2008 Bahrain Championship

Bahrain Championship

Tournament information
Dates	8–15 November 2008 (2008-11-08 – 2008-11-15)
Venue	Bahrain International Exhibition Centre
City	Manama
Country	Bahrain
Organisation	WPBSA
Format	Ranking event
Total prize fund	£271,000
Winner's share	£48,000
Highest break	Marcus Campbell  (SCO) (147)
Final
Champion	Neil Robertson  (AUS)
Runner-up	Matthew Stevens  (WAL)
Score	9–7

The 2008 Bahrain Championship was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 8 and 15 November 2008 at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre in Manama, Bahrain. It was the fourth ranking event of the 2008/2009 season.

Due to a clash with a previously arranged Premier League match-day, three leading players (John Higgins, Mark Selby and Ding Junhui) were forced to miss the event. This meant that they earned no ranking points, with Matthew Stevens, Ken Doherty and Jamie Cope (ranked 17, 18 and 19 respectively) qualifying automatically due to the extra spaces in the draw. Likewise, the players ranked from 33–35 and 49–51 played one qualifier less than usual. Additionally, Ronnie O'Sullivan withdrew three days before the tournament for unspecified medical reasons. ^[1]

Steve Davis was also involved in Premier League action, playing on 13 November, but did not withdraw from the tournament. He played his qualifying match and received a walkover due to O'Sullivan's withdrawal, meaning that he reached the last sixteen. However, before his last 16 match he withdrew from the event as an ear infection prevented him from flying to Bahrain. ^[2]

Liang Wenbo made the 65th official maximum break during his qualifying match against Martin Gould. This was Liang's first official 147. Marcus Campbell made the 66th official maximum break during his wildcard round match against Ahmed Basheer Al-Khusaibi. This was Campbell's first official 147.

Neil Robertson won his third ranking title by defeating Matthew Stevens 9–7. ^[3]

Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below: ^[4]

Winner: £48,000 Runner-up: £22,500 Semi-final: £12,000 Quarter-final: £6,500 Last 16: £4,275 Last 32: £2,750 Last 48: £1,725 Last 64: £1,325

Stage one highest break: £500 Stage two highest break: £2,000 Stage one maximum break: £1,000 Stage two maximum break: £20,000 Total: £271,000

Wildcard round

The 6 lowest ranking qualifiers played one wildcard match each. Matches were played at Bahrain International Exhibition Centre on Saturday, 8 November. ^{[5] [6]}

Match		Score
WC1	Robert Milkins  (ENG)	5–1	Ahmed Saif  (QAT)
WC2	Barry Pinches  (ENG)	5–1	Ahmed Ghuloom  (BHR)
WC3	Mike Dunn  (ENG)	5–0	Ahmed Abdulla Asiry  (KSA)
WC4	Marcus Campbell  (SCO)	5–0	Ahmed Basheer Al-Khusaibi  (OMA)
WC5	Rod Lawler  (ENG)	5–1	Isa Ali Al-Hashmi  (UAE)
WC6	Mark Davis  (ENG)	5–0	Habib Subah (BHR)

Main draw

^{[5] [6]}

	Round 1 Best of 9 frames					Round 2 Best of 9 frames					Quarter-Finals Best of 9 frames					Semi-Finals Best of 11 frames					Final Best of 17 frames
	1	Ronnie O'Sullivan	w/d
		Steve Davis	w/o
							Steve Davis	w/d
							Dominic Dale	w/o
	11	Marco Fu	3
		Dominic Dale	5
												Dominic Dale	2
											14	Matthew Stevens	5
	14	Matthew Stevens	5
		Stuart Bingham	0
						14	Matthew Stevens	5
						6	Ryan Day	4
	6	Ryan Day	5
		Dave Harold	2
																14	Matthew Stevens	6
																4	Stephen Hendry	4
	7	Peter Ebdon	3
		Robert Milkins	5
							Robert Milkins	5
							Michael Holt	4
	16	Jamie Cope	3
		Michael Holt	5
												Robert Milkins	2
											4	Stephen Hendry	5
	10	Graeme Dott	3
		Barry Pinches	5
							Barry Pinches	1
						4	Stephen Hendry	5
	4	Stephen Hendry	5
		Ricky Walden	3
																					14	Matthew Stevens	7
																					8	Neil Robertson	9
	3	Shaun Murphy	4
		Mike Dunn	5
							Mike Dunn	4
							Barry Hawkins	5
	15	Ken Doherty	3
		Barry Hawkins	5
												Barry Hawkins	2
											13	Mark Allen	5
	13	Mark Allen	5
		Judd Trump	1
						13	Mark Allen	5
							Michael Judge	2
	5	Ali Carter	3
		Michael Judge	5
																13	Mark Allen	4
																8	Neil Robertson	6
	8	Neil Robertson	5
		Marcus Campbell	4
						8	Neil Robertson	5
							Stephen Lee	2
	12	Mark King	3
		Stephen Lee	5
											8	Neil Robertson	5
											2	Stephen Maguire	2
	9	Joe Perry	5
		Rod Lawler	1
						9	Joe Perry	0
						2	Stephen Maguire	5
	2	Stephen Maguire	5
		Mark Davis	3

Final

Final: Best of 17 frames. Referee: Eirian Williams. Bahrain International Exhibition Centre, Manama, Bahrain, November 15, 2008. [5] [6]
Matthew Stevens (14)   Wales	7–9	Neil Robertson (8)   Australia
Afternoon: 0–129 (129), 13–117 (117), 4–108 (96), 69–68 (Robertson 68), 1–75 (75), 82–22 (51), 75–0 (70) Evening: 56–70 (63), 67–47, 115–0 (71), 32–64, 110–5 (110), 73–48, 61–64, 1–96 (53), 8–77
110	Highest break	129
1	Century breaks	2
4	50+ breaks	7

