# 2008 Northern Ireland Trophy

The 2008 Northern Ireland Trophy was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 24 and 31 August 2008 at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Ronnie O'Sullivan claimed his 21st ranking tournament by defeating surprise finalist Dave Harold 9–3 in the final.

## Tournament summary

* Notable comebacks in the qualifiers included: Li Hang coming from 0–4 down to beat Irish prodigy David Morris 5–4, and both Jimmy White and Ian Preece came from 2–4 behind to win their matches 5–4, against Jamie Jones and Paul Davies respectively.
* Jimmy White qualified for the final stage of an event for the first time in over a year, stretching back to the 2007 China Open.
* Long standing top-16 players, Mark Williams, Ken Doherty and Stephen Lee were playing in the qualifiers for the first time in over a decade.
* Last year's runner-up, Fergal O'Brien fell at the first hurdle, losing 3–5 to Michael Holt.
* In his match against Mark Selby, Andrew Higginson was playing in front of the TV cameras for the first time since his run to the final of the 2007 Welsh Open.
* Dominic Dale came from 1–4 down against Mark Allen to level at 4–4, before Allen played superbly to take the decider.
* In beating Ding Junhui 5–4, Mark Davis secured one of the best wins of his career.
* Ronnie O'Sullivan won three quick consecutive frames to oust former world champion Ken Doherty 5–4 in the last 32.
* Stephen Maguire won the last three frames to beat Alan McManus 5–4, a player who had not reached the last 16 of an event the previous season.
* Dave Harold beat Stephen Lee 5–4, a player who had been considered one of the tournaments in-form players, having knocked in three centuries, including a high break of 145.
* Harold increased his head-to-head record to 3–0 over Stephen Maguire by beating him 5–2 in the quarter-finals, afterwards Maguire stated that he never seems to perform against Harold.
* Barry Hawkins produced a brave fightback to recover from 1–4 to level at 4–4 against Ronnie O'Sullivan in their quarter-final match, before the world champion took the decider.
* Dave Harold led John Higgins 5–1, but won only 6–4, to reach his first ranking final since 1994, the gap between those two ranking finals is the longest in snooker history.

