Thanks to his efforts in the Grand Prix, Read entered the 1998/1999 season ranked within the top 64, at 62nd, but his best showing that season came at the UK Championship, where he reached the last 32 before losing 5–9 to Lawler(However, his 1st round opponent, Ronnie O'Sullivan withdrew from the match due to exhaustion). He qualified once in his career for the final stages of the World Championship at the Crucible Theatre, in the 2000 edition of the event. However, after beating Davis, Neal Foulds and Morgan to qualify, he lost 4–10 in the first round to the eventual champion, Mark Williams.