Northern Ireland Trophy 2008

The 2008 Northern Ireland Trophy took place between August 24 and August 31 2008 in the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. The Northern Ireland Trophy was the first ranking tournament of the 2008/2009 snooker season. Ronnie O'Sullivan claimed his 21st ranking tournament by taking the title, beating surprise finalist Dave Harold 9–3 in the final.

Facts and figures

* Eleven players made their debut at a professional ranking event in this tournament, those players being Stephen Craigie, Michael Georgiou, David Grace, Kuldesh Johal, Andy Lee, Li Hang, Aditya Mehta, Vincent Muldoon, Andrew Pagett, Lewis Roberts and Daniel Wells. However, none of them managed to qualify for the final stages of the event.
*Notable comebacks in the qualifiers included: Li Hang coming from 4–0 down to beat Irish prodigy David Morris 4–5, and both Jimmy White and Ian Preece came from 2–4 behind to win their matches 5–4, against Jamie Jones and Paul Davies respectively.
*In qualifying for the final stages, Jimmy White qualified for the final stages of an event for the first time in over a year, stretching back to the 2007 China Open.
*Long standing top-16 players, Mark J. Williams, Ken Doherty and Stephen Lee were playing in the qualifiers for the first time in over a decade.
*Last year's runner-up, Fergal O'Brien fell at the first hurdle, losing 5–3 to Michael Holt.
*In his match against Mark Selby, Andrew Higginson was playing in front of the TV cameras for the first time since his run to the final of the 2007 Welsh Open.
*Dominic Dale came from 4–1 down against Mark Allen to level at 4–4, before Allen played superbly to take the decider.
*In beating Ding Junhui 5–4, Mark Davis secured one of the best wins of his career.
*Ronnie O'Sullivan won three quick consecutive frames to oust former world champion Ken Doherty 5–4 in the last 32.
*Only eight top 16 players won their first match.
*Stephen Maguire won the last three frames to beat Alan McManus 5–4, a player who hadn't reached the last 16 of an event the previous season.
*Dave Harold beat Stephen Lee 5–4, a player who had been considered one of the tournaments in-form players, having knocked in three centuries, including a high break of 145.
*Harold increased his head-to-head record to 3-0 over Stephen Maguire by beating him 5–2 in the quarter-finals, afterwards Maguire stated that he never seems to peform against Harold.
*Barry Hawkins produced a brave fightback to recover from 4–1 to level at 4–4 against Ronnie O'Sullivan in their quarter-final match, before the world champion took the decider.
*Dave Harold led John Higgins 5–1, but won only 6–4, to reach his first ranking final since 1994, the gap between those two ranking finals is the longest in snooker history.

