# 1998 British Open

The 1998 British Open was a professional ranking snooker tournament, that was held from 2–12 April 1998 at the Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth, England.
John Higgins won the tournament by defeating Stephen Hendry nine frames to eight in the final. The defending champion, Mark Williams, was defeated by Higgins in the semi-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 |
| Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| David Gray | David Gray | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| David Gray | David Gray | 2 | Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 5 | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 0 | | | | Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | | | | | | | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Davis | Mark Davis | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Davis | Mark Davis | 2 | Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Graeme Dott | Graeme Dott | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Graeme Dott | Graeme Dott | 0 | | | | | | | | Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| Craig MacGillivray | Craig MacGillivray | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Craig MacGillivray | Craig MacGillivray | 1 | Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Paul Davies | Paul Davies | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Terry Murphy | Terry Murphy | 1 | Paul Davies | Paul Davies | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paul Davies | Paul Davies | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paul Davies | Paul Davies | 5 | | | | Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bradley Jones | Bradley Jones | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bradley Jones | Bradley Jones | 1 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Brian Morgan | Brian Morgan | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Brian Morgan | Brian Morgan | 5 | Brian Morgan | Brian Morgan | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Bennett | Mark Bennett | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Bennett | Mark Bennett | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 4 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 6 | | | | |
| Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 6 | | | | |
| Matthew Stevens | Matthew Stevens | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Matthew Stevens | Matthew Stevens | 5 | Matthew Stevens | Matthew Stevens | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Mark King | Mark King | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark King | Mark King | 5 | Mark King | Mark King | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Lee Walker | Lee Walker | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Lee Walker | Lee Walker | 4 | | | | Mark King | Mark King | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Gary Ponting | Gary Ponting | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 2 | | | | | | | Gary Ponting | Gary Ponting | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Read | John Read | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Read | John Read | 5 | John Read | John Read | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Gary Ponting | Gary Ponting | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 3 | Gary Ponting | Gary Ponting | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gary Ponting | Gary Ponting | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gary Ponting | Gary Ponting | 5 | | | | | | | | Gary Ponting | Gary Ponting | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Shokat Ali | Shokat Ali | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Shokat Ali | Shokat Ali | 3 | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Mick Price | Mick Price | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mick Price | Mick Price | 5 | Mick Price | Mick Price | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dean Reynolds | Dean Reynolds | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dean Reynolds | Dean Reynolds | 4 | | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jason Prince | Jason Prince | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jason Prince | Jason Prince | 0 | John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 5 | Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Michael Judge | Michael Judge | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Michael Judge | Michael Judge | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 9 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 8 |
| Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 8 |
| Dave Finbow | Dave Finbow | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Finbow | Dave Finbow | 0 | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 5 | Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Matthew Couch | Matthew Couch | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Matthew Couch | Matthew Couch | 4 | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nick Pearce | Nick Pearce | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nick Pearce | Nick Pearce | 3 | Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 5 | Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jamie Burnett | Jamie Burnett | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jamie Burnett | Jamie Burnett | 3 | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| James Wattana | James Wattana | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Stefan Mazrocis | Stefan Mazrocis | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stefan Mazrocis | Stefan Mazrocis | 1 | James Wattana | James Wattana | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 5 | Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nick Walker | Nick Walker | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nick Walker | Nick Walker | 1 | | | | Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Perry | Joe Perry | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Perry | Joe Perry | 3 | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Chris Small | Chris Small | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Chris Small | Chris Small | 5 | Chris Small | Chris Small | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Drew Henry | Drew Henry | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Drew Henry | Drew Henry | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 4 | | | | |
| Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 4 | | | | |
| Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 5 | Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Mark Gray | Mark Gray | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 4 | Mark Gray | Mark Gray | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Gray | Mark Gray | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Gray | Mark Gray | 5 | | | | Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 5 | | | | | | | Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Chris Scanlon | Chris Scanlon | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Chris Scanlon | Chris Scanlon | 4 | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 5 | Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Anthony Davies | Anthony Davies | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Anthony Davies | Anthony Davies | 2 | | | | | | | | Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Alain Robidoux | Alain Robidoux | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Karl Burrows | Karl Burrows | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Karl Burrows | Karl Burrows | 5 | Karl Burrows | Karl Burrows | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve James | Steve James | 2 | Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 5 | | | | Karl Burrows | Karl Burrows | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 5 | | | | | | | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 0 | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Billy Snaddon | Billy Snaddon | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Billy Snaddon | Billy Snaddon | 5 | Billy Snaddon | Billy Snaddon | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Peter McCullagh | Peter McCullagh | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Final

Final: Best of 17 frames. Referee: Alan Chamberlain Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth, England. 12 April 1998. :
| John Higgins Scotland | 9–8 | Stephen Hendry Scotland |
| Afternoon: 1–91, 19–64 (51), 68–29 (68), 61–63 (Higgins 61), 70–1 (63), 63–48, 22–79 (79), 52–7 Evening: 0–99 (99), 87–0 (51), 64–73, 128–0 (61), 67–69 (Higgins 59), 104–1 (72), 1–84 (58), 109–14 (102), 85–0 (85) |||
| 102 | Highest break | 99 |
| 1 | Century breaks | 0 |
| 8 | 50+ breaks | 5 |