# 2006 Welsh Open (snooker)

The 2006 Welsh Open was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 27 February and 5 March at the Newport Centre in Newport, Wales.
Ronnie O'Sullivan was the defending champion, but he lost his last 32 match against Ian McCulloch.
Stephen Lee won his fourth ranking title by defeating World Champion Shaun Murphy 9–4.

## Tournament summary

Defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan was the number 1 seed with World Champion Shaun Murphy seeded 2. The remaining places were allocated to players based on the world rankings.

## Prize fund

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

## Main draw

| Last 48 Best of 9 frames | Last 48 Best of 9 frames | Last 48 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 |
| | | | 1 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 17 | Ian McCulloch | 5 | 17 | Ian McCulloch | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 17 | Ian McCulloch | 5 | 17 | Ian McCulloch | 5 | 17 | Ian McCulloch | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 44 | Dave Harold | 3 | | | | 17 | Ian McCulloch | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 44 | Dave Harold | 3 | | | | 25 | Robert Milkins | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 13 | Alan McManus | 4 | 25 | Robert Milkins | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| 25 | Robert Milkins | 5 | 25 | Robert Milkins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 25 | Robert Milkins | 5 | 25 | Robert Milkins | 5 | | | | 17 | Ian McCulloch | 2 | | | | | |
| | Judd Trump | 3 | | | | | | | 17 | Ian McCulloch | 2 | | | | | |
| | Judd Trump | 3 | | | | | | | 18 | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | | | | | |
| | | | 12 | Ken Doherty | 5 | | | | 18 | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | | | | | |
| 23 | Michael Holt | 5 | 23 | Michael Holt | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 23 | Michael Holt | 5 | 23 | Michael Holt | 4 | 12 | Ken Doherty | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| 33 | Dominic Dale | 2 | | | | 12 | Ken Doherty | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| 33 | Dominic Dale | 2 | | | | 18 | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Paul Hunter | 3 | 18 | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 18 | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | 18 | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 18 | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | 18 | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | | | | | | | 18 | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | | |
| 43 | Fergal O'Brien | 3 | | | | | | | | | | 18 | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | | |
| 43 | Fergal O'Brien | 3 | | | | | | | | | | 11 | Stephen Lee | 6 | | |
| | | | 8 | Peter Ebdon | 0 | | | | | | | 11 | Stephen Lee | 6 | | |
| 21 | Mark King | 4 | 39 | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 21 | Mark King | 4 | 39 | Joe Swail | 5 | 39 | Joe Swail | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| 39 | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | 39 | Joe Swail | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| 39 | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | 14 | Graeme Dott | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 14 | Graeme Dott | 5 | 14 | Graeme Dott | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 26 | Nigel Bond | 0 | | Liang Wenbo | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 26 | Nigel Bond | 0 | | Liang Wenbo | 3 | | | | 14 | Graeme Dott | 2 | | | | | |
| | Liang Wenbo | 5 | | | | | | | 14 | Graeme Dott | 2 | | | | | |
| | Liang Wenbo | 5 | | | | | | | 11 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | |
| | | | 11 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | 11 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | |
| 24 | Marco Fu | 2 | 34 | Drew Henry | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 24 | Marco Fu | 2 | 34 | Drew Henry | 2 | 11 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 34 | Drew Henry | 5 | | | | 11 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 34 | Drew Henry | 5 | | | | 38 | Mark Selby | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Stephen Maguire | 3 | 38 | Mark Selby | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| 27 | Neil Robertson | 3 | 38 | Mark Selby | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 27 | Neil Robertson | 3 | 38 | Mark Selby | 5 | | | | | | | | | | 11 | Stephen Lee | 9 |
| 38 | Mark Selby | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | Stephen Lee | 9 |
| 38 | Mark Selby | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Shaun Murphy | 4 |
| | | | 3 | Stephen Hendry | 3 | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Shaun Murphy | 4 |
| 29 | Barry Hawkins | 5 | 29 | Barry Hawkins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 29 | Barry Hawkins | 5 | 29 | Barry Hawkins | 5 | 29 | Barry Hawkins | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 60 | David Roe | 4 | | | | 29 | Barry Hawkins | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 60 | David Roe | 4 | | | | 32 | Ryan Day | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 9 | Jimmy White | 0 | 32 | Ryan Day | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| 28 | John Parrott | 1 | 32 | Ryan Day | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 28 | John Parrott | 1 | 32 | Ryan Day | 5 | | | | 29 | Barry Hawkins | 5 | | | | | | |
| 32 | Ryan Day | 5 | | | | | | | 29 | Barry Hawkins | 5 | | | | | | |
| 32 | Ryan Day | 5 | | | | | | | 31 | James Wattana | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | 15 | Joe Perry | 2 | | | | 31 | James Wattana | 3 | | | | | | |
| 31 | James Wattana | 5 | 31 | James Wattana | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 31 | James Wattana | 5 | 31 | James Wattana | 5 | 31 | James Wattana | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 47 | Ricky Walden | 4 | | | | 31 | James Wattana | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 47 | Ricky Walden | 4 | | | | 7 | John Higgins | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 7 | John Higgins | 5 | 7 | John Higgins | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| 19 | Barry Pinches | 4 | 68 | Scott MacKenzie | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 19 | Barry Pinches | 4 | 68 | Scott MacKenzie | 2 | | | | | | | 29 | Barry Hawkins | 1 | | | |
| 68 | Scott MacKenzie | 5 | | | | | | | | | | 29 | Barry Hawkins | 1 | | | |
| 68 | Scott MacKenzie | 5 | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Shaun Murphy | 6 | | | |
| | | | 5 | Matthew Stevens | 5 | | | | | | | 2 | Shaun Murphy | 6 | | | |
| 22 | David Gray | 4 | 41 | Mark Davis | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 22 | David Gray | 4 | 41 | Mark Davis | 0 | 5 | Matthew Stevens | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| 41 | Mark Davis | 5 | | | | 5 | Matthew Stevens | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| 41 | Mark Davis | 5 | | | | 10 | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 10 | Mark Williams | 5 | 10 | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 20 | Ali Carter | 4 | 69 | Alfie Burden | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 20 | Ali Carter | 4 | 69 | Alfie Burden | 3 | | | | 10 | Mark Williams | 2 | | | | | | |
| 69 | Alfie Burden | 5 | | | | | | | 10 | Mark Williams | 2 | | | | | | |
| 69 | Alfie Burden | 5 | | | | | | | 2 | Shaun Murphy | 5 | | | | | | |
| | | | 16 | Steve Davis | 4 | | | | 2 | Shaun Murphy | 5 | | | | | | |
| 21 | Quinten Hann | w/d | | Jamie Cope | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 21 | Quinten Hann | w/d | | Jamie Cope | 5 | | Jamie Cope | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jamie Cope | w/o | | | | | Jamie Cope | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jamie Cope | w/o | | | | 2 | Shaun Murphy | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Shaun Murphy | 5 | 2 | Shaun Murphy | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 30 | Andy Hicks | 5 | 30 | Andy Hicks | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 49 | Patrick Wallace | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Final

