# 1997 Grand Prix (snooker)

The 1997 Grand Prix was a professional snooker tournament and the first of eight WPBSA ranking events in the 1997/1998 season, preceding the UK Championship. It was held from 14 to 26 October 1997 at the Bournemouth International Centre in Bournemouth, England.
Mark Williams was the defending champion, but he lost his last 32 match against Matthew Stevens. Dominic Dale won his first ranking title by defeating John Higgins 9–6 in the final.

## Tournament summary

Defending champion Mark Williams was the number 1 seed with World Champion Ken Doherty seeded 2. The remaining places were allocated to players based on the world rankings.

## 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 |
| 1 | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 56 | Michael Judge | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 56 | Michael Judge | 2 | 1 | Mark Williams | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 53 | Matthew Stevens | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 24 | Steve James | 1 | 53 | Matthew Stevens | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 53 | Matthew Stevens | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 53 | Matthew Stevens | 5 | | | | 53 | Matthew Stevens | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 32 | Billy Snaddon | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 32 | Billy Snaddon | 5 | | | | | | | 32 | Billy Snaddon | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 94 | Matthew Couch | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 94 | Matthew Couch | 4 | 32 | Billy Snaddon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 15 | Darren Morgan | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Darren Morgan | 5 | 15 | Darren Morgan | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 58 | Wayne Jones | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 58 | Wayne Jones | 4 | | | | | | | | 53 | Matthew Stevens | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 6 | John Parrott | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | John Parrott | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | Troy Shaw | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Troy Shaw | 4 | 16 | Stephen Lee | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 43 | Paul Hunter | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 27 | Martin Clark | 1 | 43 | Paul Hunter | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 43 | Paul Hunter | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 43 | Paul Hunter | 5 | | | | 43 | Paul Hunter | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 6 | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 28 | Brian Morgan | 5 | | | | | | | 6 | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Peter McCullagh | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Peter McCullagh | 0 | 28 | Brian Morgan | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 6 | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | John Parrott | 5 | 6 | John Parrott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 40 | Drew Henry | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 40 | Drew Henry | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | 53 | Matthew Stevens | 5 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | John Higgins | 6 | | | | |
| 7 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | John Higgins | 6 | | | | |
| 80 | Bradley Jones | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 80 | Bradley Jones | 4 | 7 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 86 | John Read | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 26 | Rod Lawler | 3 | 86 | John Read | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 86 | John Read | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 86 | John Read | 5 | | | | 86 | John Read | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 11 | Tony Drago | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 23 | Fergal O'Brien | 2 | | | | | | | 11 | Tony Drago | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 69 | Paul Wykes | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 69 | Paul Wykes | 5 | 69 | Paul Wykes | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 11 | Tony Drago | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Tony Drago | 5 | 11 | Tony Drago | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 44 | Euan Henderson | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 44 | Euan Henderson | 2 | | | | | | | | 86 | John Read | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 4 | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | James Wattana | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 106 | Stephen O'Connor | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 106 | Stephen O'Connor | 4 | 12 | James Wattana | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 20 | Mark King | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 20 | Mark King | 5 | 20 | Mark King | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Craig MacGillivray | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Craig MacGillivray | 2 | | | | 20 | Mark King | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 22 | Joe Swail | 2 | | | | | | | 4 | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 104 | Quinten Hann | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 104 | Quinten Hann | 5 | 104 | Quinten Hann | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | John Higgins | 5 | 4 | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Leigh Griffin | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Leigh Griffin | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | John Higgins | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 54 | Dominic Dale | 9 |
| 3 | Stephen Hendry | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 54 | Dominic Dale | 9 |
| 38 | Jamie Burnett | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 38 | Jamie Burnett | 5 | 38 | Jamie Burnett | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 18 | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 18 | Dave Harold | 5 | 18 | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 62 | Gerard Greene | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 62 | Gerard Greene | 3 | | | | 18 | Dave Harold | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 54 | Dominic Dale | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 19 | Andy Hicks | 3 | | | | | | | 54 | Dominic Dale | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 54 | Dominic Dale | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 54 | Dominic Dale | 5 | 54 | Dominic Dale | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 13 | Steve Davis | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Steve Davis | 5 | 13 | Steve Davis | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 90 | Peter Lines | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 90 | Peter Lines | 3 | | | | | | | | 54 | Dominic Dale | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 25 | Chris Small | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Alain Robidoux | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 25 | Chris Small | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| 48 | Paul Davies | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 48 | Paul Davies | 5 | 48 | Paul Davies | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 25 | Chris Small | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 25 | Chris Small | 5 | 25 | Chris Small | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 34 | Dennis Taylor | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 34 | Dennis Taylor | 0 | | | | 25 | Chris Small | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Alfie Burden | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 17 | Gary Wilkinson | 3 | | | | | | | | Alfie Burden | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Alfie Burden | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Alfie Burden | 5 | | Alfie Burden | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 8 | Nigel Bond | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Nigel Bond | 5 | 8 | Nigel Bond | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | David Gray | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | David Gray | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | 54 | Dominic Dale | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 21 | Jimmy White | 2 | | | | |
| 5 | Peter Ebdon | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 21 | Jimmy White | 2 | | | | |
| 45 | Jonathan Birch | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 45 | Jonathan Birch | 5 | 45 | Jonathan Birch | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 31 | Mick Price | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 31 | Mick Price | 5 | 31 | Mick Price | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 61 | Anthony Davies | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 61 | Anthony Davies | 3 | | | | 31 | Mick Price | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 99 | Wayne Brown | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 29 | Terry Murphy | 5 | | | | | | | 99 | Wayne Brown | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 76 | Ian McCulloch | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 76 | Ian McCulloch | 0 | 29 | Terry Murphy | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 99 | Wayne Brown | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Anthony Hamilton | 4 | 99 | Wayne Brown | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 99 | Wayne Brown | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 99 | Wayne Brown | 5 | | | | | | | | 31 | Mick Price | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 21 | Jimmy White | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 21 | Jimmy White | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 87 | Stuart Pettman | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 87 | Stuart Pettman | 2 | 10 | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 49 | David Roe | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 30 | Neal Foulds | 1 | 49 | David Roe | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 49 | David Roe | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 49 | David Roe | 5 | | | | 10 | Alan McManus | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 21 | Jimmy White | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 21 | Jimmy White | 5 | | | | | | | 21 | Jimmy White | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 37 | Jason Ferguson | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 37 | Jason Ferguson | 0 | 21 | Jimmy White | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 36 | Willie Thorne | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Ken Doherty | 4 | 36 | Willie Thorne | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 36 | Willie Thorne | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Final

Final: Best of 17 frames. Referee: Colin Brinded. Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth, England, 26 October 1997. :
| John Higgins (4) Scotland | 6–9 | Dominic Dale (54) Wales |
| Afternoon: 0–73 (50), 44–57, 59–69, 17–78, 70–59 (61), 31–81, 77–1 (71), 98–0 (98) Evening: 104–0 (104), 0–89, 87–4, 53–67, 74–39, 6–120 (120), 9–71 (71) |||
| 104 | Highest break | 120 |
| 1 | Century breaks | 1 |
| 4 | 50+ breaks | 3 |

## Qualifying

Round of 96 Best of 9 frames