## 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 | Stephen Maguire | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 24 | Fergal O'Brien | 3 | | Michael Holt | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 24 | Fergal O'Brien | 3 | | Michael Holt | 1 | 1 | Stephen Maguire | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | Michael Holt | 5 | | | | 1 | Stephen Maguire | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | Michael Holt | 5 | | | | | Alan McManus | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 15 | Mark King | 3 | | Alan McManus | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| 17 | Matthew Stevens | 2 | | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 17 | Matthew Stevens | 2 | | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | 1 | Stephen Maguire | 2 | | | | | |
| | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | 1 | Stephen Maguire | 2 | | | | | |
| | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | 28 | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | |
| | | | 13 | Graeme Dott | 3 | | | | 28 | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | |
| 28 | Dave Harold | 5 | 28 | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 28 | Dave Harold | 5 | 28 | Dave Harold | 5 | 28 | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | Ricky Walden | 2 | | | | 28 | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | Ricky Walden | 2 | | | | 27 | Stephen Lee | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Stephen Hendry | 1 | 27 | Stephen Lee | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| 27 | Stephen Lee | 5 | 27 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 27 | Stephen Lee | 5 | 27 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | | 28 | Dave Harold | 6 | | |
| | Judd Trump | 3 | | | | | | | | | | 28 | Dave Harold | 6 | | |
| | Judd Trump | 3 | | | | | | | | | | 5 | John Higgins | 4 | | |
| | | | 5 | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | 5 | John Higgins | 4 | | |
| 30 | Michael Judge | 4 | | David Gilbert | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 30 | Michael Judge | 4 | | David Gilbert | 2 | 5 | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | David Gilbert | 5 | | | | 5 | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | David Gilbert | 5 | | | | | Liang Wenbo | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 9 | Peter Ebdon | 0 | | Liang Wenbo | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 29 | Steve Davis | 3 | | Liang Wenbo | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 29 | Steve Davis | 3 | | Liang Wenbo | 5 | | | | 5 | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | |
| | Liang Wenbo | 5 | | | | | | | 5 | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | |
| | Liang Wenbo | 5 | | | | | | | 25 | Ian McCulloch | 3 | | | | | |
| | | | 10 | Neil Robertson | 2 | | | | 25 | Ian McCulloch | 3 | | | | | |
| 25 | Ian McCulloch | 5 | 25 | Ian McCulloch | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 25 | Ian McCulloch | 5 | 25 | Ian McCulloch | 5 | 25 | Ian McCulloch | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | Mike Dunn | 4 | | | | 25 | Ian McCulloch | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | Mike Dunn | 4 | | | | 4 | Mark Selby | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Mark Selby | 5 | 4 | Mark Selby | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| 31 | Anthony Hamilton | 3 | | Andrew Higginson | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 31 | Anthony Hamilton | 3 | | Andrew Higginson | 1 | | | | | | | | | | 28 | Dave Harold | 3 |
| | Andrew Higginson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 28 | Dave Harold | 3 |
| | Andrew Higginson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 9 |
| | | | 3 | Shaun Murphy | 2 | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 9 |
| 22 | Mark Williams | 5 | 22 | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 22 | Mark Williams | 5 | 22 | Mark Williams | 5 | 22 | Mark Williams | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Marcus Campbell | 3 | | | | 22 | Mark Williams | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Marcus Campbell | 3 | | | | 16 | Mark Allen | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 16 | Mark Allen | 5 | 16 | Mark Allen | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 32 | Dominic Dale | 5 | 32 | Dominic Dale | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 32 | Dominic Dale | 5 | 32 | Dominic Dale | 4 | | | | 16 | Mark Allen | 2 | | | | | | |
| | Adrian Gunnell | 4 | | | | | | | 16 | Mark Allen | 2 | | | | | | |
| | Adrian Gunnell | 4 | | | | | | | 7 | Ali Carter | 5 | | | | | | |
| | | | 11 | Ding Junhui | 4 | | | | 7 | Ali Carter | 5 | | | | | | |
| 20 | Joe Swail | 4 | | Mark Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 20 | Joe Swail | 4 | | Mark Davis | 5 | | Mark Davis | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mark Davis | 5 | | | | | Mark Davis | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mark Davis | 5 | | | | 7 | Ali Carter | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 7 | Ali Carter | 5 | 7 | Ali Carter | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 21 | Stuart Bingham | 4 | | Rory McLeod | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 21 | Stuart Bingham | 4 | | Rory McLeod | 1 | | | | | | | 7 | Ali Carter | 5 | | | |
| | Rory McLeod | 5 | | | | | | | | | | 7 | Ali Carter | 5 | | | |
| | Rory McLeod | 5 | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 6 | | | |
| | | | 8 | Ryan Day | 5 | | | | | | | 2 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 6 | | | |
| 23 | Nigel Bond | 1 | | Stuart Pettman | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 23 | Nigel Bond | 1 | | Stuart Pettman | 4 | 8 | Ryan Day | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Stuart Pettman | 5 | | | | 8 | Ryan Day | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Stuart Pettman | 5 | | | | 26 | Barry Hawkins | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 14 | Marco Fu | 2 | 26 | Barry Hawkins | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 26 | Barry Hawkins | 5 | 26 | Barry Hawkins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 26 | Barry Hawkins | 5 | 26 | Barry Hawkins | 5 | | | | 26 | Barry Hawkins | 4 | | | | | | |
| | Jimmy White | 3 | | | | | | | 26 | Barry Hawkins | 4 | | | | | | |
| | Jimmy White | 3 | | | | | | | 2 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | |
| | | | 12 | Joe Perry | 5 | | | | 2 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | |
| 19 | Jamie Cope | 5 | 19 | Jamie Cope | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 19 | Jamie Cope | 5 | 19 | Jamie Cope | 2 | 12 | Joe Perry | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | David Gray | 4 | | | | 12 | Joe Perry | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | David Gray | 4 | | | | 2 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | 2 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 18 | Ken Doherty | 5 | 18 | Ken Doherty | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gerard Greene | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Final

Final: Best of 17 frames. Referee: Eirian Williams. Waterfront Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 31 August 2008. :
| Dave Harold England | 3–9 | Ronnie O'Sullivan England |
| Afternoon: 63–14, 44–68 (68), 17–127 (103), 0–84 (84), 44–87, 13–84, 60–76 (76) Evening: 76–41, 19–73 (64), 54–61, 88–0 (81), 22–80 (50) |||
| 81 | Highest break | 103 |
| 0 | Century breaks | 1 |
| 1 | 50+ breaks | 6 |

