# 2001 World Snooker Championship

The 2001 World Snooker Championship (also referred to as the 2001 Embassy World Snooker Championship for the purposes of sponsorship) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 21 April and 7 May 2001 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England. The tournament was sponsored by cigarette manufacturer Embassy.
Defending champion Mark Williams lost in the second round 12–13 against Joe Swail, and became the latest first-time champion to fall to the Crucible curse, being unable to defend his first World title.
Ronnie O'Sullivan won his first World title by defeating John Higgins 18–14 in the final.

## Tournament summary

* Both Steve Davis and Jimmy White failed to qualify for the championship for the first time since their World Championship debuts, in 1979 and 1981 respectively. They were both eliminated in the final qualifying round; Davis lost 6–10 against Andy Hicks and White lost 7–10 against Michael Judge.
* Patrick Wallace reached the quarter-finals of the championship on his debut, however he never qualified for the main draw again.

## Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:
* Winner: £250,000
* Runner-up: £147,000
* Semi-final: £73,000
* Quarter-final: £36,500
* Last 16: £20,000
* Last 32: £14,000
* Last 48: £10,500
* Last 64: £6,600
* Last 96: £4,000
* Last 128: £1,100
* Highest break: £20,000
* Maximum break: £147,000
* Total: £1,532,000

## Main draw

Shown below are the results for each round. The numbers in parentheses beside some of the players are their seeding ranks (each championship has 16 seeds and 16 qualifiers).
| First round Best of 19 frames | First round Best of 19 frames | First round Best of 19 frames | Second round Best of 25 frames | Second round Best of 25 frames | Second round Best of 25 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 25 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 25 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 25 frames | Semi-finals Best of 33 frames | Semi-finals Best of 33 frames | Semi-finals Best of 33 frames | Final Best of 35 frames | Final Best of 35 frames | Final Best of 35 frames |
| 21 April | 21 April | 21 April | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Williams (1) | Mark Williams (1) | 10 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Williams (1) | Mark Williams (1) | 10 | 26, 27 & 28 April | 26, 27 & 28 April | 26, 27 & 28 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Billy Snaddon | Billy Snaddon | 4 | 26, 27 & 28 April | 26, 27 & 28 April | 26, 27 & 28 April | | | | | | | |
| Billy Snaddon | Billy Snaddon | 4 | Mark Williams (1) | Mark Williams (1) | 12 | | | | | | | |
| 25 April | 25 April | 25 April | Mark Williams (1) | Mark Williams (1) | 12 | | | | | | | |
| 25 April | 25 April | 25 April | Joe Swail (16) | Joe Swail (16) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| Joe Swail (16) | Joe Swail (16) | 10 | Joe Swail (16) | Joe Swail (16) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| Joe Swail (16) | Joe Swail (16) | 10 | | | | 1 & 2 May | 1 & 2 May | 1 & 2 May | | | | | | |
| Sean Storey | Sean Storey | 9 | | | | 1 & 2 May | 1 & 2 May | 1 & 2 May | | | | |
| Sean Storey | Sean Storey | 9 | | | | Joe Swail (16) | Joe Swail (16) | 13 | | | | |
| 24 April | 24 April | 24 April | | | | Joe Swail (16) | Joe Swail (16) | 13 | | | | |
| 24 April | 24 April | 24 April | | | | Patrick Wallace | Patrick Wallace | 11 | | | | |
| Fergal O'Brien (9) | Fergal O'Brien (9) | 8 | | | | Patrick Wallace | Patrick Wallace | 11 | | | | |
| Fergal O'Brien (9) | Fergal O'Brien (9) | 8 | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark King | Mark King | 10 | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | | | | | | | |
| Mark King | Mark King | 10 | Mark King | Mark King | 5 | | | | | | | |
| 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | Mark King | Mark King | 5 | | | | | | | |
| 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | Patrick Wallace | Patrick Wallace | 13 | | | | | | | |
| Alan McManus (8) | Alan McManus (8) | 2 | Patrick Wallace | Patrick Wallace | 13 | | | | | | | |
| Alan McManus (8) | Alan McManus (8) | 2 | | | | | | | 3, 4 & 5 May | 3, 4 & 5 May | 3, 4 & 5 May | | | |
| Patrick Wallace | Patrick Wallace | 10 | | | | | | | 3, 4 & 5 May | 3, 4 & 5 May | 3, 4 & 5 May | |