Main Draw

48TeamBracket
RD1= Round 1
Best of 9 frames
RD2= Round 2
Best of 9 frames
RD3= Round 3
Best of 9 frames
RD4= Quarter-Finals
Best of 9 frames
RD5= Semi-Finals
Best of 11 frames
RD6= Final
Best of 17 frames
RD1-seed01 = 24
RD1-team01 = flagicon|IRL F O'Brien
RD1-score01 = 3
RD1-seed02 =
RD1-team02 = flagicon|ENG "'M Holt
RD1-score02 = "'5
RD1-seed03 = 17
RD1-team03 = flagicon|WAL M Stevens
RD1-score03 = 2
RD1-seed04 =
RD1-team04 = flagicon|SCO "'A McManus
RD1-score04 = "'5
RD1-seed05 = 28
RD1-team05 = flagicon|ENG "'D Harold
RD1-score05 = "'5
RD1-seed06 =
RD1-team06 = flagicon|ENG R Walden
RD1-score06 = 2
RD1-seed07 = 27
RD1-team07 = flagicon|ENG S Lee
RD1-score07 = 5
RD1-seed08 =
RD1-team08 = flagicon|ENG J Trump
RD1-score08 = 3
RD1-seed09 = 30
RD1-team09 = flagicon|IRL M Judge
RD1-score09 = 4
RD1-seed10 =
RD1-team10 = flagicon|ENG D Gilbert
RD1-score10 = 5
RD1-seed11 = 29
RD1-team11 = flagicon|ENG S Davis
RD1-score11 = 3
RD1-seed12 =
RD1-team12 = flagicon|CHN Liang W
RD1-score12 = 5
RD1-seed13 = 25
RD1-team13 = flagicon|ENG "'I McCulloch
RD1-score13 = "'5
RD1-seed14 =
RD1-team14 = flagicon|ENG M Dunn
RD1-score14 = 4
RD1-seed15 = 31
RD1-team15 = flagicon|ENG A Hamilton
RD1-score15 = 3
RD1-seed16 =
RD1-team16 = flagicon|ENG "'A Higginson
RD1-score16 = "'5
RD1-seed17 = 22
RD1-team17 = flagicon|WAL "'M Williams
RD1-score17 = "'5
RD1-seed18 =
RD1-team18 = flagicon|SCO M Campbell
RD1-score18 = 3
RD1-seed19 = 32
RD1-team19 = flagicon|WAL D Dale
RD1-score19 = 5
RD1-seed20 =
RD1-team20 = flagicon|ENG A Gunnell
RD1-score20 = 4
RD1-seed21 = 20
RD1-team21 = flagicon|NIR J Swail
RD1-score21 = 4
RD1-seed22 =
RD1-team22 = flagicon|ENG "'M Davis
RD1-score22 = "'5
RD1-seed23 = 21
RD1-team23 = flagicon|ENG S Bingham
RD1-score23 = 4
RD1-seed24 =
RD1-team24 = flagicon|ENG "'R McLeod
RD1-score24 = "'5
RD1-seed25 = 23
RD1-team25 = flagicon|ENG N Bond
RD1-score25 = 1
RD1-seed26 =
RD1-team26 = flagicon|ENG "'S Pettman
RD1-score26 = "'5
RD1-seed27 = 26
RD1-team27 = flagicon|ENG "'B Hawkins
RD1-score27 = "'5
RD1-seed28 =
RD1-team28 = flagicon|ENG J White
RD1-score28 = 3
RD1-seed29 = 19
RD1-team29 = flagicon|ENG J Cope
RD1-score29 = 5
RD1-seed30 =
RD1-team30 = flagicon|ENG D Gray
RD1-score30 = 4
RD1-seed31 = 18
RD1-team31 = flagicon|IRL K Doherty
RD1-score31 = 5
RD1-seed32 =
RD1-team32 = flagicon|NIR G Greene
RD1-score32 = 2

RD2-seed01 = 2
RD2-team01 = flagicon|SCO "'S Maguire
RD2-score01 = "'5
RD2-seed02 =
RD2-team02 = flagicon|ENG M Holt
RD2-score02 = 1
RD2-seed03 = 15
RD2-team03 = flagicon|ENG M King
RD2-score03 = 3
RD2-seed04 =
RD2-team04 = flagicon|SCO "'A McManus
RD2-score04 = "'5
RD2-seed05 = 13
RD2-team05 = flagicon|SCO G Dott
RD2-score05 = 3
RD2-seed06 = 28
RD2-team06 = flagicon|ENG "'D Harold
RD2-score06 = "'5
RD2-seed07 = 6
RD2-team07 = flagicon|SCO S Hendry
RD2-score07 = 1
RD2-seed08 = 27
RD2-team08 = flagicon|ENG S Lee
RD2-score08 = 5
RD2-seed09 = 5
RD2-team09 = flagicon|SCO J Higgins
RD2-score09 = 5
RD2-seed10 =
RD2-team10 = flagicon|ENG D Gilbert
RD2-score10 = 2
RD2-seed11 = 9
RD2-team11 = flagicon|ENG P Ebdon
RD2-score11 = 0
RD2-seed12 =
RD2-team12 = flagicon|CHN "'Liang W
RD2-score12 = "'5
RD2-seed13 = 10
RD2-team13 = flagicon|AUS N Robertson
RD2-score13 = 2
RD2-seed14 = 25
RD2-team14 = flagicon|ENG "'I McCulloch
RD2-score14 = "'5
RD2-seed15 = 4
RD2-team15 = flagicon|ENG "'M Selby
RD2-score15 = "'5
RD2-seed16 =
RD2-team16 = flagicon|ENG A Higginson
RD2-score16 = 1
RD2-seed17 = 3
RD2-team17 = flagicon|ENG S Murphy
RD2-score17 = 2
RD2-seed18 = 22
RD2-team18 = flagicon|WAL "'M Williams
RD2-score18 = "'5
RD2-seed19 = 16
RD2-team19 = flagicon|NIR M Allen
RD2-score19 = 5
RD2-seed20 = 32
RD2-team20 = flagicon|WAL D Dale
RD2-score20 = 4
RD2-seed21 = 11
RD2-team21 = flagicon|CHN Ding J
RD2-score21 = 4
RD2-seed22 =
RD2-team22 = flagicon|ENG M Davis
RD2-score22 = "'5
RD2-seed23 = 7
RD2-team23 = flagicon|ENG "'A Carter
RD2-score23 = "'5
RD2-seed24 =
RD2-team24 = flagicon|ENG R McLeod
RD2-score24 = 1
RD2-seed25 = 8
RD2-team25 = flagicon|WAL "'R Day
RD2-score25 = "'5
RD2-seed26 =
RD2-team26 = flagicon|ENG S Pettman
RD2-score26 = 4
RD2-seed27 = 14
RD2-team27 = flagicon|HKG M Fu
RD2-score27 = 2
RD2-seed28 = 26
RD2-team28 = flagicon|ENG "'B Hawkins
RD2-score28 = 5
RD2-seed29 = 12
RD2-team29 = flagicon|ENG "'J Perry
RD2-score29 = "'5
RD2-seed30 = 19
RD2-team30 = flagicon|ENG J Cope
RD2-score30 = 2
RD2-seed31 = 1
RD2-team31 = flagicon|ENG R O'Sullivan
RD2-score31 = 5
RD2-seed32 = 18
RD2-team32 = flagicon|IRL K Doherty
RD2-score32 = 4

