2001 Scottish Masters

February 2020 February 2020 Regal Scottish Masters 2001 09 18 2001 09 23 y Thistle Hotel Glasgow Scotland WPBSA Non-Ranking event £200,000 £63,000 Ronnie O'Sullivan ENG (134) John Higgins SCO Ronnie O'Sullivan ENG 9–6 2000 2002 The 2001 Scottish Masters (known as the 2001 Regal Scottish Masters for sponsorship reasons) was a professional non-ranking snooker tournament which took place at the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow, Scotland, from 18 to 23 September 2001. It was the first time the tournament was played in Glasgow since the 1989 edition. The competition was the second of four invitational World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) events of the 2001–02 season. It was broadcast on BBC Scotland and Eurosport and was sponsored by the cigarette brand Regal. John Higgins, the top-ranked Scottish player, won the tournament, defeating the defending champion and world title holder Ronnie O'Sullivan 9–6 in the final. It was the first time that Higgins had won the competition it was the 22nd ranking tournament victory of his career. He earned £63,000 from a prize fund pool of £200,000. O'Sullivan made the highest break of the competition of 134 in his semi-final victory over Marco Fu. Background The Scottish Masters was an invitational professional snooker tournament first contested in 1981.http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/scotmast.html Scottish Masters Turner Chris Chris Turner's Snooker Archive dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155901/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/scotmast.html 16 February 2012 7 May 2012 The 2001 competition was the second of four invitational World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) events of the 2001–02 season and was held from 18 to 23 September at the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow, Scotland. It followed the 2001 Champions Cup.Regal Scottish Masters 2001 http://www.snooker.org/trn/0102/sm2001_res.shtml snooker.org 30 November 2017 This was the first time since the 1989 edition that the tournament took place in Glasgow.http://www.110sport.com/snooker/cont/trn/sched/rmpreview01.php Masters Heads Back to the City Hendon David 14 September 2001 110Sport dead https://web.archive.org/web/20020102134055/http://www.110sport.com/snooker/cont/trn/sched/rmpreview01.php 2 January 2002 19 February 2020 Sponsored by the cigarette brand Regal, it had a total prize fund of £200,000,Event Information http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/regal_masters/info.asp World Snooker 19 February 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20020925223047/http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/regal_masters/info.asp 25 September 2002 deadEverton Clive Clive Everton Regal Scottish Masters preview https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/scotland/1548551.stm BBC Sport 17 September 2001 19 February 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20160309041253/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/scotland/1548551.stm 9 March 2016 live and was televised on BBC Scotland and Eurosport.Dee John Hendry Can Top The £7 Million Pounds Barrier http://www.embassysnooker.com/news/559.htm Embassy Snooker 14 September 2001 19 February 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20011224112323/http://www.embassysnooker.com/news/559.htm 24 December 2001 dead It was also broadcast on the 110Sport website with coverage provided by BBC Scotland. The 12-player event included those who were ranked in positions one to eight in the world rankings, players who had won major tournaments from the 2000–01 season, and one qualifier. Any player who withdrew would be replaced by a reserve. The field included the tournament's defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan and former Scottish Masters victors Stephen Hendry, Ken Doherty and Matthew Stevens. Patrick Wallace, a quarter-finalist in the 2001 world championship, qualified for the tournament by winning the Scottish Masters qualifying competition.https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A77779758/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=7de218b7 Wallace qualifies for Masters event; Snooker 1 September 2001 The Times 19 February 2020 40 Gale Academic OneFile subscription John Higgins, Scotland's highest-ranked player and world number three, thought about withdrawing from the tournament because his wife was due to give birth to their