# 1997 European Open (snooker)

The 1997 European Open was the 1997 edition of the European Open snooker tournament, held from 23 February to 2 March 1997 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta, Malta. John Higgins defeated John Parrott by nine frames to five (9–5) in the final to claim his sixth ranking-event title. In the semi-finals Higgins defeated James Wattana and Parrott beat Ken Doherty. The tournament was the seventh of ten WPBSA ranking events in the 1996/1997 season, following the International Open and preceding the Thailand Open.

## Tournament summary

The 1997 tournament was the seventh of tenth WPBSA ranking events in the 1996/1997 season, following the International Open and preceding the Thailand Open. Held in February, the International Open was won by Stephen Hendry, who defeated Tony Drago by nine frames to one (9–1) in the final.

### Final

In the best-of-17 final Higgins defeated Parrott 9–5 to win his sixth ranking title, earning £60,000 in prize money.

## 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 |
| Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Darren Clarke | Darren Clarke | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Darren Clarke | Darren Clarke | 2 | Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 5 | Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 3 | | | | Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Drew Henry | Drew Henry | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Drew Henry | Drew Henry | 2 | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 5 | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paul Davies | Paul Davies | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paul Davies | Paul Davies | 0 | | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 4 | | | | |
| Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 4 | | | | |
| Robert Milkins | Robert Milkins | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Robert Milkins | Robert Milkins | 3 | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 5 | Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 3 | | | | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 2 | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Alain Robidoux | Alain Robidoux | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Alain Robidoux | Alain Robidoux | 5 | Alain Robidoux | Alain Robidoux | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 9 |
| John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 9 |
| Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 3 | John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 5 | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Matthew Stevens | Matthew Stevens | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Matthew Stevens | Matthew Stevens | 1 | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | | Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 0 | Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 5 | Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 3 | | | | | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | James Wattana | James Wattana | 0 | | | | |
| Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | James Wattana | James Wattana | 0 | | | | |
| Jamie Burnett | Jamie Burnett | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jamie Burnett | Jamie Burnett | 1 | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Jonathan Birch | Jonathan Birch | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jonathan Birch | Jonathan Birch | 5 | Jonathan Birch | Jonathan Birch | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 1 | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | James Wattana | James Wattana | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Chris Small | Chris Small | 5 | | | | | | | James Wattana | James Wattana | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 1 | Chris Small | Chris Small | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | James Wattana | James Wattana | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| James Wattana | James Wattana | 5 | James Wattana | James Wattana | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Euan Henderson | Euan Henderson | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Final

Final: Best of 17 frames. Referee: Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta, Malta, 2 March 1997. :
| John Parrott England | 5–9 |
| Afternoon: 9–74, 6–74, 1–109, 21–71, 4–62, 64–41, 56–48, 0–73 Evening: 101–1, 32–76, 71–12, 57–31, 32–71, 6–66 |||
| | Highest break |
| | Century breaks |
| | 50+ breaks |