On this snooker week

For the second year running, John Spencer won the Norwich Union Open at London’s Piccadilly Hotel. He beat Ray Reardon 10-9 in the final.

In the last 16 round of the Liverpool Victoria UK Championship at Bournemouth International Centre, Stephen Hendry compiled his seventh 147 break in competition in a match against Paul Wykes. Incredibly, this was the tenth maximum recorded in this calendar year.

Mark Allen made his debut as a professional beating Adam Longley 5-0 in the preliminary round of the World Championship at Harrogate.

Stuart Bingham joined the exclusive list of players who have made more than one maximum in competition when he completed his second against Marcus Campbell in the Masters Qualifying Event at Pontin’s in Prestatyn. This was the first official 147 to be made at that venue.

In the Premier League at Glenrothes, Ding Junhui beat Stephen Hendry 6-0 and included a run of 495 points without reply – a new record for all professional snooker.

A 6-3 victory over Ali Carter in the final of the Masters Qualifying Tournament at Prestatyn ensured a place in the Masters main draw for Stuart Bingham.

Jimmy White's ten year old record as the youngest winner of the World Amateur title fell to Ireland's Stephen O’Connor. At 18 years and 40 days, Stephen took the title in Colombo, Sri Lanka defeating Belgium's Steve Lemmens 11-8 in the final. That record has since been beaten.

In Korat, Thailand, Reanne Evans beat defending champion, Wendy Jans, 5-0 to regain the IBSF Ladies World Championship.

Stephen Hendry became the first player to make three official maximum breaks. His third came against Gary Wilkinson in the last 16 round of the UK Championship at Preston Guild Hall.

In Korat, Thailand, Atthasit Mahitthi beat Passakorn Suwannawat 11-7in an all-Thai final to win the IBSF World Amateur title and ensure a return to the main tour. Darren Morgan beat Karnchai Wongjan 5-1 to win the Masters title.

The first match of the very first World Professional Snooker Championship began today at Thurston’s in London when Melbourne Inman took on Tom Newman. Inman won 8-5.

In Johannesburg, Mohammed Yousuf of Pakistan won the IBSF World Amateur Championship beating Iceland’s Johannes R. Johannesson 11-9 in the final.

The snooker world was saddened to learn of the death of one of its top referees, Colin Brinded. Colin had been in charge of many major finals including the 1999 World Championship.

After falling to his lowest ever ranking of 24th, Doug Mountjoy recaptured the UK Championship title after a gap of ten years. Doug beat Stephen Hendry 16-12 in the final at Preston Guild Hall.

Stephen Hendry won his third UK Championship with a 10-5 victory over Ken Doherty at Preston Guild Hall. Stephen compiled a record seven century breaks in the final.

Joseph Bennett sprung something of a surprise when he defeated the champion, John Roberts Jr. 1000-905 to take the World Billiards Championship, then called simply "The Championship".

Ronnie O’Sullivan won his first ranking title when he beat Stephen Hendry 10-6 in the final of the UK Championship at Preston. At only 17 years and 358 days he became the youngest ever winner of a ranking event.

The quickest ever century break in a ranking event was made by Tony Drago in three minutes 31 seconds, against John Higgins in the last 16 of the UK Championship at Preston Guild Hall.

Mark Williams beat Matthew Stevens 10-8 to win the UK Championship at Bournemouth International Centre.

At the Barbican in York, Stephen Maguire won the UK Championship beating David Gray 10-1 in the final.