first child imminently.His first was ultimately born on 30 September 2001.Yates Phil Higgins distracted by new arrival; Snooker https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A78876153/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=d1a5363c The Times 3 October 2001 18 April 2020 6 Gale Academic OneFile subscription She did not allow him to do so. The maximum number of frame frames in a match increased from nine in the first round to eleven in the quarter and semi-finals, leading up to the final which was played as the best-of-17 frames. Prize fund The breakdown of prize money for the tournament was as follows: Winner: £63,000 Runner-up: £31,000 Semi-final (×2): £16,000 Highest break (×1): £5,000 Maximum break: Vauxhall Astra Coupé Total: £200,000 Tournament summary Round 1 The first round of the competition took place from 18 to 19 September and was played as best-of-nine frame matches.Regal Masters http://www.110sport.com/snooker/cont/trn/sched/regmast01oop.php 110Sport 19 February 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20020102143030/http://www.110sport.com/snooker/cont/trn/sched/regmast01oop.php 2 January 2002 dead Marco Fu, the world number 17, defeated two-time ranking event winner Peter Ebdon 5–2. Tied at 2–2 at the mid-session interval after a break of 126, Ebdon lost the next three frames to Fu whose highest break was a 38. Fu said he felt Ebdon had frustrated himself and that the match helped him to refine his playing ability.Yates Phil https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A78445932/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=8b0c8ccd Ebdon falls at first hurdle to a virulent strain of Fu; Snooker 19 September 2001 The Times 19 February 2020 5 Gale Academic OneFile subscription Hendry, who was coached by the 1979 world champion Terry Griffiths after ending his partnership with coach Frank Callan,Everton Clive https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2001/sep/20/snooker.cliveeverton Hendry leans on Griffiths to get him back on cue 20 September 2001 The Guardian 19 February 2020 played Jimmy White. He accumulated 13 points as White won the first three frames with breaks of no more than 74. Hendry won frame four after White missed the yellow ball and made two half-centuries to level the match at 3–3. After White made it 4–3, Hendry took frames eight and nine to claim a 5–4 victory.McHenry Bruce https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A78386160/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=ffa3f649 Hendry rallies for Regal win 19 September 2001 The Scotsman 19 February 2020 23 Gale OneFile: News subscription Stephen Lee, the world number eight, took 76 minutes to whitewash Wallace 5–0 and outscored his opponent 392–61. He used his post-match press conference to threaten a withdrawal from England's World Cup team unless Ebdon apologised for his celebrations after his 13–12 victory over Lee in the second round of the 2001 world championship, saying, "The way he reacted anyone would have thought he had won the title or was going to pick up the FA Cup."http://www.embassysnooker.com/news/565.htm Lee Issues Ultimatum To Ebdon Dee John 19 September 2001 Embassy Snooker dead https://web.archive.org/web/20011224104922/http://www.embassysnooker.com/news/565.htm 24 December 2001 19 February 2020 World number six Stevens defeated the 2001 Masters champion Paul Hunter 5–2 in his third try against him.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/other_sports/newsid_1553000/1553600.stm Stevens too strong for Hunter 18 September 2001 BBC Sport dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010920062504/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/other_sports/newsid_1553000/1553600.stm 20 September 2001 19 February 2020 The match was tied at 1–1 with a break of 66 from Stevens and a 69 from Hunter. Stevens won three successive frames, which included a clearance to the yellow and black ball black balls in frame three and the fourth from the green ball to the pink ball. Hunter took frame five before Stevens made breaks of 60 and 57 to win the match.http://www.110sport.com/snooker/cont/art/na03821.php Stevens Out-Foxes Hunter McAvinia Ruth 20 September 2001 110Sport dead https://web.archive.org/web/20030828041808/http://www.110sport.com/snooker/cont/art/na03821.php 28 August 2003 19 February 2020 Quarter-finals The four quarter-finals were played as best-of-11 frames between 20 and 21 September. Fu played former world champion Doherty in the first quarter-final. Doherty took a 2–1 lead and held it until Fu compiled a 90 break from a fluke to go 3–2 ahead. Doherty levelled the score at 3–3, but he was inconsistent and Fu won the match 6–3.Everton Clive https://www.theguardian.com/p/x53yt Fu blunders through 21 September 2001 The Guardian 19 February 2020 The defending world champion O'Sullivan competed against Stevens. O'Sullivan was behind 2–1 when he produced breaks of 108 and 101 en route to a 5–2 lead. Stevens claimed frame eight with a break of 70 before O'Sullivan secured a 6–3 victory in the ninth frame.