# 1998 Grand Prix (snooker)

The 1998 Skoda Grand Prix was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 14–25 October 1998 at the Guild Hall in Preston, England.
Dominic Dale was the defending champion, but he lost his last 64 match against Robin Hull.
Stephen Lee and Marco Fu both contested a ranking tournament final for the first time in their careers, Fu in his first tournament as a professional being ranked 377 at the time of his final appearance; the lowest ranked finalist at any ranking event. Lee prevailed 9–2 to claim his first ranking title.

## Tournament summary

Defending champion Dominic Dale was the number 1 seed with World Champion John Higgins 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 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 | Dominic Dale | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Robin Hull | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Robin Hull | 5 | | Robin Hull | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 18 | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 18 | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | 18 | Gary Wilkinson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 78 | Matthew Couch | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 78 | Matthew Couch | 0 | | | | 18 | Gary Wilkinson | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 31 | Jamie Burnett | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 31 | Jamie Burnett | 5 | | | | | | | 31 | Jamie Burnett | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 37 | Steve James | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 37 | Steve James | 1 | 31 | Jamie Burnett | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 14 | Nigel Bond | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Nigel Bond | 5 | 14 | Nigel Bond | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Patrick Wallace | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Patrick Wallace | 2 | | | | | | | | 31 | Jamie Burnett | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 25 | Chris Small | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 25 | Chris Small | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 93 | Leigh Griffin | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 93 | Leigh Griffin | 4 | 12 | Anthony Hamilton | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 24 | Paul Hunter | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 24 | Paul Hunter | 5 | 24 | Paul Hunter | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 81 | Jimmy Michie | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 81 | Jimmy Michie | 2 | | | | 12 | Anthony Hamilton | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 25 | Chris Small | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 25 | Chris Small | 5 | | | | | | | 25 | Chris Small | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 76 | Stuart Pettman | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 76 | Stuart Pettman | 3 | 25 | Chris Small | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 7 | John Parrott | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | John Parrott | 5 | 7 | John Parrott | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Colm Gilcreest | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Colm Gilcreest | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | 25 | Chris Small | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 377 | Marco Fu | 6 | | | | |
| 8 | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 377 | Marco Fu | 6 | | | | |
| 36 | Joe Swail | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 36 | Joe Swail | 3 | 8 | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 32 | Billy Snaddon | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 32 | Billy Snaddon | 5 | 32 | Billy Snaddon | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 64 | Nick Pearce | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 64 | Nick Pearce | 1 | | | | 8 | Peter Ebdon | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 9 | Alan McManus | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 29 | Terry Murphy | 3 | | | | | | | 9 | Alan McManus | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 55 | Joe Johnson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 55 | Joe Johnson | 5 | 55 | Joe Johnson | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 9 | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Alan McManus | 5 | 9 | Alan McManus | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 54 | Dean Reynolds | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 54 | Dean Reynolds | 2 | | | | | | | | 8 | Peter Ebdon | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 377 | Marco Fu | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Tony Drago | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | 377 | Marco Fu | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 43 | Drew Henry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 43 | Drew Henry | 5 | 43 | Drew Henry | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 377 | Marco Fu | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 22 | Andy Hicks | 4 | 377 | Marco Fu | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 377 | Marco Fu | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 377 | Marco Fu | 5 | | | | 377 | Marco Fu | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 17 | Mark King | 5 | | | | | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 59 | Gerard Greene | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 59 | Gerard Greene | 2 | 17 | Mark King | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sam Chong | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sam Chong | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 377 | Marco Fu | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | Stephen Lee | 9 |
| 3 | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | Stephen Lee | 9 |
| 60 | Ian McCulloch | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 60 | Ian McCulloch | 1 | 3 | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 48 | David Roe | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 26 | Matthew Stevens | 1 | 48 | David Roe | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 48 | David Roe | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 48 | David Roe | 5 | | | | 3 | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 27 | Brian Morgan | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 27 | Brian Morgan | 5 | | | | | | | 27 | Brian Morgan | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 61 | David Gray | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 61 | David Gray | 3 | 27 | Brian Morgan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 40 | Rod Lawler | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Alain Robidoux | 1 | 40 | Rod Lawler | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 40 | Rod Lawler | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 40 | Rod Lawler | 5 | | | | | | | | 3 | Stephen Hendry | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 20 | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | James Wattana | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 20 | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 38 | Euan Henderson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 38 | Euan Henderson | 5 | 38 | Euan Henderson | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 20 | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 20 | Dave Harold | 5 | 20 | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Alex Borg | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Alex Borg | 0 | | | | 20 | Dave Harold | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 49 | Shokat Ali | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 19 | Jimmy White | 4 | | | | | | | 49 | Shokat Ali | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 49 | Shokat Ali | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 49 | Shokat Ali | 5 | 49 | Shokat Ali | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Ken Doherty | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Ken Doherty | 5 | 5 | Ken Doherty | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | David McDonnell | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | David McDonnell | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | 20 | Dave Harold | 4 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | Stephen Lee | 6 | | | | |
| 6 | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | Stephen Lee | 6 | | | | |
| 58 | Michael Judge | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 58 | Michael Judge | 3 | 6 | Mark Williams | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 23 | Darren Morgan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 23 | Darren Morgan | 5 | 23 | Darren Morgan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 99 | Robert Milkins | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 99 | Robert Milkins | 4 | | | | 23 | Darren Morgan | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 10 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 21 | Fergal O'Brien | 5 | | | | | | | 10 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mark Johnston-Allen | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mark Johnston-Allen | 1 | 21 | Fergal O'Brien | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 10 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Stephen Lee | 5 | 10 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 63 | Tony Jones | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 63 | Tony Jones | 3 | | | | | | | | 10 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 45 | Quinten Hann | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Steve Davis | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | 45 | Quinten Hann | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| 57 | Dene O'Kane | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 57 | Dene O'Kane | 5 | 57 | Dene O'Kane | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 35 | Jason Ferguson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 28 | Martin Clark | 3 | 35 | Jason Ferguson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 35 | Jason Ferguson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 35 | Jason Ferguson | 5 | | | | 35 | Jason Ferguson | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 45 | Quinten Hann | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 30 | Graeme Dott | 3 | | | | | | | 45 | Quinten Hann | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Alan Burnett | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Alan Burnett | 5 | | Alan Burnett | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 45 | Quinten Hann | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | John Higgins | 1 | 45 | Quinten Hann | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 45 | Quinten Hann | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Final

Final: Best of 17 frames. Referee: John Newton. Preston Guild Hall, Preston, England, 25 October 1998. :
| Marco Fu (377) Hong Kong | 2–9 | Stephen Lee (10) England |
| Afternoon: 8–115 (50), 0–128 (128), 17–75 (75), 0–130 (66, 64), 82–4 (82), 33–99 (66), 0–77 (70), 85–12 (85) Evening: 0–107 (90), 1–93 (57), 5–106 (106) |||
| 85 | Highest break | 128 |
| 0 | Century breaks | 2 |
| 2 | 50+ breaks | 10 |