1999 World Snooker Championship

Embassy World Snooker Championship

Tournament information
Dates	17 April – 3 May 1999 (1999-04-17 – 1999-05-03)
Venue	Crucible Theatre
City	Sheffield
Country	England
Organisation	WPBSA
Format	Ranking event
Total prize fund	£1,400,000
Winner's share	£230,000
Highest break	John Higgins (SCO) (142)
Final
Champion	Stephen Hendry (SCO)
Runner-up	Mark Williams (WAL)
Score	18–11
← 1998 2000 →

The 1999 World Snooker Championship (also referred to as the 1999 Embassy World Snooker Championship for the purposes of sponsorship) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 17 April and 3 May 1999 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England.

John Higgins was the defending champion, but he lost in the semi-finals 10–17 against Mark Williams and became another World Champion who fell to the "Crucible curse" and could not defend his first World title.

Stephen Hendry won his seventh and final World title by defeating Mark Williams in the final by 18 frames to 11. The tournament was sponsored by cigarette manufacturer Embassy.

Tournament summary

• Stephen Hendry won the world title for a seventh time, a record in the modern era, beating Ray Reardon and Steve Davis' six titles. Hendry won all his titles in the 1990s while Davis won his six in the 1980s and Reardon won his in the 1970s.
• During his first round match, Steve James compiled the 500th century break at the Crucible in frame seven.
• Ronnie O'Sullivan came close to a maximum break in his semi-final match with Hendry. He missed the last pink to the middle pocket and his break ended at 134.
• O'Sullivan and Hendry made the most century breaks in a single match at the World Championship with eight. The two players also made 4 centuries in 4 frames, with two tons each, the first time this has happened in any ranking event.
• Dominic Dale scored 167 points in one frame in his match against Nigel Bond. He earned 44 penalty points and then made a century break, setting a record for the highest number of points scored in one frame during professional competition. Dale's record stood for over 22 years until Jimmy Robertson scored 178 points in a single frame at the 2021 Scottish Open.

Prize fund

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

• Winner: £230,000
• Runner-up: £135,000
• Semi-final: £68,000
• Quarter-final: £34,000
• Last 16: £18,350
• Last 32: £12,500
• Last 48: £9,250
• Last 64: £6,000

• Last 96: £3,700
• Last 134: £300
• Stage one highest break : £2,000
• Stage two highest break : £20,000
• Stage two maximum break: £147,000
• Total: £1,400,000

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).

First round Best of 19 frames

Second round Best of 25 frames

Quarter-finals Best of 25 frames

Semi-finals Best of 33 frames

Final Best of 35 frames

17 April

John Higgins (1)

10

22, 23 & 24 April

Gerard Greene

2

John Higgins (1)

13

19 & 20 April

Mark King (16)

4

Mark King (16)

10

27 & 28 April

Darren Morgan

8

John Higgins (1)

13

21 & 22 April

Stephen Lee (9)

6

Stephen Lee (9)

10

25 & 26 April

John Lardner

7

Stephen Lee (9)

13

21 April

Alan McManus (8)

7

Alan McManus (8)

10

29, 30 April & 1 May

Jimmy White

7

John Higgins (1)

10

20 April

Mark Williams (5)

17

Mark Williams (5)

10

24, 25 & 26 April

Ian McCulloch

4

Mark Williams (5)

13

18 & 19 April

Nick Walker

7

Alain Robidoux (12)

6

27 & 28 April

Nick Walker

10

Mark Williams (5)

13

17 & 18 April

Ken Doherty (4)

9

Nigel Bond (13)

10

23 & 24 April

Dominic Dale

6

Nigel Bond (13)

11

18 & 19 April

Ken Doherty (4)

13

Ken Doherty (4)

10

2 & 3 May

Steve James

3

Mark Williams (5)

11

21 & 22 April

Stephen Hendry (2)

18

Ronnie O'Sullivan (3)