RD3-seed01 = 2
RD3-team01 = flagicon|SCO "'S Maguire
RD3-score01 = "'5
RD3-seed02 =
RD3-team02 = flagicon|SCO A McManus
RD3-score02 = 4
RD3-seed03 = 28
RD3-team03 = flagicon|ENG "'D Harold
RD3-score03 = "'5
RD3-seed04 = 27
RD3-team04 = flagicon|ENG S Lee
RD3-score04 = 4
RD3-seed05 = 5
RD3-team05 = flagicon|SCO "'J Higgins
RD3-score05 = "'5
RD3-seed06 =
RD3-team06 = flagicon|CHN Liang W
RD3-score06 = 1
RD3-seed07 = 25
RD3-team07 = flagicon|ENG "'I McCulloch
RD3-score07 = "'5
RD3-seed08 = 4
RD3-team08 = flagicon|ENG M Selby
RD3-score08 = 4
RD3-seed09 = 22
RD3-team09 = flagicon|WAL M Williams
RD3-score09 = 3
RD3-seed10 = 16
RD3-team10 = flagicon|NIR "'M Allen
RD3-score10 = "'5
RD3-seed11 =
RD3-team11 = flagicon|ENG M Davis
RD3-score11 = 2
RD3-seed12 = 7
RD3-team12 = flagicon|ENG "'A Carter
RD3-score12 = "'5
RD3-seed13 = 8
RD3-team13 = flagicon|WAL R Day
RD3-score13 = 3
RD3-seed14 = 26
RD3-team14 = flagicon|ENG B Hawkins
RD3-score14 = "'5
RD3-seed15 = 12
RD3-team15 = flagicon|ENG J Perry
RD3-score15 = 3
RD3-seed16 = 1
RD3-team16 = flagicon|ENG "'R O'Sullivan
RD3-score16 = "'5

RD4-seed01 = 2
RD4-team01 = flagicon|SCO S Maguire
RD4-score01 = 2
RD4-seed02 = 28
RD4-team02 = flagicon|ENG D Harold
RD4-score02 = "'5
RD4-seed03 = 5
RD4-team03 = flagicon|SCO J Higgins
RD4-score03 = 5
RD4-seed04 = 25
RD4-team04 = flagicon|ENG I McCulloch
RD4-score04 = 3
RD4-seed05 = 16
RD4-team05 = flagicon|NIR M Allen
RD4-score05 = 2
RD4-seed06 = 7
RD4-team06 = flagicon|ENG A Carter
RD4-score06 = "'5
RD4-seed07 = 26
RD4-team07 = flagicon|ENG B Hawkins
RD4-score07 = 4
RD4-seed08 = 1
RD4-team08 = flagicon|ENG "'R O'Sullivan
RD4-score08 = "'5

RD5-seed01 = 28
RD5-team01 = flagicon|ENG D Harold
RD5-score01 = "'6
RD5-seed02 = 5
RD5-team02 = flagicon|SCO J Higgins
RD5-score02 = 4
RD5-seed03 = 7
RD5-team03 = flagicon|ENG A Carter
RD5-score03 = 5
RD5-seed04 = 1
RD5-team04 = flagicon|ENG "'R O'Sullivan
RD5-score04 = "'6

RD6-seed01 = 28
RD6-team01 = flagicon|ENG D Harold
RD6-score01 = 3
RD6-seed02 = 1
RD6-team02 = flagicon|ENG R O'Sullivan
RD6-score02 = "'9

Qualifying Rounds

Qualifying for the tournament took place in Pontin's Prestatyn, Wales between 15 August and 17 August 2008.

