1998 Welsh Open (snooker)

"1998 Welsh Open" redirects here. For the darts tournament, see Welsh Open (darts).

The 1998 Welsh Open (officially the 1998 Regal Welsh Open) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 16 and 25 January 1998 at the Newport Leisure Centre in Newport, Wales.

1998 Regal Welsh Open

Tournament information
Dates	16–25 January 1998 (1998-01-16 – 1998-01-25)
Venue	Newport Leisure Centre
City	Newport
Country	Wales
Organisation	WPBSA
Format	Ranking event
Total prize fund	£350,000
Winner's share	£60,000
Highest break	Graeme Dott (SCO) (142)
Final
Champion	Paul Hunter (ENG)
Runner-up	John Higgins (SCO)
Score	9–5
← 1997 1999 →

Stephen Hendry was the defending champion, but he lost in the first round against Jamie Burnett.

Paul Hunter defeated John Higgins 9–5 in the final to win his first ranking title.

Main draw

^[1][2]

	Last 64 Best of 9 frames					Last 32 Best of 9 frames					Last 16 Best of 9 frames					Quarter-finals Best of 9 frames					Semi-finals Best of 11 frames					Final Best of 17 frames
	Paul Hunter		5
	Neal Foulds		2
						Paul Hunter		5
						Steve Davis		3
	Steve Davis		5
	Dave Finbow		3
											Paul Hunter		5
											Nigel Bond		4
	Nigel Bond		5
	Ian Brumby		0
						Nigel Bond		5
						Jason Ferguson		0
	Jason Ferguson		5
	Billy Snaddon		3
																Paul Hunter		5
																Alan McManus		3
	Alan McManus		5
	Joe Johnson		0
						Alan McManus		5
						Martin Dziewialtowski		1
	Martin Dziewialtowski		5
	Mick Price		3
											Alan McManus		5
											Chris Small		0
	Chris Small		5
	David Roe		3
						Chris Small		5
						Nick Walker		1
	Nick Walker		5
	Mark Williams		3
																					Paul Hunter		6
																					Peter Ebdon		1
	Peter Ebdon		5
	Stuart Pettman		4
						Peter Ebdon		5
						Gary Wilkinson		0
	Gary Wilkinson		5
	John Read		2
											Peter Ebdon		5
											Fergal O'Brien		3
	Fergal O'Brien		5
	Wayne Jones		4
						Fergal O'Brien		5
						Steve Judd		3
	Steve Judd		5
	Tony Drago		3
																Peter Ebdon		5
																Jamie Burnett		2
	Jamie Burnett		5
	Stephen Hendry		4
						Jamie Burnett		5
						Joe Perry		3
	Joe Perry		5
	Brian Morgan		4
											Jamie Burnett		5
											Stephen Lee		3
	Stephen Lee		5
	Marcus Campbell		4
						Stephen Lee		5
						Peter Lines		1
	Peter Lines		5
	Rod Lawler		0
																										Paul Hunter		9
																										John Higgins		5
	John Higgins		5
	Euan Henderson		2
						John Higgins		5
						Terry Murphy		1
	Terry Murphy		5
	Bradley Jones		4
											John Higgins		5
											Andy Hicks		3
	Andy Hicks		5
	Tony Jones		3
						Andy Hicks		5
						Stefan Mazrocis		1
	Stefan Mazrocis		5
	Alain Robidoux		3
																John Higgins		5
																John Parrott		4
	John Parrott		5
	Paul Davies		3
						John Parrott		5
						Ian McCulloch		1
	Ian McCulloch		5
	Martin Clark		1
											John Parrott		5
											Graeme Dott		1
	Graeme Dott		5
	James Wattana		4
						Graeme Dott		5
						Steve James		2
	Steve James		5
	Gerard Greene		1
																					John Higgins		6
																					Mark King		5
	Mark King		5
	Gary Ponting		1
						Mark King		5
						Tony Chappel		2
	Tony Chappel		5
	Ken Doherty		3
											Mark King		5
											Dominic Dale		1
	Dominic Dale		5
	Joe Swail		4
						Dominic Dale		5
						Sean Storey		3
	Sean Storey		5
	Darren Morgan		4
																Mark King		5
																Anthony Hamilton		3
	Anthony Hamilton		5
	Matthew Stevens		1
						Anthony Hamilton		5
						Dave Harold		2
	Dave Harold		5
	Wayne Brown		1
											Anthony Hamilton		5
											Ronnie O'Sullivan		4
	Ronnie O'Sullivan		5
	Stephen O'Connor		1
						Ronnie O'Sullivan		5
						Jimmy White		4
	Jimmy White		5
	Mark Davis		2

Final

^[3]

Final: Best of 17 frames. Referee: Eirian Williams. Newport Leisure Centre, Newport, Wales, 25 January 1998.
Paul Hunter  England	9–5	John Higgins  Scotland
Afternoon: 40–87 (87), 131–1 (127), 44–81 (63), 116–0 (116), 0–88 (55), 26–62, 76–21, 61–8 Evening: 10–69 (52), 64–20, 73–34, 68–41, 74–8 (74), 108–0 (108)
127	Highest break	87
3	Century breaks	0
4	50+ breaks	4