10

24, 25 & 26 April

Leo Fernandez

3

Ronnie O'Sullivan (3)

13

20 & 21 April

Joe Perry

8

Steve Davis (14)

9

27 & 28 April

Joe Perry

10

Ronnie O'Sullivan (3)

13

17 & 18 April

John Parrott (6)

9

Anthony Hamilton (11)

9

22 & 23 April

Chris Small

10

Chris Small

12

17 & 18 April

John Parrott (6)

13

John Parrott (6)

10

29, 30 April & 1 May

Terry Murphy

8

Ronnie O'Sullivan (3)

13

19 April

Stephen Hendry (2)

17

Peter Ebdon (7)

7

23 & 24 April

Matthew Stevens

10

Matthew Stevens

13

17 & 18 April

Tony Drago (10)

8

Tony Drago (10)

10

27 & 28 April

Fergal O'Brien

4

Matthew Stevens

5

19 & 20 April

Stephen Hendry (2)

13

James Wattana (15)

10

25 & 26 April

Marco Fu

8

James Wattana (15)

7

20 & 21 April

Stephen Hendry (2)

13

Stephen Hendry (2)

10

Paul Hunter

8

Final (Best of 35 frames) Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, 2 & 3 May 1999. Referee: Colin Brinded
Mark Williams (5) Wales	11–18	Stephen Hendry (2) Scotland
47–82, 6–120, 16–51, 60–77, 75–0, 16–101, 73–16, 92–24, 24–77, 15–76, 65–20, 4–133, 75–49, 67–30, 22–64, 23–100, 85–51, 72–32, 0–78, 84–29, 10–106, 13–71, 62–75, 48–60, 45–72, 19–71, 89–0, 73–67, 40–88	Century breaks: 2 (Hendry 2) Highest break by Williams: 89 Highest break by Hendry: 132	47–82, 6–120, 16–51, 60–77, 75–0, 16–101, 73–16, 92–24, 24–77, 15–76, 65–20, 4–133, 75–49, 67–30, 22–64, 23–100, 85–51, 72–32, 0–78, 84–29, 10–106, 13–71, 62–75, 48–60, 45–72, 19–71, 89–0, 73–67, 40–88
Stephen Hendry wins the 1999 Embassy World Snooker Championship

Century breaks

There were 53 century breaks in the championship. The highest break was 142 made by John Higgins and 143 made by both Stephen Maguire and Barry Pinches at the televised and the qualifying stages respectively.

• 142, 132, 127, 126, 124, 108, 104, 104, 100 – John Higgins
• 140, 123, 109, 104, 101, 100 – Mark Williams
• 137, 108 – Tony Drago
• 137 – Steve James
• 136, 130, 110 – James Wattana
• 135, 134, 122, 120, 110, 105, 100 – Ronnie O'Sullivan
• 133 – John Parrott
• 132, 126, 109, 108, 106, 104, 104, 101 – Stephen Hendry

• 131, 114 – Chris Small
• 128, 110, 104 – Stephen Lee
• 124, 120, 100 – Matthew Stevens
• 122 – Dominic Dale
• 120, 109 – Joe Perry
• 108, 103 – Anthony Hamilton
• 104 – Ken Doherty
• 103, 103 – Mark King

Qualifying

The qualifying matches were held between 3 January and 20 March 1999 at the Newport Centre in Newport, Wales.

