2001 Nations Cup (snooker)

Professional snooker tournament April 2022 2001 Nations Cup 2001 01 13 2001 01 21 y The Hexagon Reading, Berkshire England WPBSA Non-ranking team event £69,400 £16,650 (×3) Phaitoon Phonbun (131) SCO Scotland John Higgins Stephen Hendry Alan McManus IRL Republic of Ireland Ken Doherty Fergal O'Brien Michael Judge 6–2 2000 Last The 2001 Nations Cup (officially the 2001 Coalite Nations Cup) was a professional non-ranking snooker tournament that took place at The Hexagon, in Reading, Berkshire, England, from 13 to 21 January 2001. It was a World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association team competition held as part of the 2000–01 snooker season and the third and final edition of the Nations Cup. The competition was contested by eight nations of three players each, with one of them qualifying via a play-off match. It was sponsored by smokeless coal manufacturer Coalite. England were the tournament's defending champions but were eliminated in the group stages after finishing third in their group. Scotland's Stephen Hendry, John Higgins and Alan McManus won the competition, defeating the Republic of Ireland's (ROI) Ken Doherty, Fergal O'Brien and Michael Judge six frame frames to two (6–2) in the final. During the match, referee Alan Chamberlain courted controversy when he cautioned O'Brien over slow play since the television coverage was due to end soon after. The event's highest break was a 131 made by Thai player Phaitoon Phonbun in the second frame of his nation's group match with Malta. Background thumb|right|The Hexagon (pictured in 2010), where the tournament was held The Nations Cup was formed in 1999 as a five-squad snooker tournament involving the Home Nations. The 2001 tournament was expanded from five to eight teams to accommodate non-Home Nations sides.Turner Chris World Cup, World Team Classic, Nations Cup http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/team.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120216154912/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/team.html 16 February 2012 3 April 2011 Chris Turner's Snooker Archive It was a World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association team event staged as part of the 2000–01 snooker season and was held at The Hexagon, Reading, Berkshire, from 13 to 21 January 2001.Tournament Diary 2000/2001 http://www.laboremus.no/Snooker/Trn/0001/diary20002001.shtml dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010729000609/http://www.laboremus.no/Snooker/Trn/0001/diary20002001.shtml 29 July 2001 7 October 2020 WWW Snooker Although there were plans to rename the tournament the World Cup, this was the final year it was played because ITV stopped broadcasting snooker. Sponsored by smokeless coal manufacturer Coalite,21 November 2000 WPBSA Press Release: Hot News – Coalite to Sponsor Nations Cup http://www.embassysnooker.com/news/375.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010626165426/http://www.embassysnooker.com/news/375.htm 26 June 2001 13 October 2020 Embassy Snooker the event had a total prize pool of £69,400, with £46,950 going to the winning squad divided equally amongst all three players. The host broadcaster was ITV.Event Information http://www.worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/coalite/tour_coalite_info.asp dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010221133236/http://www.worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/coalite/tour_coalite_info.asp 21 February 2001 13 October 2020 World Snooker Rules The Nations Cup had eight national teams consisting of three players each. These teams were split into two round-robin groups of four. Each side played a best-of-seven frame frames match between other nations in their group. The first three frames were contested by one player from each team and the fourth by two from each side. The last frames were played by one participant per nation. The two squads who won the most games in their group qualified for the semi-finals. Should there have been a tie for second place, the nation with the higher frame difference progressed or each player would have two tries to pot the blue ball on its blue spot spot from the D in a shoot-out. If this did not determine a group winner, the match would go to sudden death. The two best-of-nine frames semi-finals were contested on 19 and 20 January with the best-of-eleven frames final on 21 January.Coalite Nations Cup 2001 http://www.azbilliards.com/snooker/2000-01/01nationscup.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20030522000509/http://www.azbilliards.com/snooker/2000-01/01nationscup.html 22 May 2003 13 October 2020 AZBilliards The final's first three frames were played by one player from each nation with the fourth featuring two from both teams. The final six frames featured one participant from each squad. In the event the game was tied at 5–5, the team captains would be required to nominate the player for the final frame decider. Except for the last frame of the final, players were not allowed to play two frames in succession or more than one frame against their opposite from the other squad. Prize fund The breakdown of prize money for the 2001 tournament is listed below. Each player received an equal share of prize money for how well their team fared. The £20,000 maximum break prize would be awarded to the first participant to attain the feat in the competition. Winner: £16,650 Runner-up: £6,650 Highest break: £2,500 Maximum break: £20,000 Total: £69,400 Participants The tournament composed eight teams of three players representing individual nations.Coalite Nations Cup 2001 http://www.worldofsnooker.co.uk/natcup01.