# 1997–98 snooker season

The 1997–98 snooker season was a series of snooker tournaments played between August 1997 and May 1998. The following table outlines the results for ranking events and the invitational events. This was the first season since 1987–88 that Stephen Hendry failed to win at least one Triple Crown title, although he did reach two of the three Triple Crown finals.

## Calendar

| Start | Finish | Country | Tournament name | Venue | City | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
| 14 Aug | 16 Aug | CHN | Superstar International | Guangdong Hotel | Guangzhou | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Jimmy White | 5–3 |
| 17 Sep | 20 Sep | CHN | China International | | Beijing | Steve Davis | Jimmy White | 7–4 |
| 30 Sep | 5 Oct | SCO | Scottish Masters | Civic Centre | Motherwell | Nigel Bond | Alan McManus | 9–8 |
| 14 Oct | 26 Oct | ENG | Grand Prix | Bournemouth International Centre | Bournemouth | Dominic Dale | John Higgins | 9–6 |
| 27 Oct | 8 Nov | ENG | Benson & Hedges Championship | Willie Thorne Snooker Centre | Malvern | Andy Hicks | Paul Davies | 9–6 |
| 30 Oct | 2 Nov | MLT | Malta Grand Prix | Jerma Palace Hotel | Marsaskala | Ken Doherty | John Higgins | 7–5 |
| 12 Nov | 30 Nov | ENG | UK Championship | Guild Hall | Preston | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Stephen Hendry | 10–6 |
| 8 Dec | 14 Dec | GER | German Open | Atlantis Rheinhotel | Bingen am Rhein | John Higgins | John Parrott | 9–4 |
| 16 Jan | 25 Jan | WAL | Welsh Open | Newport Leisure Centre | Newport | Paul Hunter | John Higgins | 9–5 |
| 1 Feb | 8 Feb | ENG | The Masters | Wembley Conference Centre | London | Mark Williams | Stephen Hendry | 10–9 |
| 12 Feb | 22 Feb | SCO | Scottish Open | A.E.C.C. | Aberdeen | Ronnie O'Sullivan | John Higgins | 9–5 |
| 26 Feb | 1 Mar | ENG | Charity Challenge | Assembly Rooms | Derby | John Higgins | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 9–8 |
| 7 Mar | 15 Mar | THA | Thailand Masters | Imperial Queens Park Hotel | Bangkok | Stephen Hendry | John Parrott | 9–6 |
| 24 Mar | 29 Mar | IRL | Irish Masters | Goff's | Kill | Ken Doherty | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Disqualified |
| 2 Apr | 12 Apr | ENG | British Open | Plymouth Pavilions | Plymouth | John Higgins | Stephen Hendry | 9–8 |
| 18 Apr | 4 May | ENG | World Snooker Championship | Crucible Theatre | Sheffield | John Higgins | Ken Doherty | 18–12 |
| 16 May | 23 May | WAL | Pontins Professional | Pontins | Prestatyn | Mark Williams | Martin Clark | 9–6 |
| 3 Jan | 24 May | ENG | Premier League | Diamond Centre | Irthlingborough | Ken Doherty | Jimmy White | 10–2 |
* Ranking event
* Non-ranking event

## Official rankings

The top 16 of the world rankings, these players automatically played in the final rounds of the world ranking events and were invited for the Masters.
| No. | Name | Points |
| 1 | Stephen Hendry | 43127 |
| 2 | John Higgins | 30867 |
| 3 | Ken Doherty | 28601 |
| 4 | Mark Williams | 27485 |
| 5 | Peter Ebdon | 25282 |
| 6 | John Parrott | 25082 |
| 7 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 24217 |
| 8 | Nigel Bond | 22182 |
| 9 | Alain Robidoux | 21994 |
| 10 | Alan McManus | 20995 |
| 11 | Tony Drago | 19959 |
| 12 | James Wattana | 18822 |
| 13 | Steve Davis | 18654 |
| 14 | Anthony Hamilton | 17004 |
| 15 | Darren Morgan | 16423 |
| 16 | Stephen Lee | 16079 |