best in snooker, it's very close," Hendry said. Breaks of 69 and 101 for Ebdon and of 57 and 82 for O'Sullivan meant that the first four frames of their encounter were shared. Ebdon then built a two-frame cushion, but O'Sullivan won nine consecutive frames, making breaks of 108, 67, 89, 54, 65, 50, 72, 57 and 54 in the process. O'Sullivan claimed victory with a 13–6 result. "He's the game's equivalent to Mozart—the snooker he produced was nothing short of sensational," Ebdon said of O'Sullivan.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/in_depth/2001/world_snooker_championship/1310357.stm Crucible: Quarter-Finals 3 May 2001 BBC Sport 29 August 2025https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2001/may/03/snooker.worldsnookerchampionship2001 O'Sullivan 'does a Mozart' The Guardian Clive Everton 3 May 2001 29 August 2025 Doherty made breaks of 114 and 91 as he took a 3–1 lead against Higgins. Higgins, who was 5–3 ahead at the end of the first session, went on to win the match 13–6, with breaks including 72, 98, 110, 139, 56, 113 and 105. In his match against Swail, Wallace built a 3–1 lead and then extended it to 6–2. Swail halved the deficit, making a 93 break along the way, and went in front for the first time at 8–7. Wallace was within one frame at 8–9, 9–10, 10–11 and 11–12, but Swail advanced into the semi-finals for a second consecutive year. "We've been practising together for about 12 years. Joe [Swail] invariably wins," Wallace said.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2001/may/02/snooker.worldsnookerchampionship2001 Wallace takes advantage of pale Swail The Guardian Clive Everton 2 May 2001 29 August 2025 Semi-finals thumb|left|alt=Joe Swail sitting and holding his cue|Joe Swail (pictured in 2016) reached the semi-finals of the World Championship for the second consecutive year, but lost 11–17 to Ronnie O'Sullivan. The semi-finals were played as the best of 33 frames, held over four sessions, between 3 and 5 May.Downer 2019 52–53 Swail faced O'Sullivan in the first semi-final. A 107 clearance gave Swail the first frame, but O'Sullivan replied with a 73 break in the second to tie the match. Swail won the third frame, but O'Sullivan then took seven in succession, featuring breaks of 62, 58, 70, 108 and 119, for an 8–2 lead. Swail reduced the deficit by winning two frames before the mid-session interval. O'Sullivan won frame thirteen. In the next, he played a long pot on the green ball and screw screwed back for the brown ball brown to win the frame and go 10–4 ahead. Swail replied with a 92 total clearance and also took the last of the session to edge closer at 6–10. At the resumption, Swail missed a pink ball pink that was frame ball, allowing O'Sullivan to pot both pink and black ball black and secure the frame. He followed this with a 133 break in the next for a 12–6 advantage. Had he also potted the last black, he would have tied his rival for the highest break of the tournament, but he ran out of position. Swail won frame nineteen by two points and also had a chance in the next, but O'Sullivan took it by three points, securing a 13–7 going into the mid-session interval, four frames away from a place in the final. O'Sullivan made a 79 break to win frame 21 by two points, but Swail produced breaks of 52 and 138 to go 9–14. O'Sullivan won the last frame of the session with an 84 break. The following day, Swail followed a long pot on a red ball red with a 114 break. O'Sullivan, miscue miscued on his first break, however, he took frame 26. Swail reduced the deficit to five frames on the next, but O'Sullivan got a snooker and a free ball in frame 28 that allowed him to clinch victory and secure a place in the final for the first time. "I'm surprised I haven't been in the final before. When I was younger I thought I'd have won it once or twice by now," O'Sullivan said.