China Open 2008 (snooker)
The 2008 China Open took place from March 24 to March 30 2008 at the Beijing Student University Stadium[1]. This snooker tournament was the penultimate ranking event of the season, preceding the World Snooker Championship 2008. Stephen Maguire won the tournament, beating Shaun Murphy 10-9 in a high quality final.
The defending champion was Graeme Dott, but he was eliminated in the first round, losing to Barry Pinches[2].
Shaun Murphy and Dave Harold played the longest frame in professional snooker history. Murphy eventually won it after 93 minutes and 12 seconds, beating the record of Cliff Thorburn v Stephen O’Connor at the 1994 Welsh Open qualifiers, which took 92 minutes 59 seconds[3].
Stephen Maguire made the first 147 in an Asian ranking tournament[4]. This was made in the second frame of his semi-final encounter against Ryan Day.
Qualifying for the tournament took place in Pontin's Prestatyn, Wales between 22 January and 25 January 2008.
