# 1998 Welsh Open (snooker)

The 1998 Welsh Open (officially the 1998 Regal Welsh Open) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 16 and 25 January 1998 at the Newport Leisure Centre in Newport, Wales.
Stephen Hendry was the defending champion, but he lost in the first round against Jamie Burnett.
Paul Hunter defeated John Higgins 9–5 in the final to win his first ranking title.

## 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 |
| Paul Hunter | Paul Hunter | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 2 | Paul Hunter | Paul Hunter | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 5 | Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Finbow | Dave Finbow | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Finbow | Dave Finbow | 3 | | | | Paul Hunter | Paul Hunter | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 5 | | | | | | | Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ian Brumby | Ian Brumby | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ian Brumby | Ian Brumby | 0 | Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Jason Ferguson | Jason Ferguson | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jason Ferguson | Jason Ferguson | 5 | Jason Ferguson | Jason Ferguson | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Billy Snaddon | Billy Snaddon | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Billy Snaddon | Billy Snaddon | 3 | | | | | | | | Paul Hunter | Paul Hunter | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 0 | Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Martin Dziewialtowski | Martin Dziewialtowski | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Martin Dziewialtowski | Martin Dziewialtowski | 5 | Martin Dziewialtowski | Martin Dziewialtowski | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mick Price | Mick Price | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mick Price | Mick Price | 3 | | | | Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Chris Small | Chris Small | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Chris Small | Chris Small | 5 | | | | | | | Chris Small | Chris Small | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| David Roe | David Roe | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| David Roe | David Roe | 3 | Chris Small | Chris Small | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Nick Walker | Nick Walker | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nick Walker | Nick Walker | 5 | Nick Walker | Nick Walker | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | Paul Hunter | Paul Hunter | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 1 | | | | |
| Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 1 | | | | |
| Stuart Pettman | Stuart Pettman | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stuart Pettman | Stuart Pettman | 4 | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Read | John Read | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Read | John Read | 2 | | | | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 5 | | | | | | | Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wayne Jones | Wayne Jones | 4 | Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Steve Judd | Steve Judd | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Judd | Steve Judd | 5 | Steve Judd | Steve Judd | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 3 | | | | | | | | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Jamie Burnett | Jamie Burnett | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Jamie Burnett | Jamie Burnett | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Jamie Burnett | Jamie Burnett | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 4 | Jamie Burnett | Jamie Burnett | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Joe Perry | Joe Perry | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Perry | Joe Perry | 5 | Joe Perry | Joe Perry | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Brian Morgan | Brian Morgan | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Brian Morgan | Brian Morgan | 4 | | | | Jamie Burnett | Jamie Burnett | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | | Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Marcus Campbell | Marcus Campbell | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Marcus Campbell | Marcus Campbell | 4 | Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Peter Lines | Peter Lines | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Peter Lines | Peter Lines | 5 | Peter Lines | Peter Lines | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Paul Hunter | Paul Hunter | 9 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 |
| John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 |
| Euan Henderson | Euan Henderson | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Euan Henderson | Euan Henderson | 2 | John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Terry Murphy | Terry Murphy | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Terry Murphy | Terry Murphy | 5 | Terry Murphy | Terry Murphy | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bradley Jones | Bradley Jones | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bradley Jones | Bradley Jones | 4 | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 5 | | | | | | | Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Jones | Tony Jones | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Jones | Tony Jones | 3 | Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Stefan Mazrocis | Stefan Mazrocis | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stefan Mazrocis | Stefan Mazrocis | 5 | Stefan Mazrocis | Stefan Mazrocis | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Alain Robidoux | Alain Robidoux | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Alain Robidoux | Alain Robidoux | 3 | | | | | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| Paul Davies | Paul Davies | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paul Davies | Paul Davies | 3 | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Ian McCulloch | Ian McCulloch | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ian McCulloch | Ian McCulloch | 5 | Ian McCulloch | Ian McCulloch | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 1 | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Graeme Dott | Graeme Dott | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Graeme Dott | Graeme Dott | 5 | | | | | | | Graeme Dott | Graeme Dott | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| James Wattana | James Wattana | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| James Wattana | James Wattana | 4 | Graeme Dott | Graeme Dott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Steve James | Steve James | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve James | Steve James | 5 | Steve James | Steve James | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gerard Greene | Gerard Greene | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gerard Greene | Gerard Greene | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Mark King | Mark King | 5 | | | | |
| Mark King | Mark King | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Mark King | Mark King | 5 | | | | |
| Gary Ponting | Gary Ponting | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gary Ponting | Gary Ponting | 1 | Mark King | Mark King | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 5 | Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 3 | | | | Mark King | Mark King | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 5 | | | | | | | Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 4 | Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Sean Storey | Sean Storey | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Sean Storey | Sean Storey | 5 | Sean Storey | Sean Storey | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 4 | | | | | | | | Mark King | Mark King | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Matthew Stevens | Matthew Stevens | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Matthew Stevens | Matthew Stevens | 1 | Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 5 | Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wayne Brown | Wayne Brown | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wayne Brown | Wayne Brown | 1 | | | | Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen O'Connor | Stephen O'Connor | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen O'Connor | Stephen O'Connor | 1 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 5 | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Davis | Mark Davis | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Final

Final: Best of 17 frames. Referee: Eirian Williams. Newport Leisure Centre, Newport, Wales, 25 January 1998. :
| Paul Hunter England | 9–5 | John Higgins Scotland |
| Afternoon: 40–87 (87), 131–1 (127), 44–81 (63), 116–0 (116), 0–88 (55), 26–62, 76–21, 61–8 Evening: 10–69 (52), 64–20, 73–34, 68–41, 74–8 (74), 108–0 (108) |||
| 127 | Highest break | 87 |
| 3 | Century breaks | 0 |
| 4 | 50+ breaks | 4 |