32TeamX3RoundBracket
RD1 = Round 1
Best of 9 frames
RD2 = Round 2
Best of 9 frames
RD3 = Round 3
Best of 9 frames

RD1-team01 = flagicon|IRL Rodney Goggins
RD1-score01 = 5
RD1-team02 = flagicon|NIR Declan Hughes
RD1-score02 = 2
RD1-team03 = flagicon|ENG Paul Davison
RD1-score03 = 0
RD1-team04 = flagicon|WAL Andrew Pagett
RD1-score04 = 5
RD1-team05 = flagicon|WAL Daniel Wells
RD1-score05 = 5
RD1-team06 = flagicon|CHN Jin Long
RD1-score06 = 3
RD1-team07 = flagicon|NIR Patrick Wallace
RD1-score07 = 5
RD1-team08 = BYE
RD1-score08 = 0
RD1-team09 = flagicon|THA Supoj Saenla
RD1-score09 = 2
RD1-team10 = flagicon|CHN Liu Chuang
RD1-score10 = 5
RD1-team11 = flagicon|ENG Peter Lines
RD1-score11 = 5
RD1-team12 = flagicon|ENG Andy Lee
RD1-score12 = 0
RD1-team13 = flagicon|ENG Matthew Couch
RD1-score13 = 5
RD1-team14 = flagicon|IRL Vincent Muldoon
RD1-score14 = 3
RD1-team15 = flagicon|SCO Robert Stephen
RD1-score15 = 1
RD1-team16 = flagicon|CHN Li Hang
RD1-score16 = 5
RD1-team17 = flagicon|ENG Lee Spick
RD1-score17 = 5
RD1-team18 = flagicon|IND Aditya Mehta
RD1-score18 = 2
RD1-team19 = flagicon|WAL Jamie Jones
RD1-score19 = 5
RD1-team20 = flagicon|ENG Stephen Craigie
RD1-score20 = 2
RD1-team21 = flagicon|ENG Kuldesh Johal
RD1-score21 = 5
RD1-team22 = flagicon|ENG Michael Georgiou
RD1-score22 = 3
RD1-team23 = flagicon|ENG Matthew Selt
RD1-score23 = 5
RD1-team24 = flagicon|NZL Chris McBreen
RD1-score24 = 1
RD1-team25 = flagicon|SCO James McBain
RD1-score25 = 5
RD1-team26 = flagicon|NED Stefan Mazrocis
RD1-score26 = 1
RD1-team27 = flagicon|ENG Jimmy White
RD1-score27 = 5
RD1-team28 = flagicon|THA Atthasit Mahitthi
RD1-score28 = 4
RD1-team29 = flagicon|ENG Simon Bedford
RD1-score29 = 5
RD1-team30 = flagicon|ENG David Grace
RD1-score30 = 1
RD1-team31 = flagicon|ENG Lewis Roberts
RD1-score31 = 1
RD1-team32 = flagicon|ENG Wayne Cooper
RD1-score32 = 5

