# 2006 Northern Ireland Trophy

The 2006 Northern Ireland Trophy was the 2006 edition of the Northern Ireland Trophy snooker tournament, held from 13 to 20 August 2006, at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Ding Junhui defeated Ronnie O'Sullivan by nine frames to six (9–6) in the final to lift his third ranking title whilst still a teenager. In the semi-finals, Ding defeated Stephen Lee 6–1, and O'Sullivan beat Dominic Dale 6–0. O'Sullivan made the highest break with his 140. The defending champion, Matthew Stevens, lost in round 3. The tournament, consisting of the top 32 and 16 qualifiers, was the first of seven WPBSA ranking events in the 2006/2007 season, preceding the Grand Prix.

## Tournament summary

The Northern Ireland Trophy was first staged in 2005 at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, as a non-ranking tournament featuring the top 16 and four wildcards, generally Irish. In the following year, it was granted ranking status and took the form of a regular tournament.
The 2006 tournament was the first of seven World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) ranking events in the 2006/2007 season, preceding the Grand Prix, and the first event since last season's World Championship won by Graeme Dott, who defeated Peter Ebdon 18–14 in the final. The defending champion was Matthew Stevens, who defeated Stephen Hendry 9–7 in the previous year's final. Going into the tournament, Joe Swail, provisionally ranked number 13, said he was targeting a place in the top 16; and Dott, the World Champion, said interest in his results would increase, and that he felt capable of winning more tournaments. Shaun Murphy, the 2005 World Champion, said the pressure would be off him in the 2006/2007 season.

### Qualifying

The qualifying stage took place between players ranked from 33 to 48 and those lower for one of 16 places in the final stage between 29 and 31 July 2006 at Pontin's Snooker Centre, Prestatyn, Wales. The matches were best-of-9 frames until the semi-finals. Successful qualifiers in this round included Northern Irish player Mark Allen, who defeated Tom Ford 5–3, and said the Waterfront—where he made his professional debut last year—was the best venue he had played at. Gerard Greene defeated Judd Trump 5–2, and Dominic Dale beat Dermot McGlinchey 5–1. Jimmy White, who had slipped from 8th to 35th in the rankings, lost 3–5 to Jimmy Michie, and said he was "match-shy" rather than nervous. Irish players Joe Delaney and Fergal O'Brien lost to Rod Lawler and Paul Davies respectively, both 3–5.

### Round 1

In round 1 the 16 qualifiers went through to face players ranked 17–32. Swail lost 1–5 to Greene, who said the crowd was on his opponent's side. Tied at 3–3 Mark Selby won the seventh frame after Tony Drago missed a pink, eventually winning the match 5–4. Jamie Burnett made breaks of 117, 77, and 55 in defeating David Gray 5–2. Allen lost 1–5 to Ryan Day, a match in which Day made breaks of 79, 73, 56, and 91, after which Day said, "as soon as I started knocking in some breaks they went a bit quiet", in reference to the crowd. Michael Holt lost 2–5 to Mike Dunn, a player ranked 34 places below him. James Wattana defeated Michie 5–4 in a match that lasted over three hours. Michie was 1–3 down but went on to lead 4–3 and 30–0 points before he missed a straightforward pot, eventually losing the frame. Michie had the first chance in the next but also lost that frame. Tian Pengfei, on his 19th birthday, made breaks of 50, 62, and 115 in defeating Andy Hicks.

### Final

In the best-of-17 final Ding defeated O'Sullivan to lift his third ranking title whilst still a teenager.

## Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:

## Main draw

| Last 48 Best of 9 frames | Last 48 Best of 9 frames | Last 48 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 | Graeme Dott | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 22 | David Gray | 2 | | Jamie Burnett | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 22 | David Gray | 2 | | Jamie Burnett | 3 | 1 | Graeme Dott | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | Jamie Burnett | 5 | | | | 1 | Graeme Dott | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | Jamie Burnett | 5 | | | | 27 | Mark Selby | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 27 | Mark Selby | 5 | 27 | Mark Selby | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| 27 | Mark Selby | 5 | 15 | Ali Carter | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 27 | Mark Selby | 5 | 15 | Ali Carter | 4 | | | | 1 | Graeme Dott | 2 | | | | | |
| | Tony Drago | 4 | | | | | | | 1 | Graeme Dott | 2 | | | | | |
| | Tony Drago | 4 | | | | | | | | Dominic Dale | 5 | | | | | |
| | | | 11 | Steve Davis | 2 | | | | | Dominic Dale | 5 | | | | | |
| 29 | Joe Swail | 1 | | Gerard Greene | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 29 | Joe Swail | 1 | | Gerard Greene | 5 | Gerard Greene | Gerard Greene | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | Gerard Greene | 5 | | | | Gerard Greene | Gerard Greene | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | Gerard Greene | 5 | | | | Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Dominic Dale | 5 | Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 21 | Marco Fu | 3 | 7 | Peter Ebdon | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 21 | Marco Fu | 3 | 7 | Peter Ebdon | 3 | | | | | | | | Dominic Dale | 0 | | |
| | Dominic Dale | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Dominic Dale | 0 | | |
| | Dominic Dale | 5 | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 6 | | |
| | | | 8 | Mark Williams | 5 | | | | | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 6 | | |
| 18 | Joe Perry | 4 | | Andrew Norman | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 18 | Joe Perry | 4 | | Andrew Norman | 1 | 8 | Mark Williams | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | Andrew Norman | 5 | | | | 8 | Mark Williams | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | Andrew Norman | 5 | | | | 17 | Ryan Day | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 17 | Ryan Day | 5 | 17 | Ryan Day | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 17 | Ryan Day | 5 | 12 | Barry Hawkins | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 17 | Ryan Day | 5 | 12 | Barry Hawkins | 1 | | | | 17 | Ryan Day | 1 | | | | | |
| | Mark Allen | 1 | | | | | | | 17 | Ryan Day | 1 | | | | | |
| | Mark Allen | 1 | | | | | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | |
| | | | 14 | Matthew Stevens | 5 | | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | |
| 28 | Mark King | 5 | 28 | Mark King | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 28 | Mark King | 5 | 28 | Mark King | 0 | 14 | Matthew Stevens | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | Rory McLeod | 3 | | | | 14 | Matthew Stevens | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | Rory McLeod | 3 | | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Stuart Pettman | 4 | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 19 | Alan McManus | 2 | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 19 | Alan McManus | 2 | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5 | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 6 |
| | Stuart Pettman | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 6 |
| | Stuart Pettman | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 26 | Ding Junhui | 9 |
| | | | 3 | Ken Doherty | 5 | | | | | | | | | | 26 | Ding Junhui | 9 |
| 24 | James Wattana | 5 | 24 | James Wattana | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 24 | James Wattana | 5 | 24 | James Wattana | 4 | 2 | Ken Doherty | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jimmy Michie | 4 | | | | 2 | Ken Doherty | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jimmy Michie | 4 | | | | 9 | Stephen Maguire | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Mike Dunn | 2 | 9 | Stephen Maguire | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| 20 | Michael Holt | 2 | 9 | Stephen Maguire | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 20 | Michael Holt | 2 | 9 | Stephen Maguire | 5 | | | | 2 | Ken Doherty | 1 | | | | | | |
| | Mike Dunn | 5 | | | | | | | 2 | Ken Doherty | 1 | | | | | | |
| | Mike Dunn | 5 | | | | | | | 26 | Ding Junhui | 5 | | | | | | |
| | | | 16 | Anthony Hamilton | 3 | | | | 26 | Ding Junhui | 5 | | | | | | |
| 26 | Ding Junhui | 5 | 26 | Ding Junhui | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 26 | Ding Junhui | 5 | 26 | Ding Junhui | 5 | 26 | Ding Junhui | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Paul Davies | 4 | | | | 26 | Ding Junhui | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Paul Davies | 4 | | | | 4 | John Higgins | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 32 | Robert Milkins | 3 | 4 | John Higgins | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| 32 | Robert Milkins | 5 | 4 | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 32 | Robert Milkins | 5 | 4 | John Higgins | 5 | | | | | | | 26 | Ding Junhui | 6 | | | |
| | Rod Lawler | 2 | | | | | | | | | | 26 | Ding Junhui | 6 | | | |
| | Rod Lawler | 2 | | | | | | | | | | 10 | Stephen Lee | 1 | | | |
| | | | 5 | Shaun Murphy | 5 | | | | | | | 10 | Stephen Lee | 1 | | | |
| 30 | Andy Hicks | 3 | | Tian Pengfei | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 30 | Andy Hicks | 3 | | Tian Pengfei | 4 | 5 | Shaun Murphy | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Tian Pengfei | 5 | | | | 5 | Shaun Murphy | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Tian Pengfei | 5 | | | | 13 | Neil Robertson | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 31 | Nigel Bond | 3 | 13 | Neil Robertson | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| 31 | Nigel Bond | 5 | 13 | Neil Robertson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 31 | Nigel Bond | 5 | 13 | Neil Robertson | 5 | | | | 5 | Shaun Murphy | 4 | | | | | | |
| | Michael Judge | 1 | | | | | | | 5 | Shaun Murphy | 4 | | | | | | |
| | Michael Judge | 1 | | | | | | | 10 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | |
| | | | 10 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | 10 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | |
| 23 | Stuart Bingham | 4 | | David Roe | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 23 | Stuart Bingham | 4 | | David Roe | 2 | 10 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | David Roe | 5 | | | | 10 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | David Roe | 5 | | | | 2 | Stephen Hendry | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 25 | Ian McCulloch | 3 | 2 | Stephen Hendry | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| 25 | Ian McCulloch | 5 | 2 | Stephen Hendry | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Matthew Couch | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Qualifying

Qualifying for the tournament took place at Pontins in Prestatyn, Wales between 29 and 31 July 2006.
| Round 1 Best of 9 frames | Round 1 Best of 9 frames | Round 1 Best of 9 frames | Round 2 Best of 9 frames | Round 2 Best of 9 frames | Round 2 Best of 9 frames | Round 3 Best of 9 frames | Round 3 Best of 9 frames | Round 3 Best of 9 frames |
| Lee Spick (ENG) | Lee Spick (ENG) | | Jamie Burnett | Jamie Burnett | 5 | Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 1 |
| Bye | Bye | | Lee Spick | Lee Spick | 3 | Jamie Burnett | Jamie Burnett | 5 |
| Liu Song | Liu Song | 5 | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 5 | Marcus Campbell | Marcus Campbell | 1 |
| Alex Borg | Alex Borg | 3 | Liu Song | Liu Song | 3 | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 5 |
| Judd Trump | Judd Trump | 5 | Scott MacKenzie | Scott MacKenzie | 0 | Gerard Greene | Gerard Greene | 5 |
| Passakorn Suwannawat | Passakorn Suwannawat | 3 | Judd Trump | Judd Trump | 5 | Judd Trump | Judd Trump | 2 |
| Paul Davison | Paul Davison | 4 | Shokat Ali | Shokat Ali | 2 | Dominic Dale | Dominic Dale | 5 |
| Dermot McGlinchey | Dermot McGlinchey | 5 | Dermot McGlinchey | Dermot McGlinchey | 5 | Dermot McGlinchey | Dermot McGlinchey | 1 |
| Andrew Higginson | Andrew Higginson | 5 | Andrew Norman | Andrew Norman | 5 | John Parrott | John Parrott | 1 |
| Peter Lines | Peter Lines | 0 | Andrew Higginson | Andrew Higginson | 3 | Andrew Norman | Andrew Norman | 5 |
| Sean Storey | Sean Storey | 5 | Mark Allen | Mark Allen | 5 | Tom Ford | Tom Ford | 3 |
| James Leadbetter | James Leadbetter | 4 | Sean Storey | Sean Storey | 1 | Mark Allen | Mark Allen | 5 |
| Chris Norbury | Chris Norbury | 5 | Rory McLeod | Rory McLeod | 5 | Ricky Walden | Ricky Walden | 3 |
| Mark Boyle | Mark Boyle | 3 | Chris Norbury | Chris Norbury | 4 | Rory McLeod | Rory McLeod | 5 |
| Lee Page | Lee Page | 5 | Stuart Pettman | Stuart Pettman | 5 | Barry Pinches | Barry Pinches | 4 |
| Patrick Einsle | Patrick Einsle | 0 | Lee Page | Lee Page | 3 | Stuart Pettman | Stuart Pettman | 5 |
| Mohammed Shehab | Mohammed Shehab | 3 | Jimmy Michie | Jimmy Michie | 5 | Jimmy White | Jimmy White | 3 |
| Ben Woollaston | Ben Woollaston | 5 | Ben Woollaston | Ben Woollaston | 3 | Jimmy Michie | Jimmy Michie | 5 |
| Alfie Burden | Alfie Burden | 5 | Mike Dunn | Mike Dunn | 5 | Mark Davis | Mark Davis | 3 |
| Issara Kachaiwong | Issara Kachaiwong | 4 | Alfie Burden | Alfie Burden | 3 | Mike Dunn | Mike Dunn | 5 |
| Ian Preece | Ian Preece | 4 | Paul Davies | Paul Davies | 5 | Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 3 |
| Jamie Jones | Jamie Jones | 5 | Jamie Jones | Jamie Jones | 1 | Paul Davies | Paul Davies | 5 |
| Chris Melling | Chris Melling | | Joe Delaney | Joe Delaney | 5 | Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 5 |
| Bye | Bye | | Chris Melling | Chris Melling | 3 | Joe Delaney | Joe Delaney | 3 |
| Tian Pengfei | Tian Pengfei | 5 | Robin Hull | Robin Hull | 1 | Jamie Cope | Jamie Cope | 3 |
| Roy Stolk | Roy Stolk | 0 | Tian Pengfei | Tian Pengfei | 5 | Tian Pengfei | Tian Pengfei | 5 |
| Liang Wenbo | Liang Wenbo | 5 | David Gilbert | David Gilbert | 5 | Michael Judge | Michael Judge | 5 |
| Robert Stephen | Robert Stephen | 0 | Liang Wenbo | Liang Wenbo | 0 | David Gilbert | David Gilbert | 1 |
| Mark Joyce | Mark Joyce | 5 | David Roe | David Roe | 5 | Adrian Gunnell | Adrian Gunnell | 4 |
| David Morris | David Morris | 4 | Mark Joyce | Mark Joyce | 2 | David Roe | David Roe | 5 |
| Matthew Couch | Matthew Couch | 5 | Joe Jogia | Joe Jogia | 2 | Drew Henry | Drew Henry | 4 |
| Jeff Cundy | Jeff Cundy | 2 | Matthew Couch | Matthew Couch | 5 | Matthew Couch | Matthew Couch | 5 |