1998 Irish Masters

Irish Masters

Tournament information
Dates	24–29 March 1998 (1998-03-24 – 1998-03-29)
Venue	Goffs
City	Kill
Country	Ireland
Organisation	WPBSA
Format	Non-Ranking event
Total prize fund	£200,000 [1]
Winner's share	£75,000 [1]
Highest break	Ken Doherty  (IRL) (129) [1]
Final
Champion	Ken Doherty  (IRL)
Score	[n 1]
← 1997 1999 →

The 1998 Irish Masters was the twenty-fourth edition of the professional invitational snooker tournament, which took place from 24 to 29 March 1998. The tournament was played at Goffs in Kill, County Kildare, and featured twelve professional players.

Ronnie O'Sullivan won the final 9–3 against Ken Doherty, however O'Sullivan failed a post-final drugs test and tested positive for cannabis. He was stripped of the title and disqualified from the tournament with the victory awarded to Doherty. ^[2]

Main draw

^{[3] [4]}

	Round 1 Best of 11 frames					Quarter-finals Best of 11 frames					Semi-finals Best of 11 frames					Final Best of 17 frames
						Ronnie O'Sullivan		6
	Ronnie O'Sullivan		6			Stephen Hendry		3
	Jimmy White		2								Ronnie O'Sullivan		6
											John Higgins		4
						John Higgins		6
	Steve Davis		6			Steve Davis		3
	Nigel Bond		5													Ronnie O'Sullivan		(Disqualified)
																Ken Doherty
						Ken Doherty		6
	Fergal O'Brien		6			Fergal O'Brien		1
	Peter Ebdon		2								Ken Doherty		6
											John Parrott		1
						John Parrott		6
	John Parrott		6			Mark Williams		3
	Tony Drago		2

* Ronnie O'Sullivan was stripped of the title and disqualified from the tournament after winning 9–3. O'Sullivan failed a drugs test after testing positive for cannabis. Ken Doherty was awarded the title.

Notes

1. Ken Doherty was awarded the title after Ronnie O'Sullivan was subsequently stripped of his title and disqualified from the tournament, for failing a drugs test.

References

1. "Benson & Hedges Irish Masters 1998". Snooker.org. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
2. Ian O'Riordan (7 July 1998). "O'Sullivan stripped of Irish title". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
3. "Irish Masters". Snooker Scene. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
4. "1998 Irish Masters Results". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2017.