# 1998 World Snooker Championship

The 1998 World Snooker Championship (also referred to as the 1998 Embassy World Snooker Championship for the purposes of sponsorship) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 18 April and 4 May 1998 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England.
John Higgins won his first World title by defeating defending champion Ken Doherty 18–12 in the final. Doherty became another World Champion who fell to the Crucible curse and could not defend his first World title. However, Doherty has come closer than any other first-time champion bar Joe Johnson to retaining his championship. The tournament was sponsored by cigarette manufacturer Embassy.

## Tournament summary

* Stephen Hendry lost in the first round 4–10 to Jimmy White. It was the first time since his debut in 1986 that he lost in the last 32 and it was also the first quarter-final stage not to feature Hendry since 1988.
* Simon Bedford, David Gray, Quinten Hann, Matthew Stevens, Terry Murphy, Alfie Burden, Peter Lines and Jason Prince made their Crucible debuts this year. Only Stevens could advance to the second round by defeating Alain Robidoux 10–8.
* Stephen Hendry's eight-year run as the world number one ended and he was replaced by John Higgins.

## Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:
* Winner: £220,000
* Runner-up: £132,000
* Semi-final: £66,000
* Quarter-final: £33,000
* Last 16: £17,750
* Last 32: £12,000
* Highest break £19,000
* Maximum break £147,000
* Total £1,323,000

## 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 |
| 18 April | 18 April | 18 April | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ken Doherty (1) | Ken Doherty (1) | 10 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ken Doherty (1) | Ken Doherty (1) | 10 | 24 & 25 April | 24 & 25 April | 24 & 25 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Lee Walker | Lee Walker | 8 | 24 & 25 April | 24 & 25 April | 24 & 25 April | | | | | | | |
| Lee Walker | Lee Walker | 8 | Ken Doherty (1) | Ken Doherty (1) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| 22 April | 22 April | 22 April | Ken Doherty (1) | Ken Doherty (1) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| 22 April | 22 April | 22 April | Stephen Lee (16) | Stephen Lee (16) | 8 | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Lee (16) | Stephen Lee (16) | 10 | Stephen Lee (16) | Stephen Lee (16) | 8 | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Lee (16) | Stephen Lee (16) | 10 | | | | 28 & 29 April | 28 & 29 April | 28 & 29 April | | | | | | |
| Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 4 | | | | 28 & 29 April | 28 & 29 April | 28 & 29 April | | | | |
| Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 4 | | | | Ken Doherty (1) | Ken Doherty (1) | 13 | | | | |
| 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | | | | Ken Doherty (1) | Ken Doherty (1) | 13 | | | | |
| 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | | | | Matthew Stevens | Matthew Stevens | 10 | | | | |
| Alain Robidoux (9) | Alain Robidoux (9) | 8 | | | | Matthew Stevens | Matthew Stevens | 10 | | | | |
| Alain Robidoux (9) | Alain Robidoux (9) | 8 | 26 & 27 April | 26 & 27 April | 26 & 27 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Matthew Stevens | Matthew Stevens | 10 | 26 & 27 April | 26 & 27 April | 26 & 27 April | | | | | | | |
| Matthew Stevens | Matthew Stevens | 10 | Matthew Stevens | Matthew Stevens | 13 | | | | | | | |
| 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | Matthew Stevens | Matthew Stevens | 13 | | | | | | | |
| 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | Mark King | Mark King | 9 | | | | | | | |
| Nigel Bond (8) | Nigel Bond (8) | 5 | Mark King | Mark King | 9 | | | | | | | |
| Nigel Bond (8) | Nigel Bond (8) | 5 | | | | | | | 30 April 1 & 2 May | 30 April 1 & 2 May | 30 April 1 & 2 May | | | |
| Mark King | Mark King | 10 | | | | | | | 30 April 1 & 2 May | 30 April 1 & 2 May | 30 April 1 & 2 May | |
| Mark King | Mark King | 10 | | | | | | | Ken Doherty (1) | Ken Doherty (1) | 17 | |
| 21 April | 21 April | 21 April | | | | | | | Ken Doherty (1) | Ken Doherty (1) | 17 | |
| 21 April | 21 April | 21 April | | | | | | | Mark Williams (4) | Mark Williams (4) | 14 | |
| Peter Ebdon (5) | Peter Ebdon (5) | 10 | | | | | | | Mark Williams (4) | Mark Williams (4) | 14 | |
| Peter Ebdon (5) | Peter Ebdon (5) | 10 | 25, 26 & 27 | 25, 26 & 27 | 25, 26 & 27 | | | | | | | | | |
| Terry Murphy | Terry Murphy | 3 | 25, 26 & 27 | 25, 26 & 27 | 25, 26 & 27 | | | | | | | |
| Terry Murphy | Terry Murphy | 3 | Peter Ebdon (5) | Peter Ebdon (5) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | Peter Ebdon (5) | Peter Ebdon (5) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 5 | | | | | | | |
| James Wattana (12) | James Wattana (12) | 9 | Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 5 | | | | | | | |
| James Wattana (12) | James Wattana (12) | 9 | | | | 28 & 29 April | 28 & 29 April | 28 & 29 April | | | | | | |
| Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 10 | | | | 28 & 29 April | 28 & 29 April | 28 & 29 April | | | | |
| Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 10 | | | | Peter Ebdon (5) | Peter Ebdon (5) | 11 | | | | |
| 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | | | | Peter Ebdon (5) | Peter Ebdon (5) | 11 | | | | |
| 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | | | | Mark Williams (4) | Mark Williams (4) | 13 | | | | |
| Steve Davis (13) | Steve Davis (13) | 10 | | | | Mark Williams (4) | Mark Williams (4) | 13 | | | | |
| Steve Davis (13) | Steve Davis (13) | 10 | 23, 24 & 25 April | 23, 24 & 25 April | 23, 24 & 25 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Simon Bedford | Simon Bedford | 6 | 23, 24 & 25 April | 23, 24 & 25 April | 23, 24 & 25 April | | | | | | | |
| Simon Bedford | Simon Bedford | 6 | Steve Davis (13) | Steve Davis (13) | 6 | | | | | | | |
| 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | Steve Davis (13) | Steve Davis (13) | 6 | | | | | | | |
| 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | Mark Williams (4) | Mark Williams (4) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| Mark Williams (4) | Mark Williams (4) | 10 | Mark Williams (4) | Mark Williams (4) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| Mark Williams (4) | Mark Williams (4) | 10 | | | | | | | | | | 3 & 4 May | 3 & 4 May | 3 & 4 May |
| Quinten Hann | Quinten Hann | 9 | | | | | | | | | | 3 & 4 May | 3 & 4 May | 3 & 4 May |
| Quinten Hann | Quinten Hann | 9 | | | | | | | | | | Ken Doherty (1) | Ken Doherty (1) | 12 |
| 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | | | | | | | | | | Ken Doherty (1) | Ken Doherty (1) | 12 |
| 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | | | | | | | | | | John Higgins (3) | John Higgins (3) | 18 |
| John Higgins (3) | John Higgins (3) | 10 | | | | | | | | | | John Higgins (3) | John Higgins (3) | 18 |
