View source for 2001 Irish Masters

{{short description|Snooker tournament}}
{{good article}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox individual snooker tournament
|tournament_name=Irish Masters
|logo=
|dates={{Start and end dates|2001|03|27|2001|04|1|df=y}}
|venue=Citywest Hotel
|location=[[Dublin]]
|country=Republic of Ireland
|organisation=[[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|WPBSA]]
|format=Non-[[Snooker world rankings|ranking]] event
|Total prize fund=£175,000
|winners_share=£75,000
|highest_break={{flagathlete|[[Ronnie O'Sullivan]]|ENG}} (137) 
|winner={{flagathlete|[[Ronnie O'Sullivan]]|ENG}}
|runner_up={{flagathlete|[[Stephen Hendry]]|SCO}}
|score=9–8
|previous=[[2000 Irish Masters|2000]]
|next=[[2002 Irish Masters|2002]]
}}
The '''2001 Irish Masters''' (officially the '''2001 Citywest Irish Masters''') was a professional invitational [[snooker]] tournament which was held at the Citywest Hotel in [[Saggart]], [[Dublin]], from 27 March to 1 April. It was the 24th [[Irish Masters]] and the fifth and final [[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association]] invitational event in the [[2000–01 snooker season]]. The tournament was co-sponsored by the Health Promotion Unit and the Office of Tobacco Control of the [[Department of Health (Ireland)|Department of Health and Children]] and hotel group [[CityWest Homes|Citywest]].

[[John Higgins]] was the defending champion of the tournament but was eliminated in the quarter-finals following a defeat by [[Peter Ebdon]]. [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]], three-time tournament winner over the course of the season, won the competition, beating three-time Irish Masters winner [[Stephen Hendry]] nine <dfn>[[Glossary of cue sports terms#frame|frames]]</dfn> to eight (9–8) in the final. In the semi-finals, O'Sullivan defeated Ebdon and Hendry beat defending world champion [[Mark Williams (snooker player)|Mark Williams]]. O'Sullivan made a [[century break]] of 137 in the second frame of his quarter-final match with six-time world champion [[Steve Davis]], the highest of the tournament.

==Overview==
Founded in 1978 by the [[Benson & Hedges]] tobacco brand as the [[Republic of Ireland]]'s major [[snooker]] event, the [[Irish Masters]] originated as a snooker [[Exhibition game|challenge match]] before it became an elimination tournament.<ref name="Irish Masters">{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Chris|title=Irish Masters|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/irishmast.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155735/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/irishmast.html|archive-date=16 February 2012|access-date=18 November 2010|publisher=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive}}</ref> The 2001 competition was its 24th staging,<ref name="Irish Masters" /> and the last of the five [[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association]] invitational events in the [[2000–01 snooker season]].<ref name=Results>{{Cite web|title=Citywest Irish Masters 2001|url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/0001/im2001_res.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901120816/http://www.snooker.org/trn/0001/im2001_res.shtml|archive-date=1 September 2020|access-date=11 October 2020|publisher=Snooker.org}}</ref> It featured a 12-player draw that occurred at the Citywest Hotel, [[Saggart]], [[Dublin]], between 27 March and 1 April 2001.<ref name=NewSV>{{Cite web|last=Dee|first=John|date=31 January 2001|title=New Sponsor and Venue for Irish Masters|url=http://www.embassysnooker.com/news/435.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010430055637/http://www.embassysnooker.com/news/435.htm|archive-date=30 April 2001|access-date=11 October 2020|publisher=Embassy Snooker}}</ref> The tournament was co-sponsored by the Health Promotion Unit and the Office of Tobacco Control of the [[Department of Health (Ireland)|Department of Health and Children]] and hotel group [[CityWest Homes|Citywest]] following the withdrawal of Benson & Hedges as a title sponsor,<ref>{{Cite news|last=O'Morain|first=Padraig|date=31 January 2001|title=Department of Health snooker sponsorship criticised by Labour|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/department-of-health-snooker-sponsorship-criticised-by-labour-1.275603|url-status=live|access-date=11 October 2020|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109153230/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/department-of-health-snooker-sponsorship-criticised-by-labour-1.275603}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=30 January 2001|title=Dept of Health to sponsor Irish Masters|work=[[Irish Examiner]]|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/arid-30002947.html|access-date=11 October 2020}}</ref> as a result of [[Micheál Martin]], the [[Minister for Health (Ireland)|Irish Health Minister]], introducing a ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship in Ireland in September 2000.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Parkin|first=Chris|date=27 September 2000|title=Tobacco firm quits snooker sponsorship|page=11|work=[[The News Letter]]|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A65499415/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=4e74f060|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|access-date=11 October 2020|via=Gale OneFile: News|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109153232/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA65499415&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=4e74f060}}</ref>

