2000 Champions Cup

2000 Champions Cup
Tournament information
Dates 26 August – 3 September 2000
Venue Brighton Centre
City Brighton
Country England
Organisation(s) WPBSA
Format Non-ranking event
Total prize fund £200,000
Winner's share £100,000
Final
Champion England Ronnie O'Sullivan
Runner-up Wales Mark Williams
Score 7–5
← 1999
2001 →

The 2000 Champions Cup was the 2000 edition of the Champions Cup snooker tournament which was held from 26 August to 3 September 2000 at the Brighton Centre in Brighton, East Sussex. Ronnie O'Sullivan won the tournament, defeating World Champion and world number one Mark Williams seven frames to five (7–5) to claim the seventeenth professional snooker tournament of his career. In the semi-finals, O'Sullivan defeated the reigning holder of the Champions Cup trophy Stephen Hendry 5–2 and Williams beat John Higgins 5–2. O'Sullivan made the highest break of the tournament of 140 in his match against wild card entry Jimmy White. The eight-player tournament was the first of five World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) invitational events of the 2000/2001 snooker season and the next event following the previous season's World Snooker Championship in May. It preceded the second invitational tournament of the season, the 2000 Scottish Masters.

Tournament summary

The Brighton Centre, where the tournament was held.

The tournament was created as the Charity Challenge in 1995. It had the unique distinction of players competing for charity with the prize money being donated to their respective causes. The charity aspect was discarded after five years and the tournament was re-branded the Champions Cup with a new “winner takes all” format of players who won major tournaments from the season prior invited to compete.[1] The 2000 Champions Cup was the first of five World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) invitational events of the 2000/2001 snooker season and was held at the Brighton Centre in Brighton, East Sussex from 26 August to 3 September. The tournament preceded the 2000 Scottish Masters.[2] The Champions Cup had a prize fund of £200,000,[3] and was broadcast in the United Kingdom on ITV.[2]

Rules

All group stage matches were part of a round-robin tournament and were best-of-nine frames until the final which was held to the best of thirteen frames. Seven players who won Snooker's major tournaments from the past season along with one wild card entrant competed in the Champions Cup and they were drawn into two groups of four. All competitors played one match against each other. The overall winner of the two groups was determined by the number of matches won. In the event of a draw, the number of frames won decided the winner of the group. If this method proved ineffective in determining the top-placed competitor, a match held between the tied players would take place. The winner of each group was drawn to play the runner-up of the opposite group in the semi-finals.[3]

Group stages

Group A

The opening match of the tournament saw defending World Champion Mark Williams—recovering from a left thumb injury after being bitten several times by his pet rottweiler at his Cwm home[4]—go up against Ireland's Ken Doherty in a game that went five frames to four (5–4) in Williams' favour. Doherty forced a final frame decider after coming from 2–0 and 4–2 behind but his chance of victory was gone by missing a challenging yellow ball which allowed Williams to win the match.[5] The defending Champions Cup holder Stephen Hendry faced China Open and Welsh Open runner-up Stephen Lee in his three-hour opening match. Lee took the first two frames and Hendry responded by winning four successive frames with consecutive half-centuries. Lee leveled the scoreline at 4–4 to force a final fame decider that Hendry won with a break of 53.[6]

Hendry led early in his match against Doherty with a scoreline of 69–0 until the latter took a 2–1 lead with a break of 66 in the third frame. Hendry equalled the scoreline with a reply break of 87 until Doherty retook the advantage with the next two frames before Hendry responded by winning the following two frames after that. The final frame was won by Hendry with a 5–4 scoreline and he entered the semi-final.[7] Williams's second match ended in a 5–3 victory over Lee and stopped his opponent from advancing to the semi-finals.[8] Doherty's campaign ended with him placing third in the group table after winning 5–3 against Lee. It had been anticipated that Doherty would end up fourth in the standings because he trailed Lee 3–1 after the latter compiled breaks of 92, 89 and 102 but Doherty recovered from his performance dip to win the game.[9] Hendry compiled a break of 114 en route to defeating Williams 5–3. After the match, Hendry said he was demotivated since he was aware he and Williams had already attained qualification for the semi-finals.[10]

Group B

In his first match since spending five weeks at the Priory Hospital to treat a bout of depression in the summer, Ronnie O'Sullivan overhauled his rival John Higgins 5–4 in a tightly fought match that lasted until late in the night on 28 August.[11][12] O'Sullivan took 79 minutes to defeat wild card entrant Jimmy White 5–2 to give himself the chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.[13] White did not pot a single ball in the first four frames as O'Sullivan began the match with a 140 total clearance and White responded to level the scoreline 2–2. Further breaks of 102, 107 in the fifth and sixth frames and a clearance of 65 from O'Sullivan in frame seven secured him the victory.[14] Higgins went up against Masters champion Matthew Stevens and won his match 5–4. Higgins' first break was 98 in the first frame and individual breaks 30 and 32 in the final frame won him that with a scoreline of 66-12. After the match, Higgins spoke of his unhappiness over his form and him having half an inch added to his cue to rectify this.[8]