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010124092800/http://www.worldofsnooker.co.uk/natcup01.htm 24 January 2001 13 October 2020 World of Snooker All of the eight nations were represented by their three highest ranked players.McAvinia Ruth Nations Cup http://www.tsnsnooker.com/cont/art/na00365.htm live https://web.archive.org/web/20010304085234/http://www.tsnsnooker.com/cont/art/na00365.htm 4 March 2001 24 March 2021 TSN Snooker Each team was seeded with the defending champions England seeded first and Scotland second. Malta qualified for the Nations Cup by defeating Belgium 3–2 in a play-off round in the Bournemouth International Centre, on 18 November 2000. Below is a list of participating teams and players. +Participants in the 2001 Nations Cup Country Seed Player 1 (Captain) Player 2 Player 3 England1 Ronnie O'SullivanO'Sullivan later withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Anthony Hamilton. John Parrott took over as England captain. Stephen Lee snooker playerJohn Parrott Scotland2 John HigginsStephen HendryAlan McManus Wales3 Dominic DaleMark Williams snooker playerMatthew Stevens Republic of Ireland4 Ken DohertyFergal O'BrienMichael Judge Northern Ireland5 Joe SwailTerry Murphy snooker playerGerard Greene Thailand6 James WattanaPhaitoon PhonbunNoppadon Noppachorn China7 Marco FuDa Hai LinHasimu Tuerxun Malta8 Tony DragoJoe Grech snooker playerAlex Borg Alex Borg (snooker player) Group stages Group A Group A was played between China, England, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (ROI) from 13 to 17 January. In the first match, England versus China, Ronnie O'Sullivan won the first frame against Asian qualifier Da Hai Lin and John Parrott the second on a clearance after Marco Fu snookered himself on the last red ball. Stephen Lee beat Hasimu Tuerxun in frame three with breaks of 54 and 79 and Fu and Da won the doubles frame over Lee and O'Sullivan. England won the match 4–1 when O'Sullivan beat Tuerxun.Everton Clive Clive Everton 14 January 2001 Beaten Chinese ready to take cue The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/beaten-chinese-ready-to-take-cue-5366306.html live 13 October 2020 9 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201109144125/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/beaten-chinese-ready-to-take-cue-5366306.html Gerard Greene took a final frame decider for Northern Ireland over the ROI's Michael Judge to win 4–3.Dee John 14 January 2001 Williams in Form For Hot Pots Wales http://www.embassysnooker.com/news/417.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010430053442/http://www.embassysnooker.com/news/417.htm 30 April 2001 13 October 2020 Embassy Snooker O'Sullivan was ruled out for three days with a lower back injury he picked up during a massage at the 2000 China Open and was replaced by Anthony Hamilton.14 January 2001 O'Sullivan out of England match Irish Examiner https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/arid-30001598.html live 13 October 2020 16 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201016135049/https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/arid-30001598.html England's Lee, Parrott and Hamilton and the ROI's Ken Doherty, Fergal O'Brien and Judge shared the first six frames of their match to force a final frame decider won by the latter side with Judge's win over Lee for a 4–3 victory.15 January 2001 Judge Sentences England to Cruel Defeat http://www.worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/coalite/media_coaliteresult6.asp dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010219010052/http://www.worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/coalite/media_coaliteresult6.asp 19 February 2001 13 October 2020 World Snooker China defeated Northern Ireland 4–3 in Group A's fourth match. Trailing 2–0 after Fu and Tuerxun lost to Greene and Joe Swail, China took frames three to five before Northern Ireland's Murphy defeated Tuerxun to force a final frame decider. A break of 41 from Hai Lin helped China win 4–3.16 January 2001 Northern Ireland in China Crisis http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/coalite/media_coaliteresult10.asp dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010406110430/http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/coalite/media_coaliteresult10.asp 6 April 2001 13 October 2020 World Snooker China came from 3–1 behind the ROI to win the next two frames courtesy of Fu and Hai Lin to end with a final frame decider won by Judge over Tuerxun for a 4–3 victory in 3 hours, 26 minutes and a spot in the semi-finals.Dee John 17 January 2001 Snooker: Judge's contribution condemns Chinese The Daily Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/2996728/Snooker-Judges-contribution-condemns-Chinese.html live subscription 13 October 2020 15 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201015002230/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/2996728/Snooker-Judges-contribution-condemns-Chinese.htmlYates Phil 18 January 2001 O'Sullivan injury is a bridge too far for England; Snooker 37 The Times