| John Higgins (3) | John Higgins (3) | 10 | 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Jason Ferguson | Jason Ferguson | 8 | 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Jason Ferguson | Jason Ferguson | 8 | John Higgins (3) | John Higgins (3) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | John Higgins (3) | John Higgins (3) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | Anthony Hamilton (14) | Anthony Hamilton (14) | 9 | | | | | | | | | |
| Anthony Hamilton (14) | Anthony Hamilton (14) | 10 | Anthony Hamilton (14) | Anthony Hamilton (14) | 9 | | | | | | | | | |
| Anthony Hamilton (14) | Anthony Hamilton (14) | 10 | | | | 28 & 29 April | 28 & 29 April | 28 & 29 April | | | | | | |
| Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 8 | | | | 28 & 29 April | 28 & 29 April | 28 & 29 April | | | | | | |
| Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 8 | | | | John Higgins (3) | John Higgins (3) | 13 | | | | | | |
| 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | | | | John Higgins (3) | John Higgins (3) | 13 | | | | | | |
| 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | | | | John Parrott (6) | John Parrott (6) | 11 | | | | | | |
| Tony Drago (11) | Tony Drago (11) | 10 | | | | John Parrott (6) | John Parrott (6) | 11 | | | | | | |
| Tony Drago (11) | Tony Drago (11) | 10 | 24 & 25 April | 24 & 25 April | 24 & 25 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Alfie Burden | Alfie Burden | 8 | 24 & 25 April | 24 & 25 April | 24 & 25 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Alfie Burden | Alfie Burden | 8 | Tony Drago (11) | Tony Drago (11) | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | Tony Drago (11) | Tony Drago (11) | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | John Parrott (6) | John Parrott (6) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| John Parrott (6) | John Parrott (6) | 10 | John Parrott (6) | John Parrott (6) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| John Parrott (6) | John Parrott (6) | 10 | | | | | | | 30 April 1 & 2 May | 30 April 1 & 2 May | 30 April 1 & 2 May | | | |
| Peter Lines | Peter Lines | 4 | | | | | | | 30 April 1 & 2 May | 30 April 1 & 2 May | 30 April 1 & 2 May | | | |
| Peter Lines | Peter Lines | 4 | | | | | | | John Higgins (3) | John Higgins (3) | 17 | | | |
| 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | | | | | | | John Higgins (3) | John Higgins (3) | 17 | | | |
| 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | | | | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) | 9 | | | |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) | 10 | | | | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) | 9 | | | |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) | 10 | 26 & 27 April | 26 & 27 April | 26 & 27 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 5 | 26 & 27 April | 26 & 27 April | 26 & 27 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 5 | Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| 20 April | 20 April | 20 April | Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| 20 April | 20 April | 20 April | Alan McManus (10) | Alan McManus (10) | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| Alan McManus (10) | Alan McManus (10) | 10 | Alan McManus (10) | Alan McManus (10) | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| Alan McManus (10) | Alan McManus (10) | 10 | | | | 28 & 29 April | 28 & 29 April | 28 & 29 April | | | | | | |
| David Gray | David Gray | 8 | | | | 28 & 29 April | 28 & 29 April | 28 & 29 April | | | | | | |
| David Gray | David Gray | 8 | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) | 13 | | | | | | |
| 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) | 13 | | | | | | |
| 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | | | | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 7 | | | | | | |
| Darren Morgan (15) | Darren Morgan (15) | 10 | | | | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 7 | | | | | | |
| Darren Morgan (15) | Darren Morgan (15) | 10 | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Jason Prince | Jason Prince | 8 | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Jason Prince | Jason Prince | 8 | Darren Morgan (15) | Darren Morgan (15) | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | Darren Morgan (15) | Darren Morgan (15) | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | 22 & 23 April | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Hendry (2) | Stephen Hendry (2) | 4 | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Final (Best of 35 frames) Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, 3 & 4 May 1998. Referee: Lawrie Annandale :
| Ken Doherty (1) Ireland | 12–18 | John Higgins (3) Scotland |
| 73–34, 20–80, 7–86, 1–71, 0–113, 52–73, 0–130, 89–0, 112–0, 66–7, 97–18, 2–66, 4–103, 5–86, 0–138, 82–70, 90–39, 0–89, 61–6, 0–130, 90–0, 99–1, 48–58, 82–44, 14–60, 0–128, 58–71, 78–41, 16–66, 8–119 | Century breaks: 6 (Doherty 1, Higgins 5) Highest break by Doherty: 112 Highest break by Higgins: 130 | 73–34, 20–80, 7–86, 1–71, 0–113, 52–73, 0–130, 89–0, 112–0, 66–7, 97–18, 2–66, 4–103, 5–86, 0–138, 82–70, 90–39, 0–89, 61–6, 0–130, 90–0, 99–1, 48–58, 82–44, 14–60, 0–128, 58–71, 78–41, 16–66, 8–119 |
| John Higgins wins the 1998 Embassy World Snooker Championship |||