| Patrick Wallace | Patrick Wallace | 10 | | | | | | | Joe Swail (16) | Joe Swail (16) | 11 | |
| 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | | | | | | | Joe Swail (16) | Joe Swail (16) | 11 | |
| 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | | | | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | 17 | |
| Stephen Lee (5) | Stephen Lee (5) | 10 | | | | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | 17 | |
| Stephen Lee (5) | Stephen Lee (5) | 10 | 28, 29 & 30 April | 28, 29 & 30 April | 28, 29 & 30 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 3 | 28, 29 & 30 April | 28, 29 & 30 April | 28, 29 & 30 April | | | | | | | |
| Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 3 | Stephen Lee (5) | Stephen Lee (5) | 12 | | | | | | | |
| 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | Stephen Lee (5) | Stephen Lee (5) | 12 | | | | | | | |
| 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | Peter Ebdon (12) | Peter Ebdon (12) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| Peter Ebdon (12) | Peter Ebdon (12) | 10 | Peter Ebdon (12) | Peter Ebdon (12) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| Peter Ebdon (12) | Peter Ebdon (12) | 10 | | | | 1 & 2 May | 1 & 2 May | 1 & 2 May | | | | | | |
| James Wattana | James Wattana | 8 | | | | 1 & 2 May | 1 & 2 May | 1 & 2 May | | | | |
| James Wattana | James Wattana | 8 | | | | Peter Ebdon (12) | Peter Ebdon (12) | 6 | | | | |
| 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | | | | Peter Ebdon (12) | Peter Ebdon (12) | 6 | | | | |
| 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | 13 | | | | |
| Dave Harold (13) | Dave Harold (13) | 10 | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | 13 | | | | |
| Dave Harold (13) | Dave Harold (13) | 10 | 27 & 28 April | 27 & 28 April | 27 & 28 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Quinten Hann | Quinten Hann | 5 | 27 & 28 April | 27 & 28 April | 27 & 28 April | | | | | | | |
| Quinten Hann | Quinten Hann | 5 | Dave Harold (13) | Dave Harold (13) | 6 | | | | | | | |
| 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | Dave Harold (13) | Dave Harold (13) | 6 | | | | | | | |
| 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | 10 | Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | 10 | | | | | | | | | | 6 & 7 May | 6 & 7 May | 6 & 7 May |
| Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 2 | | | | | | | | | | 6 & 7 May | 6 & 7 May | 6 & 7 May |
| Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 2 | | | | | | | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | 18 |
| 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | | | | | | | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | 18 |
| 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | | | | | | | | | | John Higgins (2) | John Higgins (2) | 14 |
| Stephen Hendry (3) | Stephen Hendry (3) | 10 | | | | | | | | | | John Higgins (2) | John Higgins (2) | 14 |
| Stephen Hendry (3) | Stephen Hendry (3) | 10 | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Davis | Mark Davis | 5 | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | 29 & 30 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Davis | Mark Davis | 5 | Stephen Hendry (3) | Stephen Hendry (3) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | Stephen Hendry (3) | Stephen Hendry (3) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | Paul Hunter (14) | Paul Hunter (14) | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| Paul Hunter (14) | Paul Hunter (14) | 10 | Paul Hunter (14) | Paul Hunter (14) | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| Paul Hunter (14) | Paul Hunter (14) | 10 | | | | 1 & 2 May | 1 & 2 May | 1 & 2 May | | | | | | |
| David Roe | David Roe | 6 | | | | 1 & 2 May | 1 & 2 May | 1 & 2 May | | | | | | |
| David Roe | David Roe | 6 | | | | Stephen Hendry (3) | Stephen Hendry (3) | 5 | | | | | | |
| 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | | | | Stephen Hendry (3) | Stephen Hendry (3) | 5 | | | | | | |
| 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | | | | Matthew Stevens (6) | Matthew Stevens (6) | 13 | | | | | | |
| Anthony Hamilton (11) | Anthony Hamilton (11) | 10 | | | | Matthew Stevens (6) | Matthew Stevens (6) | 13 | | | | | | |
