# 1999 Welsh Open (snooker)

The 1999 Welsh Open (officially the 1999 Regal Welsh Open) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 25 and 31 January 1999 at the Cardiff International Arena in Cardiff, Wales.
Paul Hunter was the defending champion, but he lost his last 32 match against Fergal O'Brien.
Mark Williams defeated Stephen Hendry 9–8 in the final to win his fifth ranking title.

## Tournament summary

Defending champion Paul Hunter was the number 1 seed with World Champion John Higgins seeded 2. The remaining places were allocated to players based on the world rankings. Ronnie O'Sullivan made a maximum break during the third frame of his quarter final victory over James Wattana.

## 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 | Paul Hunter | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 60 | Ian McCulloch | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 60 | Ian McCulloch | 4 | 1 | Paul Hunter | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 21 | Fergal O'Brien | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 21 | Fergal O'Brien | 5 | 21 | Fergal O'Brien | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ali Carter | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ali Carter | 2 | | | | 21 | Fergal O'Brien | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 15 | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 20 | Dave Harold | 3 | | | | | | | 15 | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 55 | Joe Johnson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 55 | Joe Johnson | 5 | 55 | Joe Johnson | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 15 | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Steve Davis | 5 | 15 | Steve Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 44 | Bradley Jones | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 44 | Bradley Jones | 4 | | | | | | | | 15 | Steve Davis | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | Alan Burnett | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Alan Burnett | 3 | 9 | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Marco Fu | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 30 | Graeme Dott | 0 | | Marco Fu | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Marco Fu | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Marco Fu | 5 | | | | 9 | Alan McManus | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 6 | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 25 | Chris Small | 5 | | | | | | | 6 | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 58 | Michael Judge | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 58 | Michael Judge | 2 | 25 | Chris Small | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Mark Williams | 5 | 6 | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 34 | Neal Foulds | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 34 | Neal Foulds | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Mark Williams | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 1 | | | | |
| 5 | Ken Doherty | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 1 | | | | |
| | Patrick Wallace | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Patrick Wallace | 5 | | Patrick Wallace | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 47 | Tony Chappel | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 27 | Brian Morgan | 4 | 47 | Tony Chappel | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 47 | Tony Chappel | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 47 | Tony Chappel | 5 | | | | | Patrick Wallace | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 16 | James Wattana | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 18 | Gary Wilkinson | 2 | | | | | | | 16 | James Wattana | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 52 | Dennis Taylor | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 52 | Dennis Taylor | 5 | 52 | Dennis Taylor | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 16 | James Wattana | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | James Wattana | 5 | 16 | James Wattana | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Robert Milkins | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Robert Milkins | 4 | | | | | | | | 16 | James Wattana | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Alain Robidoux | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | Phaitoon Phonbun | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Phaitoon Phonbun | 4 | 13 | Alain Robidoux | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Mike Dunn | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 17 | Mark King | 3 | | Mike Dunn | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mike Dunn | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mike Dunn | 5 | | | | 13 | Alain Robidoux | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 19 | Jimmy White | 5 | | | | | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Barry Mapstone | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Barry Mapstone | 1 | 19 | Jimmy White | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Nigel Gilbert | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Nigel Gilbert | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Mark Williams | 9 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Stephen Hendry | 8 |
| 3 | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Stephen Hendry | 8 |
| 48 | David Roe | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 48 | David Roe | 1 | 3 | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 87 | Darren Clarke | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 31 | Jamie Burnett | 1 | 87 | Darren Clarke | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 87 | Darren Clarke | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 87 | Darren Clarke | 5 | | | | 3 | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 26 | Matthew Stevens | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 26 | Matthew Stevens | 5 | | | | | | | 26 | Matthew Stevens | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 94 | John Lardner | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 94 | John Lardner | 1 | 26 | Matthew Stevens | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 10 | Stephen Lee | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Stephen Lee | 5 | 10 | Stephen Lee | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 78 | Matthew Couch | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 78 | Matthew Couch | 3 | | | | | | | | 3 | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 12 | Anthony Hamilton | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | Anthony Hamilton | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| 75 | Gary Ponting | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 75 | Gary Ponting | 4 | 12 | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 32 | Billy Snaddon | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 32 | Billy Snaddon | 5 | 32 | Billy Snaddon | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 43 | Drew Henry | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 43 | Drew Henry | 2 | | | | 12 | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 50 | Lee Walker | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 22 | Andy Hicks | 4 | | | | | | | 50 | Lee Walker | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 50 | Lee Walker | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 50 | Lee Walker | 5 | 50 | Lee Walker | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 7 | John Parrott | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | John Parrott | 5 | 7 | John Parrott | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 92 | Mark Gray | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 92 | Mark Gray | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Stephen Hendry | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 36 | Joe Swail | 2 | | | | |
| 8 | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 36 | Joe Swail | 2 | | | | |
| | Leigh Griffin | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Leigh Griffin | 1 | 8 | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 56 | Mark Davis | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 29 | Terry Murphy | 2 | 56 | Mark Davis | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 56 | Mark Davis | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 56 | Mark Davis | 5 | | | | 8 | Peter Ebdon | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 36 | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 24 | Dominic Dale | 3 | | | | | | | 36 | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 36 | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 36 | Joe Swail | 5 | 36 | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 14 | Nigel Bond | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Nigel Bond | 5 | 14 | Nigel Bond | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 68 | Dave Finbow | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 68 | Dave Finbow | 4 | | | | | | | | 36 | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 164 | Stuart Bingham | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Tony Drago | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | 164 | Stuart Bingham | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 164 | Stuart Bingham | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 164 | Stuart Bingham | 5 | 164 | Stuart Bingham | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 59 | Gerard Greene | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 23 | Darren Morgan | 1 | 59 | Gerard Greene | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 59 | Gerard Greene | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 59 | Gerard Greene | 5 | | | | 164 | Stuart Bingham | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 2 | John Higgins | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 28 | Martin Clark | 4 | | | | | | | 2 | John Higgins | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Paul Sweeny | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Paul Sweeny | 5 | | Paul Sweeny | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | John Higgins | 5 | 2 | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 66 | Mark Bennett | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Final

Final: Best of 17 frames. Referee: John Williams. Cardiff International Arena, Cardiff, Wales, 31 January 1999. :
| Mark Williams (6) Wales | 9–8 | Stephen Hendry (3) Scotland |
| Afternoon: 15–100 (57), 59–66, 89–7 (71), 74–1 (62), 15–116 (67), 52–74 (56), 71–24 (56), 13–116 (116) Evening: 82–9 (81), 117–23 (84), 42–71 (52), 67–74 (Williams 67), 68–40, 106–4 (64), 104–6 (104), 54–63 (Williams 52), 65–48 |||
| 104 | Highest break | 116 |
| 1 | Century breaks | 1 |
| 9 | 50+ breaks | 5 |