Qualifying

Qualifying for the tournament took place at Pontins in Prestatyn, Wales between 27 and 30 October 2008. ^[7]

	Round 1 Best of 9 frames				Round 2 Best of 9 frames				Round 3 Best of 9 frames				Round 4 Best of 9 frames
	James McBain	0			Lee Spick	2			David Gray	0			Steve Davis	5
	Atthasit Mahitthi	5			Atthasit Mahitthi	5			Atthasit Mahitthi	5			Atthasit Mahitthi	4
	Daniel Wells				Liu Song	2			John Parrott	5			Dominic Dale	5
	bye				Daniel Wells	5			Daniel Wells	3			John Parrott	0
	Peter Lines				Jimmy White	2			Alan McManus	1			Stuart Bingham	5
	bye				Peter Lines	5			Peter Lines	5			Peter Lines	2
	Supoj Saenla	4			Mark Joyce	5			Rory McLeod	5			Dave Harold	5
	Andrew Pagett	5			Andrew Pagett	4			Mark Joyce	3			Rory McLeod	4
	David Grace	2			Andrew Norman	3			Robert Milkins	5			Joe Swail	1
	Robert Stephen	5			Robert Stephen	5			Robert Stephen	3			Robert Milkins	5
	Rodney Goggins	5			David Morris	5			Adrian Gunnell	4			Michael Holt	5
	Michael Georgiou	1			Rodney Goggins	1			David Morris	5			David Morris	0
	Chris McBreen	2			David Roe	2			Barry Pinches	5			Fergal O'Brien	4
	Stefan Mazrocis	5			Stefan Mazrocis	5			Stefan Mazrocis	1			Barry Pinches	5
	Paul Davison	5			Stuart Pettman	5			Jimmy Michie	5			Ricky Walden	5
	Aditya Mehta	2			Paul Davison	4			Stuart Pettman	2			Jimmy Michie	2
	Simon Bedford	1			Joe Delaney	5			Mike Dunn	5			Gerard Greene	1
	Stephen Craigie	5			Stephen Craigie	2			Joe Delaney	2			Mike Dunn	5
	Matthew Selt	5			Paul Davies	5			Jamie Burnett	1			Barry Hawkins	5
	Liu Chuang	4			Matthew Selt	4			Paul Davies	5			Paul Davies	4
	Kuldesh Johal	4			Scott MacKenzie	2			Judd Trump	5			Mark Williams	2
	Vincent Muldoon	5			Vincent Muldoon	5			Vincent Muldoon	4			Judd Trump	5
	Jamie Jones				Martin Gould	5			Liang Wenbo	5			Michael Judge	5
	bye				Jamie Jones	4			Martin Gould	1			Liang Wenbo	2
	Matthew Couch	5			Ian Preece	4			Marcus Campbell	5			Nigel Bond	4
	Andy Lee	3			Matthew Couch	5			Matthew Couch	2			Marcus Campbell	5
	Patrick Wallace	2			Andy Hicks	5			Tom Ford	1			Stephen Lee	5
	Jin Long	5			Jin Long	3			Andy Hicks	5			Andy Hicks	1
	Lewis Roberts				Rod Lawler	5			David Gilbert	2			Ian McCulloch	3
	bye				Lewis Roberts	1			Rod Lawler	5			Rod Lawler	5
	Li Hang	5			Mark Davis	5			Andrew Higginson	3			Anthony Hamilton	2
	Wayne Cooper	2			Li Hang	2			Mark Davis	5			Mark Davis	5

Century breaks

Qualifying stage centuries

^[5]

147, 139, 139, 115 – Liang Wenbo 137 – Dominic Dale 136 – Atthasit Mahitthi 135 – Li Hang 131, 126 – Rory McLeod 128 – Alan McManus 127 – Kuldesh Johal 124 – Liu Chuang

122 – Jin Long 122, 114, 103 – Judd Trump 111 – Michael Holt 110 – Scott MacKenzie 105, 100 – Fergal O'Brien 105 – Robert Milkins 101 – Vincent Muldoon

Televised stage centuries

^[5]

147 – Marcus Campbell 139, 132, 113, 111, 106 – Stephen Hendry 137, 114, 102 – Robert Milkins 129, 117, 116, 100 – Neil Robertson 123 – Joe Perry 123 – Barry Hawkins 122 – Stephen Maguire 120 – Ricky Walden 120, 116, 110 – Matthew Stevens

119, 112, 111, 105 – Mark Allen 118 – Peter Ebdon 117 – Dave Harold 112, 100 – Barry Pinches 110 – Graeme Dott 105 – Michael Holt 101 – Mike Dunn 100 – Rod Lawler 100 – Ali Carter

See also

• Cue sports portal

• Dubai Classic
• Saudi Arabia Masters

References

1. Everton, Clive (4 November 2008). "'Run down' O'Sullivan out of Bahrain tournament". London: guardian.co.uk . Retrieved 1 November 2011.
2. "Ear infection forces Davis out". Sporting Life. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
3. "Robertson takes title in Bahrain". BBC Sport . 2008-11-15. Archived from the original on 11 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
4. "Prize Money". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
5. "Bahrain Championship 2008". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
6. "Bahrain Championship 2008". Snooker.org. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
7. "Bahrain Championship 2008 Qualifying Results". Global Snooker Centre. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2013.