# 1997 Welsh Open (snooker)

The 1997 Welsh Open (officially the 1997 Regal Welsh Open) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 24 January–1 February 1997 at the Newport Leisure Centre in Newport, Wales.
Mark Williams was the defending champion, but lost in the semi-final to Mark King.
Stephen Hendry defeated Mark King 9–2 in the final to win his second Welsh Open 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 |
| Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ian McCulloch | Ian McCulloch | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ian McCulloch | Ian McCulloch | 2 | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Mick Price | Mick Price | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mick Price | Mick Price | 5 | Mick Price | Mick Price | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Johnston-Allen | Mark Johnston-Allen | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Johnston-Allen | Mark Johnston-Allen | 4 | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | James Wattana | James Wattana | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| James Wattana | James Wattana | 5 | | | | | | | James Wattana | James Wattana | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Newbury | Steve Newbury | 1 | James Wattana | James Wattana | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 5 | Dennis Taylor | Dennis Taylor | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Bennett | Mark Bennett | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mark Bennett | Mark Bennett | 2 | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Terry Murphy | Terry Murphy | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Terry Murphy | Terry Murphy | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Terry Murphy | Terry Murphy | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen Lee | Stephen Lee | 3 | Terry Murphy | Terry Murphy | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Barry Pinches | Barry Pinches | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Barry Pinches | Barry Pinches | 2 | | | | Terry Murphy | Terry Murphy | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 5 | | | | | | | Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Darren Clarke | Darren Clarke | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Darren Clarke | Darren Clarke | 4 | Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Steve James | Steve James | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve James | Steve James | 5 | Steve James | Steve James | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Doug Mountjoy | Doug Mountjoy | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Doug Mountjoy | Doug Mountjoy | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 2 | | | | |
| John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 2 | | | | |
| Peter Lines | Peter Lines | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Peter Lines | Peter Lines | 3 | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Jamie Burnett | Jamie Burnett | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jamie Burnett | Jamie Burnett | 5 | Jamie Burnett | Jamie Burnett | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Neal Foulds | Neal Foulds | 2 | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 5 | | | | | | | Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Chris Scanlon | Chris Scanlon | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Chris Scanlon | Chris Scanlon | 4 | Dene O'Kane | Dene O'Kane | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Dylan Leary | Dylan Leary | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dylan Leary | Dylan Leary | 5 | Dylan Leary | Dylan Leary | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 3 | | | | | | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Graeme Dott | Graeme Dott | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Graeme Dott | Graeme Dott | 3 | John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Nick Walker | Nick Walker | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nick Walker | Nick Walker | 5 | Nick Walker | Nick Walker | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 4 | | | | John Higgins | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Alain Robidoux | Alain Robidoux | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Alain Robidoux | Alain Robidoux | 5 | | | | | | | Alain Robidoux | Alain Robidoux | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Billy Snaddon | Billy Snaddon | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Billy Snaddon | Billy Snaddon | 4 | Alain Robidoux | Alain Robidoux | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Shokat Ali | Shokat Ali | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Shokat Ali | Shokat Ali | 5 | Shokat Ali | Shokat Ali | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jason Ferguson | Jason Ferguson | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jason Ferguson | Jason Ferguson | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Stephen Hendry | Stephen Hendry | 9 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Mark King | Mark King | 2 |
| Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Mark King | Mark King | 2 |
| Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 2 | Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 5 | Willie Thorne | Willie Thorne | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Darryn Walker | Darryn Walker | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Darryn Walker | Darryn Walker | 4 | | | | Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 5 | | | | | | | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Drew Henry | Drew Henry | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Drew Henry | Drew Henry | 2 | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Noppadon Noppachorn | Noppadon Noppachorn | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Noppadon Noppachorn | Noppadon Noppachorn | 5 | Noppadon Noppachorn | Noppadon Noppachorn | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Finbow | Dave Finbow | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Finbow | Dave Finbow | 2 | | | | | | | | Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Paul Davies | Paul Davies | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Paul Davies | Paul Davies | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Paul Davies | Paul Davies | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 2 | Paul Davies | Paul Davies | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Chris Small | Chris Small | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Chris Small | Chris Small | 5 | Chris Small | Chris Small | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Johnson | Joe Johnson | 3 | | | | Paul Davies | Paul Davies | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 5 | | | | | | | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paul Wykes | Paul Wykes | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paul Wykes | Paul Wykes | 3 | Ken Doherty | Ken Doherty | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 5 | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Euan Henderson | Euan Henderson | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Euan Henderson | Euan Henderson | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | Mark Williams | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Mark King | Mark King | 6 | | | | |
| Mark King | Mark King | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Mark King | Mark King | 6 | | | | |
| Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Davis | Steve Davis | 4 | Mark King | Mark King | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Michael Judge | Michael Judge | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Michael Judge | Michael Judge | 5 | Michael Judge | Michael Judge | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Andy Hicks | Andy Hicks | 4 | | | | Mark King | Mark King | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 5 | | | | | | | Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Alan McManus | Alan McManus | 3 | Tony Chappel | Tony Chappel | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Lee Richardson | Lee Richardson | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Lee Richardson | Lee Richardson | 5 | Lee Richardson | Lee Richardson | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 4 | | | | | | | | Mark King | Mark King | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Martin Clark | Martin Clark | 4 | Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 5 | Peter Ebdon | Peter Ebdon | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nick Terry | Nick Terry | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nick Terry | Nick Terry | 0 | | | | Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Jason Prince | Jason Prince | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jason Prince | Jason Prince | 5 | | | | | | | Jason Prince | Jason Prince | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gary Wilkinson | Gary Wilkinson | 4 | Jason Prince | Jason Prince | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Dean Reynolds | Dean Reynolds | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dean Reynolds | Dean Reynolds | 5 | Dean Reynolds | Dean Reynolds | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Darren Morgan | Darren Morgan | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Final

Final: Best of 17 frames. Referee: Colin Brinded. Newport Leisure Centre, Newport, Wales, 1 February 1997. :
| Stephen Hendry Scotland | 9–2 | Mark King England |
| Afternoon: 140–0 (140), 101–5 (101), 29–75, 113–0 (95), 72–50, 110–1 (106), 67–2, 16–96 (58) Evening: 91–26, 71–20, 90–1 (52) |||
| 140 | Highest break | 58 |
| 3 | Century breaks | 0 |
| 5 | 50+ breaks | 1 |