| Anthony Hamilton (11) | Anthony Hamilton (11) | 10 | 26 & 27 April | 26 & 27 April | 26 & 27 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Marcus Campbell | Marcus Campbell | 4 | 26 & 27 April | 26 & 27 April | 26 & 27 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Marcus Campbell | Marcus Campbell | 4 | Anthony Hamilton (11) | Anthony Hamilton (11) | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | Anthony Hamilton (11) | Anthony Hamilton (11) | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | Matthew Stevens (6) | Matthew Stevens (6) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| Matthew Stevens (6) | Matthew Stevens (6) | 10 | Matthew Stevens (6) | Matthew Stevens (6) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| Matthew Stevens (6) | Matthew Stevens (6) | 10 | | | | | | | 3, 4 & 5 May | 3, 4 & 5 May | 3, 4 & 5 May | | | |
| Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 1 | | | | | | | 3, 4 & 5 May | 3, 4 & 5 May | 3, 4 & 5 May | | | |
| Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 1 | | | | | | | Matthew Stevens (6) | Matthew Stevens (6) | 15 | | | |
| 23 April | 23 April | 23 April | | | | | | | Matthew Stevens (6) | Matthew Stevens (6) | 15 | | | |
| 23 April | 23 April | 23 April | | | | | | | John Higgins (2) | John Higgins (2) | 17 | | | |
| Ken Doherty (7) | Ken Doherty (7) | 10 | | | | | | | John Higgins (2) | John Higgins (2) | 17 | | | |
| Ken Doherty (7) | Ken Doherty (7) | 10 | 27 & 28 April | 27 & 28 April | 27 & 28 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Nick Dyson | Nick Dyson | 7 | 27 & 28 April | 27 & 28 April | 27 & 28 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Nick Dyson | Nick Dyson | 7 | Ken Doherty (7) | Ken Doherty (7) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | Ken Doherty (7) | Ken Doherty (7) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | Michael Judge | Michael Judge | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| John Parrott (10) | John Parrott (10) | 6 | Michael Judge | Michael Judge | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| John Parrott (10) | John Parrott (10) | 6 | | | | 1 & 2 May | 1 & 2 May | 1 & 2 May | | | | | | |
| Michael Judge | Michael Judge | 10 | | | | 1 & 2 May | 1 & 2 May | 1 & 2 May | | | | | | |
| Michael Judge | Michael Judge | 10 | | | | Ken Doherty (7) | Ken Doherty (7) | 6 | | | | | | |
| 24 & 25 April | 24 & 25 April | 24 & 25 April | | | | Ken Doherty (7) | Ken Doherty (7) | 6 | | | | | | |
| 24 & 25 April | 24 & 25 April | 24 & 25 April | | | | John Higgins (2) | John Higgins (2) | 13 | | | | | | |
| Marco Fu (15) | Marco Fu (15) | 8 | | | | John Higgins (2) | John Higgins (2) | 13 | | | | | | |
| Marco Fu (15) | Marco Fu (15) | 8 | 28, 29 & 30 April | 28, 29 & 30 April | 28, 29 & 30 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Chris Small | Chris Small | 10 | 28, 29 & 30 April | 28, 29 & 30 April | 28, 29 & 30 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Chris Small | Chris Small | 10 | Chris Small | Chris Small | 8 | | | | | | | | | |
| 24 & 25 April | 24 & 25 April | 24 & 25 April | Chris Small | Chris Small | 8 | | | | | | | | | |
| 24 & 25 April | 24 & 25 April | 24 & 25 April | John Higgins (2) | John Higgins (2) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| John Higgins (2) | John Higgins (2) | 10 | John Higgins (2) | John Higgins (2) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| Graeme Dott | Graeme Dott | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Final (Best of 35 frames) Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. 6 & 7 May 2001. Referee: Eirian Williams. :
| Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) England | 18–14 | John Higgins (2) Scotland |
| 92–41, 0–92, 81–0, 79–0, 56–47, 0–135, 90–28, 71–0, 49–72, 49–36, 2–53, 50–68, 99–0, 100–12, 22–108, 99–0, 81–26, 12–78, 139–0, 85–0, 133–0, 33–65, 21–67, 0–98, 19–68, 68–0, 78–43, 8–67, 5–101, 68–60, 69–71, 80–45 | Century breaks: 4 (O'Sullivan 2, Higgins 2) Highest break by O'Sullivan: 139 Highest break by Higgins: 135 | 92–41, 0–92, 81–0, 79–0, 56–47, 0–135, 90–28, 71–0, 49–72, 49–36, 2–53, 50–68, 99–0, 100–12, 22–108, 99–0, 81–26, 12–78, 139–0, 85–0, 133–0, 33–65, 21–67, 0–98, 19–68, 68–0, 78–43, 8–67, 5–101, 68–60, 69–71, 80–45 |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan wins the 2001 Embassy World Snooker Championship |||