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/other_sports/newsid_1555000/1555470.stm O'Sullivan faces Fu fight 20 September 2001 BBC Sport dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010921072845/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/other_sports/newsid_1555000/1555470.stm 21 September 2001 19 February 2020 O'Sullivan said afterwards he had anticipated a tighter match after both players made errors: "I'm happy with the centuries and I don't want to give the title up without a fight."http://www.110sport.com/snooker/cont/art/na03838.php Champion O'Sullivan Makes Winning Start Hendon David 18 October 2001 110Sport dead https://web.archive.org/web/20011018125923/http://www.110sport.com/snooker/cont/art/na03838.php 18 October 2001 19 February 2020 Mark Williams, a former world champion, was drawn to play Lee. The two players shared the opening four frames as Williams' highest breaks were 59 and 56 and Lee's were 90, 86 and 82. Lee was unable to tie the match at 4–4 because he left Williams with a snooker on the brown ball and went in-off on the pink and then missed the black to allow Williams to win 6–3.https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A78504968/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=1283f807 Williams rejects practice regime; Snooker 22 September 2001 Daily Post 19 February 2020 21 Gale OneFile: News subscription The final quarter-final was contested between the Scottish duo of Higgins and Hendry. The first frame was won by Hendry; Higgins then won three frames in a row to lead 3–1 at the mid-session interval. Hendry claimed two more frames to tie the match, before Higgins won 6–3 with breaks of 70, 44 and 50.http://www.embassysnooker.com/news/570.htm Higgins Wins All Scottish Battle Baxter Trevor 21 September 2001 Embassy Snooker dead https://web.archive.org/web/20011005215602/http://www.embassysnooker.com/news/570.htm 5 October 2001 19 February 2020 Higgins said after the game that with the impending birth of his child his mindset was not "100 per cent on practice", while Hendry expressed frustration that "I had 20 chances to go 4–3 up but I couldn't take them." Semi-finals The best-of-11 frame semi-finals were held on 22 September. The first was between O'Sullivan and Fu. O'Sullivan held a mid-session lead of 3–1 after breaks of 46 and 58 and a total clearance of 134, the tournament's highest break. Fu won frame five after O'Sullivan went in-off on several red balls. A break of 71 and a clearance from the second-to-last red to the pink gave O'Sullivan a 5–2 lead. He look set to win 6–2 before he failed to pot the blue ball into a middle pocket while on a break of 39. Fu made a reply break of 50 and O'Sullivan took a 6–3 win with a 77 break in the ninth frame.Everton Clive https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A78516080/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=baef7ba0 Snooker: O'Sullivan hits his stride to fend off Fu's fightback 23 September 2001 The Independent on Sunday 19 February 2020 20 Gale General OneFile subscription Post-match, O'Sullivan said a lack of pre-tournament form made him consider withdrawal, but his father advised him to go holidaying beforehand. He said he felt nervous because he thought he would lose the match: "That was horrible. I don't think I've played as solidly this time as I did when I won the title here last year. Maybe that's because I'm a little bit match-rusty."https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2001/0922/158906-regal/ O'Sullivan through to Regal Masters final Fennelly Amanda 22 September 2001 RTÉ Sport 19 February 2020 thumb|right|upright|alt=John Higgins|John Higgins (pictured in 2008) defeated Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final to win the Scottish Masters for the first time The second semi-final was played by Higgins and Williams. A 44 clearance gave Williams the first frame. He had no further success in the