# 2003 British Open

The 2003 British Open was the 2003 edition of the British Open professional ranking snooker tournament, that was held from 8–16 November 2003 at the Brighton Centre, Brighton, England. Stephen Hendry won the tournament by defeating Ronnie O'Sullivan nine frames to six in the final. The final saw a record 5 centuries in a row from the two players (three from O'Sullivan and two from Hendry, including a 135), which remains a joint record for consecutive centuries made between two players in a professional tournament match and is a standalone record for ranking events and finals.

## Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:

## Main draw

| Last 48 Best of 9 frames | Last 48 Best of 9 frames | Last 48 Best of 9 frames | 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 |
| | | | 1 | Paul Hunter | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 23 | Dave Harold | 1 | 64 | Shaun Murphy | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 23 | Dave Harold | 1 | 64 | Shaun Murphy | 2 | 1 | Paul Hunter | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 64 | Shaun Murphy | 5 | | | | 1 | Paul Hunter | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 64 | Shaun Murphy | 5 | | | | 12 | David Gray | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 12 | David Gray | 5 | 12 | David Gray | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| 18 | Chris Small | 3 | 55 | Nick Dyson | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 18 | Chris Small | 3 | 55 | Nick Dyson | 2 | | | | 1 | Paul Hunter | 3 | | | | | |
| 55 | Nick Dyson | 5 | | | | | | | 1 | Paul Hunter | 3 | | | | | |
| 55 | Nick Dyson | 5 | | | | | | | 6 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | |
| | | | 15 | Jimmy White | 2 | | | | 6 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | |
| 24 | Tony Drago | 5 | 24 | Tony Drago | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 24 | Tony Drago | 5 | 24 | Tony Drago | 5 | 24 | Tony Drago | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| 40 | Nigel Bond | 2 | | | | 24 | Tony Drago | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| 40 | Nigel Bond | 2 | | | | 6 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Stephen Lee | 5 | 6 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 19 | Marco Fu | 5 | 19 | Marco Fu | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 19 | Marco Fu | 5 | 19 | Marco Fu | 2 | | | | | | | 6 | Stephen Lee | 2 | | |
| 42 | Barry Hawkins | 4 | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Stephen Lee | 2 | | |
| 42 | Barry Hawkins | 4 | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 6 | | |
| | | | 7 | Ken Doherty | 2 | | | | | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 6 | | |
| 17 | Ali Carter | 1 | 50 | Gerard Greene | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 17 | Ali Carter | 1 | 50 | Gerard Greene | 5 | 50 | Gerard Greene | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 50 | Gerard Greene | 5 | | | | 50 | Gerard Greene | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 50 | Gerard Greene | 5 | | | | 27 | Joe Swail | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 11 | Steve Davis | 3 | 27 | Joe Swail | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 27 | Joe Swail | 5 | 27 | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 27 | Joe Swail | 5 | 27 | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | 50 | Gerard Greene | 4 | | | | | |
| 43 | Stuart Bingham | 1 | | | | | | | 50 | Gerard Greene | 4 | | | | | |
| 43 | Stuart Bingham | 1 | | | | | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | |
| | | | 14 | Quinten Hann | 5 | | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | |
| 30 | John Parrott | 4 | 62 | Andy Hicks | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 30 | John Parrott | 4 | 62 | Andy Hicks | 3 | 14 | Quinten Hann | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 62 | Andy Hicks | 5 | | | | 14 | Quinten Hann | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 62 | Andy Hicks | 5 | | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 29 | Mark Selby | 3 | 41 | Stephen Maguire | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 29 | Mark Selby | 3 | 41 | Stephen Maguire | 3 | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 6 |
| 41 | Stephen Maguire | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 6 |
| 41 | Stephen Maguire | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Stephen Hendry | 9 |
| | | | 3 | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Stephen Hendry | 9 |
| 28 | Dominic Dale | 5 | 28 | Dominic Dale | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 28 | Dominic Dale | 5 | 28 | Dominic Dale | 2 | 3 | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Patrick Wallace | 2 | | | | 3 | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Patrick Wallace | 2 | | | | 16 | Joe Perry | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 16 | Joe Perry | 5 | 16 | Joe Perry | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| 26 | Ian McCulloch | 3 | | Tom Ford | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 26 | Ian McCulloch | 3 | | Tom Ford | 1 | | | | 3 | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | |
| | Tom Ford | 5 | | | | | | | 3 | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | |
| | Tom Ford | 5 | | | | | | | 5 | John Higgins | 4 | | | | | | |
| | | | 10 | Alan McManus | 4 | | | | 5 | John Higgins | 4 | | | | | | |
| 21 | Robert Milkins | 3 | 35 | Mark Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 21 | Robert Milkins | 3 | 35 | Mark Davis | 5 | 35 | Mark Davis | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| 35 | Mark Davis | 5 | | | | 35 | Mark Davis | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| 35 | Mark Davis | 5 | | | | 5 | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | John Higgins | 5 | 5 | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 32 | Robin Hull | 1 | 37 | Michael Judge | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 32 | Robin Hull | 1 | 37 | Michael Judge | 1 | | | | | | | 3 | Stephen Hendry | 6 | | | |
| 37 | Michael Judge | 5 | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Stephen Hendry | 6 | | | |
| 37 | Michael Judge | 5 | | | | | | | | | | 9 | Matthew Stevens | 3 | | | |
| | | | 8 | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | 9 | Matthew Stevens | 3 | | | |
| 25 | Drew Henry | 3 | | Ricky Walden | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 25 | Drew Henry | 3 | | Ricky Walden | 2 | 8 | Peter Ebdon | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ricky Walden | 5 | | | | 8 | Peter Ebdon | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ricky Walden | 5 | | | | 9 | Matthew Stevens | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 9 | Matthew Stevens | 5 | 9 | Matthew Stevens | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 22 | Mark King | 5 | 22 | Mark King | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 22 | Mark King | 5 | 22 | Mark King | 1 | | | | 9 | Matthew Stevens | 5 | | | | | | |
| 36 | Barry Pinches | 0 | | | | | | | 9 | Matthew Stevens | 5 | | | | | | |
| 36 | Barry Pinches | 0 | | | | | | | 2 | Mark Williams | 1 | | | | | | |
| | | | 13 | Graeme Dott | 4 | | | | 2 | Mark Williams | 1 | | | | | | |
| 31 | Anthony Davies | 2 | 33 | Fergal O'Brien | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 31 | Anthony Davies | 2 | 33 | Fergal O'Brien | 5 | 33 | Fergal O'Brien | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| 33 | Fergal O'Brien | 5 | | | | 33 | Fergal O'Brien | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| 33 | Fergal O'Brien | 5 | | | | 2 | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Mark Williams | 5 | 2 | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 20 | Anthony Hamilton | 2 | 39 | Michael Holt | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 39 | Michael Holt | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Final