RD2-team01 = flagicon|ENG Rod Lawler
RD2-score01 = 5
RD2-team02 = flagicon|IRL Rodney Goggins
RD2-score02 = 0
RD2-team03 = flagicon|ENG Andy Hicks
RD2-score03 = 5
RD2-team04 = flagicon|WAL Andrew Pagett
RD2-score04 = 4
RD2-team05 = flagicon|ENG Barry Pinches
RD2-score05 = 5
RD2-team06 = flagicon|WAL Daniel Wells
RD2-score06 = 1
RD2-team07 = flagicon|ENG Mark Joyce
RD2-score07 = 5
RD2-team08 = flagicon|NIR Patrick Wallace
RD2-score08 = 0
RD2-team09 = flagicon|ENG Robert Milkins
RD2-score09 = 3
RD2-team10 = flagicon|CHN Liu Chuang
RD2-score10 = 5
RD2-team11 = flagicon|ENG David Roe
RD2-score11 = 5
RD2-team12 = flagicon|ENG Peter Lines
RD2-score12 = 2
RD2-team13 = flagicon|ENG Andrew Norman
RD2-score13 = 5
RD2-team14 = flagicon|ENG Matthew Couch
RD2-score14 = 3
RD2-team15 = flagicon|IRL David Morris
RD2-score15 = 4
RD2-team16 = flagicon|CHN Li Hang
RD2-score16 = 5
RD2-team17 = flagicon|IRL Joe Delaney
RD2-score17 = 5
RD2-team18 = flagicon|ENG Lee Spick
RD2-score18 = 0
RD2-team19 = flagicon|WAL Ian Preece
RD2-score19 = 5
RD2-team20 = flagicon|WAL Jamie Jones
RD2-score20 = 4
RD2-team21 = flagicon|ENG Mark Davis
RD2-score21 = 5
RD2-team22 = flagicon|ENG Kuldesh Johal
RD2-score22 = 1
RD2-team23 = flagicon|CHN Liu Song
RD2-score23 = 5
RD2-team24 = flagicon|ENG Matthew Selt
RD2-score24 = 1
RD2-team25 = flagicon|ENG Stuart Pettman
RD2-score25 = 5
RD2-team26 = flagicon|SCO James McBain
RD2-score26 = 3
RD2-team27 = flagicon|WAL Paul Davies
RD2-score27 = 4
RD2-team28 = flagicon|ENG Jimmy White
RD2-score28 = 5
RD2-team29 = flagicon|ENG David Gray
RD2-score29 = 5
RD2-team30 = flagicon|ENG Simon Bedford
RD2-score30 = 4
RD2-team31 = flagicon|ENG Martin Gould
RD2-score31 = 5
RD2-team32 = flagicon|ENG Wayne Cooper
RD2-score32 = 3

RD3-team01 = flagicon|ENG Michael Holt
RD3-score01 = 5
RD3-team02 = flagicon|ENG Rod Lawler
RD3-score02 = 2
RD3-team03 = flagicon|SCO Alan McManus
RD3-score03 = 5
RD3-team04 = flagicon|ENG Andy Hicks
RD3-score04 = 2
RD3-team05 = flagicon|ENG Ricky Walden
RD3-score05 = 5
RD3-team06 = flagicon|ENG Barry Pinches
RD3-score06 = 3
RD3-team07 = flagicon|ENG Judd Trump
RD3-score07 = 5
RD3-team08 = flagicon|ENG Mark Joyce
RD3-score08 = 0
RD3-team09 = flagicon|ENG David Gilbert
RD3-score09 = 5
RD3-team10 = flagicon|CHN Liu Chuang
RD3-score10 = 3
RD3-team11 = flagicon|CHN Liang Wenbo
RD3-score11 = 5
RD3-team12 = flagicon|ENG David Roe
RD3-score12 = 0
RD3-team13 = flagicon|ENG Mike Dunn
RD3-score13 = 5
RD3-team14 = flagicon|ENG Andrew Norman
RD3-score14 = 1
RD3-team15 = flagicon|ENG A. Higginson
RD3-score15 = 5
RD3-team16 = flagicon|CHN Li Hang
RD3-score16 = 2
RD3-team17 = flagicon|SCO Marcus Campbell
RD3-score17 = 5
RD3-team18 = flagicon|IRL Joe Delaney
RD3-score18 = 1
RD3-team19 = flagicon|ENG Adrian Gunnell
RD3-score19 = 5
RD3-team20 = flagicon|WAL Ian Preece
RD3-score20 = 2
RD3-team21 = flagicon|SCO Jamie Burnett
RD3-score21 = 2
RD3-team22 = flagicon|ENG Mark Davis
RD3-score22 = 5
RD3-team23 = flagicon|ENG Rory McLeod
RD3-score23 = 5
RD3-team24 = flagicon|CHN Liu Song
RD3-score24 = 2
RD3-team25 = flagicon|ENG John Parrott
RD3-score25 = 4
RD3-team26 = flagicon|ENG Stuart Pettman
RD3-score26 = 5
RD3-team27 = flagicon|ENG Tom Ford
RD3-score27 = 2
RD3-team28 = flagicon|ENG Jimmy White
RD3-score28 = 5
RD3-team29 = flagicon|ENG Jimmy Michie
RD3-score29 = 3
RD3-team30 = flagicon|ENG David Gray
RD3-score30 = 5
RD3-team31 = flagicon|NIR Gerard Greene
RD3-score31 = 5
RD3-team32 = flagicon|ENG Martin Gould
RD3-score32 = 3

External links

* [http://www.worldsnooker.com/northern_ireland_trophy_news.htm?tid=109 Tournament Homepage on World Snooker]
* [http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Results/2008-9/Professional/2008-NItrophy-draw.htm Tournament Homepage at the Global Cue Sports Centre]