2004 World Snooker Championship

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Embassy World Snooker Championship
Tournament information
Dates17 April – 3 May 2004 (2004-04-17 – 2004-05-03)
VenueCrucible Theatre
CitySheffield
CountryEngland
OrganisationWPBSA
FormatRanking event
Total prize fund£1,378,920
Winner's share£250,000
Highest break Joe Perry (ENG) (145)
Final
Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG)
Runner-up Graeme Dott (SCO)
Score18–8
← 2003
2005 →

The 2004 World Snooker Championship (also referred to as the 2004 Embassy World Snooker Championship for the purposes of sponsorship) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 17 April and 3 May 2004 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England.

Mark Williams was the defending champion, but he lost in the second round 11–13 against Joe Perry.

Ronnie O'Sullivan won his second world title by defeating Graeme Dott 18–8 in the final, despite having trailed Dott 0–5. This was the fourth biggest margin in a World final, subsequently equalled by O'Sullivan against Ali Carter in 2008, and Kyren Wilson in 2020.[1] The tournament was sponsored by cigarette manufacturer Embassy.

Tournament summary[]

  • Ryan Day and Stephen Maguire were the only debutants this year. Day narrowly lost 9–10 to 1998 champion John Higgins and Maguire lost 6–10 to eventual winner and 2001 champion Ronnie O'Sullivan; both in round one.
  • Chris Small was forced to retire from his first round match against Alan McManus due to pain from a degenerative spinal disease.[2] His condition would later force him to retire from the game permanently.[3]
  • Andy Hicks reached the second round by beating Quinten Hann in a match memorable for a near punch-up between the two players at the end, triggered by Hicks pointing out to Hann that he was likely to drop out of the top 16 as a result of the loss.[4]
  • Barry Pinches reached the last 16 for the first time in his career. defeated Jimmy White 10–8 in a match which overran and had to be completed after other matches. In the second round, he led Stephen Hendry 11–9 before losing a tight match 12–13. The 13-year gap between Pinches' first two Crucible appearances (1991–2004) remains an all-time record.
  • Six seeded players, Stephen Lee; Hann; Steve Davis; Peter Ebdon; Ken Doherty and Jimmy White, lost in the first round. Lee was defeated 7–10 by Lee Walker and Davis lost to Anthony Hamilton by the same score; 1997 champion Doherty was beaten by two-time semi-finalist Joe Swail 6–10 and Ebdon lost 8–10 against Ian McCulloch.
  • Paul Hunter and Matthew Stevens met in the last 16 for the second consecutive year. Stevens avenged his 6–13 defeat the previous year, coming from behind in the final frames to win a close match. Hunter found himself 2-up-with-3-to-play at 12–10 before missing a frame-ball pink in the 23rd frame which would have given him the match. Stevens took all 3 frames to win the match 13–12.[5]
  • Doherty's defeat was the first time he had lost in round one since 1995.
  • O'Sullivan won both his quarter-final and semi-final matches with a session to spare; he defeated Hamilton 13–3 in the last eight.
  • O'Sullivan's 17–4 against Hendry was the biggest ever semi-final victory, replacing Hendry's 16–4 win over Terry Griffiths in 1992.[6]

Prize fund[]

The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:[7][8][9]

Main draw[]

Shown below are the results for each round. The numbers in parentheses beside some of the players are their seeding ranks (each championship has 16 seeds and 16 qualifiers).[7][10][11]

First round Second round Quarter-finals Semi-finals
Best of 19 frames Best of 25 frames Best of 25 frames Best of 33 frames
                           