Final: Best of 17 frames. Referee: Eirian Williams. Brighton Centre, Brighton, England. 16 November 2003. :
| Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) England | 6–9 | Stephen Hendry (3) Scotland |
| Afternoon: 103–29 (62), 78–37 (61), 2–59, 0–135 (135), 106–0 (106), 104–0 (100), 0–135 (121), 109–0 (109) Evening: 28–84 (61), 4–89 (50), 0–135 (135), 56–78 (56, 78), 0–95 (95), 70–5 (64), 12–72 |||
| 109 | Highest break | 135 |
| 3 | Century breaks | 3 |
| 7 | 50+ breaks | 7 |

## Qualifying

Qualifying for the tournament took place at Pontins in Prestatyn, Wales between 21 and 25 September 2003.

### Round 1

Best of 9 frames
| Kwan Poomjang | 5–4 | Stephen Croft |
| Andrew Norman | 5–2 | Ian Sargeant |
| Wayne Brown | 5–1 | Chris Melling |
| Ryan Day | 5–3 | Supoj Saenla |
| Paul Wykes | 5–2 | Garry Hardiman |
| Jason Ferguson | 1–5 | Steve Mifsud |
| Billy Snaddon | 5–4 | James Leadbetter |
| Luke Fisher | 5–2 | Ding Junhui |
| Andrew Higginson | 5–2 | Stuart Mann |
| Terry Murphy | 1–5 | Neil Robertson |
| Craig Butler | 5–2 | Paul Sweeny |
| Simon Bedford | 3–5 | Philip Williams |
| Leo Fernandez | w/d–w/o | Gary Thomson |
| Paul Davies | 5–1 | Kurt Maflin |
| Kristján Helgason | 4–5 | Michael Wild |
| Munraj Pal | 5–4 | Carlo Giagnacovo |
| Martin Dziewialtowski | 5–2 | Joe Delaney |
| Bradley Jones | 5–1 | Luke Simmonds |
| Jason Prince | 4–5 | Michael Rhodes |
| Lee Walker | 2–5 | Tom Ford |
| Rory McLeod | 5–3 | Andy Neck |
| Johl Younger | 5–1 | Steven Bennie |
| Jamie Cope | 5–4 | Mehmet Husnu |
| Matthew Couch | 5–4 | Liu Song |
| Ricky Walden | 5–0 | Martin Gould |
| David Gilbert | 4–5 | Darryn Walker |
| Adrian Gunnell | 5–3 | Ian Preece |
| Joe Johnson | w/d–w/o | Alain Robidoux |
| Peter Lines | 5–1 | Scott MacKenzie |
| Atthasit Mahitthi | 5–2 | Ian Brumby |
| Tony Jones | 0–5 | Adrian Rosa |
| Colm Gilcreest | 5–4 | Joe Meara |