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/in_depth/2001/world_snooker_championship/1312344.stm Framewatch: O'Sullivan v Swail 5 May 2001 BBC Sport 30 August 2025 22 November 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231122003230/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/in_depth/2001/world_snooker_championship/1312344.stm livehttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/2001/may/06/snooker.worldsnookerchampionship2001 Ronnie rockets into final 6 May 2001 The Guardian Phil Yates 30 August 2025 In the other semi-final, Stevens met Higgins, who had been eliminated at this stage both in 1999 and 2000. Higgins had a 5–3 lead at the end of the first session. Stevens won the first frame of the second session and made a 133 clearance in the next, becoming the 14th player to reach a hundred career centuries. A further half-century put him in front at 6–5. Higgins then levelled the score and won two more frames, making a 126 break in the process. Stevens was ahead at 10–8, but Higgins won back-to-back frames, making a 121 break in the process, to tie the scores. Stevens was 13–11 in front going into the final session, but Higgins won the first two frames to tie. Higgins followed with a 75 break that put him ahead, but, aided by a break of 59, Stevens tied the match once again. After the mid-session interval, Stevens took the lead in frame 29 with a 71 break, but then went in-off after potting a black, allowing Higgins a chance. A fluke on the yellow ball yellow helped Stevens secure the frame. Higgins then tied the match at 15–15 and made a break of 73 to go one in front and one away from victory. Frame 32 lasted more than an hour, with a long safety exchange, but Higgins won it 70–44 to book a place in the final with a 17–15 result.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph-steady-stevens-reels/180009375/ Steady Stevens reels in Higgins John Dee The Daily Telegraph London 116 5 May 2001 Newspapers.com 29 August 2025https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/in_depth/2001/world_snooker_championship/1314902.stm Framewatch: Higgins v Stevens 5 May 2001 BBC Sport 30 August 2025 2 December 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20241202020013/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/in_depth/2001/world_snooker_championship/1314902.stm live Final thumb|alt=Ronnie O'Sullivan chaulking his cue|Ronnie O'Sullivan (pictured in 2015) defeated John Higgins 18–14 in the final to claim his maiden world title. The final was played as the best of 35 frames, held over four sessions, on 6 and 7 May, between O'Sullivan and Higgins.Downer 2019 52–53https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=1586 Embassy World Championship (2001) snooker.org 29 August 2025 4 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240104233543/https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=1586 live O'Sullivan was competing in his first World Championship final, while it was the second for Higgins, having won the title in 1998.