British Open (snooker)

The British Open is a professional snooker tournament, established in 1980 and held as a ranking tournament from 1985. Originally known as the British Gold Cup, the event has had various sponsors and venues over the early years, until the 2005–06 season where it was initially dropped. The "FA Cup-like" flat draws format was introduced in 1990 from the last 32 stage of the event<ref name="cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk" /> and has differentiated itself from the other regular knock-out events; the unique format was retained when the tournament is reinstated from the 2021–2022 season, where draws in every round of this event are now randomised.

The tournament currently awards the Clive Everton Trophy, named after the popular commentator.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The reigning champion is Shaun Murphy who won his first title in 2025.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The record for the most titles is held by Englishman Steve Davis with five, one ahead of Scots Stephen Hendry and John Higgins.

History

The tournament began in 1980 as the British Gold Cup in the Assembly Rooms, Derby. It was a sixteen-man invitation event and was played on a round robin basis with the group winners advancing to the semi-finals.<ref name=cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk>Template:Cite web</ref> The next year Yamaha took over sponsorship and the tournament was renamed the Yamaha Organs Trophy. The next year the tournaments name was changed to International Masters. The top eight of the first round robin stage played in two further groups and the winners advanced to the final. For 1984 the field of the tournament was increased to 27 and nine three-man groups were organised. The winners played in three semi-final groups and the winners played in a three-man round robin final.<ref name=cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/>

After WPBSA decided to increase the number of ranking events in 1984/1985 and Yamaha withdrew its sponsorship the event was renamed the British Open. Dulux was the sponsor of the event between 1985 and 1987.<ref name=cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/> In the next six years the event had four different sponsors: MIM Britannia Unit Trusts in 1988, Anglian Windows in 1989, Pearl Assurance between 1990 and 1992, and Wickes Home Improvements in 1993. In 1994 the tournament was moved to the Plymouth Pavilions. Between 1994 and 2004 the event was sponsored in only three years by Castella in 1995 and 1996, and by Stan James in 2001.

The tournament usually took place around November each year. Prior to the 1999/2000 season, it was held later in the season. As a result, two tournaments were held in 1999, one for the 1998/1999 season and one for the 1999/2000 season. The event than moved to the Telewest Arena in Newcastle for 2001, the Telford International Centre for 2002 and the Brighton Centre for 2003 and 2004. The event was dropped from the calendar in 2005/2006.<ref name=cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/>

There have been ten maximum breaks during the history of the tournament. James Wattana made the first in 1992 in the last 16 against Tony Drago. The second and third came at the qualifying stage of the event. David McDonnell compiled it in the fourth round of the 1995 event against Nic Barrow and Jason Prince in the fifth round of the first 1999 event against Ian Brumby. Graeme Dott made the fourth at the same event in the last 64 against David Roe. The fifth was Stephen Hendry's sixth official maximum break, which he compiled in the final of the second 1999 event against Peter Ebdon. The sixth was compiled by John Higgins in 2003 in the last 32 against Michael Judge.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The revived 2021 event recorded two maximum breaks. Higgins made one in the first frame of his first round win over Alexander Ursenbacher, while Ali Carter made his during the second frame of his fourth round match against Elliot Slessor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The ninth maximum was made in 2022 by Mark Selby in the third round against Jack Lisowski.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The most recent maximum break was compiled in 2024 by Mark Allen in his third round match against Ben Mertens.<ref name="Max 205">Template:Cite web</ref>

Winners

<ref name=cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/>

Year	Winner	Runner-up	Score	Venue	City	Season
British Gold Cup (non-ranking, 1980)
1980<ref name="On this Week">Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	5–1	Assembly Rooms	Derby, England	1979/80
Yamaha Organs Trophy (non-ranking, 1981)
1981	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	9–6	Assembly Rooms	Derby, England	1980/81
International Masters (non-ranking, 1982–1984)
1982	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	9–7	Assembly Rooms	Derby, England	1981/82
1983<ref name="On this Week"/>	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	9–6			1982/83
1984<ref name="On this Week"/>	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	R-R<ref group="n">Final was decided on a three-man round robin basis.</ref>			1983/84
British Open (ranking, 1985–2004)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1985<ref name="On this Week"/>	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	12–9	Assembly Rooms	Derby, England	1984/85
1986<ref name="On this Week"/>	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	12–7			1985/86
1987<ref name="On this Week"/>	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	13–9			1986/87
1988<ref name="On this Week"/>	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	13–2			1987/88
1989<ref name="On this Week"/>	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	13–6			1988/89
1990<ref name="On this Week"/>	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	10–8			1989/90
1991<ref name="On this Week"/>	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	10–9			1990/91
1992<ref name="On this Week"/>	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	10–7			1991/92
1993<ref name="On this Week"/>	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	10–2			1992/93
1994	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	9–4	Plymouth Pavilions	Plymouth, England	1993/94
1995	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	9–6			1994/95
1996	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	9–8			1995/96
1997	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	9–2			1996/97
1998	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	9–8			1997/98
1999 (Apr)	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	9–7			1998/99
1999 (Sep)	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	9–5			1999/00
2000	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	9–6			2000/01
2001	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	9–6	Telewest Arena	Newcastle, England	2001/02
2002	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	9–4	Telford International Arena	Telford, England	2002/03
2003	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	9–6	Brighton Centre	Brighton, England	2003/04
2004	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	9–6			2004/05
British Open (renewed, ranking, 2021–present)
2021	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	6–4	Morningside Arena	Leicester, England	2021/22
2022	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	10–7	Marshall Arena	Milton Keynes, England	2022/23
2023	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	10–7	The Centaur	Cheltenham, England	2023/24
2024	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	10–5			2024/25
2025	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	10–7			2025/26