A total of £195,000 prize money was available, with £75,000 going to the winner,<ref name=NewSV/> and the host broadcaster was [[RTÉ]].<ref name=Results/> The competition went ahead as scheduled in the wake of concerns about the spread of [[2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak|foot-and-mouth in Ireland and the United Kingdom]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=O'Reilly|first=Noel|date=1 March 2001|title=Irish Masters snooker event to go ahead|newspaper=The Irish Times|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/irish-masters-snooker-event-to-go-ahead-1.376150|url-status=live|access-date=11 October 2020|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109153231/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/irish-masters-snooker-event-to-go-ahead-1.376150}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=1 March 2001|title=Irish snooker tournament to go ahead|work=Irish Examiner|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/arid-30005567.html|url-status=live|access-date=11 October 2020|archive-date=14 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014002533/https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/arid-30005567.html}}</ref> The eight highest-ranked players in the [[Snooker world rankings 2000/2001|world rankings]] and four [[Wild card (sports)|wild cards]] were invited to play in Ireland.<ref name=NewSV/> Each of the 12 players were [[Seed (sports)|seeded]], with the first seed being [[John Higgins]], the competition's defending winner. The maximum number of {{cuegloss|frame|frames}} played in a match increased from 11 in the first round, the quarter-finals and the semi-finals to the best-of-17 frames final on 1 April.<ref name=AZResults>{{Cite web|title=2001 Irish Masters|url=http://www.azbilliards.com/snooker/2000-01/01irishmasters.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020711190316/http://www.azbilliards.com/snooker/2000-01/01irishmasters.html|archive-date=11 July 2002|access-date=11 October 2020|publisher=AZBilliards}}</ref>

==Tournament summary==
===First round===
The first round was played from 27 to 28 March and entailed four best-of-11-frame fixtures.<ref name=EventInfo>{{Cite web|title=Event Information|url=http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/irish_masters/info.asp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010411213836/http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/irish_masters/info.asp|archive-date=11 April 2001|access-date=11 October 2020|publisher=World Snooker}}</ref> [[Jimmy White]], the [[2000 British Open]] finalist, lost 6–4 to world number six [[Alan McManus]] in a 3-hour, 7-minute match.<ref>{{Cite news|date=28 March 2001|title=White suffers another dark day|work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12178484.white-suffers-another-dark-day/|url-status=live|access-date=11 October 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201109153729/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12178484.white-suffers-another-dark-day/|archive-date=9 November 2020}}</ref><ref name=TITDay1>{{Cite news|last=O'Sullivan|first=John|date=28 March 2001|title=O'Brien punished for his mistakes|newspaper=The Irish Times|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/o-brien-punished-for-his-mistakes-1.295614|url-status=live|access-date=11 October 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201109154003/https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/o-brien-punished-for-his-mistakes-1.295614|archive-date=9 November 2020}}</ref> McManus won the first four of the first six frames to lead 4–2, making a [[century break]] of 102 in frame four. He went on to claim another two frames to earn the first quarter-final spot and achieve his second victory in Ireland since reaching the final of the [[1994 Irish Masters]].{{Efn|McManus' other victory in Ireland was a defeat of O'Brien at the [[2000 Irish Masters]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Dee|first=John|title=Stevens and Williams Meet in quarter-finals|url=http://www.embassysnooker.com/news/479.htm|publisher=Embassy Snooker|date=27 March 2001|access-date=11 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010429040859/http://www.embassysnooker.com/news/479.htm|archive-date=29 April 2001|url-status=dead}}</ref>|name=|group=}}<ref>{{Cite news|last=Whebell|first=Charles|date=27 March 2001|title=Snooker: A black day for White|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/3001872/Snooker-A-black-day-for-White.html|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|access-date=11 October 2020|archive-date=11 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011191803/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/3001872/Snooker-A-black-day-for-White.html}}</ref> [[Matthew Stevens]], the world number four, defeated local player [[Fergal O'Brien]] 6–2. Both players shared the first four frames into the mid-{{Cuegloss|session}} break before Stevens claimed four frames in a row with {{Cuegloss|break|breaks}} of 61 and 59, following playing errors from O'Brien to win.<ref name=TITDay1/>