Stevens began his match against O'Sullivan with him opening out a 2–1 lead which was nullified when O'Sullivan won the fourth frame. From that point on, O'Sullivan took 33 minutes that had him compile break of 70 to win frame five and took the sixth away from Stevens after he missed an unsteady green ball that was on the edge of a pocket and it prevented him from winning that frame. O'Sullivan was unchallenged in the seventh frame and won the match 5–2 to guarantee himself a place in the semi-finals.[15][16] White's next opponent that he was drawn to compete against was Stevens. White was 3–1 behind but pulled level with Stevens to 3–3. Victory in the next two frames gave Stevens the match. White conceded to the media shortly after his defeat that his chance of winning the tournament was non-existent after vowing in the days prior to the start of the tournament to be its next champion.[17] For Stevens to qualify for the semi-finals, White needed to whitewash Higgins or win 5–1. This did not happen as Higgins controlled the match from the beginning to win 5–1 with two breaks of 64 and a third at 54.[18]

Semi-finals

In the first semi-final, Williams defeated Higgins 5–4 in a tightly contested match and continue his run of remaining unbeaten in the tournament. Leading 4–2, it appeared that Williams would win the match easily on a snookered brown ball in the seventh frame. However, Williams missed the brown ball and allowed Higgins to pot it and the blue ball to win the frame. Higgins made a break of 110 to force a final fame decider that Williams won with a game-victory clearance of 31.[19] Williams said after the match, "A few years ago John used to beat me on a regular basis but gradually I've been getting the upper hand. I don't think either of us played that well. But one of my strengths these days is that I can win when I'm not at my best."[20] Higgins confessed that he had not been focused on the tournament as he was due to marry his long-term fiancee in December 2000, "'I'm sure my focus will be back. I've never done all that well right at the start of the season."[21]

The second semi-final had O'Sullivan beat Hendry 5–2 to earn a place in the final against Williams. Hendry scored his 507th century break of his career (105) to equalise the scoreline at 5–2 but the main point in the match came when O'Sullivan took the lead and Hendry missed his shot on the green ball. That allowed O'Sullivan to accumulate a clearance of the green to pink balls and grow his lead by one frame. Subsequent breaks of 46 and 30 from O'Sullivan won him the match.[22] After the match, Hendry was complimentary of O'Sullivan, "I missed a couple of balls but I thought Ronnie played very well."[22] O'Sullivan said of his situation, "I'm just trying to get myself right mentally and get to handle some of the situations that come through being a professional sportsman.", and, "For me, Mark, Stephen and John Higgins are the top three, and I'm the slight underdog against them. They've got the consistency but it's on the day, whoever hits top form. The main thing for me is that life's more enjoyable. I'm enjoying breathing. Every day's a bonus."[22]

Final

Ronnie O'Sullivan (pictured in 2015) won the seventeenth professional snooker tournament of his career with a 7–5 win over Mark Williams.

In the best-of-13 frame final, O'Sullivan defeated Williams 7–5 to win the Champions Cup for the second time after winning the 1996 tournament.[23] It was the seventeenth time O'Sullivan had won a professional snooker championship in his career.[24] The victory earned him £100,000 in prize money and a further £5,000 for scoring the highest break of the tournament (140).[25] The win, according to Trevor Baxter of The Scotsman, meant O'Sullivan had come off his "treadmill of turmoil",[26] while The Independent's Derrick Whyte called it "a memorable win" for the player after rumors persisted over his participation in the Champions Cup.[27]

Williams was ill with overnight food poisoning but he began the match by taking the first two frames with breaks of 67 and 77 as O'Sullivan did not pot a ball during this period. The third frame fell to O'Sullivan's favour with a break of 66. Williams took a ten minute respite to seek medical treatment after frame three was over. He returned to the arena to win frames four and five with individual scorelines of 68-36 and 78-45.[28] When play resumed after the interval, O'Sullivan complied runs of 51, 78 and 95 to secure the following two frames as Williams did not hit a single ball. O'Sullivan won a disjointed eighth frame and added the next one after coming from 45-0 down. All of these sequences happened in 50 minutes. Williams' condition deteriorated but he drew the scoreline level to 5–5. In frame eleven, Williams made a break of 27 but missed a red all down the side cushion while using the rest. It allowed O'Sullivan to accumulate breaks of 77 and a quickly-compiled 91 to win the match and the tournament.[24][27]