## Qualifying

The qualifying matches were held between 20 February and 4 March 2001 at the Newport Centre in Newport, Wales.

### Round 1

| Best of 19 frames |
| Hasimu Tuerxun | 10–3 | Lasse Münstermann |
| Tom Ford | 10–2 | Charoen Phorat |
| Ricky Walden | 10–5 | David McDonnell |
| Shailesh Jogia | 10–9 | Shaun Murphy |
| Bob Chaperon | 10–6 | Ian Hurdman |
| Darryn Walker | 10–3 | Eddie Barker |
| Lee Spick | 10–7 | Michael Rhodes |
| Neil Robertson | 10–7 | Paul Davison |

### Round 2–4

| Round 2 (Best of 19 frames) | Round 3 (Best of 19 frames) | Round 4 (Best of 19 frames) |
| Hugh Abernethy 10–4 Hasimu Tuerxun | Hugh Abernethy 10–8 Jason Prince | Rod Lawler 10–4 Hugh Abernethy |
| Nick Dyson 10–7 Ian Brumby | Nick Dyson 10–8 Mark Gray | Nick Dyson 10–7 Steve James |
| Tony Knowles 10–4 Colm Gilcreest | Tony Knowles 10–9 Dene O'Kane | Jimmy Michie 10–2 Tony Knowles |
| Jason Weston 10–8 Lee Richardson | Nick Pearce 10–6 Jason Weston | Alain Robidoux 10–6 Nick Pearce |
| Tom Ford 10–4 Scott MacKenzie | Barry Pinches 10–5 Tom Ford | Barry Pinches 10–5 David Finbow |
| Craig Harrison w/o–w/d Martin Clark | Neal Foulds 10–9 Craig Harrison] | Jamie Burnett 10–5 Neal Foulds |
| Farhan Mirza 10–8 Craig Roper | Shokat Ali 10–3 Farhan Mirza | Shokat Ali 10–7 Stuart Bingham |
| Jeff Cundy 10–6 Ricky Walden | Mark Davis 10–3 Jeff Cundy | Mark Davis 10–4 Peter Lines |
| Stephen Maguire 10–3 Troy Shaw | Stephen Maguire 10–3 John Lardner | Stephen Maguire 10–2 Stuart Pettman |
| Sean Storey 10–6 Wayne Saidler | Sean Storey 10–2 Stephen O'Connor | Sean Storey 10–8 Gary Ponting |
| Barry Hawkins w/o–w/d Mark Bennett | Barry Hawkins 10–8 Robert Milkins | Bradley Jones 10–8 Barry Hawkins |
| Noppadon Noppachorn 10–8 Anthony Bolsover | Noppadon Noppachorn 10–5 Mike Dunn | Noppadon Noppachorn 10–9 Paul Wykes |
| Munraj Pal 10–2 Alan Burnett | Munraj Pal 10–3 Mick Price | Anthony Davies 10–6 Munraj Pal |
| Paul McPhillips 10–7 Shailesh Jogia | Paul McPhillips 10–6 Tony Jones | Michael Judge 10–1 Paul McPhillips |
| Bjorn Haneveer 10–4 Richard King | Bjorn Haneveer 10–2 Darren Clarke | Bjorn Haneveer 10–4 Jason Ferguson |
| Craig Butler 10–9 Ryan Day | Craig Butler 10–7 Karl Broughton | Craig Butler 10–6 Lee Walker |
| Patrick Delsemme w/o–w/d Gareth Chilcott | Patrick Delsemme 10–8 Leigh Griffin | Patrick Delsemme 10–3 Gerard Greene |
| Stefan Mazrocis 10–4 Mehmet Husnu | Steve Judd 10–8 Stefan Mazrocis | Alfie Burden 10–2 Steve Judd |
| Jason Barton 10–7 Chris Shade | Jason Barton 10–8 Tony Chappel | Gary Wilkinson 10–5 Jason Barton |
| Andrew Higginson 10–7 Bob Chaperon | Andrew Higginson 10–8 Adrian Gunnell | Michael Holt 10–5 Andrew Higginson |
| Philip Williams 10–5 Mario Wehrmann | Philip Williams 10–8 Paul Sweeny | Andy Hicks 10–8 Philip Williams |
| Eddie Manning 10–9 Mike Hallett | Wayne Brown 10–8 Eddie Manning | Euan Henderson 10–3 Wayne Brown |
| Darryn Walker 10–4 Wayne Jones | Darryn Walker 10–9 Phaitoon Phonbun | Jonathan Birch 10–8 Darryn Walker |
| Stuart Mann 10–5 Peter McCullagh | Stuart Mann 10–9 Martin Dziewialtowski | Stuart Mann 10–2 Matthew Couch |
| James Reynolds 10–9 Joe Delaney | Dean Reynolds 10–7 James Reynolds | David Roe 10–8 Dean Reynolds |
| Karl Burrows w/o–w/d Nick Terry | Karl Burrows 10–3 Craig MacGillivray | Karl Burrows 10–7 John Read |
| Robin Hull 10–7 Barry Mapstone | Ali Carter 10–4 Robin Hull | Marcus Campbell 10–8 Ali Carter |
| Lee Spick 10–3 Matt Wilson | Kristján Helgason 10–7 Lee Spick | David Gray 10–4 Kristján Helgason |
| Neil Robertson 10–9 David McLellan | Neil Robertson 10–9 Mark Fenton | Ian McCulloch 10–8 Neil Robertson |
| Somporn Kathawung 10–4 Graham Lee | Somporn Kathawung 10–6 Willie Thorne | Joe Johnson 10–2 Somporn Kathawung |
| Simon Bedford 10–5 Da Hailin | Simon Bedford 10–8 Leo Fernandez | Simon Bedford 10–3 Paul Davies |
| Mark Selby 10–4 Stuart Reardon | Nick Walker 10–9 Mark Selby | Patrick Wallace 10–2 Nick Walker |