## Century breaks

There were 59 century breaks in the championship, a new record which would last until 2002. John Higgins' 14 centuries in the tournament was a new record, beating the 12 made by Stephen Hendry in 1995.

## Qualifying

The qualifying matches were held between 2 January and March 1998 at the Newport Centre in Newport, Wales.

### Round 1–2

* Round 2 (Best of 19 frames)
* Leo Fernandez 10–3 Evan Munro
* Robert Milkins 10–2 Michael O'Sullivan
* Philip Williams 10–2 John Burns
* Steve Meakin 10–7 Neal Tomkins
* Brian Rowswell 10–7 Sean Lanigan
* Joe Jogia 10–8 Hugh Abernethy
* Jeff Cundy 10–7 Dylan Leary
* Chris Shade 10–3 Nick Manning
* Bjorn Haneveer 10–6 James McGouran
* Ali Carter 10–8 Scott Cooney
* Surinder Gill 10–5 Stuart Parnell
* Stuart Reardon10–8 Jason Weston
* Barry Pinches 10–3 Mario Geudens
* Nic Barrow 10–4 Mario Wehrmann
* Nick Terry 10–6 Leigh Robinson
* Garry Baldrey 10–8 Graham Horne
* Simon Bedford 10–4 Justin Buckingham
* Mark Johnston-Allen 10–5 Joe O'Boye
* Jason Wallace 10–9 Andrew Cairns
* Oliver King 10–7 Robin Hull
* Joe Delaney 10–4 Ryan Mitchell
* Gary Lees 10–6 Paul McPhillips
* Munraj Pal 10–8 Les Dodd
* Christopher McGee 10–6 Lee Mallin
* Adrian Rosa 10–9 Darryn Walker
* Stuart Bingham 10–1 Ian Hurdman
* Marco Fu 10–5 Paul Sweeny
* Mike Hallett 10–4 Garoid O'Connor
* Andrew Higginson 10–6 David McDonnell
* Simon Parker 10–4 Stephen Murphy
* Ian Sargeant 10–8 Steve Day
* Andy Neck 10–5 David Coles
* Round 1 (Best of 19 frames)
* Leo Fernandez 10–8 Robert Milkins
* Philip Williams 10–6 Steve Meakin
* Brian Rowswell 10–4 Joe Jogia
* Jeff Cundy 10–9 Chris Shade
* Bjorn Haneveer 10–5 Ali Carter
* Surinder Gill 10–4 Stuart Reardon
* Barry Pinches 10–3 Nic Barrow
* Nick Terry 10–1 Garry Baldrey
* Simon Bedford 10–6 Mark Johnston-Allen
* Jason Wallace 10–4 Oliver King
* Joe Delaney 10–8 Gary Lees
* Munraj Pal 10–4 Christopher McGee
* Adrian Rosa 10–7 Stuart Bingham
* Marco Fu 10–2 Mike Hallett
* Andrew Higginson 10–6 Simon Parker
* Ian Sargeant 10–0 Andy Neck

### Round 2–3

| Round 2 (Best of 19 frames) | Round 3 (Best of 19 frames) |
| Leo Fernandez 10–6 Philip Williams | Leigh Griffin 10–7 Leo Fernandez |
| Brian Rowswell 10–9 Jeff Cundy | John Lardner 10–5 Brian Rowswell |
| Bjorn Haneveer 10–5 Surinder Gill | Bjorn Haneveer 10–5 Troy Shaw |
| Barry Pinches 10–2 Nick Terry | Joe Perry 10–7 Barry Pinches |
| Simon Bedford 10–2 Jason Wallace | Simon Bedford 10–9 Mark Gray |
| Joe Delaney 10–8 Munraj Pal | Joe Delaney 10–1 Peter McCullagh |
| Adrian Rosa 10–8 Marco Fu | David Gray 10–5 Adrian Rosa |
| Andrew Higginson 10–7 Ian Sargeant | Andrew Higginson 10–5 Craig MacGillivray |