match after he missed a pink ball from a long distance that would have tied the match at 2–2. Higgins made breaks of 74 and 71 to secure a 6–1 victory and the second berth in the final.http://www.110sport.com/snooker/cont/art/na03877.php Happy Higgins Marches into Final Hendon David 22 September 2001 110Sport dead https://web.archive.org/web/20030510172419/http://www.110sport.com/snooker/cont/art/na03877.php 10 May 2003 19 February 2020https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/1558737.stm Higgins cruises past Williams 22 September 2001 BBC Sport live https://web.archive.org/web/20021123064647/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/1558737.stm 23 November 2002 19 February 2020 Higgins commented on his chances of winning the tournament, "Ronnie has won his fair share in Scotland so it's about my turn but I'll have to raise my game a few notches to beat him. He's played well this week and he's beaten me the last few times. It won't be as one-sided here as it may have been in Motherwell, which is closer to where I live." Final The final between Higgins and O'Sullivan on 23 September was played as a two-session best-of-17 frames match. The first two frames were won by Higgins with one break at 111,Higgins Celebrates First Home Win http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/regal_masters/articleshow.asp?articleID=328&category=30 World Snooker 23 September 2001 19 February 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20020217141755/http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/regal_masters/articleshow.asp?articleID=328&category=30 17 February 2002 dead before O'Sullivan won four in a row from breaks of 80, 117, 50 and 57 to convert a 2–0 deficit into a 4–2 lead.Higgins breaks Scottish duck https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/1559889.stm BBC Sport 23 September 2001 19 February 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20171008031444/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/1559889.stm 8 October 2017 livePerkins Eric Snooker: Scottish trophy for Higgins at long last https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A78520716/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=d9be6610 The Independent 24 September 2001 19 February 2020 11 Gale General OneFile subscription O'Sullivan missed a chance to go 5–2 ahead when he was unable to pot a difficult blue ball, and Higgins claimed frame seven by potting the black ball. He took frame eight to conclude the first session tied with O'Sullivan at 4–4. After a series of errors by both players, Higgins led 7–5.Yates Phil Higgins fights back strongly to collect first trophy on home soil; Snooker https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A78551711/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=0a35253a The Times 24 September 2001 19 February 2020 7 Gale Academic OneFile subscription O'Sullivan had reduced his deficit to one with a break of 73. O'Sullivan failed to pot a single ball thereafter,McHenry Bruce Higgins wins first home title https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A78524190/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=625d7f42 The Scotsman 24 September 2001 19 February 2020 10 Gale OneFile: News subscription as Higgins produced a clearance of 114 that ended at the pink ball. Higgins had a 60–0 advantage in frame 15 that he kept to win the match 9–6 and the tournament after O'Sullivan was unable to pot a red ball into the top-left corner pocket. It was the first time that Higgins had won the Scottish Masters; he had lost in the final of the 1998 and 1999 tournaments.http://www.embassysnooker.com/news/573.htm Higgins Triumphs in Scotland Dee John 23 September 2001 Embassy Snooker dead https://web.archive.org/web/20011005222726/http://www.embassysnooker.com/news/573.htm 5 October 2001 19 February 2020 It was his second win of the season after the 2001 Champions Cup,Hendon David Home Hero Higgins Masters O'Sullivan http://www.110sport.com/snooker/cont/art/na03860.php 110Sport 23 September 2001 19 February 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20011018124752/http://www.110sport.com/snooker/cont/art/na03860.php 18 October 2001 dead and the 22nd tournament victory of his career. The win ended Higgins' streak of five successive losses to O'Sullivan extending back to the 2000 Irish Masters. It was the first time since the 2000 Grand Prix 11 months earlier that O'Sullivan had been defeated in a tournament final. Higgins commented on his win, "It's been a long wait but well worthwhile. To have my friends and family here to see me win makes it really special. I was really choked at the end". He added, "Winning here in Scotland has taken a lot of pressure off me and I couldn't be happier professionally and personally." O'Sullivan said he was disappointed with his performance against Higgins' consistency. He added that he felt he played better than he had in the Champions Cup, and was happy to reach the final of the Scottish Masters. Main draw Numbers given to the left of players' names show the seedings for the top eight players in the tournament. Players in bold indicate match winners. 