# 1996 British Open

The 1996 British Open was a professional ranking snooker tournament which was held from 1–8 April 1996 at the Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth, England.
Nigel Bond won the tournament, his first ranking title, by defeating the defending champion John Higgins 9–8 in the final.

## 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 |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Oliver King | Oliver King | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Oliver King | Oliver King | 2 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Graeme Dott | Graeme Dott | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 4 | Graeme Dott | Graeme Dott | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Graeme Dott | Graeme Dott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Graeme Dott | Graeme Dott | 5 | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 5 | | | | | | | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Barry Pinches | Barry Pinches | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Barry Pinches | Barry Pinches | 1 | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Chris Scanlon | Chris Scanlon | 1 | Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 5 | | | | | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| David Roe | David Roe | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| David Roe | David Roe | 4 | Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Yasin Merchant | Yasin Merchant | 4 | Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 5 | | | | Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| James Wattana | James Wattana | 5 | | | | | | | Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Karl Broughton | Karl Broughton | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Karl Broughton | Karl Broughton | 2 | James Wattana | James Wattana | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jimmy Michie | Jimmy Michie | 3 | Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Knowles | Tony Knowles | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 4 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 6 | | | | |
| John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 6 | | | | |
| Mark Rowing | Mark Rowing | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Rowing | Mark Rowing | 3 | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Dean Reynolds | Dean Reynolds | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| David McDonnell | David McDonnell | 4 | Dean Reynolds | Dean Reynolds | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dean Reynolds | Dean Reynolds | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dean Reynolds | Dean Reynolds | 5 | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Bennett | Mark Bennett | 5 | | | | | | | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 0 | Mark Bennett | Mark Bennett | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stuart Pettman | Stuart Pettman | 2 | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Jason Ferguson | Jason Ferguson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 0 | Jason Ferguson | Jason Ferguson | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 | John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jamie Burnett | Jamie Burnett | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jamie Burnett | Jamie Burnett | 1 | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Brian Morgan | Brian Morgan | 2 | | | | | | | Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 5 | Mike Hallett | Mike Hallett | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 5 | Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 8 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 9 |
| Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 9 |
| Mark Johnston-Allen | Mark Johnston-Allen | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Johnston-Allen | Mark Johnston-Allen | 5 | Mark Johnston-Allen | Mark Johnston-Allen | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Karl Payne | Karl Payne | 2 | Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | | | | Mark Johnston-Allen | Mark Johnston-Allen | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Anthony Davies | Anthony Davies | 2 | | | | | | | Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mick Price | Mick Price | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mick Price | Mick Price | 5 | Mick Price | Mick Price | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 5 | Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Antony Bolsover | Antony Bolsover | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Antony Bolsover | Antony Bolsover | 2 | | | | | | | | Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Matthew Stevens | Matthew Stevens | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Matthew Stevens | Matthew Stevens | 3 | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 5 | Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Alain Robidoux | Alain Robidoux | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Alain Robidoux | Alain Robidoux | 1 | | | | Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 5 | | | | | | | Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 4 | Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stefan Mazrocis | Stefan Mazrocis | 1 | Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 6 | | | | |
| Steve James | Steve James | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 6 | | | | |
| Mark Flowerdew | Mark Flowerdew | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Flowerdew | Mark Flowerdew | 1 | Steve James | Steve James | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Meakin | Steve Meakin | 3 | Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 0 | | | | | | | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 5 | Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Pat Horne | Pat Horne | 3 | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Terry Murphy | Terry Murphy | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Billy Snaddon | Billy Snaddon | 2 | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 5 | | | | | | | Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Matthew Couch | Matthew Couch | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Matthew Couch | Matthew Couch | 2 | Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paul McPhillips | Paul McPhillips | 0 | Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Final

Final: Best of 17 frames. Referee: Len Ganley Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth, England. 8 April 1996. :
| Nigel Bond England | 9–8 | John Higgins Scotland |
| Afternoon: 71–56, 96–4 (61), 65–64, 53–64 (56), 79–47 (79), 18–72, 17–102 (66), 0–91 (91) Evening: 89–0 (89), 30–60, 99–30 (50), 55–56, 72–0, 0–97 (97), 122–6 (122), 8–128 (75), 71–69 |||
| 122 | Highest break | 97 |
| 1 | Century breaks | 0 |
| 5 | 50+ breaks | 5 |