# 2000 World Snooker Championship

The 2000 World Snooker Championship (also referred to as the 2000 Embassy World Snooker Championship for the purposes of sponsorship) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 15 April and 1 May 2000 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England.
Stephen Hendry was the defending champion, but he lost in the first round 7–10 against Stuart Bingham.
Mark Williams won his first World title by defeating fellow Welsh player Matthew Stevens 18–16 in the final.

## Tournament summary

* In the final qualifying round Gary Wilkinson and Jason Ferguson set the record of the longest best-of-19-frames match at 11 hours and 38 minutes.
* The pre-tournament favourite Stephen Hendry was eliminated in the first round by Crucible debutant Stuart Bingham (10–7).
* Despite becoming the first player to make 5 centuries in a first round match at The Crucible, and outscoring his opponent, Ronnie O'Sullivan lost 9–10 to David Gray. This record was eventually equalled in 2020 when Mark Allen also made 5 centuries in his first round match.
* Gray lost 1–13 to Dominic Dale with a session to spare, scoring just 208 points, a record low for a best-of-25 match.
* Swail's place in the semi-finals ended Steve Davis' run in the elite top 16 – he had been in since 1980 including holding the world number one spot from 1983 to 1990. Davis lost 11–13 to John Higgins in the second round. He later returned to the top 16 in 2003/2004.
* Higgins made a record 485 unanswered points in his quarter-final match against Anthony Hamilton.
* Mark Williams became only the third Welsh snooker player to win the world title, after Ray Reardon and Terry Griffiths, and the first since 1979. Trailing 7–13 against fellow countryman Matthew Stevens in the final, Williams recorded a comeback to defeat Stevens 18–16 and win the title.
* John Newton refereed his first and only World final and retired from refereeing after the match. This was also the first ever all-Welsh World final and remains the only one to-date.

## Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:

## 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 |
| 15 April | 15 April | 15 April | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Hendry (1) | Stephen Hendry (1) | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Hendry (1) | Stephen Hendry (1) | 7 | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Stuart Bingham | Stuart Bingham | 10 | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | | | | | | | |
| Stuart Bingham | Stuart Bingham | 10 | Stuart Bingham | Stuart Bingham | 9 | | | | | | | |
| 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | Stuart Bingham | Stuart Bingham | 9 | | | | | | | |
| 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | Jimmy White (16) | Jimmy White (16) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| Jimmy White (16) | Jimmy White (16) | 10 | Jimmy White (16) | Jimmy White (16) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| Jimmy White (16) | Jimmy White (16) | 10 | | | | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | | | | | | |
| Billy Snaddon | Billy Snaddon | 7 | | | | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | | | | |
| Billy Snaddon | Billy Snaddon | 7 | | | | Jimmy White (16) | Jimmy White (16) | 7 | | | | |
| 17 & 18 April | 17 & 18 April | 17 & 18 April | | | | Jimmy White (16) | Jimmy White (16) | 7 | | | | |
| 17 & 18 April | 17 & 18 April | 17 & 18 April | | | | Matthew Stevens (9) | Matthew Stevens (9) | 13 | | | | |
| Matthew Stevens (9) | Matthew Stevens (9) | 10 | | | | Matthew Stevens (9) | Matthew Stevens (9) | 13 | | | | |
| Matthew Stevens (9) | Matthew Stevens (9) | 10 | 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 2 | 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | | | | | | | |
| Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 2 | Matthew Stevens (9) | Matthew Stevens (9) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| 19 April | 19 April | 19 April | Matthew Stevens (9) | Matthew Stevens (9) | 13 | | | | | | | |
| 19 April | 19 April | 19 April | Alan McManus (8) | Alan McManus (8) | 4 | | | | | | | |
| Alan McManus (8) | Alan McManus (8) | 10 | Alan McManus (8) | Alan McManus (8) | 4 | | | | | | | |
| Alan McManus (8) | Alan McManus (8) | 10 | | | | | | | 27, 28 & 29 April | 27, 28 & 29 April | 27, 28 & 29 April | | | |
| Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 7 | | | | | | | 27, 28 & 29 April | 27, 28 & 29 April | 27, 28 & 29 April | |
| Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 7 | | | | | | | Matthew Stevens (9) | Matthew Stevens (9) | 17 | |
| 18 April | 18 April | 18 April | | | | | | | Matthew Stevens (9) | Matthew Stevens (9) | 17 | |
| 18 April | 18 April | 18 April | | | | | | | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 12 | |
| John Parrott (5) | John Parrott (5) | 10 | | | | | | | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 12 | |
| John Parrott (5) | John Parrott (5) | 10 | 22, 23 & 24 April | 22, 23 & 24 April | 22, 23 & 24 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 9 | 22, 23 & 24 April | 22, 23 & 24 April | 22, 23 & 24 April | | | | | | | |
| Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 9 | John Parrott (5) | John Parrott (5) | 12 | | | | | | | |
| 15 & 16 April | 15 & 16 April | 15 & 16 April | John Parrott (5) | John Parrott (5) | 12 | | | | | | | |
| 15 & 16 April | 15 & 16 April | 15 & 16 April | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 13 | | | | | | | |
| Paul Hunter (12) | Paul Hunter (12) | 6 | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 13 | | | | | | | |
| Paul Hunter (12) | Paul Hunter (12) | 6 | | | | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | | | | | | |
| Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 10 | | | | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | | | | |
| Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 10 | | | | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 13 | | | | |
| 16 & 17 April | 16 & 17 April | 16 & 17 April | | | | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 13 | | | | |
| 16 & 17 April | 16 & 17 April | 16 & 17 April | | | | Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 9 | | | | |
| Peter Ebdon (13) | Peter Ebdon (13) | 6 | | | | Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 9 | | | | |
| Peter Ebdon (13) | Peter Ebdon (13) | 6 | 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 10 | 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | | | | | | | |
| Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 10 | Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 13 | | | | | | | |
| 16 & 17 April | 16 & 17 April | 16 & 17 April | Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 13 | | | | | | | |
| 16 & 17 April | 16 & 17 April | 16 & 17 April | David Gray | David Gray | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | 9 | David Gray | David Gray | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) | 9 | | | | | | | | | | 30 April & 1 May | 30 April & 1 May | 30 April & 1 May |
| David Gray | David Gray | 10 | | | | | | | | | | 30 April & 1 May | 30 April & 1 May | 30 April & 1 May |
| David Gray | David Gray | 10 | | | | | | | | | | Matthew Stevens (9) | Matthew Stevens (9) | 16 |
| 15 & 16 April | 15 & 16 April | 15 & 16 April | | | | | | | | | | Matthew Stevens (9) | Matthew Stevens (9) | 16 |
| 15 & 16 April | 15 & 16 April | 15 & 16 April | | | | | | | | | | Mark Williams (3) | Mark Williams (3) | 18 |
| Mark Williams (3) | Mark Williams (3) | 10 | | | | | | | | | | Mark Williams (3) | Mark Williams (3) | 18 |
| Mark Williams (3) | Mark Williams (3) | 10 | 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | | | | | | | | | |
| John Read | John Read | 4 | 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | 20 & 21 April | | | | | | | | | |
| John Read | John Read | 4 | Mark Williams (3) | Mark Williams (3) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 & 16 April | 15 & 16 April | 15 & 16 April | Mark Williams (3) | Mark Williams (3) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 & 16 April | 15 & 16 April | 15 & 16 April | Drew Henry | Drew Henry | 9 | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark King (14) | Mark King (14) | 8 | Drew Henry | Drew Henry | 9 | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark King (14) | Mark King (14) | 8 | | | | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | | | | | | |
| Drew Henry | Drew Henry | 10 | | | | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | | | | | | |
| Drew Henry | Drew Henry | 10 | | | | Mark Williams (3) | Mark Williams (3) | 13 | | | | | | |
| 15 & 16 April | 15 & 16 April | 15 & 16 April | | | | Mark Williams (3) | Mark Williams (3) | 13 | | | | | | |
| 15 & 16 April | 15 & 16 April | 15 & 16 April | | | | Fergal O'Brien (11) | Fergal O'Brien (11) | 5 | | | | | | |
| Fergal O'Brien (11) | Fergal O'Brien (11) | 10 | | | | Fergal O'Brien (11) | Fergal O'Brien (11) | 5 | | | | | | |
| Fergal O'Brien (11) | Fergal O'Brien (11) | 10 | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Chris Small | Chris Small | 8 | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | 21 & 22 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Chris Small | Chris Small | 8 | Fergal O'Brien (11) | Fergal O'Brien (11) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | Fergal O'Brien (11) | Fergal O'Brien (11) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | Stephen Lee (6) | Stephen Lee (6) | 8 | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Lee (6) | Stephen Lee (6) | 10 | Stephen Lee (6) | Stephen Lee (6) | 8 | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Lee (6) | Stephen Lee (6) | 10 | | | | | | | 27, 28 & 29 April | 27, 28 & 29 April | 27, 28 & 29 April | | | |
| Kristján Helgason | Kristján Helgason | 3 | | | | | | | 27, 28 & 29 April | 27, 28 & 29 April | 27, 28 & 29 April | | | |
| Kristján Helgason | Kristján Helgason | 3 | | | | | | | Mark Williams (3) | Mark Williams (3) | 17 | | | |
| 17 & 18 April | 17 & 18 April | 17 & 18 April | | | | | | | Mark Williams (3) | Mark Williams (3) | 17 | | | |
| 17 & 18 April | 17 & 18 April | 17 & 18 April | | | | | | | John Higgins (2) | John Higgins (2) | 15 | | | |
| Ken Doherty (7) | Ken Doherty (7) | 10 | | | | | | | John Higgins (2) | John Higgins (2) | 15 | | | |
| Ken Doherty (7) | Ken Doherty (7) | 10 | 22, 23 & 24 April | 22, 23 & 24 April | 22, 23 & 24 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 3 | 22, 23 & 24 April | 22, 23 & 24 April | 22, 23 & 24 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 3 | Ken Doherty (7) | Ken Doherty (7) | 12 | | | | | | | | | |
| 17 April | 17 April | 17 April | Ken Doherty (7) | Ken Doherty (7) | 12 | | | | | | | | | |
| 17 April | 17 April | 17 April | Anthony Hamilton (10) | Anthony Hamilton (10) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| Anthony Hamilton (10) | Anthony Hamilton (10) | 10 | Anthony Hamilton (10) | Anthony Hamilton (10) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| Anthony Hamilton (10) | Anthony Hamilton (10) | 10 | | | | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | | | | | | |
| Marco Fu | Marco Fu | 4 | | | | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | 25 & 26 April | | | | | | |
| Marco Fu | Marco Fu | 4 | | | | Anthony Hamilton (10) | Anthony Hamilton (10) | 3 | | | | | | |
| 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | | | | Anthony Hamilton (10) | Anthony Hamilton (10) | 3 | | | | | | |
| 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | 18 & 19 April | | | | John Higgins (2) | John Higgins (2) | 13 | | | | | | |
| Steve Davis (15) | Steve Davis (15) | 10 | | | | John Higgins (2) | John Higgins (2) | 13 | | | | | | |
| Steve Davis (15) | Steve Davis (15) | 10 | 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Graeme Dott | Graeme Dott | 6 | 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | 23 & 24 April | | | | | | | | | |
| Graeme Dott | Graeme Dott | 6 | Steve Davis (15) | Steve Davis (15) | 11 | | | | | | | | | |
| 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | Steve Davis (15) | Steve Davis (15) | 11 | | | | | | | | | |
| 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | 19 & 20 April | John Higgins (2) | John Higgins (2) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| John Higgins (2) | John Higgins (2) | 10 | John Higgins (2) | John Higgins (2) | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Final (Best of 35 frames) Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, 30 April & 1 May 2000. Referee: John Newton :
| Matthew Stevens (9) Wales | 16–18 | Mark Williams (3) Wales |
| 62–50, 84–28, 33–56, 103–23, 18–65, 61–76, 0–123, 75–35, 64–24, 91–37, 59–21, 117–0, 114–7, 6–79, 73–22, 0–68, 133–0, 66–48, 0–106, 55–54, 0–81, 34–79, 46–71, 37–79, 33–77, 67–0, 6–75, 0–74, 120–16, 13–61, 66–70, 60–29, 8–76, 21–73 | Century breaks: 7 (Stevens 5, Williams 2) Highest break by Stevens: 120 Highest break by Williams: 123 | 62–50, 84–28, 33–56, 103–23, 18–65, 61–76, 0–123, 75–35, 64–24, 91–37, 59–21, 117–0, 114–7, 6–79, 73–22, 0–68, 133–0, 66–48, 0–106, 55–54, 0–81, 34–79, 46–71, 37–79, 33–77, 67–0, 6–75, 0–74, 120–16, 13–61, 66–70, 60–29, 8–76, 21–73 |
| Mark Williams wins the 2000 Embassy World Snooker Championship |||