### Round 2–4

| Round 2 Best of 9 frames | Round 2 Best of 9 frames | Round 2 Best of 9 frames | Round 3 Best of 9 frames | Round 3 Best of 9 frames | Round 3 Best of 9 frames | Round 4 Best of 9 frames | Round 4 Best of 9 frames | Round 4 Best of 9 frames |
| Kwan Poomjang | Kwan Poomjang | 3 | Shaun Murphy | Shaun Murphy | 5 | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 4 |
| Andrew Norman | Andrew Norman | 5 | Andrew Norman | Andrew Norman | 2 | Shaun Murphy | Shaun Murphy | 5 |
| Wayne Brown | Wayne Brown | 3 | Nick Dyson | Nick Dyson | 5 | Jamie Burnett | Jamie Burnett | 2 |
| Ryan Day | Ryan Day | 5 | Ryan Day | Ryan Day | 1 | Nick Dyson | Nick Dyson | 5 |
| Paul Wykes | Paul Wykes | 5 | David Roe | David Roe | 5 | Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 5 |
| Steve Mifsud | Steve Mifsud | 4 | Paul Wykes | Paul Wykes | 3 | David Roe | David Roe | 0 |
| Billy Snaddon | Billy Snaddon | 5 | Dave Finbow | Dave Finbow | 1 | Barry Hawkins | Barry Hawkins | 5 |
| Luke Fisher | Luke Fisher | 4 | Billy Snaddon | Billy Snaddon | 5 | Billy Snaddon | Billy Snaddon | 0 |
| Andrew Higginson | Andrew Higginson | 5 | Bjorn Haneveer | Bjorn Haneveer | 3 | Gerard Greene | Gerard Greene | 5 |
| Neil Robertson | Neil Robertson | 1 | Andrew Higginson | Andrew Higginson | 5 | Andrew Higginson | Andrew Higginson | 1 |
| Craig Butler | Craig Butler | 5 | Sean Storey | Sean Storey | 3 | Stuart Bingham | Stuart Bingham | 5 |
| Philip Williams | Philip Williams | 1 | Craig Butler | Craig Butler | 5 | Craig Butler | Craig Butler | 1 |
| Gary Thomson | Gary Thomson | 5 | Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 5 | Stuart Pettman | Stuart Pettman | 3 |
| Paul Davies | Paul Davies | 2 | Gary Thomson | Gary Thomson | 4 | Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 5 |
| Michael Wild | Michael Wild | 5 | Mike Dunn | Mike Dunn | 5 | Stephen Maguire | Stephen Maguire | 5 |
| Munraj Pal | Munraj Pal | 3 | Michael Wild | Michael Wild | 4 | Mike Dunn | Mike Dunn | 2 |
| Martin Dziewialtowski | Martin Dziewialtowski | 5 | Patrick Wallace | Patrick Wallace | 5 | Jonathan Birch | Jonathan Birch | 0 |
| Bradley Jones | Bradley Jones | 0 | Martin Dziewialtowski | Martin Dziewialtowski | 0 | Patrick Wallace | Patrick Wallace | 5 |
| Michael Rhodes | Michael Rhodes | 1 | Alfie Burden | Alfie Burden | 1 | Brian Morgan | Brian Morgan | 2 |
| Tom Ford | Tom Ford | 5 | Tom Ford | Tom Ford | 5 | Tom Ford | Tom Ford | 5 |
| Rory McLeod | Rory McLeod | 3 | Shokat Ali | Shokat Ali | 4 | Mark Davis | Mark Davis | 5 |
| Johl Younger | Johl Younger | 5 | Johl Younger | Johl Younger | 5 | Johl Younger | Johl Younger | 0 |
| Jamie Cope | Jamie Cope | 4 | Nick Walker | Nick Walker | 5 | Michael Judge | Michael Judge | 5 |
| Matthew Couch | Matthew Couch | 5 | Matthew Couch | Matthew Couch | 3 | Nick Walker | Nick Walker | 1 |
| Ricky Walden | Ricky Walden | 5 | Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 1 | James Wattana | James Wattana | 3 |
| Darryn Walker | Darryn Walker | 1 | Ricky Walden | Ricky Walden | 5 | Ricky Walden | Ricky Walden | 5 |
| Adrian Gunnell | Adrian Gunnell | 5 | Marcus Campbell | Marcus Campbell | 5 | Barry Pinches | Barry Pinches | 5 |
| Alain Robidoux | Alain Robidoux | 1 | Adrian Gunnell | Adrian Gunnell | 0 | Marcus Campbell | Marcus Campbell | 2 |
| Peter Lines | Peter Lines | 3 | Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 4 | Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 5 |
| Atthasit Mahitthi | Atthasit Mahitthi | 5 | Atthasit Mahitthi | Atthasit Mahitthi | 5 | Atthasit Mahitthi | Atthasit Mahitthi | 4 |
| Adrian Rosa | Adrian Rosa | 5 | Jimmy Michie | Jimmy Michie | 1 | Michael Holt | Michael Holt | 5 |
| Colm Gilcreest | Colm Gilcreest | 3 | Adrian Rosa | Adrian Rosa | 5 | Adrian Rosa | Adrian Rosa | 4 |
* ↑ Birch conceded the match at 0–3 down.