The third game was between six-time world champion and eight-time Irish Masters winner [[Steve Davis]] and [[2001 Welsh Open (snooker)|Welsh Open]] and [[2001 Thailand Masters|Thailand Masters]] champion [[Ken Doherty]].<ref name=HSDay2>{{Cite news|date=29 March 2001|title=Davis surprises himself as he upsets Doherty|work=The Herald|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12179251.davis-surprises-himself-as-he-upsets-doherty/|url-status=live|access-date=11 October 2020|archive-date=15 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201015210604/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12179251.davis-surprises-himself-as-he-upsets-doherty/}}</ref><ref name=WSDay2>{{Cite web|date=28 March 2001|title=Davis Ousts Thailand Master – Day Two|url=http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/irish_masters/articleshow.asp?articleID=54&category=3|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010407221401/http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/irish_masters/articleshow.asp?articleID=54&category=3|archive-date=7 April 2001|access-date=11 October 2020|publisher=World Snooker}}</ref> After three frames, Davis came from 2–1 behind to lead 5–3 on breaks of 45, 42, 74, 61 and 65. Doherty won the ninth frame 88–0 but Davis won the match 6–4 after 35 minutes of tactical play in frame ten.<ref name=HSDay2/> It was the 19th time Davis had qualified for the quarter-finals of the Irish Masters,<ref name=WSDay2/> his first ranking win since November 2000 and Doherty's first loss to Davis in five matches.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Yates|first=Phil|date=29 March 2001|title=Doherty falls victim to rejuvenated Davis; Snooker|page=37|work=[[The Times]]|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A72478198/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=d79933d7|url-access=subscription|access-date=11 October 2020|via=Gale Academic OneFile}}</ref> [[1995 Irish Masters]] winner [[Peter Ebdon]] played the final first round match with world number five [[Stephen Lee (snooker player)|Stephen Lee]]. The first two frames were won by Lee on breaks of 90 and 65. Ebdon came from 2–0 behind with breaks of 57, 57, 58, 94, 69 and 124 to defeat Lee 6–4 and be the last to qualify for the quarter-finals.<ref>{{Cite news|date=29 March 2001|title=Irish Masters: Ebdon charges into last eight|work=Irish Examiner|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/arid-30008075.html|url-status=live|access-date=11 October 2020|archive-date=14 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014030456/https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/arid-30008075.html}}</ref>