200 Round 1Best of 9 frames Quarter-finalsBest of 11 frames Semi-finalsBest of 11 frames FinalBest of 17 frames 5 Stephen Hendry SCO 5   Jimmy White ENG 4 8 Stephen Lee ENG 5   Patrick Wallace NIR 0 6 Matthew Stevens WAL 5   Paul Hunter ENG 3   Marco Fu HKG 5 7 Peter Ebdon ENG 2 3 John Higgins SCO 6 5 Stephen Hendry SCO 3 2 Mark Williams WAL 6 8 Stephen Lee ENG 3 1 Ronnie O'Sullivan ENG 6 6 Matthew Stevens WAL 3   Marco Fu HKG 6 4 Ken Doherty IRL 3 3 SCO John Higgins 6 2 WAL Mark Williams 1 1 ENG Ronnie O'Sullivan 6   HKG Marco Fu 3 3 SCO John Higgins 9 1 ENG Ronnie O'Sullivan 6 Final The bold text denotes all of the winning frame scores and the winning participant. Breaks over 50 are indicated in brackets. Final: Best of 17 frames. Thistle Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland, 23 September 2001. Ronnie O'Sullivan (1) 6–9 John Higgins (3) Afternoon: 0–137 (111), 26–66, 53–42, 80–18 (80), 117–8 (117), 107–20 (57, 50), 60–66, 0–69 (69) Evening: 47–62, 1–63 (59), 99–23 (59), 14–62, 109–0 (73), 0–114 (114), 0–89 (60) 117 Highest break 114 1 Century breaks 2 6 50+ breaks 5 Qualifying Event Qualifying for the tournament took place amongst 16 players at the Spencer's Snooker Centre from 26 to 31 August 2001.Regal Masters Qualifying Event http://www.worldofsnooker.co.uk/invitational/rmqual.htm World of Snooker 19 February 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20020623135616/http://www.worldofsnooker.co.uk/invitational/rmqual.htm 23 June 2002 dead Players who entered the tournament included three-time Scottish Masters runner-up Alan McManus, former Grand Prix champion Dominic Dale and 1997 Scottish Masters victor Nigel Bond.https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A78862148/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=b9204724 On cue for a wild card 25 August 2001 Evening Times 18 April 2020 60 Gale OneFile: News subscription Bookmakers installed McManus and Anthony Hamilton as the joint favourites to win the competition.Humphries Adrian https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A77525522/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=5c95a98f Snooker: 14–1 Gray value for Stirling joy 25 August 2001 Racing Post 18 April 2020 113 Gale OneFile: News subscription Patrick Wallace defeated Joe Swail, Hamilton, Joe Perry and Stephen Maguire to qualify for the Scottish Masters. All matches were played to the best-of-nine frames and players in bold denote match winners. 190 Round 1Best of 9 frames Quarter-finalsBest of 9 frames Semi-finalsBest of 9 frames FinalBest of 9 frames Joe Swail NIR 3 Patrick Wallace NIR 5 Anthony Hamilton ENG 5 Dominic Dale WAL 4 Dave Harold ENG 4 Joe Perry ENG 5 Graeme Dott SCO 3 Michael Judge IRL 5 Mark King ENG 5 Tony Drago MLT 0 Fergal O'Brien IRL 1 Stephen Maguire SCO 5 Drew Henry SCO 5 Nigel Bond ENG 1 Alan McManus SCO 5 David Gray ENG 4 NIR Patrick Wallace 5 ENG Anthony Hamilton 3 ENG Joe Perry 5 IRL Michael Judge 1 ENG Mark King 3 SCO Stephen Maguire 5 SCO Drew Henry 1 SCO Alan McManus 5 NIR Patrick Wallace 5 ENG Joe Perry 3 SCO Stephen Maguire 5 SCO Alan McManus 3 NIR Patrick Wallace 5 SCO Stephen Maguire 0 Century breaks The main stage of the event saw a total of seven century breaks compiled by three different players.2001 Scottish Masters http://azbilliards.com/snooker/2001-02/01regalmasters.html AZBilliards 11 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20020512054323/http://azbilliards.com/snooker/2001-02/01regalmasters.html 12 May 2002 dead O'Sullivan made the highest break of 134 in the third frame of his semi-final game with Fu, which earned him £5,000 prize money. 134, 117, 108, 101 Ronnie O'Sullivan 126 Peter Ebdon 114, 111 John Higgins Notes References 30em Category:Scottish Masters Category:2001 in snooker Category:2001 in Scottish sport Category:September 2001 sports events in the United Kingdom