## Century breaks

There were 54 centuries in the Championship. The highest breaks were 143 made by Matthew Stevens in the televised stage and Nick Dyson in the qualifying stage.

## Qualifying

The qualifying matches were held between 3 January and 20 March 2000 at the Newport Centre in Newport, Wales.

### Round 1–2

| Round 1 (Best of 19 frames) | Round 2 (Best of 19 frames) |
| Stuart Bingham 10–4 Mehmet Husnu | Stuart Bingham 10–8 Ian McCulloch |
| Dene O'Kane 10–5 Barry Mapstone | Dene O'Kane 10–8 Steve James |
| Colm Gilcreest 10–0 Karl Burrows | Colm Gilcreest 10–5 Jimmy Michie |
| Stefan Mazrocis 10–4 Hugh Abernethy | Stefan Mazrocis 10–5 Jason Prince |
| Ali Carter 10–6 Martin Dziewialtowski | Joe Perry 10–5 Ali Carter |
| Noppadon Noppachorn 10–7 Sean Storey | Noppadon Noppachorn 10–6 Marcus Campbell |
| Tony Jones 10–4 Wayne Saidler | Euan Henderson 10–4 Tony Jones |
| Sean Lanigan 10–8 Dennis Taylor | Peter Lines 10–4 Sean Lanigan |
| Willie Thorne 10–6 Adrian Gunnell | Jason Ferguson 10–7 Willie Thorne |
| Tony Knowles 10–8 Chris Shade | Dean Reynolds 10–4 Tony Knowles |
| Karl Broughton 10–8 Gareth Chilcott | Bradley Jones 10–6 Karl Broughton |
| Stephen Maguire 10–7 Wayne Brown | Stephen Maguire 10–4 Nick Walker |
| Patrick Wallace 10–8 Matthew Street | Patrick Wallace 10–6 Gerard Greene |
| Stuart Pettman 10–5 Mike Dunn | Stuart Pettman 10–8 Alfie Burden |
| Munraj Pal 10–8 Stephen O'Connor | David Gray 10–5 Munraj Pal |
| Lee Spick 10–8 Nick Pearce | David Roe 10–5 Lee Spick |
| Mark Davis 10–9 Mario Geudens | John Read 10–4 Mark Davis |
| Ryan Day 10–6 Steve Judd | Neal Foulds 10–9 Ryan Day |
| Leigh Griffin 10–6 Jason Weston | Drew Henry 10–6 Leigh Griffin |
| Phaitoon Phonbun 10–6 David McDonnell | Matthew Couch 10–7 Phaitoon Phonbun |
| Craig MacGillivray 10–4 Lee Richardson | Paul Davies 10–3 Craig MacGillivray |
| Robert Milkins 10–8 Michael Holt | Gary Ponting 10–8 Robert Milkins |
| Kristján Helgason 10–2 John Lardner | Kristján Helgason 10–5 Joe Johnson |
| Malcolm Bilclough 10–9 Mark Gray | Rod Lawler 10–6 Malcolm Bilclough |
| Michael Judge 10–8 Wayne Jones | Michael Judge 10–9 Lee Walker |
| Tony Chappel 10–6 Paul Sweeny | Tony Chappel 10–7 Martin Clark |
| Patrick Delsemme 10–4 Shokat Ali | Marco Fu 10–7 Patrick Delsemme |
| David McLellan 10–9 Chris Scanlon | David Finbow 10–4 David McLellan |
| Eddie Manning 10–9 Troy Shaw | Eddie Manning 10–9 Jonathan Birch |
| Andrew Higginson 10–2 Leo Fernandez | Alain Robidoux 10–5 Andrew Higginson |
| Anthony Davies 10–9 Nick Terry | Anthony Davies 10–2 Mick Price |
| Mark Bennett 10–1 Nick Dyson | Mark Bennett 10–4 Paul Wykes |

### Round 3–4

| Round 3 (Best of 19 frames) | Round 4 (Best of 19 frames) |
| Stuart Bingham 10–9 Dene O'Kane | Stuart Bingham 10–9 Quinten Hann |
| Colm Gilcreest 10–9 Stefan Mazrocis | Billy Snaddon 10–6 Colm Gilcreest |
| Joe Perry 10–8 Noppadon Noppachorn | Tony Drago 10–8 Joe Perry |
| Euan Henderson 10–8 Peter Lines | Nigel Bond 10–5 Euan Henderson |
| Jason Ferguson 10–8 Dean Reynolds | Gary Wilkinson 10–9 Jason Ferguson |
| Stephen Maguire 10–4 Bradley Jones | Joe Swail 10–9 Stephen Maguire |
| Patrick Wallace 10–4 Stuart Pettman | Dominic Dale 10–8 Patrick Wallace |
| David Gray 10–3 David Roe | David Gray 10–6 James Wattana |
| John Read 10–5 Neal Foulds | John Read 10–7 Brian Morgan |
| Drew Henry 10–9 Matthew Couch | Drew Henry 10–3 Jamie Burnett |
| Paul Davies 10–4 Gary Ponting | Chris Small 10–6 Paul Davies |
| Kristján Helgason 10–9 Rod Lawler | Kristján Helgason 10–5 Terry Murphy |
| Michael Judge 10–3 Tony Chappel | Darren Morgan 10–7 Michael Judge |
| Marco Fu 10–7 David Finbow | Marco Fu 10–3 Andy Hicks |
| Eddie Manning 10–9 Alain Robidoux | Graeme Dott 10–3 Eddie Manning |
| Anthony Davies 10–6 Mark Bennett | Dave Harold 10–7 Anthony Davies |