===Quarter-finals===

All four quarter-finals were played between 29 and 30 March.<ref name="EventInfo" /> The first quarter-final was between three-time Irish Masters champion [[Stephen Hendry]] and fellow Scot McManus.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dee|first=John|date=29 March 2001|title=Williams and Hendry Renew Rivalry in Semi-finals|url=http://www.embassysnooker.com/news/481.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010430054110/http://www.embassysnooker.com/news/481.htm|archive-date=30 April 2001|access-date=12 October 2020|publisher=Embassy Snooker}}</ref> Hendry took 50 minutes to take a 4–0 lead as McManus scored 21 points in this period. McManus won the fifth frame with a break of 51 to prevent a [[Whitewash (sport)|whitewash]] before Hendry took the next two frames in 23 minutes to win 6–1. Hendry qualified for the semi-finals for the eighth time in the season and beat McManus for the 19th time.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Whebell|first=Charles|date=30 March 2001|title=McManus humbled by Hendry|work=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A72490231/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=008a0db8|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|access-date=12 October 2020|via=Gale OneFile: News|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109153241/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA72490231&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=008a0db8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=30 March 2001|title=On-form Hendry coasts to victory|work=The Herald|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12179468.on-form-hendry-coasts-to-victory/|url-status=live|access-date=12 October 2020|archive-date=17 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017163102/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12179468.on-form-hendry-coasts-to-victory/}}</ref> Hendry outscored McManus 557 points to 94 and amassed 358 points without reply as the latter failed to {{Cuegloss|pot}} a ball in five frames.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Yates|first=Phil|date=30 March 2001|title=Hendry master of his destiny; Snooker|page=36|work=The Times|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A72536843/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=784d8a74|url-access=subscription|access-date=12 October 2020|via=Gale Academic OneFile}}</ref> [[Mark Williams (snooker player)|Mark Williams]], the [[2000 World Snooker Championship]] winner, faced fellow Welsh player Stevens in the second quarter-final in a rematch of the world final. The two shared the first six frames before Williams won frames seven and eight to lead. Stevens won frame nine with a break of 120 but Williams won the game 6–4 in the tenth frame by a score of 79–1.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bell|first=Jim|date=30 March 2001|title=Snooker: Williams sinks Matthews with ease|page=37|work=The News Letter|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A72494085/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=1d18fd92|url-access=subscription|access-date=12 October 2020|via=Gale OneFile: News}}</ref>

The third quarter-final was between British Open champion Ebdon and [[2000 UK Championship]] winner Higgins. Ebdon won the first three frames with breaks of 63, 68 and 90 for a 3–0 lead before Higgins made breaks of 66 and 53 as he secured three of the next four frames to go 4–3 behind. Ebdon clinched the next two frames as he won the game 6–3.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Whebell|first=Charles|date=31 March 2001|title=Champion destroyed by Ebdon|work=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A72550392/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=74a40d0a|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|access-date=12 October 2020|via=Gale OneFile: News|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109153243/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA72550392&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=74a40d0a}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=31 March 2001|title=Irish Masters: Ebdon/Higgins match report|work=Irish Examiner|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/arid-30008275.html|url-status=live|access-date=12 October 2020|archive-date=13 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013072354/https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/arid-30008275.html}}</ref> The last quarter-final was played by Davis and three-time 2000–01 tournament winner [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]].<ref name=OSullivanOF>{{Cite news|last=Yates|first=Phil|date=31 March 2001|title=O'Sullivan back to his best; Snooker|page=32|work=The Times|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A72569892/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=af130f71|url-status=live|access-date=12 October 2020|via=Gale Academic OneFile|url-access=subscription|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109153310/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA72569892&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=af130f71}}</ref> In the first frame, O'Sullivan looked set to achieve a [[maximum break]] before a spectator's ringing [[mobile phone]] distracted him while on 72 points. He went on to win five of the next eight frames including a 137 {{Cuegloss|total clearance}} and a break of 136 to defeat Davis 6–3 for the last semi-final spot.<ref name=OSullivanOF/><ref name=WSDay4>{{Cite web|date=30 March 2001|title=Defending Champion Higgins Bombs Out – Day Four|url=http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/irish_masters/articleshow.asp?articleID=58&category=3|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010407213206/http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/irish_masters/articleshow.asp?articleID=58&category=3|archive-date=7 April 2001|access-date=12 October 2020|publisher=World Snooker}}</ref> Of the mobile phone incident, O'Sullivan said: "It didn't put me off though it was an important shot I was playing. These things are happening more and more, there is no difference these days between carrying a mobile and having money in your pocket. Some people have panic attacks if they forget their mobile."<ref name=WSDay4/>

===Semi-finals===
[[File:Ronnie O’Sullivan at German Masters Snooker Final (DerHexer) 2012-02-05 65 crop.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Ronnie O'Sullivan]] ''(pictured in 2012)'' won the Irish Masters for the first time, defeating [[Stephen Hendry]] 9–8 in the final.]]

Both of the semi-finals took place on 31 March.<ref name="EventInfo" /> The first semi-final was played between Hendry and Williams.<ref name=AZResults/> Hendry took 51 minutes to win four of the first five frames with century breaks of 100 and 113, bringing his number of professional centuries to 531. Williams then took frames six and seven to go 4–3 behind. Hendry won two more frames to qualify for the final by a score of 6–3.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1 April 2001|title=Hendry reaches Masters final right on cue; Snooker|page=16|work=[[The Sunday Times]]|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A73046758/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=9573ed6e|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|access-date=12 October 2020|via=Gale Academic OneFile|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109153247/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA73046758&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=9573ed6e}}</ref><ref name=WSDay5>{{Cite web|date=31 March 2001|title=Hendry Advances to 96th Final – Day Five|url=http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/irish_masters/articleshow.asp?articleID=59&category=3|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010407213433/http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/irish_masters/articleshow.asp?articleID=59&category=3|archive-date=7 April 2001|access-date=12 October 2020|publisher=World Snooker}}</ref> It was the 96th final of his professional career,<ref name=WSDay5/> and his seventh Irish Masters final. Also, it was his second recent victory over Williams, whom he had defeated in the [[2001 Malta Grand Prix]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hendon|first=David|date=1 April 2001|title=Snooker: Seven out of 12 for Hendry|page=17|work=[[The Independent|The Independent on Sunday]]|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A72603156/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=349ee80d|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|access-date=12 October 2020|via=Gale General OneFile|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109153247/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA72603156&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=349ee80d}}</ref> Hendry commented on his and Williams' play: "Mark missed a lot of shots. I don't expect to get quite so many chances whoever I play in the final. I don't think I played as well as I did in the quarter-finals and Mark can certainly play better than he did. He had an off day and I didn't."<ref name=WSDay5/>

The other semi-final was between Ebdon and O'Sullivan. The first five frames were won by O'Sullivan with breaks of 67, 53, 87, 130 and 134 before Ebdon claimed the next three with breaks of 93, 124 and 83.<ref name=AZResults/> O'Sullivan prevented Ebdon from scoring in the ninth frame to win the match 6–3, clinching the second spot in the final.<ref name=WSDay5/> O'Sullivan praised Ebdon for "forcing [him] to do well" and commented on his own form: "I don't feel 100 per cent about my game which is my problem when things go wrong but at least I am hitting top form here. I've been trying to get something extra out of my game and sometimes it is paying off. But I still go for shots that perhaps would be better left alone. I should hold back but I can't always do that."<ref name=WSDay5/>

