2005 Irish Masters Preview

2004 Irish Masters

Final:
Peter Ebdon bt Mark King (Eng) 10-7.
Frame scores (Ebdon first): 49-56 78-8 73-45 9-70 131 (131 break)-0 71-6 46-79 35-76 78-40 0-138 (138 break tournament highest) 92-0 53-51 76-38 28-74 73-46 75-1 94-37

Semi-finals:
Mark King (Eng) bt Ken Doherty (Irl) 6-2
Frame scores (King 1st): 73-0 5-85 75-67 12-114 57-49 47-38 69-65 75-0
Peter Ebdon (Eng) bt Quinten Hann (Aus) 6-5
Frame scores (Ebdon first): 66-29 69-27 44-54 49-75 16-63 59-30 24-30 69-45 28-63 38-80 65-12

Quarter-finals:
Mark King (Eng) bt Graeme Dott (Sco) 6-2
Ken Doherty (Irl) bt Anthony Hamilton (Eng) 6-5
Peter Ebdon (Eng) bt Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) 6-2
Quinten Hann (Aus) bt John Higgins (Sco) 6-4.

The Irish Masters, 2004 was Peter Ebdons year, he started off with a 5 - 2 win over Ian McColloch, before going on to record a 5 - 3 win over Nigel Bond, Ronnie O'Sullivan 6 - 2 where O'Sullivan conceeded the frame at 2 - 1 down and 30 - 0 down in the frame with 11 reds still on. Ebdon was presented with another gift in the next round again this time by Quinten Hann, Hann, level in frames at three a peice and 30 - 24 up in the frame conceeded, Hann lost in the deciding frame 6 - 5.

Ebdon Played Mark King in the final, he won 10 - 7 but King, runner-up, made the tournaments highest break of 138.

This years event kicks off the 6th March 2005. Stephen Maguire has already secured his place in this years event with a 5 - 1 victory over Stuart Bingham at secured his place at the qualifiers in Prestatyn. He will face Ronnie O'Sullivan in the first round. Maguire has already beaten O'Sullivan twice this year, 6 - 1 in the semi finals of the British Open, the tournament he later went on to win 10 - 1 against David Gray and in the UK Championships in York, 9 - 6.

"I always look forward to playing Ronnie as we have good open games," said Maguire "I’m sure he’ll be aiming to get one back on me and I’ll be trying my hardest."

"I was a bit nervous at the start but every time I got among the balls I scored heavily. It’s tough coming here after getting used to playing at the big venues, but these qualifying games are just as important."

"There’s no pressure on me for the rest of this season as I’ve won a tournament and I’m probably guaranteed to be in the top 16. I can just enjoy my snooker, although I would like to win another tournament as soon as possible. Everyone will be up for beating me but that just makes me work harder."

This year there will be no Mark King as he was beaten in the Qualifiers by Dubliner Michael Judge 5 - 1, others taking qualifier places this year will be Nigel Bond who beat John Parrot 5 -2, Thailand’s James Wattana who beat Ali Carter 5 - 2, Barry Pinches who won 5 - 0 against Ulsterman Patrick Wallace, Paul Davies, Gerard Greene and Barry Hawkins will also be there.