### Round 1

* Round 1 (Best of 19 frames)
* Lee Walker 10–3 Jonathan Birch
* Leigh Griffin 10–4 Karl Broughton
* David Roe 10–7 Ian Brumby
* Graeme Dott 10–3 John Lardner
* Matthew Stevens 10–5 Stephen O'Connor
* Drew Henry 10–5 Sean Storey
* Paul Hunter 10–5 Lee Richardson
* Steve Judd 10–8 Michael Judge
* Joe Johnson 10–6 Martin Dziewialtowski
* Nick Pearce 10–5 Bjorn Haneveer
* Nick Walker 10–3 Willie Thorne
* Joe Perry 10–3 Shokat Ali
* Tony Jones 10–9 Paul Wykes
* Simon Bedford 10–3 Euan Henderson
* Quinten Hann 10–3 Wayne Jones
* Anthony Davies 10–6 Jamie Woodman
* Jason Ferguson 10–6 Darren Clarke
* Marcus Campbell 10–9 Chris Scanlon
* Joe Delaney 10–8 Jamie Burnett
* Gary Ponting 10–6 Dennis Taylor
* Alfie Burden 10–6 Mark Bennett
* Wayne Brown 10–8 Dean Reynolds
* Peter Lines 10–7 David Finbow
* Stuart Pettman 10–5 Dene O'Kane
* Matthew Couch 10–9 Paul Davies
* Stefan Mazrocis 10–6 Karl Payne
* David Gray 10–4 Mark Davis
* Karl Burrows 10–5 Tony Chappel
* Jason Prince 10–4 John Read
* Andrew Higginson 10–5 Jimmy Michie
* Bradley Jones 10–5 Gerard Greene
* Ian McCulloch 10–7 Dominic Dale

### Round 2–3

| Round 2 (Best of 19 frames) | Round 3 (Best of 19 frames) |
| Lee Walker 10–5 Leigh Griffin | Lee Walker 10–9 Billy Snaddon |
| David Roe 10–9 Graeme Dott | Andy Hicks 10–1 David Roe |
| Matthew Stevens 10–5 Drew Henry | Matthew Stevens 10–8 Neal Foulds |
| Paul Hunter 10–5 Steve Judd | Mark King 10–9 Paul Hunter |
| Nick Pearce 10–8 Joe Johnson | Terry Murphy 10–2 Nick Pearce |
| Joe Perry 10–6 Nick Walker | Fergal O'Brien 10–7 Joe Perry |
| Simon Bedford 10–7 Tony Jones | Simon Bedford 10–9 Gary Wilkinson |
| Quinten Hann 10–3 Anthony Davies | Quinten Hann 10–6 Brian Morgan |
| Jason Ferguson 10–6 Marcus Campbell | Jason Ferguson 10–7 Mick Price |
| Joe Delaney 10–8 Gary Ponting | Dave Harold 10–7 Joe Delaney |
| Alfie Burden 10–2 Wayne Brown | Alfie Burden 10–3 Rod Lawler |
| Peter Lines 10–5 Stuart Pettman | Peter Lines 10–6 Steve James |
| Matthew Couch 10–2 Stefan Mazrocis | Joe Swail 10–3 Matthew Couch |
| David Gray 10–9 Karl Burrows | David Gray 10–5 Chris Small |
| Jason Prince 10–6 Andrew Higginson | Jason Prince 10–8 Martin Clark |
| Bradley Jones 10–9 Ian McCulloch | Jimmy White 10–5 Bradley Jones |