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2001/world_snooker_championship/1312880.stm O'Sullivan celebrates final place 5 May 2001 BBC Sport 1 September 2025 19 April 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230419082913/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/in_depth/2001/world_snooker_championship/1312880.stm livehttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/in_depth/2001/world_snooker_championship/1315093.stm Higgins wins epic semi-final 5 May 2001 BBC Sport 1 September 2025 Referee Eirian Williams officiated his first World Championship final.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph-osullivan-pegged-ba/179965117/ O'Sullivan pegged back by Higgin's spirited rally John Dee The Daily Telegraph London 48 8 May 2001 Newspapers.com 29 August 2025 In the first frame of the match, Higgins went in-off when he was on a break of 37 and allowed O'Sullivan to get on the scoreboard with an 88 break. Higgins replied by winning the second frame, but O'Sullivan then took three in a row for a 4–1 lead, making a break of 81 in the process. Higgins produced a century break of 135, but O'Sullivan won two more frames to end the first session with a four-frame advantage. Higgins started the second session with a break of 60. O'Sullivan took the next. Higgins then won two in a row, but O'Sullivan compiled breaks of 99 and 100 to go four frames clear at 5–9. Higgins replied with a century break, but O'Sullivan made a 99 break in the last of the session, which he ended 10–6 in front.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/in_depth/2001/world_snooker_championship/1315979.stm Framewatch: O'Sullivan v Higgins 7 May 2001 BBC Sport 30 August 2025 30 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141030104547/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/in_depth/2001/world_snooker_championship/1315979.stm live O'Sullivan made breaks including 81, 139, 85 and 86 as he took four of the first five frames of the third session for a 14–7 lead. Higgins replied by making breaks of 65 and 98 to take the remaining three and reduce the arrears to four frames. A break of 50 gave Higgins the first frame of the fourth and final session. O'Sullivan then won two in a row, but Higgins compiled breaks of 62 and 87 to also win back-to-back frames. Higgins was 13–16 behind at this point, with O'Sullivan only two frames away from victory. In frame 30, Higgins was 60 points ahead, but missed a red and O'Sullivan took the frame with a 68-point clearance. In the next frame, O'Sullivan missed a pot on frame ball allowing Higgins to make a 65 break to come closer at 14–17. O'Sullivan took advantage of a mistake by Higgins in frame 32 and went on to compile a break of 80 to win the match 18–14. O'Sullivan claimed his maiden world title and a prize of £250,000.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2001/may/09/snooker.worldsnookerchampionship2001 The troubled star at peace with the world The Guardian Clive Everton 9 May 2001 1 September 2025 He dedicated the win to his father, who was serving a life sentence in prison, adding "It will probably mean more to my dad than it does to me".https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/in_depth/2001/world_snooker_championship/1318315.stm O'Sullivan dedicates win to father 8 May 2001 BBC Sport 1 September 2025 Higgins's defeat meant that he fell below O'Sullivan in the snooker world rankings. He commented "usually you rate a player on what they have won but Ronnie [O'Sullivan] has so much natural ability it is unbelievable. He just makes the game look so easy—he is a worthy champion".https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/in_depth/2001/world_snooker_championship/1318326.stm Higgins: Ronnie is worthy champion 8 May 2001 BBC Sport 1 September 2025 Main draw