1998 UK Championship

1998 Liverpool Victoria UK Championship
Tournament information
Dates16–29 November 1998 (1998-11-16 – 1998-11-29)
VenueBournemouth International Centre
CityBournemouth
CountryEngland
OrganisationWPBSA
FormatRanking event
Total prize fund£460,000
Winner's share£75,000
Highest break John Higgins (SCO) (141)
Final
Champion John Higgins (SCO)
Runner-up Matthew Stevens (WAL)
Score10–6
← 1997
1999 →

The 1998 UK Championship (officially the 1998 Liverpool Victoria UK Championship) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place at the Bournemouth International Centre in Bournemouth, England. The event started on 16 November 1998 and the televised stages were shown on BBC between 21 and 29 November 1998.[1]

This was the first UK championship to be held in Bournemouth since the inaugural championship in 1977, after 20 years at Preston.[2] The Conference Centre has held snooker competitions before. It hosted the World Cup between 1985 and 1990,[3] the Mercantile Credit Classic in 1991 and 1992,[4] the International Open in 1994 and 1995,[5] and the Grand Prix in 1996 and 1997.[6]

Famously five time champion Stephen Hendry lost 9–0 in the first round to fellow scottish player Marcus Campbell.

Ronnie O'Sullivan was the defending champion, but he withdrew before the tournament. His doctor had told him to rest after suffering from physical and nervous exhaustion.[7]

John Higgins won this year's title by defeating Matthew Stevens 10–6 in the final to go with the World Championship crown he won earlier in the year.[8] This was Higgins' 10th ranking title.

  1. ^ "UK Championship 1998 results, Snooker United Kingdom - FlashScore". www.flashscore.com.ng. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  2. ^ Turner, Chris. "UK Championship". cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  3. ^ Turner, Chris. "World Cup, World Team Classic, Nations Cup". cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  4. ^ Turner, Chris. "Wilsons Classic, Lada Classic, Mercantile Credit Classic". cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on February 16, 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  5. ^ Turner, Chris. "International Open, Goya Matchroom Trophy". cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  6. ^ Turner, Chris. "Professional Players Tournament, Grand Prix, LG Cup". cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on February 16, 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  7. ^ "O'Sullivan pulls out `exhausted'". The Independent. 19 November 1998. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  8. ^ Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. pp. 46–47.