Final: Best of 17 frames. Referee: Eirian Williams. Newport Centre, Newport, Wales, 5 March 2006. :
| Stephen Lee (11) England | 9–4 | Shaun Murphy (2) England |
| Afternoon: 86–6, 74–0, 90–30, 120–0 (120), 47–75, 40–61, 0–90, 64–52 (Murphy 52) Evening: 88–0 (62), 39–64, 84–13, 64–52 (Murphy 52), 83–0 (71) |||
| 120 | Highest break | 52 |
| 1 | Century breaks | 0 |
| 3 | 50+ breaks | 2 |

## Qualifying

Qualifying for the tournament took place at Pontin's in Prestatyn, Wales between 24 January and 26 January 2006.
| Round 1 Best of 9 frames | Round 1 Best of 9 frames | Round 1 Best of 9 frames | Round 2 Best of 9 frames | Round 2 Best of 9 frames | Round 2 Best of 9 frames | Round 3 Best of 9 frames | Round 3 Best of 9 frames | Round 3 Best of 9 frames |
| Andrew Norman | Andrew Norman | w/o | James Tatton | James Tatton | 2 | Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 5 |
| Moh Keen Ho | Moh Keen Ho | w/d | Andrew Norman | Andrew Norman | 5 | Andrew Norman | Andrew Norman | 1 |
| Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 3 | Lee Walker | Lee Walker | 1 | Adrian Gunnell | Adrian Gunnell | 1 |
| Judd Trump | Judd Trump | 5 | Judd Trump | Judd Trump | 5 | Judd Trump | Judd Trump | 5 |
| Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 5 | Chris Norbury | Chris Norbury | 5 | Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 5 |
| Hugh Abernethy | Hugh Abernethy | 3 | Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 4 | Chris Norbury | Chris Norbury | 1 |
| Paul Wykes | Paul Wykes | 0 | Shokat Ali | Shokat Ali | 3 | Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 5 |
| Gary Wilson | Gary Wilson | 5 | Gary Wilson | Gary Wilson | 5 | Gary Wilson | Gary Wilson | 3 |
| Adam Davies | Adam Davies | 2 | Matthew Couch | Matthew Couch | 5 | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 5 |
| Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 1 | Matthew Couch | Matthew Couch | 1 |
| Sean Storey | Sean Storey | 0 | Jamie Burnett | Jamie Burnett | 0 | Rory McLeod | Rory McLeod | 3 |
| Liang Wenbo | Liang Wenbo | 5 | Liang Wenbo | Liang Wenbo | 5 | Liang Wenbo | Liang Wenbo | 5 |
| Paul Davies | Paul Davies | 5 | Justin Astley | Justin Astley | 5 | Drew Henry | Drew Henry | 5 |
| Nick Dyson | Nick Dyson | 2 | Paul Davies | Paul Davies | 3 | Justin Astley | Justin Astley | 2 |
| Joe Delaney | Joe Delaney | 5 | Tom Ford | Tom Ford | 5 | Mark Selby | Mark Selby | 5 |
| Alex Borg | Alex Borg | 2 | Joe Delaney | Joe Delaney | 4 | Tom Ford | Tom Ford | 2 |
| David Roe | David Roe | 5 | Lee Spick | Lee Spick | 4 | Stuart Pettman | Stuart Pettman | 3 |
| James McBain | James McBain | 4 | David Roe | David Roe | 5 | David Roe | David Roe | 5 |
| Leo Fernandez | Leo Fernandez | 2 | Jimmy Michie | Jimmy Michie | 1 | Ryan Day | Ryan Day | 5 |
| Mark Allen | Mark Allen | 5 | Mark Allen | Mark Allen | 5 | Mark Allen | Mark Allen | 3 |
| Ding Junhui | Ding Junhui | w/o | Robin Hull | Robin Hull | 0 | Ricky Walden | Ricky Walden | 5 |
| Steve James | Steve James | w/d | Ding Junhui | Ding Junhui | 5 | Ding Junhui | Ding Junhui | 3 |
| Scott MacKenzie | Scott MacKenzie | w/o | Marcus Campbell | Marcus Campbell | 3 | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 3 |
| Jin Long | Jin Long | w/d | Scott MacKenzie | Scott MacKenzie | 5 | Scott MacKenzie | Scott MacKenzie | 5 |
| David McDonnell | David McDonnell | 3 | Mike Dunn | Mike Dunn | 4 | Mark Davis | Mark Davis | 5 |
| Bjorn Haneveer | Bjorn Haneveer | 5 | Bjorn Haneveer | Bjorn Haneveer | 5 | Bjorn Haneveer | Bjorn Haneveer | 4 |
| Alfie Burden | Alfie Burden | 5 | Brian Morgan | Brian Morgan | 3 | Michael Judge | Michael Judge | 4 |
| Stuart Mann | Stuart Mann | 3 | Alfie Burden | Alfie Burden | 5 | Alfie Burden | Alfie Burden | 5 |
| Simon Bedford | Simon Bedford | 2 | Jamie Cope | Jamie Cope | 5 | Stuart Bingham | Stuart Bingham | 3 |
| David Gilbert | David Gilbert | 5 | David Gilbert | David Gilbert | 3 | Jamie Cope | Jamie Cope | 5 |
| Joe Jogia | Joe Jogia | 5 | Patrick Wallace | Patrick Wallace | 5 | Gerard Greene | Gerard Greene | 2 |
| Habib Subah | Habib Subah | 1 | Joe Jogia | Joe Jogia | 1 | Patrick Wallace | Patrick Wallace | 5 |