The draw for the main tournament is shown below. The numbers in parentheses after the players' names denote the seedings for the 16 seeded players (1–16). The match winners are shown in bold. high numbered auto Round 1 (Last 32)Best of 19 frames Round 2 (Last 16)Best of 25 frames Quarter-finalsBest of 25 frames Semi-finalsBest of 33 frames FinalBest of 35 frames 21 April Mark Williams WAL (1) player seeding 10 Billy Snaddon SCO 4 25 April Joe Swail NIR (16) player seeding 10 Sean Storey ENG 9 24 April Fergal O'Brien IRL (9) player seeding 8 Mark King ENG 10 23 & 24 April Alan McManus SCO (8) player seeding 2 Patrick Wallace NIR 10 25 & 26 April Stephen Lee ENG (5) player seeding 10 Nigel Bond ENG 3 22 & 23 April Peter Ebdon ENG (12) player seeding 10 James Wattana THA 8 21 & 22 April Dave Harold ENG (13) player seeding 10 Quinten Hann AUS 5 22 & 23 April Ronnie O'Sullivan ENG (4) player seeding 10 Andy Hicks ENG 2 25 & 26 April Stephen Hendry SCO (3) player seeding 10 Mark Davis ENG 5 21 & 22 April Paul Hunter ENG (14) player seeding 10 David Roe ENG 6 21 & 22 April Anthony Hamilton ENG (11) player seeding 10 Marcus Campbell SCO 4 21 & 22 April Matthew Stevens WAL (6) player seeding 10 Tony Drago MLT 1 23 April Ken Doherty IRL (7) player seeding 10 Nick Dyson ENG 7 23 & 24 April John Parrott ENG (10) player seeding 6 Michael Judge IRL 10 24 & 25 April Marco Fu HKG (15) player seeding 8 Chris Small SCO 10 24 & 25 April John Higgins SCO (2) player seeding 10 Graeme Dott SCO 4 26, 27 & 28 April WAL Mark Williams (1) player seeding 12 NIR Joe Swail (16) player seeding 13 27 & 28 April ENG Mark King 5 NIR Patrick Wallace 13 28, 29 & 30 April ENG Stephen Lee (5) player seeding 12 ENG Peter Ebdon (12) player seeding 13 29 & 30 April ENG Dave Harold (13) player seeding 6 ENG Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) player seeding 13 27 & 28 April SCO Stephen Hendry (3) player seeding 13 ENG Paul Hunter (14) player seeding 5 26 & 27 April ENG Anthony Hamilton (11) player seeding 5 WAL Matthew Stevens (6) player seeding 13 29 & 30 April IRL Ken Doherty (7) player seeding 13 IRL Michael Judge 7 28, 29 & 30 April SCO Chris Small 8 SCO John Higgins (2) player seeding 13 1 & 2 May NIR Joe Swail (16) player seeding 13 NIR Patrick Wallace 11 1 & 2 May ENG Peter Ebdon (12) player seeding 6 ENG Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) player seeding 13 1 & 2 May SCO Stephen Hendry (3) player seeding 5 WAL Matthew Stevens (6) player seeding 13 1 & 2 May IRL Ken Doherty (7) player seeding 6 SCO John Higgins (2) player seeding 13 3, 4 & 5 May NIR Joe Swail (16) player seeding 11 ENG Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) player seeding 17 3, 4 & 5 May WAL Matthew Stevens (6) player seeding 15 SCO John Higgins (2) player seeding 17 6 & 7 May ENG Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) player seeding 18 SCO John Higgins (2) player seeding 14 Final: frame scores (Best of 35 frames) Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, 6 & 7 May 2001Referee: Eirian Williams Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) player seeding 1814 John Higgins (2) player seeding 62 (62) 44 (106) 44 (1410) 44 (1814) (frame 19) 139 135 (frame 6) 2 2 12 7 ENG Ronnie O'Sullivan wins the 2001 World Snooker Championship O'Sullivan Higgins 92 (88) 0 81 (81) 79 56 0 90 71 (70) 49 49 2 50 99 (99) 100 (100) 22 99 (99) N/A 81 (81) 12 139 (139) 85 (85) 133 (86) 33 21 0 19 68 78 (78) 8 5 83 69 80 (80) N/A N/A 41 92 0 0 47 135 (135) 28 0 72 36 53 68 0 12 108 (107) 0 N/A 26 78 0 0 0 65 67 (65) 98 (98) 68 (50) 0 43 67 (62) 101 (87) 60 71 (65) 45 N/A N/A Qualifying results The qualifying matches were held between 20 February and 4 March at the Newport Centre in Newport, Wales. All the matches were played as the best of 19 frames.https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=1587 World Championship Qualifiers (2001) snooker.org 1 September 2025 Round 1 no Round 1Best of 19 frames 200 CHN Hasimu Tuerxun 10 GER Lasse Münstermann 3 ENG Tom Ford 10 THA Charoen Phorat 2 ENG Ricky Walden 10 IRL David McDonnell 5 ENG Shailesh Jogia 10 ENG Shaun Murphy 9 CAN Bob Chaperon 10 ENG Ian Hurdman 6 ENG Darryn Walker 10 ENG Eddie Barker 3 ENG Lee Spick 10 ENG Michael Rhodes 7 AUS Neil Robertson 10 ENG Paul Davison 7 Rounds 2–6 high 5 16 auto 4 4 4 no Round 2Best of 19 frames Round 3Best of 19 frames Round 4Best of 19 frames Round 5Best of 19 frames Round 6Best of 19 frames SCO Hugh Abernethy 10 CHN Hasimu Tuerxun 4 ENG Nick Dyson 10 ENG Ian Brumby 7 ENG Tony Knowles 10 IRL Colm Gilcreest 4 ENG Jason Weston 10 ENG Lee Richardson 8 ENG Tom Ford 10 SCO Scott MacKenzie 4 ENG Craig Harrison w/o walkover ENG Martin Clark w/d withdrawn SWE Farhan Mirza 10 ENG Craig Roper 8 ENG Jeff Cundy 10 ENG Ricky Walden 6 SCO Stephen Maguire 10 ENG Troy Shaw 3 ENG Sean Storey 10 ENG Wayne Saidler 6 ENG Barry Hawkins w/o walkover WAL Mark Bennett w/d withdrawn THA Noppadon Noppachorn 10 ENG Anthony Bolsover 8 ENG Munraj Pal 10 SCO Alan Burnett 2 SCO Paul McPhillips 10 ENG Shailesh Jogia 7 BEL Bjorn Haneveer 10 ENG Richard King 4 ENG Craig Butler 10 WAL Ryan Day 9 BEL Patrick Delsemme w/o walkover WAL Gareth Chilcott w/d withdrawn NED Stefan Mazrocis 10 CYP Mehmet Husnu 4 ENG Jason Barton 10 SCO Chris Shade 7 ENG Andrew Higginson 10 CAN Bob Chaperon 7 WAL Philip Williams 10 NED Mario Wehrmann 5 ENG Eddie Manning 10 ENG Mike Hallett 9 ENG Darryn Walker 10 WAL Wayne Jones 4 ENG Stuart Mann 10 ENG Peter McCullagh 5 WAL James Reynolds 10 IRL Joe Delaney 9 ENG Karl Burrows w/o walkover ENG Nick Terry w/d withdrawn FIN Robin Hull 10 ENG Barry Mapstone 7 ENG Lee Spick 10 ENG Matt Wilson 3 AUS Neil Robertson 10 SCO David McLellan 9 THA Somporn Kathawung 10 ENG Graham Lee 4 ENG Simon Bedford 10 HKG Da Hailin 5 ENG Mark Selby 10 ENG Stuart Reardon 4 SCO Hugh Abernethy 10 NIR Jason Prince 8 ENG Nick Dyson 10 ENG Mark Gray 8 ENG Tony Knowles 10 NZ Dene O'Kane 9 ENG Nick Pearce 10 ENG Jason Weston 6 ENG Barry Pinches 10 ENG Tom Ford 5 ENG Neal Foulds 10 ENG Craig Harrison 9 PAK Shokat Ali 10 SWE Farhan Mirza 3 ENG Mark Davis 10 ENG Jeff Cundy 3 SCO Stephen Maguire 10 SCO John Lardner 3 ENG Sean Storey 10 IRL Stephen O'Connor 2 ENG Barry Hawkins 10 ENG Robert Milkins 8 THA Noppadon Noppachorn 10 ENG Mike Dunn 5 ENG Munraj Pal 10 ENG Mick Price 3 SCO Paul McPhillips 10 ENG Tony Jones 6 BEL Bjorn Haneveer 10 ENG Darren Clarke 2 ENG Craig Butler 10 ENG Karl Broughton 7 BEL Patrick Delsemme 10 ENG Leigh Griffin 8 ENG Steve Judd 10 NED Stefan Mazrocis 8 ENG Jason Barton 10 ENG Tony Chappel 8 ENG Andrew Higginson 10 ENG Adrian Gunnell 8 WAL Philip Williams 10 ENG Paul Sweeny 8 ENG Wayne Brown 10 ENG Eddie Manning 9 ENG Darryn Walker 10 THA Phaitoon Phonbun 9 ENG Stuart Mann 10 SCO Martin Dziewialtowski 9 ENG Dean Reynolds 10 WAL James Reynolds 7 ENG Karl Burrows 10 SCO Craig MacGillivray 3 ENG Ali Carter 10 FIN Robin Hull 4 ISL Kristján Helgason 10 ENG Lee Spick 7 AUS Neil Robertson 10 WAL Mark Fenton 9 THA Somporn Kathawung 10 ENG Willie Thorne 6 ENG Simon Bedford 10 IRL Leo Fernandez 8 ENG Nick Walker 10 ENG Mark Selby 9 ENG Rod Lawler 10 SCO Hugh Abernethy 4 ENG Nick Dyson 10 ENG Steve