# 1997 British Open

The 1997 British Open was a professional ranking snooker tournament, that was held from March to April 1997 at the Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth, England.
Mark Williams won the tournament by defeating Stephen Hendry nine frames to two in the final. The defending champion, Nigel Bond, was defeated in the last 16 by Tony Drago.

## Main draw

| Last 64 Best of 9 frames | Last 64 Best of 9 frames | Last 64 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 |
| Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 0 | Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 5 | Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Robert Milkins | Robert Milkins | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Robert Milkins | Robert Milkins | 2 | | | | Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 5 | | | | | | | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 3 | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Ian McCulloch | Ian McCulloch | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 2 | Ian McCulloch | Ian McCulloch | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ian McCulloch | Ian McCulloch | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ian McCulloch | Ian McCulloch | 5 | | | | | | | | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Jason Prince | Jason Prince | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jason Prince | Jason Prince | 4 | Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Nick Pearce | Nick Pearce | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Chris Small | Chris Small | 4 | Nick Pearce | Nick Pearce | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nick Pearce | Nick Pearce | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nick Pearce | Nick Pearce | 5 | | | | Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Parrott | John Parrott | 3 | | | | | | | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Drew Henry | Drew Henry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Drew Henry | Drew Henry | 5 | Drew Henry | Drew Henry | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Terry Murphy | Terry Murphy | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Terry Murphy | Terry Murphy | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | |
| Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | |
| Michael Judge | Michael Judge | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Michael Judge | Michael Judge | 5 | Michael Judge | Michael Judge | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Nick Walker | Nick Walker | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | w/d | Nick Walker | Nick Walker | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nick Walker | Nick Walker | w/o | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nick Walker | Nick Walker | w/o | | | | Michael Judge | Michael Judge | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 3 | | | | | | | Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 5 | Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Steve James | Steve James | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve James | Steve James | 5 | Steve James | Steve James | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 3 | | | | | | | | Michael Judge | Michael Judge | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Alain Robidoux | Alain Robidoux | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Perry | Joe Perry | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Perry | Joe Perry | 3 | Alain Robidoux | Alain Robidoux | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Lee Richardson | Lee Richardson | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Lee Richardson | Lee Richardson | 2 | | | | Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 2 | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Jimmy Michie | Jimmy Michie | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 4 | Jimmy Michie | Jimmy Michie | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jimmy Michie | Jimmy Michie | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jimmy Michie | Jimmy Michie | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 9 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 2 |
| John Higgins | John Higgins | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 2 |
| Antony Bolsover | Antony Bolsover | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Antony Bolsover | Antony Bolsover | 5 | Antony Bolsover | Antony Bolsover | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 5 | Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Graeme Dott | Graeme Dott | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Graeme Dott | Graeme Dott | 3 | | | | Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Marcus Campbell | Marcus Campbell | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Marcus Campbell | Marcus Campbell | 1 | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Mark Davis | Mark Davis | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 2 | Mark Davis | Mark Davis | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Davis | Mark Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Davis | Mark Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Sean Storey | Sean Storey | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Sean Storey | Sean Storey | 3 | Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 5 | Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Shokat Ali | Shokat Ali | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Shokat Ali | Shokat Ali | 4 | | | | Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Jones | Tony Jones | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Jones | Tony Jones | 2 | Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Mark King | Mark King | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Finbow | Dave Finbow | 2 | Mark King | Mark King | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark King | Mark King | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark King | Mark King | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 2 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 6 | | | | |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 6 | | | | |
| Gerard Greene | Gerard Greene | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gerard Greene | Gerard Greene | 5 | Gerard Greene | Gerard Greene | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Paul Sweeny | Paul Sweeny | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mick Price | Mick Price | 4 | Paul Sweeny | Paul Sweeny | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paul Sweeny | Paul Sweeny | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paul Sweeny | Paul Sweeny | 5 | | | | Paul Sweeny | Paul Sweeny | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Billy Snaddon | Billy Snaddon | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Billy Snaddon | Billy Snaddon | 4 | Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 5 | Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Murphy | Stephen Murphy | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Murphy | Stephen Murphy | 2 | | | | | | | | Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| James Wattana | James Wattana | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Paul McPhillips | Paul McPhillips | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paul McPhillips | Paul McPhillips | 5 | Paul McPhillips | Paul McPhillips | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Jason Ferguson | Jason Ferguson | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jason Ferguson | Jason Ferguson | 5 | Jason Ferguson | Jason Ferguson | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Judd | Steve Judd | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Judd | Steve Judd | 2 | | | | Paul McPhillips | Paul McPhillips | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Karl Broughton | Karl Broughton | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Karl Broughton | Karl Broughton | 3 | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Paul Wykes | Paul Wykes | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 3 | Paul Wykes | Paul Wykes | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paul Wykes | Paul Wykes | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |