2004 European Open (snooker)

Prior to the 1988/1989 season no ranking tournament had been continuously staged outside of the United Kingdom (although the World Championship had been held twice in Australia). The snooker governing body, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), decided to include overseas events and the first two locations chosen were Canada and Europe. The European Open was first held in 1989 in Deauville, France, and was suspended for 1997/1998 and 2000/2001. It moved to the Hilton Conference Centre, Portomaso, Malta for the first time in 2004 and was renamed the Malta Cup the following season.[http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Euro.html European Open. German Open. German Masters. Irish Open]. cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk (Chris Turner's Snooker Archive). Retrieved 12 September 2010. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155305/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Euro.html Archived] 16 February 2012

The 2004 tournament was the fifth of eight WPBSA ranking events in the 2003/2004 season, following the Welsh Open and preceding the Irish Masters.[http://www.snooker.org/trn/0304/eo2004_res.shtml "European Open 2004"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426060601/http://www.snooker.org/trn/0304/eo2004_res.shtml |date=2021-04-26 }}. Snooker.org. Retrieved 12 September 2010. Held in January, the Welsh Open was won by Ronnie O'Sullivan, who defeated Steve Davis by nine {{Cuegloss|frame|frames}} to eight (9–8) in the final.[http://www.snooker.org/trn/0304/wo2004_res.shtml "Welsh Open 2004"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718204033/http://www.snooker.org/trn/0304/wo2004_res.shtml |date=2011-07-18 }}. Snooker.org. Retrieved 12 September 2010. The defending European Open champion was also O'Sullivan, who defeated Stephen Hendry 9–6 in last year's final.[http://www.snooker.org/trn/0203/eo2003_res.shtml "European Open 2003"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718203616/http://www.snooker.org/trn/0203/eo2003_res.shtml |date=2011-07-18 }}. Snooker.org. Retrieved 12 September 2010. Paul Hunter, who had defeated O'Sullivan in the final of the non-ranking Masters in February, entered the tournament "playing the best snooker of his career", according to Phil Yates of The Times.Yates, Phil. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article1033533.ece "Hunter hoping to sustain peak form"]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. The Times. 1 March 2004. Retrieved 2 October 2010.

The qualifying stage was played between players ranked 17 and those ranked lower for one of 16 places in the final stage. The matches were best-of-9 frames until the semi-finals. In March 2004 Maltese player Tony Drago defeated Adrian Gunnell 5–2 in a match held over from the qualifying stage in November.Proby, Johnny. [http://www.rte.ie/sport/2004/0302/snooker.html "Irish interest ends in Malta"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050112014626/http://www.rte.ie/sport/2004/0302/snooker.html |date=2005-01-12 }}. RTÉ Sport. 2 March 2004. Retrieved 12 September 2010.

The qualifiers went through to face members of the top 16. In this round, Davis came from 2–4 down to beat Joe Swail 5–4, in a match where both players missed chances. In the deciding frame, Davis won on the pink ball after Swail had missed the brown. After the match, Davis said it was a historic day as he had never won a match in the country.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/3523069.stm "Davis squeezes past Swail"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040415061201/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/3523069.stm |date=2004-04-15 }}. BBC Sport. 1 March 2004. Retrieved 12 September 2010. Stephen Lee received a walkover to the next round after his opponent Robin Hull withdrew for medical reasons.Yates, Phil. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article1034911.ece "Small overcomes pain and Stevens"]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. The Times. 2 March 2004. Retrieved 12 September 2010. World number 41 Stephen Maguire made a {{Cuegloss|break|break}} of 89 in the final frame of his match against Peter Ebdon to win 5–4, and world number three O'Sullivan opened his match against Marco Fu with a century break of 110 and went on to win 5–1. Chris Small, who suffers from the spinal condition ankylosing spondylitis, whitewashed UK champion Matthew Stevens 5–0, in a match lasting almost three hours and which saw Stevens lose two frames on the black ball.Dee, John. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/2374097/Snooker-OSullivan-ahead-in-century-race.html "Snooker: O'Sullivan ahead in century race"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219015834/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/2374097/Snooker-OSullivan-ahead-in-century-race.html |date=2019-02-19 }}. The Daily Telegraph. 2 March 2004. Retrieved 12 September 2010. Neil Robertson defeated Ken Doherty 5–3, and Joe Perry beat David Roe by the same scoreline. In the last match of the day, David Gray beat Fergal O'Brien 5–3.

World number one Mark Williams was defeated 1–5 by Anthony Hamilton, who made a break of 133.Dee, John. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/2374161/Snooker-Williams-shocked-by-Hamilton.html "Snooker: Williams shocked by Hamilton"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301082817/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/2374161/Snooker-Williams-shocked-by-Hamilton.html |date=2016-03-01 }}. The Daily Telegraph. 3 March 2004. Retrieved 2 October 2010. Williams refused to answer questions at the post-match press conference, explaining: "I'm not saying anything because if I do I could be in trouble so I'm keeping my mouth shut."[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/3526645.stm "Williams falls at the first"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040315224632/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/3526645.stm |date=2004-03-15 }}. BBC Sport. 2 March 2004. Retrieved 12 September 2010. Hunter and Hendry made high breaks of 49 and 55 in defeating Brian Morgan and Jimmy Michie 5–1, respectively. After the match Hendry—the world number two and a seven-time world champion said "I feel like going to apologise to each fan one by one because it was such a bad match". John Higgins whitewashed Barry Pinches 5–0, compiling a 132 break in the last frame in a match where Pinches made a high break of 33.Proby, Johnny. [http://www.rte.ie/sport/2004/0302/higginsj.html "Higgins easily through in Malta"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050205034648/http://www.rte.ie/sport/2004/0302/higginsj.html |date=2005-02-05 }}. RTÉ Sport. 2 March 2004. Retrieved 2 October 2010. Jimmy White overcame James Wattana 5–4 having trailed 2–3. Graeme Dott defeated Drew Henry 5-3 and Quinten Hann beat Simon Bedford 5–0. In the last game of the day, Drago beat Alan McManus 5–4.

In round two O'Sullivan defeated Small 5–1, coming from behind to win in each of the first three frames with breaks of 58, 81, and 46. A break of 112 completed the victory, after which O'Sullivan said his opponent had made him work.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/3529815.stm "O'Sullivan eases past Small"]. BBC Sport. 3 March 2004. Retrieved 12 September 2010. In the fifth frame O'Sullivan continued playing despite needing snookers, later explaining, "I wanted to keep playing because I was enjoying it so much".[http://www.rte.ie/sport/2004/0303/snooker.html "O'Sullivan into quarters, Davis falls to Lee"]. RTÉ Sport. 3 March 2004. Retrieved 12 September 2010. White made breaks of 72, 52, 69, 51, and 65 in defeating Hendry 5–3, after which Hendry said his performance was "horrendous", and White said his refusal to go out the night before contributed to his performance.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/3530879.stm "White too strong for Hendry"]. BBC Sport. 3 March 2004. Retrieved 2 October 2010. In the sixth frame White led by 41 points before missing an easy red, allowing Hendry to win on the black with a 55 break to level at 3–3. White dominated the next two frames for the victory.Yates, Phil. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article1036567.ece "Drago earns place in last eight with help from the locals"]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. The Times. 4 March 2004. Retrieved 12 September 2010. Higgins, without a tournament victory for over two years, whitewashed Dott 5–0 with breaks of 82, 81, 57, and 52, and said it was the "best [he had] felt for ages".Dee, John. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/2374204/Snooker-White-hot-effort-bad-for-Hendry.html "Snooker: White hot effort bad for Hendry"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727141611/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/2374204/Snooker-White-hot-effort-bad-for-Hendry.html |date=2019-07-27 }}. The Daily Telegraph. 4 March 2004. Retrieved 2 October 2010. Drago defeated Hunter 5–2 to reach the quarter-finals of a ranking events for the first time since 1998, in a low-quality match where Drago made one break over 50. Lee defeated Davis 5–3 in a four-hour match, and Higgins completed a second whitewash when he beat Dott 5–0, bringing his career record against Dott to 9–1.Proby, Johnny. [http://www.rte.ie/sport/2004/0303/snooker1.html "White and Higgins safely through"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050112015518/http://www.rte.ie/sport/2004/0303/snooker1.html |date=2005-01-12 }}. RTÉ Sport. 3 March 2004. Retrieved 2 October 2010. Maguire defeated Perry 5–4 to reach his first ranking quarter-final,Dee, John. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/2374336/Snooker-Maguire-reaches-first-final.html "Snooker: Maguire reaches first final"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092207/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/2374336/Snooker-Maguire-reaches-first-final.html |date=2016-03-04 }}. The Daily Telegraph. 6 March 2004. Retrieved 2 October 2010. and Hann beat Hamilton 5–1 to claim the final place in the next round.

In the quarter-finals Lee defeated O'Sullivan 5–4 in a match that lasted 3 hours and 32 minutes. O'Sullivan came from 2–3 down to lead 4–3 before Lee leveled the match. In the final frame O'Sullivan led 36–0, before Lee made a 46 break and fluked a snooker that enabled him to claim victory. O'Sullivan said his performance was very poor, while Lee said he was quietly confident.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/3533613.stm "Lee ends O'Sullivan hopes"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040320035347/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/3533613.stm |date=2004-03-20 }}. BBC Sport. 4 March 2004. Retrieved 2 October 2010.Dee, John. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/2374282/Snooker-OSullivan-off-colour.html "Snooker: O'Sullivan off colour"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310063500/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/2374282/Snooker-OSullivan-off-colour.html |date=2016-03-10 }}. The Daily Telegraph. 5 March 2004. Retrieved 2 October 2010. White defeated Robertson 5–3 to reach his third semi-final of the season. White led 4–1 and was 56 points ahead in the sixth but missed a straightforward green, allowing Robertson to win on the black with a 67 break. Robertson took the next frame before a risky long pot in the eighth allowed White to win the match. White—who last won a ranking title 12 years ago prior at this event—said, "Everyone knows I've been in front so many times in the past and tossed it away so I was having nightmares out there".Yates, Phil. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article1037699.ece "White wobbles on way to semi-finals"]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. The Times. 5 March 2004. Retrieved 2 October 2010. Drago quickly won the first four frames of his match against Hann, conceding the fifth, before completing a 5–1 victory, after which he said the crowd support helped him. Maguire caused an upset when he beat Higgins 5–3, a match that saw Maguire lose the first two frames before winning the next four. After the match Maguire he said he had "starting to think about winning it now".

The semi-finals were best-of-11 frames. White reached his first final in four years when he defeated Drago 6–4. Leading 4–1 White made a break of 104 to win the sixth frame, before missing a straightforward red to allow his opponent to win the seventh with an 84 break. Drago won the next two in 15 minutes with breaks of 44 and 109—completing the latter in four minutesBoylan, James. [http://www.rte.ie/sport/2004/0306/snooker.html "White seals final place"]. RTÉ Sport. 6 March 2004. Retrieved 2 October 2010.—before an 86 break gave White the victory, after which White said, "Playing Tony here, I got a taste of what players have against me at the Masters when the crowd are all on my side but they were fair and I enjoyed every minute of it."Yates, Phil. [https://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article1038946.ece "White on verge of glory after composed display"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115181239/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/ |date=2021-01-15 }}. The Times. 6 March 2004. Retrieved 12 September 2010.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/3537865.stm "White through to final"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040614051549/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/3537865.stm |date=2004-06-14 }}. BBC Sport. 5 March 2004. Retrieved 12 September 2010.

In the other semi-final Maguire beat Lee 6–4 in an error-strewn match which lasted four hours. After winning the first two frames Maguire lost the next three, but "kept his cool" to seal the victory. Maguire said the match was a "battle" and that he was surprised at how badly his opponents had played in the tournament, while Lee said he "just blew up" and that, "When you’re as poor as that you get into such a state of mind that you can’t think straight".

The match was White's 23rd appearance in a final and his first since the 2000 British Open. In the best-of-17 final Maguire defeated White 9–3 to win his first ranking title at the age of 22, earning £48,000 in prize money.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/3539613.stm "Maguire overwhelms White"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051215115916/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/3539613.stm |date=2005-12-15 }}. BBC Sport. 6 March 2004. Retrieved 12 September 2010. The victory, according to The Times, transformed Maguire from "talented underachiever into a world-ranking event winner";

[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article1040250.ece "Sport in Brief"]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. The Times. 8 March 2004. Retrieved 12 September 2010. according to BBC Sport his victory was a surprise.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/3496826.stm "Maguire ready for big time"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040716224258/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/3496826.stm |date=2004-07-16 }}. BBC Sport. 10 March 2004. Retrieved 12 September 2010.

In the afternoon session Maguire made two sizeable breaks and one of 137 to lead 3–0. He won the next frame and compiled a century in the fifth. The sixth frame was awarded to Maguire, when White violated the three-miss rule. {{cuegloss|Snooker|Snookered}} in the jaws of a corner pocket, White twice attempted to hit the pack of five reds off a side cushion and missed. On his third attempt he adopted a slow roll to the pack and again missed. In the evening session, trailing 0–6, White won his first frame before the next four were shared, the last of which included a break of 125 by White. At 8–2 a break of 57 gave Maguire the victory.

After his victory Maguire acknowledged the influence of Terry Griffiths who had been working with him on the mental side of the game: "He's been on the phone just telling me to keep calm and that I can do it if I believe in myself".[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/3539913.stm "Maguire hails Griffiths"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040723121247/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/3539913.stm |date=2004-07-23 }}. BBC Sport. 7 March 2004. Retrieved 12 September 2010. Maguire said he always knew he was good enough to win a tournament and that he would aim for a top-16 finish for the season. White said, "Stephen outplayed me in safety, potting and position so he deserved to win" and, "He gave me a good bashing. I'm pleased for him because he's a nice lad but I'm disappointed because I didn't compete".[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/3539947.stm "White laments poor display"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040404032417/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/3539947.stm |date=2004-04-04 }}. BBC Sport. 22 March 2004. Retrieved 3 October 2010.

The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:{{cite web|title=European Open Prize Money|url=http://worldsnooker.com:80/snooker_media_centre/euroopen2004/points.asp|work=worldsnooker.com|publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|access-date=27 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040405153944/http://worldsnooker.com:80/snooker_media_centre/euroopen2004/points.asp|archive-date=5 April 2004}}

{{Col-begin|width=70%}}

{{Col-break|width=50%}}

• Winner: £48,000
• Final: £24,000
• Semi-final: £12,000
• Quarter-final: £7,900
• Last 16: £6,900
• Last 32: £5,500
• Last 48: £2,900
• Last 64: £2,100

{{Col-break|width=50%}}

• Last 80: £1,600
• Last 96: £1,050
• Stage one highest break: £1,800
• Stage two highest break: £5,000
• Stage one maximum break: £5,000
• Stage two maximum break: £20,000
• Total: £400,000

{{Col-end}}

Numbers to the left of the players' names are the tournament seedings. Players in bold denote match winners.{{Cite web|title=2004 European Open|url=http://www.worldofsnooker.co.uk/maintour/euro04.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040605032448/http://www.worldofsnooker.co.uk/maintour/euro04.htm|archive-date=5 June 2004|access-date=14 November 2020|publisher=World of Snooker}}{{32TeamBracket

| RD1=Last 32
Best of 9 frames

| RD2=Last 16
Best of 9 frames

| RD3=Quarter-finals
Best of 9 frames

| RD4=Semi-finals
Best of 11 frames

| RD5=Final
Best of 17 frames

| RD1-seed01=1

| RD1-team01={{flagathlete|Ronnie O'Sullivan|ENG}}

| RD1-score01=5

| RD1-seed02=19

| RD1-team02={{flagathlete|Marco Fu|HKG}}

| RD1-score02=1

| RD1-seed03=9

| RD1-team03={{flagathlete|Matthew Stevens|WAL}}

| RD1-score03=0

| RD1-seed04=18

| RD1-team04={{flagathlete|Chris Small|SCO}}

| RD1-score04=5

| RD1-seed05=11

| RD1-team05={{flagathlete|Steve Davis|ENG}}

| RD1-score05=5

| RD1-seed06=27

| RD1-team06={{flagathlete|Joe Swail|NIR}}

| RD1-score06=4

| RD1-seed07=5

| RD1-team07={{flagathlete|Stephen Lee|ENG}}

| RD1-score07=w/o

| RD1-seed08=32

| RD1-team08={{flagathlete|Robin Hull|FIN}}

| RD1-score08=w/d

| RD1-seed09=7

| RD1-team09={{flagathlete|Peter Ebdon|ENG}}

| RD1-score09=4

| RD1-seed10=41

| RD1-team10={{flagathlete|Stephen Maguire|SCO}}

| RD1-score10=5

| RD1-seed11=16

| RD1-team11={{flagathlete|Joe Perry|ENG}}

| RD1-score11=5

| RD1-seed12=57

| RD1-team12={{flagathlete|David Roe|ENG}}

| RD1-score12=3

| RD1-seed13=13

| RD1-team13={{flagathlete|Graeme Dott|SCO}}

| RD1-score13=5

| RD1-seed14=25

| RD1-team14={{flagathlete|Drew Henry|SCO}}

| RD1-score14=3

| RD1-seed15=4

| RD1-team15={{flagathlete|John Higgins|SCO}}

| RD1-score15=5

| RD1-seed16=36

| RD1-team16={{flagathlete|Barry Pinches|ENG}}

| RD1-score16=0

| RD1-seed17=3

| RD1-team17={{flagathlete|Stephen Hendry|SCO}}

| RD1-score17=5

| RD1-seed18=60

| RD1-team18={{flagathlete|Jimmy Michie|ENG}}

| RD1-score18=1

| RD1-seed19=15

| RD1-team19={{flagathlete|Jimmy White|ENG}}

| RD1-score19=5

| RD1-seed20=34

| RD1-team20={{flagathlete|James Wattana|THA}}

| RD1-score20=4

| RD1-seed21=12

| RD1-team21={{flagathlete|David Gray|ENG}}

| RD1-score21=5

| RD1-seed22=33

| RD1-team22={{flagathlete|Fergal O'Brien|IRL}}

| RD1-score22=3

| RD1-seed23=6

| RD1-team23={{flagathlete|Ken Doherty|IRL}}

| RD1-score23=3

| RD1-seed24=

| RD1-team24={{flagathlete|Neil Robertson|AUS}}

| RD1-score24=5

| RD1-seed25=8

| RD1-team25={{flagathlete|Paul Hunter|ENG}}

| RD1-score25=5

| RD1-seed26=45

| RD1-team26={{flagathlete|Brian Morgan|ENG}}

| RD1-score26=1

| RD1-seed27=10

| RD1-team27={{flagathlete|Alan McManus|SCO}}

| RD1-score27=4

| RD1-seed28=24

| RD1-team28={{flagathlete|Tony Drago|MLT}}

| RD1-score28=5

| RD1-seed29=14

| RD1-team29={{flagathlete|Quinten Hann|AUS}}

| RD1-score29=5

| RD1-seed30=

| RD1-team30={{flagathlete|Simon Bedford|ENG}}

| RD1-score30=0

| RD1-seed31=2

| RD1-team31={{flagathlete|Mark Williams|WAL}}

| RD1-score31=1

| RD1-seed32=20

| RD1-team32={{flagathlete|Anthony Hamilton|ENG}}

| RD1-score32=5

| RD2-seed01=1

| RD2-team01={{flagathlete|Ronnie O'Sullivan|ENG}}

| RD2-score01=5

| RD2-seed02=18

| RD2-team02={{flagathlete|Chris Small|SCO}}

| RD2-score02=1

| RD2-seed03=11

| RD2-team03={{flagathlete|Steve Davis|ENG}}

| RD2-score03=3

| RD2-seed04=5

| RD2-team04={{flagathlete|Stephen Lee|ENG}}

| RD2-score04=5

| RD2-seed05=41

| RD2-team05={{flagathlete|Stephen Maguire|SCO}}

| RD2-score05=5

| RD2-seed06=16

| RD2-team06={{flagathlete|Joe Perry|ENG}}

| RD2-score06=4

| RD2-seed07=13

| RD2-team07={{flagathlete|Graeme Dott|SCO}}

| RD2-score07=0

| RD2-seed08=4

| RD2-team08={{flagathlete|John Higgins|SCO}}

| RD2-score08=5

| RD2-seed09=3

| RD2-team09={{flagathlete|Stephen Hendry|SCO}}

| RD2-score09=3

| RD2-seed10=15

| RD2-team10={{flagathlete|Jimmy White|ENG}}

| RD2-score10=5

| RD2-seed11=12

| RD2-team11={{flagathlete|David Gray|ENG}}

| RD2-score11=2

| RD2-seed12=

| RD2-team12={{flagathlete|Neil Robertson|AUS}}

| RD2-score12=5

| RD2-seed13=8

| RD2-team13={{flagathlete|Paul Hunter|ENG}}

| RD2-score13=2

| RD2-seed14=24

| RD2-team14={{flagathlete|Tony Drago|MLT}}

| RD2-score14=5

| RD2-seed15=14

| RD2-team15={{flagathlete|Quinten Hann|AUS}}

| RD2-score15=5

| RD2-seed16=20

| RD2-team16={{flagathlete|Anthony Hamilton|ENG}}

| RD2-score16=1

| RD3-seed01=1

| RD3-team01={{flagathlete|Ronnie O'Sullivan|ENG}}

| RD3-score01=4

| RD3-seed02=5

| RD3-team02={{flagathlete|Stephen Lee|ENG}}

| RD3-score02=5

| RD3-seed03=41

| RD3-team03={{flagathlete|Stephen Maguire|SCO}}

| RD3-score03=5

| RD3-seed04=4

| RD3-team04={{flagathlete|John Higgins|SCO}}

| RD3-score04=3

| RD3-seed05=15

| RD3-team05={{flagathlete|Jimmy White|ENG}}

| RD3-score05=5

| RD3-seed06=

| RD3-team06={{flagathlete|Neil Robertson|AUS}}

| RD3-score06=3

| RD3-seed07=24

| RD3-team07={{flagathlete|Tony Drago|MLT}}

| RD3-score07=5

| RD3-seed08=14

| RD3-team08={{flagathlete|Quinten Hann|AUS}}

| RD3-score08=1

| RD4-seed01=5

| RD4-team01={{flagathlete|Stephen Lee|ENG}}

| RD4-score01=4

| RD4-seed02=41

| RD4-team02={{flagathlete|Stephen Maguire|SCO}}

| RD4-score02=6

| RD4-seed03=15

| RD4-team03={{flagathlete|Jimmy White|ENG}}

| RD4-score03=6

| RD4-seed04=24

| RD4-team04={{flagathlete|Tony Drago|MLT}}

| RD4-score04=4

| RD5-seed01=41

| RD5-team01={{flagathlete|Stephen Maguire|SCO}}

| RD5-score01=9

| RD5-seed02=15

| RD5-team02={{flagathlete|Jimmy White|ENG}}

| RD5-score02=3

}}

;Key

w/o = walkover

w/d = withdrew

Scores in bold denote winning frame scores and the winning participant.

Qualifying for the tournament took place at Pontin's in Prestatyn, Wales between 31 October and 5 November 2003.{{cite web|title=2003-4 European Open|url=http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Results/res_03_4/03euro.htm|publisher=Global Snooker Centre|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040618130034/http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Results/res_03_4/03euro.htm|archivedate=18 June 2004|access-date=27 January 2023|url-status=dead}}

Best of 9 frames

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{Col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{32TeamX4RoundBracket-NoSeeds

|seeds=no

| team-width=200

| RD1 = Round 2
Best of 9 frames

| RD2 = Round 3
Best of 9 frames

| RD3 = Round 4
Best of 9 frames

| RD4 = Round 5
Best of 9 frames

| RD1-seed01 =

| RD1-team01 ={{flagicon|SCO}} Steven Bennie

| RD1-score01 =3

| RD1-seed02 =

| RD1-team02 ={{Flagicon|WAL}} Ian Preece

| RD1-score02 =5

| RD1-seed03 =

| RD1-team03 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Martin Gould

| RD1-score03 =5

| RD1-seed04 =

| RD1-team04 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Paul Sweeny

| RD1-score04 =4

| RD1-seed05 =

| RD1-team05 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Rory McLeod

| RD1-score05 =5

| RD1-seed06 =

| RD1-team06 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Tom Ford

| RD1-score06 =3

| RD1-seed07 =

| RD1-team07 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Adrian Rosa

| RD1-score07 =2

| RD1-seed08 =

| RD1-team08 ={{flagicon|IRL}} Colm Gilcreest

| RD1-score08 =5

| RD1-seed09 =

| RD1-team09 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Munraj Pal

| RD1-score09 =5

| RD1-seed10 =

| RD1-team10 ={{flagicon|WAL}} Ryan Day

| RD1-score10 =4

| RD1-seed11 =

| RD1-team11 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Michael Rhodes

| RD1-score11 =4

| RD1-seed12 =

| RD1-team12 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Craig Butler

| RD1-score12 =5

| RD1-seed13 =

| RD1-team13 ={{flagicon|SCO}} Martin Dziewialtowski

| RD1-score13 =5

| RD1-seed14 =

| RD1-team14 ={{flagicon|THA}} Atthasit Mahitthi

| RD1-score14 =2

| RD1-seed15 =

| RD1-team15 ={{flagicon|IRL}} Leo Fernandez

| RD1-score15 =4

| RD1-seed16 =

| RD1-team16 ={{flagicon|THA}} Kwan Poomjang

| RD1-score16 =5

| RD1-seed17 =

| RD1-team17 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Ricky Walden

| RD1-score17 =0

| RD1-seed18 =

| RD1-team18 ={{flagicon|WAL}} Lee Walker

| RD1-score18 =5

| RD1-seed19 =

| RD1-team19 ={{Flagicon|SCO}} Scott MacKenzie

| RD1-score19 =5

| RD1-seed20 =

| RD1-team20 ={{flagicon|NIR}} Jason Prince

| RD1-score20 =2

| RD1-seed21 =

| RD1-team21 ={{flagicon|IRL}} Garry Hardiman

| RD1-score21 =5

| RD1-seed22 =

| RD1-team22 ={{flagicon|NIR}} Terry Murphy

| RD1-score22 =4

| RD1-seed23 =

| RD1-team23 ={{flagicon|AUS}} Neil Robertson

| RD1-score23 =5

| RD1-seed24 =

| RD1-team24 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Luke Simmonds

| RD1-score24 =0

| RD1-seed25 =

| RD1-team25 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Darryn Walker

| RD1-score25 =1

| RD1-seed26 =

| RD1-team26 ={{Flagicon|WAL}} Philip Williams

| RD1-score26 =5

| RD1-seed27 =

| RD1-team27 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Adrian Gunnell

| RD1-score27 =5

| RD1-seed28 =

| RD1-team28 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Jason Ferguson

| RD1-score28 =1

| RD1-seed29 =

| RD1-team29 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Simon Bedford

| RD1-score29 =5

| RD1-seed30 =

| RD1-team30 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Jamie Cope

| RD1-score30 =3

| RD1-seed31 =

| RD1-team31 ={{flagicon|AUS}} Steve Mifsud

| RD1-score31 =4

| RD1-seed32 =

| RD1-team32 ={{flagicon|NIR}} Joe Meara

| RD1-score32 =5

| RD2-seed01 =

| RD2-team01 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Shaun Murphy

| RD2-score01 =4

| RD2-seed02 =

| RD2-team02 ={{Flagicon|WAL}} Ian Preece

| RD2-score02 =5

| RD2-seed03 =

| RD2-team03 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Finbow

| RD2-score03 =3

| RD2-seed04 =

| RD2-team04 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Martin Gould

| RD2-score04 =5

| RD2-seed05 =

| RD2-team05 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Alfie Burden

| RD2-score05 =0

| RD2-seed06 =

| RD2-team06 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Rory McLeod

| RD2-score06 =5

| RD2-seed07 =

| RD2-team07 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Andy Hicks

| RD2-score07 =3

| RD2-seed08 =

| RD2-team08 ={{flagicon|IRL}} Colm Gilcreest

| RD2-score08 =5

| RD2-seed09 =

| RD2-team09 ={{flagicon|NIR}} Patrick Wallace

| RD2-score09 =5

| RD2-seed10 =

| RD2-team10 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Munraj Pal

| RD2-score10 =4

| RD2-seed11 =

| RD2-team11 ={{Flagicon|ENG}} David Roe

| RD2-score11 =5

| RD2-seed12 =

| RD2-team12 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Craig Butler

| RD2-score12 =0

| RD2-seed13 =

| RD2-team13 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Sean Storey

| RD2-score13 =5

| RD2-seed14 =

| RD2-team14 ={{Flagicon|SCO}} Martin Dziewialtowski

| RD2-score14 =3

| RD2-seed15 =

| RD2-team15 ={{flagicon|PAK}} Shokat Ali

| RD2-score15 =5

| RD2-seed16 =

| RD2-team16 ={{flagicon|THA}} Kwan Poomjang

| RD2-score16 =2

| RD2-seed17 =

| RD2-team17 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Jimmy Michie

| RD2-score17 =5

| RD2-seed18 =

| RD2-team18 ={{flagicon|WAL}} Lee Walker

| RD2-score18 =1

| RD2-seed19 =

| RD2-team19 ={{flagicon|SCO}} Marcus Campbell

| RD2-score19 =4

| RD2-seed20 =

| RD2-team20 ={{Flagicon|SCO}} Scott MacKenzie

| RD2-score20 =5

| RD2-seed21 =

| RD2-team21 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Mike Dunn

| RD2-score21 =5

| RD2-seed22 =

| RD2-team22 ={{flagicon|IRL}} Garry Hardiman

| RD2-score22 =1

| RD2-seed23 =

| RD2-team23 ={{flagicon|WAL}} Darren Morgan

| RD2-score23 =2

| RD2-seed24 =

| RD2-team24 ={{flagicon|AUS}} Neil Robertson

| RD2-score24 =5

| RD2-seed25 =

| RD2-team25 ={{flagicon|BEL}} Bjorn Haneveer

| RD2-score25 =5

| RD2-seed26 =

| RD2-team26 ={{flagicon|WAL}} Philip Williams

| RD2-score26 =3

| RD2-seed27 =

| RD2-team27 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Nick Walker

| RD2-score27 =0

| RD2-seed28 =

| RD2-team28 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Adrian Gunnell

| RD2-score28 =5

| RD2-seed29 =

| RD2-team29 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Nick Dyson

| RD2-score29 =4

| RD2-seed30 =

| RD2-team30 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Simon Bedford

| RD2-score30 =5

| RD2-seed31 =

| RD2-team31 ={{Flagicon|ENG}} Rod Lawler

| RD2-score31 =5

| RD2-seed32 =

| RD2-team32 ={{flagicon|NIR}} Joe Meara

| RD2-score32 =1

| RD3-seed01 =

| RD3-team01 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Jonathan Birch

| RD3-score01 =5

| RD3-seed02 =

| RD3-team02 ={{flagicon|WAL}} Ian Preece

| RD3-score02 =3

| RD3-seed03 =

| RD3-team03 ={{flagicon|IRL}} Michael Judge

| RD3-score03 =5

| RD3-seed04 =

| RD3-team04 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Martin Gould

| RD3-score04 =2

| RD3-seed05 =

| RD3-team05 ={{Flagicon|ENG}} Barry Hawkins

| RD3-score05 =5

| RD3-seed06 =

| RD3-team06 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Rory McLeod

| RD3-score06 =2

| RD3-seed07 =

| RD3-team07 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Stuart Bingham

| RD3-score07 =5

| RD3-seed08 =

| RD3-team08 ={{flagicon|IRL}} Colm Gilcreest

| RD3-score08 =2

| RD3-seed09 =

| RD3-team09 ={{flagicon|SCO}} Stephen Maguire

| RD3-score09 =5

| RD3-seed10 =

| RD3-team10 ={{flagicon|NIR}} Patrick Wallace

| RD3-score10 =2

| RD3-seed11 =

| RD3-team11 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Gary Wilkinson

| RD3-score11 =2

| RD3-seed12 =

| RD3-team12 ={{Flagicon|ENG}} David Roe

| RD3-score12 =5

| RD3-seed13 =

| RD3-team13 ={{flagicon|SCO}} Jamie Burnett

| RD3-score13 =3

| RD3-seed14 =

| RD3-team14 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Sean Storey

| RD3-score14 =5

| RD3-seed15 =

| RD3-team15 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Barry Pinches

| RD3-score15 =5

| RD3-seed16 =

| RD3-team16 ={{flagicon|PAK}} Shokat Ali

| RD3-score16 =2

| RD3-seed17 =

| RD3-team17 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Nigel Bond

| RD3-score17 =4

| RD3-seed18 =

| RD3-team18 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Jimmy Michie

| RD3-score18 =5

| RD3-seed19 =

| RD3-team19 ={{flagicon|THA}} James Wattana

| RD3-score19 =5

| RD3-seed20 =

| RD3-team20 ={{flagicon|SCO}} Scott MacKenzie

| RD3-score20 =3

| RD3-seed21 =

| RD3-team21 ={{flagicon|IRL}} Fergal O'Brien

| RD3-score21 =5

| RD3-seed22 =

| RD3-team22 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Mike Dunn

| RD3-score22 =3

| RD3-seed23 =

| RD3-team23 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Mark Davis

| RD3-score23 =1

| RD3-seed24 =

| RD3-team24 ={{flagicon|AUS}} Neil Robertson

| RD3-score24 =5

| RD3-seed25 =

| RD3-team25 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Brian Morgan

| RD3-score25 =5

| RD3-seed26 =

| RD3-team26 ={{flagicon|BEL}} Bjorn Haneveer

| RD3-score26 =4

| RD3-seed27 =

| RD3-team27 ={{flagicon|NIR}} Gerard Greene

| RD3-score27 =4

| RD3-seed28 =

| RD3-team28 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Adrian Gunnell

| RD3-score28 =5

| RD3-seed29 =

| RD3-team29 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Stuart Pettman

| RD3-score29 =2

| RD3-seed30 =

| RD3-team30 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Simon Bedford

| RD3-score30 =5

| RD3-seed31 =

| RD3-team31 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Michael Holt

| RD3-score31 =5

| RD3-seed32 =

| RD3-team32 ={{Flagicon|ENG}} Rod Lawler

| RD3-score32 =3

| RD4-seed01 =

| RD4-team01 ={{flagicon|HKG}} Marco Fu

| RD4-score01 =5

| RD4-seed02 =

| RD4-team02 ={{Flagicon|ENG}} Jonathan Birch

| RD4-score02 =0

| RD4-seed03 =

| RD4-team03 ={{flagicon|SCO}} Chris Small

| RD4-score03 =5

| RD4-seed04 =

| RD4-team04 ={{flagicon|IRL}} Michael Judge

| RD4-score04 =2

| RD4-seed05 =

| RD4-team05 ={{flagicon|NIR}} Joe Swail

| RD4-score05 =5

| RD4-seed06 =

| RD4-team06 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Barry Hawkins

| RD4-score06 =3

| RD4-seed07 =

| RD4-team07 ={{flagicon|FIN}} Robin Hull

| RD4-score07 =5

| RD4-seed08 =

| RD4-team08 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Stuart Bingham

| RD4-score08 =1

| RD4-seed09 =

| RD4-team09 ={{flagicon|WAL}} Dominic Dale

| RD4-score09 =0

| RD4-seed10 =

| RD4-team10 ={{flagicon|SCO}} Stephen Maguire

| RD4-score10 =5

| RD4-seed11 =

| RD4-team11 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Mark King

| RD4-score11 =4

| RD4-seed12 =

| RD4-team12 ={{Flagicon|ENG}} David Roe

| RD4-score12 =5

| RD4-seed13 =

| RD4-team13 ={{flagicon|SCO}} Drew Henry

| RD4-score13 =5

| RD4-seed14 =

| RD4-team14 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Sean Storey

| RD4-score14 =1

| RD4-seed15 =

| RD4-team15 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Robert Milkins

| RD4-score15 =1

| RD4-seed16 =

| RD4-team16 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Barry Pinches

| RD4-score16 =5

| RD4-seed17 =

| RD4-team17 ={{flagicon|WAL}} Anthony Davies

| RD4-score17 =4

| RD4-seed18 =

| RD4-team18 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Jimmy Michie

| RD4-score18 =5

| RD4-seed19 =

| RD4-team19 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Ali Carter

| RD4-score19 =4

| RD4-seed20 =

| RD4-team20 ={{flagicon|THA}} James Wattana

| RD4-score20 =5

| RD4-seed21 =

| RD4-team21 ={{flagicon|ENG}} John Parrott

| RD4-score21 =4

| RD4-seed22 =

| RD4-team22 ={{flagicon|IRL}} Fergal O'Brien

| RD4-score22 =5

| RD4-seed23 =

| RD4-team23 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Ian McCulloch

| RD4-score23 =1

| RD4-seed24 =

| RD4-team24 ={{flagicon|AUS}} Neil Robertson

| RD4-score24 =5

| RD4-seed25 =

| RD4-team25 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Mark Selby

| RD4-score25 =1

| RD4-seed26 =

| RD4-team26 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Brian Morgan

| RD4-score26 =5

| RD4-seed27 =

| RD4-team27 ={{flagicon|MLT}} Tony Drago{{#tag:ref|Match was held over to the venue in Malta.|group=i}}

| RD4-score27 =5

| RD4-seed28 =

| RD4-team28 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Adrian Gunnell

| RD4-score28 =2

| RD4-seed29 =

| RD4-team29 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Harold

| RD4-score29 =4

| RD4-seed30 =

| RD4-team30 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Simon Bedford

| RD4-score30 =5

| RD4-seed31 =

| RD4-team31 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Anthony Hamilton

| RD4-score31 =5

| RD4-seed32 =

| RD4-team32 ={{flagicon|ENG}} Michael Holt

| RD4-score32 =2

}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

• 144 {{ndash}} Michael Judge
• 140 {{ndash}} Lee Walker
• 139, 102 {{ndash}} Barry Pinches
• 135 {{ndash}} Martin Dziewialtowski
• 135 {{ndash}} Ali Carter
• 131 {{ndash}} Mike Dunn
• 129 {{ndash}} Leo Fernandez
• 128 {{ndash}} Kwan Poomjang
• 128 {{ndash}} Ian Brumby
• 124, 100 {{ndash}} Anthony Hamilton
• 121 {{ndash}} Rory McLeod
• 121 {{ndash}} Joe Swail
• 120 {{ndash}} Brian Morgan
• 120 {{ndash}} David Roe
• 119 {{ndash}} Philip Williams

{{col-2}}

• 117 {{ndash}} Kurt Maflin
• 116 {{ndash}} Stuart Bingham
• 115 {{ndash}} Chris Small
• 114 {{ndash}} Adrian Gunnell
• 111 {{ndash}} Dave Harold
• 108, 101 {{ndash}} Robin Hull
• 107 {{ndash}} Liu Song
• 106 {{ndash}} Tom Ford
• 106 {{ndash}} Stephen Maguire
• 106 {{ndash}} John Parrott
• 106 {{ndash}} Patrick Wallace
• 105 {{ndash}} Jamie Cope
• 104 {{ndash}} Jimmy Michie
• 102 {{ndash}} Ding Junhui

{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

• 137, 103 {{ndash}} Stephen Maguire
• 133 {{ndash}} Anthony Hamilton
• 132 {{ndash}} John Higgins
• 125, 104, 103 {{ndash}} Jimmy White

{{col-2}}

• 112, 110 {{ndash}} Ronnie O'Sullivan
• 109, 100 {{ndash}} Neil Robertson
• 109 {{ndash}} Tony Drago
• 100 {{ndash}} Peter Ebdon

{{col-end}}

{{reflist|group=i}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.snooker.org/trn/0304/eo2004_res.shtml European Open 2004]. snooker.org.
• [http://www.snooker.org/rnk/0304/ranking.asp Embassy World Rankings 2003/2004]. snooker.org.

{{Malta Cup}}

{{Snooker season 2003/2004}}

2004

European Open

European Open (snooker)

European Open

Category:Snooker in Malta