17 April[12]            
 Wales Mark Williams (1)  10
22, 23 & 24 April[13]
 Wales Dominic Dale  7  
 Wales Mark Williams (1)  11
18 & 19 April[14]
   England Joe Perry (16)  13  
 England Joe Perry (16)  10
27 & 28 April[15]
 England Robert Milkins  7  
 England Joe Perry (16)  10
17 & 18 April[16]
   Wales Matthew Stevens (9)  13  
 Wales Matthew Stevens (9)  10
23 & 24 April[17]
 Thailand James Wattana  7  
 Wales Matthew Stevens (9)  13
21 & 22 April[18]
   England Paul Hunter (8)  12  
 England Paul Hunter (8)  10
29, 30 April & 1 May[19]
 England John Parrott  7  
 Wales Matthew Stevens (9)  15
20 April
   Scotland Graeme Dott (13)  17
 England Stephen Lee (5)  7
24, 25 & 26 April[20]
 Wales Lee Walker  10  
 Wales Lee Walker  5
21 April[21]
   England David Gray (12)  13  
 England David Gray (12)  10
27 & 28 April[22]
 England Ali Carter  7  
 England David Gray (12)  7
19 & 20 April[23]
   Scotland Graeme Dott (13)  13  
 Scotland Graeme Dott (13)  10
25 & 26 April[24]
 England Mark King  9  
 Scotland Graeme Dott (13)  13
18 & 19 April[25]
   Scotland John Higgins (4)  10  
 Scotland John Higgins (4)  10
 Wales Ryan Day  9  
20 & 21 April[26]            
 England Ronnie O'Sullivan (3)  10
22 & 23 April[27]
 Scotland Stephen Maguire  6  
 England Ronnie O'Sullivan (3)  13
17 & 18 April[28]
   England Andy Hicks  11  
 Australia Quinten Hann (14)  4
27 April[29]
 England Andy Hicks  10  
 England Ronnie O'Sullivan (3)  13
21 & 22 April[30]
   England Anthony Hamilton  3  
 England Steve Davis (11)  7
23 & 24 April[31]
 England Anthony Hamilton  10  
 England Anthony Hamilton  13
17 & 18 April[32]
   Northern Ireland Joe Swail  11  
 Republic of Ireland Ken Doherty (6)  5
29, 30 April & 1 May[33]
 Northern Ireland Joe Swail  10  
 England Ronnie O'Sullivan (3)  17
19 April[34]
   Scotland Stephen Hendry (2)  4
 England Peter Ebdon (7)  8
25 & 26 April[35]
 England Ian McCulloch  10  
 England Ian McCulloch  13
17 & 18 April[2]
   Scotland Alan McManus (10)  6  
 Scotland Alan McManus (10)  7[a]
27 & 28 April[36]
 Scotland Chris Small  1  
 England Ian McCulloch  3
19 & 20 April[37]
   Scotland Stephen Hendry (2)  13  
 England Jimmy White (15)  8
24, 25 & 26 April[38]
 England Barry Pinches  10  
 England Barry Pinches  12
20 & 21 April[39]
   Scotland Stephen Hendry (2)  13  
 Scotland Stephen Hendry (2)  10
 England Stuart Pettman  2  
Final (Best of 35 frames) Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, 2 & 3 May 2004.[40] Referee: Paul Collier[41]
Graeme Dott (13)
 Scotland 		8–18 Ronnie O'Sullivan (3)
 England
71–34, 77–9, 108–0, 97–0, 61–0, 0–100, 17–63, 0–87, 0–87, 59–0, 47–64, 0–78, 87–0, 48–68, 1–68, 0–69, 1–71, 0–85, 119–2, 30–76, 43–85, 8–69, 44–91, 13–72, 8–92, 16–88 Century breaks: 2
(Dott 1, O'Sullivan 1)

Highest break by Dott: 106
Highest break by O'Sullivan: 100

71–34, 77–9, 108–0, 97–0, 61–0, 0–100, 17–63, 0–87, 0–87, 59–0, 47–64, 0–78, 87–0, 48–68, 1–68, 0–69, 1–71, 0–85, 119–2, 30–76, 43–85, 8–69, 44–91, 13–72, 8–92, 16–88
England Ronnie O'Sullivan wins the 2004 Embassy World Snooker Championship

Qualifying[]

The matches were played at Pontin's, Prestatyn Sands in between 10 and 20 February 2004.[42]

1st Round (Best of 19 frames)

2nd Round (Best of 19 frames)

Rounds 3–6

Round 3 (Best of 19 Frames) Round 4 (Best of 19 Frames) Round 5 (Best of 19 Frames) Round 6 (Best of 19 Frames)
England Craig Butler 10–4 England Tom Ford Wales Darren Morgan 10–8 England Craig Butler Thailand James Wattana 10–1 Wales Darren Morgan Thailand James Wattana 10–8 England Dave Harold
Wales Ian Preece 10–5 England Luke Simmonds England David Finbow 10–9 Wales Ian Preece England Brian Morgan 10–9 England David Finbow Northern Ireland Joe Swail 10–3 England Brian Morgan
Wales Lee Walker 10–6 Scotland Gary Thomson Wales Lee Walker 10–7 England Alfie Burden Wales Lee Walker 10–8 England Barry Hawkins Wales Lee Walker 10–2 England Mark Selby
England Peter Lines 10–6 England Dave Gilbert England Peter Lines 10–4 England Nick Walker England Nigel Bond 10–6 England Peter Lines England Ian McCulloch 10–7 England Nigel Bond
England Rory McLeod 10–3 Northern Ireland Jason Prince England Rory McLeod 10–5 Belgium Bjorn Haneveer England Rory McLeod 10–6 England Stuart Bingham England Robert Milkins 10–1 England Rory McLeod
Australia Neil Robertson 10–2 Republic of Ireland Joe Delaney Australia Neil Robertson 10–4 England Rod Lawler Scotland Stephen Maguire 10–6 Australia Neil Robertson Scotland Stephen Maguire w-o Finland Robin Hull
England Simon Bedford 10–6 China Liu Song England Andy Hicks 10–7 England Simon Bedford England Andy Hicks 10–4 Scotland Jamie Burnett England Andy Hicks 10–8 Wales Anthony Davies
Republic of Ireland Leo Fernandez 10–5 England Michael Rhodes Republic of Ireland Leo Fernandez 10–8 England Sean Storey Republic of Ireland Leo Fernandez 10–9 Northern Ireland Gerard Greene Wales Dominic Dale 10–8 Republic of Ireland Leo Fernandez
England Garry Hardiman 10–7 Thailand Kwan Poomjang Pakistan Shokat Ali 10–4 England Garry Hardiman England Michael Holt 10–6 Pakistan Shokat Ali England Anthony Hamilton 10–9 England Michael Holt
England Munraj Pal 10- 5 Republic of Ireland Colm Gilcreest England Nick Dyson 10–9 England Munraj Pal England Nick Dyson 10–4 England Gary Wilkinson England Ali Carter 10–6 England Nick Dyson
Wales Ryan Day 10–0 England Tony Jones Wales Ryan Day 10–7 England Mike Dunn Wales Ryan Day 10–6 England Mark Davis Wales Ryan Day 10–7 Scotland Drew Henry
England Ricky Walden 10–4 England Jason Ferguson England David Roe 10–5 England Ricky Walden Republic of Ireland Michael Judge 10–9 England David Roe England John Parrott 10–9 Republic of Ireland Michael Judge
England Adrian Gunnell 10–5 Northern Ireland Joe Meara England Adrian Gunnell 10–5 England Jimmy Michie England Adrian Gunnell 10–7 Republic of Ireland Fergal O'Brien England Mark King 10–8 England Adrian Gunnell
China Ding Junhui 10–5 Wales Paul Davies China Ding Junhui 10–3 Scotland Marcus Campbell England Barry Pinches 10–7 China Ding Junhui England Barry Pinches 10–2 Malta Tony Drago
England Paul Wykes 10–8 Thailand Supoj Saenla Northern Ireland Patrick Wallace 10–4 England Paul Wykes Northern Ireland Patrick Wallace 10–5 England Jonathan Birch Scotland Chris Small 10–7 Northern Ireland Patrick Wallace
England Stuart Mann 10–2 Scotland Scott MacKenzie England Shaun Murphy 10–5 England Stuart Mann England Stuart Pettman 10–7 England Shaun Murphy England Stuart Pettman 10–7 Hong Kong Marco Fu

