Scottish Open World Ranking Event Brief History of the Scottish Open   This event was the successor to the International Open which had been on the calendar since 1981 and which had moved to Aberdeen in 1997. It was decided that from 1998 onwards the event would be renamed the Scottish Open and sponsorship came from Imperial Tobacco through their Regal brand which provided sponsorship for the Scottish Masters and Welsh Open.   In 1998, Ronnie O'Sullivan took the first title under the new identity from John Higgins who, at that time, had a bad record in events in his home country. In 1999 Graeme Dott was a surprise finalist but it was Hendry who emerged the winner with something of a demolition of his fellow Scot in the final. The 2000 event produced two maximums; one from Stephen Maguire and another from Ronnie O’Sullivan who went on to claim a second win in the event.   Peter Ebdon just beat Ken Doherty in the 2001 final when Ken was looking for a back-to-back hat trick of ranking titles. Stephen Lee gained his second title of the season when he beat David Gray in the 2001 final. Many of the top players fell early as often seems to happen in this event. It is perhaps something to do with the fact that it usually falls just a week or so before the world championships begins and minds are elsewhere.   In 2003 the event moved to Edinburgh and for the first time in a ranking event for 12 years, no top 16 player reached the final. In stead David Gray went one better than the previous year and beat 53rd ranked Mark Selby to take the title. This turned out to be the last time the event was held under that title as it was renamed the Players Championship for 2004 as it became the final and deciding event in the LG Electronics Tour. Roll Of Honour              Season Venue Sponsor Winner Runner Up Score 1st Prize 1997/98 Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre Regal Ronnie O'Sullivan John Higgins 9-5 £60,000 1998/99 Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre Regal Stephen Hendry Graeme Dott 9-1 £60,000 1999/00 Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre Regal Ronnie O'Sullivan Mark J. Williams 9-1 £62,000 2000/01 Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre Regal Peter Ebdon Ken Doherty 9-7 £62,000 2001/02 Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre Regal Stephen Lee David Gray 9-2 £82,500 2002/03 Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh Regal David Gray Mark Selby 9-7 £82,500 Maximum Breaks Final Stage Ronnie O'Sullivan 2000 Last 32 v. Quinten Hann Qualifying Rounds Stephen Maguire 2000 Qual Rd 1 v Phaitoon Phonbun back to top © Chris Turner 2008