James 7 ENG Jimmy Michie 10 ENG Tony Knowles 2 CAN Alain Robidoux 10 ENG Nick Pearce 2 ENG Barry Pinches 10 ENG David Finbow 5 SCO Jamie Burnett 10 ENG Neal Foulds 5 PAK Shokat Ali 10 ENG Stuart Bingham 7 ENG Mark Davis 10 ENG Peter Lines 4 SCO Stephen Maguire 10 ENG Stuart Pettman 2 ENG Sean Storey 10 ENG Gary Ponting 8 ENG Bradley Jones 10 ENG Barry Hawkins 8 THA Noppadon Noppachorn 10 ENG Paul Wykes 9 WAL Anthony Davies 10 ENG Munraj Pal 6 IRL Michael Judge 10 SCO Paul McPhillips 1 BEL Bjorn Haneveer 10 ENG Jason Ferguson 4 ENG Craig Butler 10 WAL Lee Walker 6 BEL Patrick Delsemme 10 NIR Gerard Greene 3 ENG Alfie Burden 10 ENG Steve Judd 2 ENG Gary Wilkinson 10 ENG Jason Barton 5 ENG Michael Holt 10 ENG Andrew Higginson 5 ENG Andy Hicks 10 WAL Philip Williams 8 SCO Euan Henderson 10 ENG Wayne Brown 3 ENG Jonathan Birch 10 ENG Darryn Walker 8 ENG Stuart Mann 10 ENG Matthew Couch 2 ENG David Roe 10 ENG Dean Reynolds 8 ENG Karl Burrows 10 ENG John Read 7 SCO Marcus Campbell 10 ENG Ali Carter 8 ENG David Gray 10 ISL Kristján Helgason 4 ENG Ian McCulloch 10 AUS Neil Robertson 8 ENG Joe Johnson 10 THA Somporn Kathawung 2 ENG Simon Bedford 10 WAL Paul Davies 3 NIR Patrick Wallace 10 ENG Nick Walker 2 ENG Nick Dyson 10 ENG Rod Lawler 8 ENG Jimmy Michie 10 CAN Alain Robidoux 7 ENG Barry Pinches 10 SCO Jamie Burnett 5 ENG Mark Davis 10 PAK Shokat Ali 5 ENG Sean Storey 10 SCO Stephen Maguire 5 ENG Bradley Jones 10 THA Noppadon Noppachorn 2 IRL Michael Judge 10 WAL Anthony Davies 9 BEL Bjorn Haneveer 10 ENG Craig Butler 7 BEL Patrick Delsemme 10 ENG Alfie Burden 7 ENG Michael Holt 10 ENG Gary Wilkinson 5 ENG Andy Hicks 10 SCO Euan Henderson 9 ENG Jonathan Birch 10 ENG Stuart Mann 6 ENG David Roe 10 ENG Karl Burrows 8 SCO Marcus Campbell 10 ENG David Gray 9 ENG Ian McCulloch 10 ENG Joe Johnson 4 NIR Patrick Wallace 10 ENG Simon Bedford 9 ENG Nick Dyson 10 ENG Brian Morgan 9 ENG Nigel Bond 10 ENG Jimmy Michie 6 SCO Chris Small 10 ENG Barry Pinches 8 ENG Mark Davis 10 WAL Dominic Dale 9 ENG Sean Storey 10 NIR Terry Murphy 9 ENG Mark King 10 ENG Bradley Jones 6 IRL Michael Judge 10 ENG Jimmy White 7 SCO Graeme Dott 10 AUS Bjorn Haneveer 8 AUS Quinten Hann 10 BEL Patrick Delsemme 3 SCO Billy Snaddon 10 BEL Michael Holt 6 ENG Andy Hicks 10 ENG Steve Davis 6 THA James Wattana 10 ENG Jonathan Birch 5 ENG David Roe 10 WAL Darren Morgan 8 SCO Marcus Campbell 10 SCO Drew Henry 5 MLT Tony Drago 10 ENG Ian McCulloch 9 NIR Patrick Wallace 10 ENG Joe Perry 4 Note: w/o = walkover; w/d = withdrawn Century breaks A total of 53 century breaks were made during the main stage of the tournament.Downer 2019 52–53 The highest break was a 140 compiled by Joe Swail.World Championship 2001 http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-snooker-tournaments-archive-world-championship-2001.asp global-snooker.com 29 March 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110310183946/http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-snooker-tournaments-archive-world-championship-2001.asp 10 March 2011 usurped dmy-all Crucible Centuries http://www.snooker.org/Plr/wc_centuries.shtml snooker.org 5 October 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110523045039/http://www.snooker.org/plr/wc_centuries.shtml 23 May 2011 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 2 Works cited Chris Downer 2019 Crucible Almanac August 2018 April 2013 2001 2001 World Championship World Snooker Championship Category:Sports competitions in Sheffield Category:April 2001 sports events in the United Kingdom Category:May 2001 sports events in the United Kingdom