# 1996 European Open (snooker)

The 1996 European Open was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 25 February to 3 March 1996 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, Malta.
John Parrott won the tournament, defeating Peter Ebdon 9–7 in the final. The defending champion Stephen Hendry was eliminated by Joe Swail in the last 16 round.

## Wildcard round

| Match | | Score | |
| WC1 | Marcus Campbell (SCO) | 5–2 | Simon Camilleri (MLT) |
| WC2 | Leo Fernandez (IRL) | 5–3 | Ray Demanuele (MLT) |
| WC3 | Karl Payne (ENG) | 5–2 | Richard Webb (MLT) |
| WC4 | Chris Scanlon (ENG) | 5–1 | Frans Mintoff (MLT) |

## Main draw

| Last 32 Best of 9 frames | Last 32 Best of 9 frames | Last 32 Best of 9 frames | Last 16 Best of 9 frames | Last 16 Best of 9 frames | Last 16 Best of 9 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 9 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 9 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 9 frames | | Semi-finals Best of 11 frames | Semi-finals Best of 11 frames | Semi-finals Best of 11 frames | | Final Best of 17 frames | Final Best of 17 frames | Final Best of 17 frames |
| John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Chris Scanlon | Chris Scanlon | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Chris Scanlon | Chris Scanlon | 3 | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 5 | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Marcus Campbell | Marcus Campbell | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Marcus Campbell | Marcus Campbell | 3 | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Ian Brumby | Ian Brumby | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ian Brumby | Ian Brumby | 2 | Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 5 | Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Karl Payne | Karl Payne | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Karl Payne | Karl Payne | 3 | | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | |
| Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | |
| David Roe | David Roe | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| David Roe | David Roe | 3 | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 1 | | | | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Anthony Davies | Anthony Davies | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Anthony Davies | Anthony Davies | 5 | | | | | | | Anthony Davies | Anthony Davies | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| James Wattana | James Wattana | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| James Wattana | James Wattana | 3 | Anthony Davies | Anthony Davies | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 5 | Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Higgins | John Higgins | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Higgins | John Higgins | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 9 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 7 |
| Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 7 |
| Leo Fernandez | Leo Fernandez | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Leo Fernandez | Leo Fernandez | 1 | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Dave Finbow | Dave Finbow | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Finbow | Dave Finbow | 5 | Dave Finbow | Dave Finbow | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 4 | | | | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 5 | | | | | | | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 2 | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Steve James | Steve James | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve James | Steve James | 5 | Steve James | Steve James | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 2 | | | | | | | | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 3 | | | | |
| Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 3 | | | | |
| Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 1 | Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 5 | Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 4 | | | | Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 5 | | | | | | | Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 4 | Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 5 | Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |