1996 British Open
{{Infobox individual snooker tournament
|tournament_name=1996 British Open
|dates={{Start and end dates|1996|04|1|1996|04|8|df=y}}
|venue=Plymouth Pavilions
|location=Plymouth
|country=England
|organisation=WPBSA
|format=Ranking event
|Total prize fund=£321,400
|winners_share=£60,000
|highest_break={{flagathlete|John Higgins|SCO}}
{{flagathlete|Andy Hicks|ENG}}
(139)
|winner={{flagathlete|Nigel Bond|ENG}}
|runner_up={{flagathlete|John Higgins|SCO}}
|score=9–8
|previous=1995
|next=1997
}}
The 1996 British Open was a professional ranking snooker tournament which was held from 1–8 April 1996 at the Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth, England.
Nigel Bond won the tournament, his first ranking title, by defeating the defending champion John Higgins 9–8 in the final.{{cite web|title=British Open|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/brit.html|publisher=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155129/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/brit.html|accessdate=5 January 2018|archive-date=2012-02-16}}
{{clear}}
Main draw
[http://www.snooker.org/Trn/9596/bo_res.shtml snooker.org: British Open 1996]
{{64TeamBracket
| RD1=Last 64
Best of 9 frames
| RD2=Last 32
Best of 9 frames
| RD3=Last 16
Best of 9 frames
| RD4=Quarter-finals
Best of 9 frames
| RD5=Semi-finals
Best of 11 frames
| RD6=Final
Best of 17 frames
| RD1-seed01=
| RD1-team01={{flagicon|ENG}} Ronnie O'Sullivan
| RD1-score01=5
| RD1-seed02=
| RD1-team02={{flagicon|ENG}} Oliver King
| RD1-score02=2
| RD1-seed03=
| RD1-team03={{flagicon|ENG}} Willie Thorne
| RD1-score03=4
| RD1-seed04=
| RD1-team04={{flagicon|SCO}} Graeme Dott
| RD1-score04=5
| RD1-seed05=
| RD1-team05={{flagicon|IRL}} Ken Doherty
| RD1-score05=5
| RD1-seed06=
| RD1-team06={{flagicon|ENG}} Barry Pinches
| RD1-score06=1
| RD1-seed07=
| RD1-team07={{flagicon|ENG}} Chris Scanlon
| RD1-score07=1
| RD1-seed08=
| RD1-team08={{flagicon|ENG}} Andy Hicks
| RD1-score08=5
| RD1-seed09=
| RD1-team09={{flagicon|WAL}} Mark Williams
| RD1-score09=5
| RD1-seed10=
| RD1-team10={{flagicon|ENG}} David Roe
| RD1-score10=4
| RD1-seed11=
| RD1-team11={{flagicon|India}} Yasin Merchant
| RD1-score11=4
| RD1-seed12=
| RD1-team12={{flagicon|ENG}} Neal Foulds
| RD1-score12=5
| RD1-seed13=
| RD1-team13={{flagicon|THA}} James Wattana
| RD1-score13=5
| RD1-seed14=
| RD1-team14={{flagicon|ENG}} Karl Broughton
| RD1-score14=2
| RD1-seed15=
| RD1-team15={{flagicon|ENG}} Jimmy Michie
| RD1-score15=3
| RD1-seed16=
| RD1-team16={{flagicon|ENG}} Tony Knowles
| RD1-score16=5
| RD1-seed17=
| RD1-team17={{flagicon|ENG}} John Parrott
| RD1-score17=5
| RD1-seed18=
| RD1-team18={{flagicon|ENG}} Mark Rowing
| RD1-score18=3
| RD1-seed19=
| RD1-team19={{flagicon|IRL}} David McDonnell
| RD1-score19=4
| RD1-seed20=
| RD1-team20={{flagicon|ENG}} Dean Reynolds
| RD1-score20=5
| RD1-seed21=
| RD1-team21={{flagicon|WAL}} Mark Bennett
| RD1-score21=5
| RD1-seed22=
| RD1-team22={{flagicon|Malta}} Tony Drago
| RD1-score22=0
| RD1-seed23=
| RD1-team23={{flagicon|ENG}} Stuart Pettman
| RD1-score23=2
| RD1-seed24=
| RD1-team24={{flagicon|ENG}} Gary Wilkinson
| RD1-score24=5
| RD1-seed25=
| RD1-team25={{flagicon|ENG}} Jason Ferguson
| RD1-score25=5
| RD1-seed26=
| RD1-team26={{flagicon|WAL}} Steve Newbury
| RD1-score26=0
| RD1-seed27=
| RD1-team27={{flagicon|SCO}} John Higgins
| RD1-score27=5
| RD1-seed28=
| RD1-team28={{flagicon|SCO}} Jamie Burnett
| RD1-score28=1
| RD1-seed29=
| RD1-team29={{flagicon|ENG}} Brian Morgan
| RD1-score29=2
| RD1-seed30=
| RD1-team30={{flagicon|ENG}} Mike Hallett
| RD1-score30=5
| RD1-seed31=
| RD1-team31={{flagicon|ENG}} Stephen Lee
| RD1-score31=5
| RD1-seed32=
| RD1-team32={{flagicon|WAL}} Terry Griffiths
| RD1-score32=2
| RD1-seed33=
| RD1-team33={{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Davis
| RD1-score33=2
| RD1-seed34=
| RD1-team34={{flagicon|ENG}} Mark Johnston-Allen
| RD1-score34=5
| RD1-seed35=
| RD1-team35={{flagicon|ENG}} Karl Payne
| RD1-score35=2
| RD1-seed36=
| RD1-team36={{flagicon|ENG}} Anthony Hamilton
| RD1-score36=5
| RD1-seed37=
| RD1-team37={{flagicon|WAL}} Anthony Davies
| RD1-score37=2
| RD1-seed38=
| RD1-team38={{flagicon|ENG}} Mick Price
| RD1-score38=5
| RD1-seed39=
| RD1-team39={{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Harold
| RD1-score39=5
| RD1-seed40=
| RD1-team40={{flagicon|ENG}} Antony Bolsover
| RD1-score40=2
| RD1-seed41=
| RD1-team41={{flagicon|ENG}} Jimmy White
| RD1-score41=5
| RD1-seed42=
| RD1-team42={{flagicon|WAL}} Matthew Stevens
| RD1-score42=3
| RD1-seed43=
| RD1-team43={{flagicon|IRL}} Fergal O'Brien
| RD1-score43=5
| RD1-seed44=
| RD1-team44={{flagicon|CAN}} Alain Robidoux
| RD1-score44=1
| RD1-seed45=
| RD1-team45={{flagicon|ENG}} Martin Clark
| RD1-score45=5
| RD1-seed46=
| RD1-team46={{flagicon|ENG}} Joe Johnson
| RD1-score46=4
| RD1-seed47=
| RD1-team47={{flagicon|Netherlands}} Stefan Mazrocis
| RD1-score47=1
| RD1-seed48=
| RD1-team48={{flagicon|WAL}} Darren Morgan
| RD1-score48=5
| RD1-seed49=
| RD1-team49={{flagicon|ENG}} Steve James
| RD1-score49=5
| RD1-seed50=
| RD1-team50={{flagicon|ENG}} Mark Flowerdew
| RD1-score50=1
| RD1-seed51=
| RD1-team51={{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Meakin
| RD1-score51=3
| RD1-seed52=
| RD1-team52={{flagicon|SCO}} Alan McManus
| RD1-score52=5
| RD1-seed53=
| RD1-team53={{flagicon|ENG}} Rod Lawler
| RD1-score53=0
| RD1-seed54=
| RD1-team54={{flagicon|NIR}} Dennis Taylor
| RD1-score54=5
| RD1-seed55=
| RD1-team55={{flagicon|ENG}} Pat Horne
| RD1-score55=3
| RD1-seed56=
| RD1-team56={{flagicon|ENG}} Peter Ebdon
| RD1-score56=5
| RD1-seed57=
| RD1-team57={{flagicon|NIR}} Terry Murphy
| RD1-score57=1
| RD1-seed58=
| RD1-team58={{flagicon|SCO}} Stephen Hendry
| RD1-score58=5
| RD1-seed59=
| RD1-team59={{flagicon|SCO}} Billy Snaddon
| RD1-score59=2
| RD1-seed60=
| RD1-team60={{flagicon|NIR}} Joe Swail
| RD1-score60=5
| RD1-seed61=
| RD1-team61={{flagicon|New Zealand}} Dene O'Kane
| RD1-score61=5
| RD1-seed62=
| RD1-team62={{flagicon|ENG}} Matthew Couch
| RD1-score62=2
| RD1-seed63=
| RD1-team63={{flagicon|SCO}} Paul McPhillips
| RD1-score63=0
| RD1-seed64=
| RD1-team64={{flagicon|ENG}} Nigel Bond
| RD1-score64=5
| RD2-seed01=
| RD2-team01={{flagicon|ENG}} Ronnie O'Sullivan
| RD2-score01=5
| RD2-seed02=
| RD2-team02={{flagicon|SCO}} Graeme Dott
| RD2-score02=1
| RD2-seed03=
| RD2-team03={{flagicon|IRL}} Ken Doherty
| RD2-score03=5
| RD2-seed04=
| RD2-team04={{flagicon|ENG}} Andy Hicks
| RD2-score04=4
| RD2-seed05=
| RD2-team05={{flagicon|WAL}} Mark Williams
| RD2-score05=5
| RD2-seed06=
| RD2-team06={{flagicon|ENG}} Neal Foulds
| RD2-score06=1
| RD2-seed07=
| RD2-team07={{flagicon|THA}} James Wattana
| RD2-score07=4
| RD2-seed08=
| RD2-team08={{flagicon|ENG}} Tony Knowles
| RD2-score08=5
| RD2-seed09=
| RD2-team09={{flagicon|ENG}} John Parrott
| RD2-score09=5
| RD2-seed10=
| RD2-team10={{flagicon|ENG}} Dean Reynolds
| RD2-score10=3
| RD2-seed11=
| RD2-team11={{flagicon|WAL}} Mark Bennett
| RD2-score11=0
| RD2-seed12=
| RD2-team12={{flagicon|ENG}} Gary Wilkinson
| RD2-score12=5
| RD2-seed13=
| RD2-team13={{flagicon|ENG}} Jason Ferguson
| RD2-score13=4
| RD2-seed14=
| RD2-team14={{flagicon|SCO}} John Higgins
| RD2-score14=5
| RD2-seed15=
| RD2-team15={{flagicon|ENG}} Mike Hallett
| RD2-score15=3
| RD2-seed16=
| RD2-team16={{flagicon|ENG}} Stephen Lee
| RD2-score16=5
| RD2-seed17=
| RD2-team17={{flagicon|ENG}} Mark Johnston-Allen
| RD2-score17=5
| RD2-seed18=
| RD2-team18={{flagicon|ENG}} Anthony Hamilton
| RD2-score18=4
| RD2-seed19=
| RD2-team19={{flagicon|ENG}} Mick Price
| RD2-score19=2
| RD2-seed20=
| RD2-team20={{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Harold
| RD2-score20=5
| RD2-seed21=
| RD2-team21={{flagicon|ENG}} Jimmy White
| RD2-score21=3
| RD2-seed22=
| RD2-team22={{flagicon|IRL}} Fergal O'Brien
| RD2-score22=5
| RD2-seed23=
| RD2-team23={{flagicon|ENG}} Martin Clark
| RD2-score23=4
| RD2-seed24=
| RD2-team24={{flagicon|WAL}} Darren Morgan
| RD2-score24=5
| RD2-seed25=
| RD2-team25={{flagicon|ENG}} Steve James
| RD2-score25=4
| RD2-seed26=
| RD2-team26={{flagicon|SCO}} Alan McManus
| RD2-score26=5
| RD2-seed27=
| RD2-team27={{flagicon|NIR}} Dennis Taylor
| RD2-score27=4
| RD2-seed28=
| RD2-team28={{flagicon|ENG}} Peter Ebdon
| RD2-score28=5
| RD2-seed29=
| RD2-team29={{flagicon|SCO}} Stephen Hendry
| RD2-score29=5
| RD2-seed30=
| RD2-team30={{flagicon|NIR}} Joe Swail
| RD2-score30=1
| RD2-seed31=
| RD2-team31={{flagicon|New Zealand}} Dene O'Kane
| RD2-score31=1
| RD2-seed32=
| RD2-team32={{flagicon|ENG}} Nigel Bond
| RD2-score32=5
| RD3-seed01=
| RD3-team01={{flagicon|ENG}} Ronnie O'Sullivan
| RD3-score01=5
| RD3-seed02=
| RD3-team02={{flagicon|IRL}} Ken Doherty
| RD3-score02=3
| RD3-seed03=
| RD3-team03={{flagicon|WAL}} Mark Williams
| RD3-score03=5
| RD3-seed04=
| RD3-team04={{flagicon|ENG}} Tony Knowles
| RD3-score04=0
| RD3-seed05=
| RD3-team05={{flagicon|ENG}} John Parrott
| RD3-score05=5
| RD3-seed06=
| RD3-team06={{flagicon|ENG}} Gary Wilkinson
| RD3-score06=2
| RD3-seed07=
| RD3-team07={{flagicon|SCO}} John Higgins
| RD3-score07=5
| RD3-seed08=
| RD3-team08={{flagicon|ENG}} Stephen Lee
| RD3-score08=3
| RD3-seed09=
| RD3-team09={{flagicon|ENG}} Mark Johnston-Allen
| RD3-score09=2
| RD3-seed10=
| RD3-team10={{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Harold
| RD3-score10=5
| RD3-seed11=
| RD3-team11={{flagicon|IRL}} Fergal O'Brien
| RD3-score11=1
| RD3-seed12=
| RD3-team12={{flagicon|WAL}} Darren Morgan
| RD3-score12=5
| RD3-seed13=
| RD3-team13={{flagicon|SCO}} Alan McManus
| RD3-score13=1
| RD3-seed14=
| RD3-team14={{flagicon|ENG}} Peter Ebdon
| RD3-score14=5
| RD3-seed15=
| RD3-team15={{flagicon|SCO}} Stephen Hendry
| RD3-score15=4
| RD3-seed16=
| RD3-team16={{flagicon|ENG}} Nigel Bond
| RD3-score16=5
| RD4-seed01=
| RD4-team01={{flagicon|ENG}} Ronnie O'Sullivan
| RD4-score01=5
| RD4-seed02=
| RD4-team02={{flagicon|WAL}} Mark Williams
| RD4-score02=3
| RD4-seed03=
| RD4-team03={{flagicon|ENG}} John Parrott
| RD4-score03=3
| RD4-seed04=
| RD4-team04={{flagicon|SCO}} John Higgins
| RD4-score04=5
| RD4-seed05=
| RD4-team05={{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Harold
| RD4-score05=5
| RD4-seed06=
| RD4-team06={{flagicon|WAL}} Darren Morgan
| RD4-score06=1
| RD4-seed07=
| RD4-team07={{flagicon|ENG}} Peter Ebdon
| RD4-score07=3
| RD4-seed08=
| RD4-team08={{flagicon|ENG}} Nigel Bond
| RD4-score08=5
| RD5-seed01=
| RD5-team01={{flagicon|ENG}} Ronnie O'Sullivan
| RD5-score01=4
| RD5-seed02=
| RD5-team02={{flagicon|SCO}} John Higgins
| RD5-score02=6
| RD5-seed03=
| RD5-team03={{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Harold
| RD5-score03=5
| RD5-seed04=
| RD5-team04={{flagicon|ENG}} Nigel Bond
| RD5-score04=6
| RD6-seed01=
| RD6-team01={{flagicon|SCO}} John Higgins
| RD6-score01=8
| RD6-seed02=
| RD6-team02={{flagicon|ENG}} Nigel Bond
| RD6-score02=9
}}
Final
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; margin: 1em auto 1em auto;" |
| colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="#ffd700" | Final: Best of 17 frames. Referee: Len Ganley Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth, England. 8 April 1996. |
| width="200" align="right" | Nigel Bond {{ENG}} | width="100" align="center" | 9–8 | width="200" | John Higgins |
| colspan="3" align="center" style="font-size: 100%" | Afternoon: 71–56, 96–4 (61), 65–64, 53–64 (56), 79–47 (79), 18–72, 17–102 (66), 0–91 (91) Evening: 89–0 (89), 30–60, 99–30 (50), 55–56, 72–0, 0–97 (97), 122–6 (122), 8–128 (75), 71–69 |
| align="right" | 122
| align="center" | Highest break | align="left" | 97 |
| align="right" | 1
| align="center" | Century breaks | align="left" | 0 |
| align="right" | 5
| align="center" | 50+ breaks | align="left" | 5 |