Round 1–2

Round 1 (Best of 19 frames)	Round 1 (Best of 19 frames)	Round 2 (Best of 19 frames)
Ryan Day 10–5 Neil Selman	Paul Davison 10–6 Ryan Day	Lee Richardson 10–4 Paul Davison
Barry Hawkins 10–3 Sean Lanigan	Barry Hawkins 10–3 Micky Roughan	Alfie Burden 10–4 Barry Hawkins
Bjorn Haneveer 10–5 Steve Harrison	Bjorn Haneveer 10–3 Adrian Rosa	Bjorn Haneveer 10–9 Stefan Mazrocis
Colm Gilcreest 10–4 David McDonnell	Colm Gilcreest 10–4 Eddie Manning	Gary Ponting 10–7 Colm Gilcreest
Damian Massey 10–6 Grant Conquest	Damian Massey 10–8 Philip Williams	John Lardner 10–4 Damian Massey
Stuart Bingham 10–5 Joe Delaney	Stuart Bingham 10–6 Alan Burnett	Stuart Bingham 10–6 Martin Dziewialtowski
Robin Hull 10–8 Brian Roswell	Robin Hull 10–4 Stephen Murphy	Robin Hull 10–8 Peter McCullagh
Nick Dyson 10–5 Tai Pichit	Nick Dyson 10–9 Oliver King	John Read 10–4 Nick Dyson
Barry Pinches 10–3 Jeff Cundy	Barry Pinches 10–6 Jason Weston	Barry Pinches 10–2 Anthony Davies
Kristján Helgason 10–6 Ali Carter	Kristján Helgason 10–8 Simon Bedford	Troy Shaw 10–7 Kristján Helgason
Rory McLeod 10–7 Mark Farnsworth	Rory McLeod 10–7 Barry Mapstone	Nick Walker 10–6 Rory McLeod
Jamie Bodle 10–8 Richard Jones	Nick Terry 10–6 Jamie Bodle	Nick Terry 10–6 Stuart Pettman
Malcolm Bilclough 10–7 Mike Henson	Chris Shade 10–7 Malcolm Bilclough	Chris Shade 10–2 Wayne Brown
Joe Jogia 10–6 Bob Chaperon	Joe Jogia 10–4 Jason Wallace	Leigh Griffin 10–5 Joe Jogia
Guo Hua 10–3 Stuart Mann	Craig Harrison 10–8 Guo Hua	Craig Harrison 10–7 Wayne Jones
Ian Sargent 10–6 Surinder Gill	Munraj Pal 10–8 Ian Sargent	Craig MacGillivray 10–7 Munraj Pal
Neil Robertson 10–8 Johl Younger	Leo Fernandez 10–5 Neil Robertson	Leo Fernandez 10–5 Steve Judd
Stephen Maguire 10–6 Adrian Gunnell	Stephen Maguire 10–9 Mark Fenton	Stephen Maguire 10–8 Sean Storey
Mark Johnston-Allen 10–6 John Burns	Mark Johnston-Allen 10–5 Antony Bolsover	Joe Perry 10–4 Mark Johnston-Allen
Eddie Barker 10–8 Keith Boon	Nigel Gilbert 10–9 Eddie Barker	Nigel Gilbert 10–7 Ian Brumby
Gary Thomson 10–7 Dermot McGlinchey	Patrick Wallace 10–8 Gary Thomson	David Finbow 10–3 Patrick Wallace
Geoff Dunn 10–3 Paul Cavney	Paul McPhillips 10–9 Geoff Dunn	Paul McPhillips 10–6 Jimmy Michie
Avtar Sohanpal 10–9 Mike Dunn	Tony Knowles 10–7 Avtar Sohanpal	Tony Knowles 10–5 Marcus Campbell
Kirk Stevens 10–8 Gary Lees	Joe Grech 10–6 Kirk Stevens	Joe Grech 10–6 Karl Payne
John Whitty 10–8 Mehmet Husnu	John Whitty 10–8 James Reynolds	Stephen O'Connor 10–8 John Whitty
Les Dodd 10–8 John Giles	Darryn Walker 10–8 Les Dodd	Chris Scanlon 10–9 Darryn Walker
Sam Chong 10–3 Paul Clarke	Paul Sweeny 10–5 Sam Chong	Paul Sweeny 10–6 Mark Bennett
Mike Hallett 10–4 Andy Neck	Robert Milkins 10–7 Mike Hallett	Robert Milkins 10–6 Mark Gray
Craig Roper 10–5 Mark Miller	David McLellan 10–7 Craig Roper	Matthew Couch 10–5 David McLellan
Matt Wilson 10–6 Stuart Reardon	Michael Holt 10–7 Matt Wilson	Michael Holt 10–7 Darren Clarke