### Round 5–6

| Round 5 (Best of 19 frames) | Round 6 (Best of 19 frames) |
| Nick Dyson 10–8 Rod Lawler | Nick Dyson 10–9 Brian Morgan |
| Jimmy Michie 10–7 Alain Robidoux | Nigel Bond 10–6 Jimmy Michie |
| Barry Pinches 10–5 Jamie Burnett | Chris Small 10–8 Barry Pinches |
| Mark Davis 10–5 Shokat Ali | Mark Davis 10–9 Dominic Dale |
| Sean Storey 10–5 Stephen Maguire | Sean Storey 10–9 Terry Murphy |
| Bradley Jones 10–2 Noppadon Noppachorn | Mark King 10–6 Bradley Jones |
| Michael Judge 10–9 Anthony Davies | Michael Judge 10–7 Jimmy White |
| Bjorn Haneveer 10–7 Craig Butler | Graeme Dott 10–8 Bjorn Haneveer |
| Patrick Delsemme 10–7 Alfie Burden | Quinten Hann 10–3 Patrick Delsemme |
| Michael Holt 10–5 Gary Wilkinson | Billy Snaddon 10–6 Michael Holt |
| Andy Hicks 10–9 Euan Henderson | Andy Hicks 10–6 Steve Davis |
| Jonathan Birch 10–6 Stuart Mann | James Wattana 10–5 Jonathan Birch |
| David Roe 10–8 Karl Burrows | David Roe 10–8 Darren Morgan |
| Marcus Campbell 10–9 David Gray | Marcus Campbell 10–5 Drew Henry |
| Ian McCulloch 10–4 Joe Johnson | Tony Drago 10–9 Ian McCulloch |
| Patrick Wallace 10–9 Simon Bedford | Patrick Wallace 10–4 Joe Perry |

## Century breaks

There were 53 century breaks in the Championship. The highest break of the tournament was 140 made by Joe Swail.