https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A69281345/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=bf3f66c6 live subscription 13 October 2020 Gale Academic OneFile 9 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201109144126/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA69281345&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=bf3f66c6 Greene, Murphy and Swail helped Northern Ireland defeat England's Lee, Hamilton and Parrott 4–2 to qualify for the semi-finals and eliminate the top seeded team.17 January 2001 Northern Ireland beat England to qualify http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/northern_ireland/newsid_1122000/1122841.stm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20020316024913/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/northern_ireland/newsid_1122000/1122841.stm 16 March 2002 13 October 2020 BBC Sport The final frame was won by Murphy for Northern Ireland after Parrott incurred 67 penalty points in fouls.Baxter Trevor 18 January 2001 Parrott leaves sickened 18 The Scotsman https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A82419841/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=aff0cd56 live subscription 13 October 2020 Gale OneFile: News 9 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201109144148/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA82419841&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=aff0cd56 Parrott admitted post-match: "I was definitely the weakest link .... It's my last time in the event and I certainly haven't covered myself in glory." thumb|right|upright|Matthew Stevens (pictured in 2012) achieved an unbeaten record in singles frames during the group stages. Group B Group B was contested by Malta, Scotland, Thailand and Wales between 13 and 18 January. The first match in the group was between Malta and Scotland. Tony Drago made a 47 break to defeat John Higgins before Alan McManus and Stephen Hendry beat Alex Borg and Joe Grech to go 2–1 ahead. Scotland took three of the next four frames to defeat Malta 4–2.14 January 2001 Hendry guides Scotland to opening victory; Snooker 20 The Sunday Times https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A69427309/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=0885fa5e live subscription 13 October 2020 Gale Academic OneFile 9 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201109144156/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA69427309&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=0885fa5e Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens of 1999 Nations Cup champions Wales helped to defeat Thailand's James Wattana, Phaitoon Phonbun and Noppadon Noppachorn 4–1 with breaks of 104, 58 and 43 while Dominic Dale lost his singles frame to Phonbun. In Thailand's game with Malta, Phonbun and Wattana beat Drago and Grech respectively including a 131 century break from Phonbun in the second frame before Borg potted the pink ball in frame three to make it 2–1. Thailand took the next three frames to win 4–1.17 January 2001 Snooker / Nations Cup: Phaitoon scores highest break as Thailand notch first victory: Malta defeat keeps semi-final hopes alive 1 The Bangkok Post In Wales' match against Scotland, Dale and Stevens won the first two frames over Higgins and Hendry. McManus beat Williams in frame three but Stevens and Williams restored Wales' two-frame lead by winning the doubles frame over Higgins and McManus. Both nations shared the next two frames but Wales won 4–2 to make the semi-finals.17 January 2001 Scots lose as Wales qualify for last four The Herald https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12154661.scots-lose-as-wales-qualify-for-last-four/ live 13 October 2020 9 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201109144109/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12154661.scots-lose-as-wales-qualify-for-last-four/ Scotland's Hendry, Higgins and McManus whitewashed the Thai trio of Noppadon, Phonbun and Wattana 4–0 to progress to the semi-finals and Wales' Dale, Stevens and Williams maintained their unbeaten tournament record by 4–0 over Malta's Borg, Drago and Grech for the last spot in the next round. Wales' win also allowed Stevens to maintain his unbeaten form in singles frames.19 January 2001 Welsh warn Scots favourites The Herald https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12155365.welsh-warn-scots-favourites/ live 13 October 2020 9 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201109144149/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12155365.welsh-warn-scots-favourites/ Knockout stages Semi-finals Both of the best-of-nine frame semi-finals were held between 19 and 20 January. The first-semi final was between the ROI and Wales. Judge won the first frame for Ireland with a 50 break over Williams,Yates Phil 20 January 2001 Luck of Irish leaves Welsh incredulous; Snooker 34 The Times https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A69360046/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=3a02cc41 live subscription 13 October 2020 Gale Academic OneFile 9 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201109144134/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA69360046&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=3a02cc41 and O'Brien the second over Stevens following a one-hour battle in which O'Brien fluked the final red