## Qualifying

Qualifying for the tournament took place at Pontins in Prestatyn, Wales between 15 and 17 August 2008.
| Round 1 Best of 9 frames | Round 1 Best of 9 frames | Round 1 Best of 9 frames | 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 |
| Rodney Goggins | Rodney Goggins | 5 | Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 5 | Michael Holt | Michael Holt | 5 |
| Declan Hughes | Declan Hughes | 2 | Rodney Goggins | Rodney Goggins | 0 | Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 2 |
| Paul Davison | Paul Davison | 0 | Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 5 | Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 5 |
| Andrew Pagett | Andrew Pagett | 5 | Andrew Pagett | Andrew Pagett | 4 | Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 2 |
| Daniel Wells | Daniel Wells | 5 | Barry Pinches | Barry Pinches | 5 | Ricky Walden | Ricky Walden | 5 |
| Jin Long | Jin Long | 3 | Daniel Wells | Daniel Wells | 1 | Barry Pinches | Barry Pinches | 3 |
| Patrick Wallace | Patrick Wallace | 5 | Mark Joyce | Mark Joyce | 5 | Judd Trump | Judd Trump | 5 |
| Bye | Bye | 0 | Patrick Wallace | Patrick Wallace | 0 | Mark Joyce | Mark Joyce | 0 |
| Supoj Saenla | Supoj Saenla | 2 | Robert Milkins | Robert Milkins | 3 | David Gilbert | David Gilbert | 5 |
| Liu Chuang | Liu Chuang | 5 | Liu Chuang | Liu Chuang | 5 | Liu Chuang | Liu Chuang | 3 |
| Peter Lines | Peter Lines | 5 | David Roe | David Roe | 5 | Liang Wenbo | Liang Wenbo | 5 |
| Andy Lee | Andy Lee | 0 | Peter Lines | Peter Lines | 2 | David Roe | David Roe | 0 |
| Matthew Couch | Matthew Couch | 5 | Andrew Norman | Andrew Norman | 5 | Mike Dunn | Mike Dunn | 5 |
| Vincent Muldoon | Vincent Muldoon | 3 | Matthew Couch | Matthew Couch | 3 | Andrew Norman | Andrew Norman | 1 |
| Robert Stephen | Robert Stephen | 1 | David Morris | David Morris | 4 | A. Higginson | A. Higginson | 5 |
| Li Hang | Li Hang | 5 | Li Hang | Li Hang | 5 | Li Hang | Li Hang | 2 |
| Lee Spick | Lee Spick | 5 | Joe Delaney | Joe Delaney | 5 | Marcus Campbell | Marcus Campbell | 5 |
| Aditya Mehta | Aditya Mehta | 2 | Lee Spick | Lee Spick | 0 | Joe Delaney | Joe Delaney | 1 |
| Jamie Jones | Jamie Jones | 5 | Ian Preece | Ian Preece | 5 | Adrian Gunnell | Adrian Gunnell | 5 |
| Stephen Craigie | Stephen Craigie | 2 | Jamie Jones | Jamie Jones | 4 | Ian Preece | Ian Preece | 2 |
| Kuldesh Johal | Kuldesh Johal | 5 | Mark Davis | Mark Davis | 5 | Jamie Burnett | Jamie Burnett | 2 |
| Michael Georgiou | Michael Georgiou | 3 | Kuldesh Johal | Kuldesh Johal | 1 | Mark Davis | Mark Davis | 5 |
| Matthew Selt | Matthew Selt | 5 | Liu Song | Liu Song | 5 | Rory McLeod | Rory McLeod | 5 |
| Chris McBreen | Chris McBreen | 1 | Matthew Selt | Matthew Selt | 1 | Liu Song | Liu Song | 2 |
| James McBain | James McBain | 5 | Stuart Pettman | Stuart Pettman | 5 | John Parrott | John Parrott | 4 |
| Stefan Mazrocis | Stefan Mazrocis | 1 | James McBain | James McBain | 3 | Stuart Pettman | Stuart Pettman | 5 |
| Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 5 | Paul Davies | Paul Davies | 4 | Tom Ford | Tom Ford | 2 |
| Atthasit Mahitthi | Atthasit Mahitthi | 4 | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 5 | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 5 |
| Simon Bedford | Simon Bedford | 5 | David Gray | David Gray | 5 | Jimmy Michie | Jimmy Michie | 3 |
| David Grace | David Grace | 1 | Simon Bedford | Simon Bedford | 4 | David Gray | David Gray | 5 |
| Lewis Roberts | Lewis Roberts | 1 | Martin Gould | Martin Gould | 5 | Gerard Greene | Gerard Greene | 5 |
| Wayne Cooper | Wayne Cooper | 5 | Wayne Cooper | Wayne Cooper | 3 | Martin Gould | Martin Gould | 3 |