After his victory, O'Sullivan spoke of his emotions over his success which he dedicated to those who helped him during his recovery process,[25][28] "I was still enjoying it even when I was 4-1 down because I hadn't done much wrong. I have been through a lot of stuff in the last couple of months. But I've got my life back in order now. The public will see a different side of me from now on. At 24 I've started my life again. In the past I've been on a treadmill of turmoil but I am going to soak up this victory and enjoy it."[27] Williams said of his defeat to O'Sullivan, "I was suffering from food poisoning of some sort, but that's no excuse. Ronnie played well and I was beaten by the better player."[25]

Group stage

[2]

Group A

Group B

Knockout stage

Semi-finals
Best of 9 frames 		Final
Best of 13 frames
      
England Ronnie O'Sullivan 5
Scotland Stephen Hendry 2
England Ronnie O'Sullivan 7
Wales Mark Williams 5
Wales Mark Williams 5
Scotland John Higgins 4

References

  1. ↑ "Liverpool Victoria Charity Challenge & Champions Cup". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 30 September 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 "Champions Cup 2000". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  3. 1 2 Kealy, Paul (27 August 2000). "Sports Betting: Snooker: Take risk with Higgins at 7-2". Racing Post. p. 75. Retrieved 16 May 2018 – via Infotrac Newsstand. (Subscription required (help)).
  4. ↑ "Williams injured by his rottweiler". BBC Sport. 15 August 2000. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  5. ↑ Fennelly, Amanda (27 August 2000). "Snooker: Doherty loses in Champions Cup". RTÉ Sport. Archived from the original on 17 February 2001. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  6. ↑ "Hendry, Williams are off and running in Champions bid". The Herald. 28 August 2000. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  7. ↑ Whyte, Derrick (29 August 2000). "Hendry displays his old determination". The Independent. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  8. 1 2 "Higgins not happy despite victory". Birmingham Post. 29 August 2000. p. 25. Retrieved 3 September 2018 – via Gale Power Search. (Subscription required (help)).
  9. ↑ "Doherty out on a high". Birmingham Post. 31 August 2000. p. 31. Retrieved 16 May 2018 – via Infotrac Newsstand. (Subscription required (help)).
  10. ↑ "Snooker: Scots must Brighton up their games". Daily Record. 1 September 2000. p. 71. Retrieved 3 September 2018 – via Gale Power Search. (Subscription required (help)).
  11. ↑ "O'Sullivan off to winning start; Snooker". The Times. 28 August 2000. p. 11. Retrieved 3 September 2018 – via Gale Power Search. (Subscription required (help)).
  12. ↑ Everton, Clive (29 August 2000). "Sport in brief: Snooker". The Guardian. p. 27. Retrieved 3 September 2018 – via Gale Power Search. (Registration required (help)).
  13. ↑ Whyte, Derrick (29 August 2000). "O'Sullivan decides to keep going". The Independent. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  14. ↑ Yates, Phil (29 August 2000). "O'Sullivan ready to reap the benefits; Snooker". The Times. p. 27. Retrieved 3 September 2018 – via Gale Power Search. (Subscription required (help)).
  15. ↑ Dee, John (1 September 2000). "Snooker: Higgins in semi-finals line-up". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  16. ↑ Yates, Phil (31 August 2000). "O'Sullivan gains sweet revenge; Snooker". The Times. p. 29. Retrieved 3 September 2018 – via Gale Power Search. (Subscription required (help)).
  17. ↑ "Snooker: Whirlwind blown out in Brighton". The Argus. 30 August 2000. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  18. ↑ Dee, John (1 September 2000). "Snooker: Higgins in semi-finals line-up". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  19. ↑ "SNOOKER: Williams squeezes past Higgins in revenge bid". Birmingham Post. 2 September 2000. p. 37. Retrieved 3 September 2018 – via Gale Power Search. (Subscription required (help)).
  20. ↑ "Williams in frame for a showdown with Hendry". The Herald. 2 September 2000. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  21. ↑ Everton, Clive (2 September 2000). "Snooker: Williams steamroller catches Higgins in the clouds". The Guardian. p. 4. Retrieved 3 September 2018 – via Gale Power Search. (Subscription required (help)).
  22. 1 2 3 Everton, Clive (3 September 2000). "O'Sullivan in the clear". The Independent. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  23. ↑ Layton, Eric. Cuesport Book of Professional Snooker. p. 178.
  24. 1 2 Yates, Phil (4 September 2000). "O'Sullivan benefiting from new outlook; Snooker". The Times. p. 3. Retrieved 3 September 2018 – via Gale Power Search. (Subscription required (help)).
  25. 1 2 3 Dee, John (4 September 2000). "Snooker: Emotional win for O'Sullivan". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  26. ↑ Baxter, Trevor (4 September 2000). "O'Sullivan recaptures top best form". The Scotsman. p. 18. Retrieved 3 September 2018 – via Gale Power Search. (Subscription required (help)).
  27. 1 2 3 Whyte, Derrick (4 September 2000). "O'Sullivan win ends turmoil". The Independent. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  28. 1 2 "Ronnie on top of the world". The Argus. 4 September 2000. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
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