ball into the corner pocket and made a clearance to the pink ball.Folan Seán 19 January 2001 Snooker: Irish make most of good fortune https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2001/0119/153737-snooker/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20201109144126/https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2001/0119/153737-snooker/ 9 November 2020 12 October 2020 RTÉ Sport Dale made a break of 59 to win frame three for Wales before the doubles frame saw Doherty and O'Brien pot the blue, pink and black ball black balls while under pressure from to give the ROI a 3–1 lead. The fifth frame saw Doherty fluke the green ball and pot the brown and blue balls to defeat Stevens and put the ROI 4–1 ahead. The ROI won frame six with O'Brien beating Williams on a fluke on the final red ball and a clearance to the blue ball for a 5–1 victory and the first spot in the final.Everton Clive 20 January 2001 Snooker: Wales fall to luck of Irish 8 The Guardian https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A71572072/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=c327b5e3 subscription 13 October 2020 Gale General OneFile Losing player Dale said he could not believe the outcome, adding: "In nearly every frame, luck played a part and we didn't have any." The other semi-final was a 99-minute game between Northern Ireland and Scotland.Dee John 20 January 2001 Scotland Whitewash Northern Ireland http://www.embassysnooker.com/news/425.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010430054606/http://www.embassysnooker.com/news/425.htm 30 April 2001 14 October 2020 Embassy Snooker Hendry made a 71 break against Greene to win the first frame for Scotland and McManus beat Swail by 94 points for the second. Higgins came from 46 points behind Murphy to compile a 60 clearance to the pink and win Scotland's third frame. Greene and Swail led 49–0 in the doubles frame until Hendry partnering McManus made a 68 clearance to claim Scotland's fourth frame. Swail led Higgins 39–0 in frame five before the latter won to finish Scotland's 5–0 whitewash of Northern Ireland and enter the final.Baxter Trevor 21 January 2001 Scots show national solidarity ST17 Scotland on Sunday https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A82531988/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=74341ab1 live subscription 14 October 2020 Gale OneFile: News 9 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201109144128/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA82531988&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=74341ab1Everton Clive 21 January 2001 Snooker: Hendry hits hot streak for Scots 17 The Independent on Sunday https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A69365058/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=8d949f66 subscription 14 October 2020 Gale General OneFile Hendry described Scotland's performance as their best since their 1996 World Cup victory in Bangkok, adding: "our opponents can consider themselves unlucky to catch us on such a hot day." Final thumb|left|upright|Fergal O'Brien (pictured in 2015) was cautioned by the referee for playing slowly in the sixth frame of the final. The best-of-eleven frames final between the ROI and Scotland was held in the afternoon of 21 January. Hendry made a break of 92 to defeat Doherty in the first frame and McManus won a 59-minute second frame over O'Brien who missed the green ball during an attempted clearance. Judge made a break of 75 against Higgins to win frame three for the ROI and Doherty and O'Brien made it 2–2 by winning the doubles frame over Hendry and Higgins. McManus fluked the final red ball from a snooker into the left-centre pocket to defeat Doherty in frame five.Beckett Bruce Hendry Leads Scots To Cup Final Victory http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/coalite/media_coaliteresult17.asp World Snooker 21 January 2001 14 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20010406102630/http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/coalite/media_coaliteresult17.asp 6 April 2001 dead In frame six, O'Brien was ahead of Higgins when referee Alan Chamberlain cautioned him about playing slowly after taking more than a minute to select a shot.Everton Clive Snooker: Irish cry foul as referee rushes in https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A71572246/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=440d0954 The Guardian 22 January 2001 14 October 2020 11 Gale General OneFile subscription 9 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201109144201/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA71572246&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=440d0954 live Chamberlain received support from most of the audience for the comment.Yates Phil Referee's censure of O'Brien leaves bad taste in Irish mouths; Snooker https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A69397168/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=e9a6f946 The Times 22 January 2001 14 October 2020 8 Gale Academic OneFile subscription 9 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201109144126/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA69397168&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=e9a6f946 live O'Brien missed a red ball and a snooker to allow Higgins to make a clearance to the black ball and win the frame.Dee John On