===Final===
The best-of-17 frames final between Hendry and O'Sullivan was held over two {{Cuegloss|session|sessions}} on 1 April.<ref name=AZResults/><ref name="EventInfo" /> It was the 30th time the two players had met in professional competition; O'Sullivan had won their 15 previous meetings, while Hendry had won the other 14.<ref name="ITFinal">{{cite news|last=Gilleece|first=Dermot|title=O'Sullivan fights off Hendry comeback|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/o-sullivan-fights-off-hendry-comeback-1.297311|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=2 April 2001|access-date=12 October 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201109154150/https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/o-sullivan-fights-off-hendry-comeback-1.297311|archive-date=9 November 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On a break of 41, Hendry missed the final {{Cuegloss|red ball}} while using the {{Cuegloss|rest}},<ref name="IndyFinal">{{cite news|last=Daley|first=Kieran|title=Snooker: O'Sullivan starts sharply in final|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A72603720/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=187e1225|work=The Independent|date=2 April 2001|access-date=12 October 2020|page=11|via=Gale General OneFile|url-access=subscription|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109153248/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA72603720&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=187e1225|url-status=live}}</ref> allowing O'Sullivan to make a 28 {{Cuegloss|clearance}} to the {{Cuegloss|pink ball}} and win the opening frame. O'Sullivan took 20 minutes to accumulate 136 points from breaks of 60 and 76 as he won the next three frames to go 4–0 ahead before the mid-session interval.<ref name="IEFinal">{{cite news|last=Comyn|first=John|title=Snooker – O'Sullivan finally claims Masters win|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/bsnookerb-osullivan-finally-claims-masters-win-26088743.html|work=[[Irish Independent]]|date=2 April 2001|access-date=12 October 2020|archive-date=17 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017114058/https://www.independent.ie/sport/bsnookerb-osullivan-finally-claims-masters-win-26088743.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Hendry won the fifth frame with an eight-minute break of 76,<ref name="IndyFinal" /><ref name="DTFinal">{{cite news|last=Whebell|first=Charles|title=Masterful O'Sullivan takes it to the wire|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A72606115/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=6cd1801b|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=2 April 2001|access-date=12 October 2020|via=Gale OneFile: News|url-access=subscription|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109153251/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA72606115&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=6cd1801b|url-status=live}}</ref> and O'Sullivan took the sixth in less than ten minutes on a break of 86. The first session ended 5–2 to O'Sullivan when Hendry won frame seven on a break of 76.<ref name="IEFinal" /> After a four-hour interval,<ref name="IndyFinal" /> a break of 84 gave Hendry frame eight and O'Sullivan took the ninth on an 76 break.<ref name="IEFinal" /> Breaks of 82, 95 and 53 in the next three frames allowed Hendry to equalise but O'Sullivan retook the lead with a century break of 112,<ref name="AZResults" /> his fifth of the tournament.<ref name="TimesFinal">{{cite news|last=Yates|first=Phil|title=O'Sullivan keeps his nerve to see off Hendry; Snooker|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A72664336/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=725e8d8f|work=The Times|date=2 April 2001|access-date=12 October 2020|page=9|via=Gale Academic OneFile|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Although Hendry won two more frames to take the lead, O'Sullivan won frame 16 on a break of 80 to force a final frame decider.<ref name="WSFinal">{{cite web|date=1 April 2001|title=Ronnie Takes Irish Masters – Day Six|url=http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/irish_masters/articleshow.asp?articleID=60&category=3|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010407214041/http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/irish_masters/articleshow.asp?articleID=60&category=3|archive-date=7 April 2001|access-date=12 October 2020|publisher=World Snooker}}</ref> O'Sullivan won the final frame for a 9–8 victory with a break of 43 after Hendry missed the {{Cuegloss|black ball}} while on a break of 13.<ref name="AZResults" /><ref name="HeraldFinal">{{cite news|title=O'Sullivan holds on as Hendry takes it to wire|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12174253.osullivan-holds-on-as-hendry-takes-it-to-wire/|work=The Herald|date=2 April 2001|access-date=12 October 2020|archive-date=12 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012085724/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12174253.osullivan-holds-on-as-hendry-takes-it-to-wire/|url-status=live}}</ref>

It was O'Sullivan's first Irish Masters win; he had defeated Doherty 9–3 in the [[1998 Irish Masters|1998 final]] but was disqualified, as he tested positive for traces of cannabis.<ref name="TimesFinal" /> He won his fourth tournament of the season following the [[2000 Champions Cup|Champions Cup]], the [[2000 Scottish Masters|Scottish Masters]] and the [[2000 China Open (snooker)|China Open]],<ref name="IEFinal" /><ref name="TimesFinal" /><ref name="EENFinal">{{cite news|date=2 April 2001|title=O'Sullivan battles to title win|page=33|work=[[Edinburgh Evening News]]|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A82708994/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=a359df20|url-access=subscription|access-date=12 April 2020|via=Gale OneFile: News|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109153255/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA82708994&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=a359df20|url-status=live}}</ref> though this was his first in 2001.<ref name="BPFinal">{{cite news|title=Snooker: O'Sullivan edges home for Irish joy|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/323687316|work=[[Birmingham Post]]|date=2 April 2001|access-date=12 October 2020|page=24|via=ProQuest|url-access=subscription|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109153307/https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special%3AUserLogin&uselang=en&returnto=Special%3AOAuth%2Fauthenticate&returntoquery=%26oauth_consumer_key%3Dc656df92ac58925bbcb164666bde5baf%26oauth_token%3D2ec50c9447de652e221b877bc123cfde|id={{ProQuest|323687316}} |url-status=live}}</ref> The £75,000 he won increased his season's earnings to more than £370,000.<ref name="WSFinal" /> O'Sullivan commented on the victory: "It's a great feeling to win and right now I'm on cloud nine. It's tough on Stephen but he has won so many more titles than I have."<ref name="WSFinal" /> He added: "I played good match snooker against Stephen but I wasn't flying as well as I can do. I like to win by forcing the pace, creating openings and putting my opponents under pressure. I didn't do that, I just did a job. No one remembers who finishes second and I didn't want to be on the wrong end of a 9–8 scoreline."<ref name="EENFinal" /> Hendry had lost in his second successive final after losing to Doherty in the Thailand Masters and it was the third time he had been defeated in the Irish Masters final decided in the final frame.<ref name="TimesFinal" /><ref name="BPFinal" /> He said: "I don't get any satisfaction from finishing runner-up .... If you don't win the title it's just like losing in the first round."<ref name="EENFinal" />

==Main draw==
Numbers given to the left of players' names show the seedings for all the players in the tournament. Players in bold denote match winners.<ref name="Results" /><ref name="AZResults" />
{{16TeamBracket-Compact-NoSeeds-Byes
| RD1=Round 1<br/>Best of 11 frames
| RD2=Quarter-finals<br/>Best of 11 frames
| RD3=Semi-finals<br/>Best of 11 frames
| RD4=Final<br/>Best of 17 frames
| RD1-seed03=17
| RD1-team03={{Flagathlete|'''[[Steve Davis]]'''|ENG}}
| RD1-score03='''6'''
| RD1-seed04=7
| RD1-team04={{Flagathlete|[[Ken Doherty]]|IRL}} 
| RD1-score04=4
| RD1-seed07=12
| RD1-team07={{Flagathlete|'''[[Peter Ebdon]]'''|ENG}} 
| RD1-score07='''6'''
| RD1-seed08=5
| RD1-team08={{Flagathlete|[[Stephen Lee (snooker player)|Stephen Lee]]|ENG}} 
| RD1-score08=4
| RD1-seed11=8
| RD1-team11={{Flagathlete|'''[[Alan McManus]]'''|SCO}} 
| RD1-score11='''6'''
| RD1-seed12=18
| RD1-team12={{Flagathlete|[[Jimmy White]]|ENG}} 
| RD1-score12=4
| RD1-seed15=6
| RD1-team15={{nowrap|{{Flagathlete|'''[[Matthew Stevens]]'''|WAL}} }}
| RD1-score15='''6'''
| RD1-seed16=9
| RD1-team16={{Flagathlete|[[Fergal O'Brien]]|IRL}} 
| RD1-score16=2
| RD2-seed01=4
| RD2-team01={{nowrap|{{Flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Ronnie O'Sullivan]]'''}}
| RD2-score01='''6'''
| RD2-seed02=17
| RD2-team02={{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve Davis]]
| RD2-score02=3
| RD2-seed03=12
| RD2-team03={{Flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Peter Ebdon]]'''
| RD2-score03='''6'''
| RD2-seed04=1
| RD2-team04={{Flagicon|SCO}} [[John Higgins]]
| RD2-score04=3
| RD2-seed05=3
| RD2-team05={{Flagicon|SCO}} '''[[Stephen Hendry]]'''
| RD2-score05='''6'''
| RD2-seed06=8
| RD2-team06={{Flagicon|SCO}} [[Alan McManus]]
| RD2-score06=1
| RD2-seed07=2
| RD2-team07={{Flagicon|WAL}} '''[[Mark Williams (snooker player)|Mark Williams]]'''
| RD2-score07='''6'''
| RD2-seed08=6
| RD2-team08={{Flagicon|WAL}} [[Matthew Stevens]]
| RD2-score08=4
| RD3-seed01=4
| RD3-team01={{nowrap|{{Flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Ronnie O'Sullivan]]'''}}
| RD3-score01='''6'''
| RD3-seed02=12
| RD3-team02={{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Peter Ebdon]]
| RD3-score02=3
| RD3-seed03=3
| RD3-team03={{Flagicon|SCO}} '''[[Stephen Hendry]]'''
| RD3-score03='''6'''
| RD3-seed04=2
| RD3-team04={{Flagicon|WAL}} [[Mark Williams (snooker player)|Mark Williams]]
| RD3-score04=3
| RD4-seed01=4
| RD4-team01={{nowrap|{{Flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Ronnie O'Sullivan]]'''}}
| RD4-score01='''9'''
| RD4-seed02=3
| RD4-team02={{Flagicon|SCO}} [[Stephen Hendry]]
| RD4-score02=8
}}

===Final===
The bold text in the table indicate winning frame scores and denotes the player who won the game. Breaks over 50 are displayed in brackets.<ref name="Results" /><ref name="AZResults" />
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
|-
| colspan="3"  style="text-align:center; background:gold;"| '''Final:''' Best of 17 frames.<ref name="ITFinal" /><br />Citywest Hotel, [[Dublin]], Republic of Ireland, 1 April 2001.<ref name="Results" /><ref name="AZResults" />
|-
|  style="width:200px; text-align:right;"| [[Stephen Hendry]] (3)<br/>{{SCO}}
|  style="width:100px; text-align:center;"| 8–'''9'''
| style="width:200px;"| '''[[Ronnie O'Sullivan]]''' (4)<br/>{{ENG}}
|-
| colspan="3"  style="text-align:center; font-size:100%;"|''Afternoon'': 57–'''69''', 5–'''83''', 28–'''99''' (60), 0–'''76''' (76), '''76'''–6 (76), 11–'''87''' (87), '''76'''–0 (76)<br />''Evening'': '''109'''–1 (84), 31–'''76''' (76), '''86'''–0 (82), '''99'''–25 (95), '''83'''–26 (53), 9–'''112''' (112), '''62'''–44, '''74'''–1 (74), 0–'''86''' (80), 13–'''71'''
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 95
| style="text-align:center;"| Highest break
| '''112'''
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 0
| style="text-align:center;"| Century breaks
| '''1'''
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| '''7'''
| style="text-align:center;"| 50+ breaks
| 6
|}

==Century break==

A total of twelve century breaks were made by five different players during the Irish Masters. The highest was a 137 made by O'Sullivan in frame two of the quarter-final match with Davis.<ref name="AZResults" />

* 137, 136, 134, 130, 112 {{ndash}} [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]]
* 124, 124, {{ndash}} [[Peter Ebdon]]
* 120, 105 {{ndash}} [[Matthew Stevens]]
* 113, 100 {{ndash}} [[Stephen Hendry]]
* 102 {{ndash}} [[Alan McManus]]

==Notes==
{{notes}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Irish Masters}}
{{Snooker season 2000/2001}}

[[Category:2001 in snooker|Irish Masters]]
[[Category:2001 in Irish sport|Irish Masters]]
[[Category:March 2001 sports events in Europe|Irish Masters]]
[[Category:April 2001 sports events in Europe|Irish Masters]]
[[Category:Irish Masters]]