Century breaks[]

There were 55 centuries in this year's championship. The highest break of the tournament was 145 made by Joe Perry.[8][43][44]

References[]

  1. ^ Small retired after the first session with a spinal issue[2]
  1. ^ Turner, Chris. "World Professional Championship". cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  2. ^ a b c Shea, Julian (17 April 2004). "Small pulls out". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  3. ^ "Small forced to give up snooker". BBC Sport. 23 September 2005. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  4. ^ Tracey, Ted. "SNOOKER: Tempers flare as things get out of Hann". Daily Record on HighBeam Research. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  5. ^ Final frames | Paul Hunter vs Matthew Stevens | 2004 World Championship - Last 16, retrieved 17 September 2021
  6. ^ Yates, Phil (2 May 2004). "Unstoppable O'Sullivan". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  7. ^ a b "World Snooker Championship 2004". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 10 March 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  8. ^ a b "2004 Embassy World Championship". Global Snooker Centre. Archived from the original on 25 December 2008. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  9. ^ Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 130.
  10. ^ "2004 World Snooker draw". BBC Sport. 26 April 2004. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  11. ^ Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. pp. 58–59.
  12. ^ Harlow, Phil (17 April 2004). "Williams battles through". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  13. ^ Harlow, Phil (24 April 2004). "Williams crashes out". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  14. ^ Harlow, Phil (19 April 2004). "Perry overcomes Milkins". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  15. ^ Warren, Dan (28 April 2004). "Stevens makes semis". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  16. ^ Harlow, Phil (18 April 2004). "Stevens battles through". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  17. ^ Harlow, Phil (24 April 2004). "Stevens shoots down Hunter". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  18. ^ Harlow, Phil (22 April 2004). "Hunter polishes off Parrott". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  19. ^ Warren, Dan; Jones, Clive (1 May 2004). "Dott into final after epic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  20. ^ Warren, Dan (26 April 2004). "Gray into last eight". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  21. ^ Harlow, Phil (21 April 2004). "Gray ousts Carter". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  22. ^ Warren, Dan (28 April 2004). "Dott eases past Gray". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  23. ^ Harlow, Phil (20 April 2004). "Dott edges out King". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  24. ^ Warren, Dan (26 April 2004). "Dott ends Higgins fightback". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  25. ^ Harlow, Phil (19 April 2004). "Higgins wins thriller". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  26. ^ Shea, Julian (21 April 2004). "O'Sullivan downs Maguire". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  27. ^ Shea, Julian (23 April 2004). "O'Sullivan overcomes Hicks". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  28. ^ Shea, Julian (18 April 2004). "Bad-tempered Hann exits". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  29. ^ Jones, Clive (27 April 2004). "O'Sullivan crushes Hamilton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  30. ^ Shea, Julian (22 April 2004). "Hamilton ousts Davis". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  31. ^ Shea, Julian (24 April 2004). "Hamilton stuns Swail". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  32. ^ Shea, Julian (18 April 2004). "Swail overpowers Doherty". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  33. ^ Jones, Clive; Warren, Dan (1 May 2004). "O'Sullivan races into final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  34. ^ Shea, Julian (19 April 2004). "McCulloch stuns Ebdon". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  35. ^ Jones, Clive (26 April 2004). "McCulloch seals victory". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  36. ^ Jones, Clive; Warren, Dan (27 April 2004). "O'Sullivan crushes Hamilton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  37. ^ Shea, Julian (20 April 2004). "White falls to Pinches". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  38. ^ Jones, Clive (26 April 2004). "Hendry wins thriller". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  39. ^ Shea, Julian (21 April 2004). "Hendry races to victory". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  40. ^ Jones, Clive; Warren, Dan (3 May 2004). "O'Sullivan wins World crown". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  41. ^ Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 143.
  42. ^ "2004 Embassy World Championship Stage 3 Qualifying". Global Snooker Centre. Archived from the original on 25 December 2008. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  43. ^ "Crucible Centuries". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  44. ^ Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 151.
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