Fire Scotland Capture Coalite Nations Cup http://www.embassysnooker.com/news/426.htm Embassy Snooker 21 January 2001 14 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20010429040905/http://www.embassysnooker.com/news/426.htm 29 April 2001 deadBaxter Trevor Hendry proud of 'dream team' https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A82420330/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=ac044df9 The Scotsman 22 January 2001 14 October 2020 1 Gale OneFile: News subscription Hendry defeated Judge with a break of 87 in the seventh frame and Scotland won the match 6–2 when Higgins beat Doherty with a break of 34 in frame eight. The game lasted 4 hours and 7 minutes. It was a repeat of Scotland's 1996 World Cup win over the ROI, who became the third nation to claim the Nations Cup. The team won £46,950 prize money shared between all three players. Hendry commented on the victory: "Since losing to Wales in the group we haven't put a foot wrong. As a team we were very solid and I think we deserved to win. People will say that we didn't play England in the semis or Wales in the final but you beat whoever's in the other seat." Higgins added: "'It's been a great week and Stephen's contribution was vital. We've been disappointed in the last two years by our performances but today we responded to the challenge."22 January 2001 Scottish team take the title The Herald https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12155596.scottish-team-take-the-title/ 14 October 2020 14 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201014093201/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12155596.scottish-team-take-the-title/ live McManus said: "It was extra special for me because I have not won a tournament for a while. And it's great to play alongside a couple of legends like Stephen and John. We are all very patriotic and we're delighted to win for Scotland." Of the warning about slow play. O'Brien said Chamberlain told him to finish because ITV's coverage of the match would end at 17:00 local time. He added: "If he had used some tact and maybe waited until the end of the frame it would have been different. But to do it in front of the crowd and TV was tactless, especially as I was fighting for myself and my team out there." Doherty called Chamberlain's selection of words "an absolute disgrace" and said he would write a complaint. Hendry said he thought the incident with O'Brien "unfortunate, to say the least, and unfair", adding: "He isn't a slow player, he flows as much as anyone when he's among the balls." Steve Davis, the six-time world champion, defended Chamberlain's choice, believing there was a straightforward shot based on position of the balls and that O'Brien spent too long examining the situation. A spokesperson for production company ISN commented: "We feel it is important to make it plain that there was no communication or attempted communication between ourselves and any of the match officials." Chamberlain was deemed by the WPBSA to have applied the rule correctly but ruled his comment not appropriate. He accepted that he did not say the right words and he was reassigned away from the next match involving O'Brien at the first round of the 2001 Masters.Everton Clive 8 February 2001 O'Brien's perfect pace https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/in_depth/2001/benson_and_hedges_masters/1159399.stm live https://web.archive.org/web/20030307111410/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2001/benson_and_hedges_masters/1159399.stm 7 March 2003 12 November 2020 BBC Sport Main draw The teams highlighted in bold text in the table indicate who progressed to the semi-finals. Teams in bold to the right of the tables denote match winners. Group A +Group A final tablePOS Final positionSE SeedTeamMP Matches playedMW Matches wonML Matches lostFF Frames forFA Frames againstFD Frame deficit 1 5 3 2 1 11 9 +2 2 4 3 2 1 11 10 +1 3 1 3 1 2 9 9 0 4 7 3 1 2 8 11 -3 4–1 3–4 3–4 3–4 4–3 2–4 Group B +Group B final tablePOS Final positionSE SeedTeamMP Matches playedMW Matches wonML Matches lostFF Frames forFA Frames againstFD Frame deficit 1 3 3 3 0 12 3 +9 2 2 3 2 1 10 6 +4 3 6 3 1 2 5 9 -4 4 8 3 0 3 3 12 -9 4–2 4–1 4–1 4–2 4–0 4–0 Knockout stages Numbers to the left of the nations are the tournament seedings. Sides in bold indicate match winners. Semi-finalsBest of 9 frames FinalBest of 11 frames 3 1 4 5 2 5 5 0 2 6 4 2 Final Match winning players and scores are shown in bold. Breaks over 50 are shown in brackets. Final: Best of 11 frames. Referee: Alan Chamberlain.The Hexagon, Reading, Berkshire, England, 21 January 2001.21 January 2001 Scotland win Nations Cup http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/northern_ireland/newsid_1129000/ dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010126034600/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/northern_ireland/newsid_1129000/1129544.stm 26 January 2001 14 October 2020 BBC Sport Stephen HendryAlan McManusJohn Higgins (2) 6–2 Ken DohertyFergal O'BrienMichael Judge (4)Hendry v Doherty: 105–17 (92)McManus v O'Brien: 81–56Higgins v Judge: 16–85 (75)Hendry/Higgins v Doherty/O'Brien: 37–73McManus v Doherty: 44–11Higgins v O'Brien: 58–47Hendry v Judge: 87–0 (87)Higgins v Doherty: 67–26 Notes References 30em 2001 Category:2001 in snooker Category:2001 in English sport Category:January 2001 sports events in the United Kingdom