Skoda Grand Prix

The Skoda Grand Prix kicks off on October 16th. The 64 players who are to battle it out for the �330,000 purse has already been chosen.

The top 32 in the world rankings are automatically qualified for the first round. The other 32 had to go through qualifying in Blackpool. They will each meet one of the top ranked in the first round.

There are quite a few interesting players who have made it through qualifying. The Aussie Quinten Hann will probably cause the greatest stirr. He has won a great number of matches in Blackpool this summer. Actually he won 28 in a row before he was beaten. He is also the only rookie left in the field.

A few other non-British qualifiers have also made it to the last 64: Alex Borg (Malta), Silvino Francisco (South Africa), Sam Chong (Malaysia), Fergal O'Brien (Ireland) and Stephen O'Connor (Ireland). Sam Chong's 140 is the the top break in the tournament so far. He will be hoping to take home the �3,600 on offer for the highest break in non-televised matches.

The field includes six former world champions: Stephen Hendry (1990, 1992-94, 95), John Parrott (1991), Steve Davis (1981, 1983-84, 1987-89), Joe Johnson (1986), Dennis Taylor (1985) and Terry Griffiths (1979).

John Higgins is the defending champion. He beat Dave Harold 9-6 in last year's final. Other returning champions are: Peter Ebdon (1993), Jimmy White (1986, 1992), Stephen Hendry (1987, 1990-91), Steve Davis (1985, 1988-89) and Dennis Taylor (1985).

A list of all the previous finals is available.

The Field

Stephen Hendry      SCO   (1)
Steve Davis               (2)    
Ronnie O'Sullivan         (3)   
John Parrott              (4)   
James Wattana       THA   (5)
Alan McManus        SCO   (6)
Jimmy White               (7)
Darren Morgan       WAL   (8)
Ken Doherty         IRE   (9)
Peter Ebdon              (10)
John Higgins        SCO  (11)
Nigel Bond               (12)
Dave Harold              (13)
Tony Drago          MLT  (14)
Terry Griffiths     WAL  (15)
David Roe                (16) 
Andy Hicks               (17)
Dene O'Kane         NZL  (18)
Joe Swail           NIR  (19)
Alain Robidoux      CAN  (20)
Mick Price               (21)
Martin Clark             (22)
Gary Wilkinson           (23)
Tony Knowles             (24)
Willie Thorne            (25)
Steve James              (26)
Brian Morgan             (27)
Neal Foulds              (28)
Jason Ferguson           (29)
Dean Reynolds            (30)
Anthony Hamilton         (31)
Dennis Taylor       NIR  (32)

Mike Hallett		 (34)
Doug Mountjoy	    WAL  (36)
Fergal O'Brien	    IRE  (38)
Mark J Williams	    WAL  (39)
Rod Lawler		 (40)
Mark Bennett	    WAL  (42)
Anthony Davies	    WAL  (45)
Dave Finbow		 (47)
Mark King 		 (52)
Mark Flowerdew		 (54)
Jason Prince	    NIR  (55)
Joe Johnson		 (56)
Mark Davis		 (59)
Steve Newbury	    WAL  (60)
Jon Birch		 (63)
Stephen O'Connor    IRE  (70)
Karl Broughton		 (78)
Silvino Francisco   SAF  (81)
Lee Richardson		 (84)
Chris Scanlon		 (86)
Shokat Ali		 (87)
Andrew Cairns		(101)
Jeff Cundy		(114)
Stuart Reardon		(123)
Matt Wilson		(134)
Michael Duffy	    NIR (169)
Alex Borg	    MLT (174)
Leigh Griffin		(187)
Matthew Stevens	    WAL (236)
Sam Chong	    MAL (238)
Steve Ventham		(246)
Quinten Hann	    AUS   (-)

Players are English unless stated.
1995/96 World Ranking in brackets. ('-' = rookie)

Last Modified: April 21, 2012