Overseas

Overseas Round (Best of 19 frames)

Stuart Bingham 10–4 Shawn Budd

Marco Fu 10–0 Gareth Chilcott

Mario Geudens 10–8 Patrick Delsemme

Robin Hull 10–0 Tom Finstad

Stephen Maguire 10–7 Phaitoon Phonbun

Barry Pinches 10–3 Richard Somauroo

Round 1

Round 1 (Best of 19 frames)

Gerard Greene 10–3 Lee Richardson

Alfie Burden 10–4 Dene O'Kane

Nick Pearce 10–7 Bjorn Haneveer

Gary Ponting 10–5 David Roe

John Lardner 10–5 Neal Foulds

Quinten Hann 10–8 Stuart Bingham

Joe Johnson 10–7 Robin Hull

Dean Reynolds 10–4 John Read

Ian McCulloch 10–9 Barry Pinches

Peter Lines 10–8 Troy Shaw

Nick Walker 10–3 Dennis Taylor

Rod Lawler 10–3 Nick Terry

Mark Davis 10–4 Chris Shade

Leigh Griffin 10–6 Lee Walker

Steve James 10–5 Craig Harrison

Craig MacGillivray 10–8 Tony Chappel

Leo Fernandez 10–9 Paul Davies

Bradley Jones 10–7 Stephen Maguire

Joe Perry 10–8 Mick Price

Nigel Gilbert 10–9 Joe Swail

David Finbow 10–5 Jason Prince

Drew Henry 10–6 Paul McPhillips

Michael Judge 10–4 Tony Knowles

Mario Geudens 10–6 Tony Jones

Jonathan Birch 10–2 Joe Grech

Stephen O'Connor 10–5 David Gray

Chris Scanlon 10–7 Shokat Ali

Paul Sweeny 10–0 Willie Thorne

Marco Fu 10–1 Jason Ferguson

Robert Milkins 10–6 Karl Broughton

Euan Henderson 10–6 Matthew Couch

Paul Wykes 10–8 Michael Holt

Round 2–3

Round 2 (Best of 19 frames)	Round 3 (Best of 19 frames)
Gerard Greene 10–8 Alfie Burden	Gerard Greene 10–2 Andy Hicks
Nick Pearce 10–7 Gary Ponting	Darren Morgan 10–9 Nick Pearce
John Lardner 10–8 Quinten Hann	John Lardner 10–2 Martin Clark
Dean Reynolds 10–5 Joe Johnson	Jimmy White 10–7 Dean Reynolds
Ian McCulloch 10–6 Peter Lines	Ian McCulloch 10–9 Gary Wilkinson
Nick Walker 10–8 Rod Lawler	Nick Walker 10–6 Jamie Burnett
Leigh Griffin 10–5 Mark Davis	Dominic Dale 10–6 Leigh Griffin
Steve James 10–5 Craig MacGillivray	Steve James 10–6 Billy Snaddon
Leo Fernandez 10–9 Bradley Jones	Leo Fernandez 10–5 Brian Morgan
Joe Perry 10–6 Nigel Gilbert	Joe Perry 10–7 Dave Harold
David Finbow 10–8 Drew Henry	Chris Small 10–2 David Finbow
Michael Judge 10–6 Mario Geudens	Terry Murphy 10–9 Michael Judge
Jonathan Birch 10–7 Stephen O'Connor	Matthew Stevens 10–6 Jonathan Birch
Chris Scanlon 10–5 Paul Sweeny	Fergal O'Brien 10–7 Chris Scanlon
Marco Fu 10–4 Robert Milkins	Marco Fu 10–4 Graeme Dott
Euan Henderson 10–8 Paul Wykes	Paul Hunter 10–5 Euan Henderson