The 1996 British Open was a professional ranking snooker tournament which was held from 1–8 April 1996 at the Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth, England.

Nigel Bond won the tournament, his first ranking title, by defeating the defending champion John Higgins 9–8 in the final.

Main draw

Last 64 Best of 9 framesLast 32 Best of 9 framesLast 16 Best of 9 framesQuarter-finals Best of 9 framesSemi-finals Best of 11 framesFinal Best of 17 frames
England Ronnie O'Sullivan5
England Oliver King2
England Ronnie O'Sullivan5
Scotland Graeme Dott1
England Willie Thorne4
Scotland Graeme Dott5
England Ronnie O'Sullivan5
Republic of Ireland Ken Doherty3
Republic of Ireland Ken Doherty5
England Barry Pinches1
Republic of Ireland Ken Doherty5
England Andy Hicks4
England Chris Scanlon1
England Andy Hicks5
England Ronnie O'Sullivan5
Wales Mark Williams3
Wales Mark Williams5
England David Roe4
Wales Mark Williams5
England Neal Foulds1
India Yasin Merchant4
England Neal Foulds5
Wales Mark Williams5
England Tony Knowles0
Thailand James Wattana5
England Karl Broughton2
Thailand James Wattana4
England Tony Knowles5
England Jimmy Michie3
England Tony Knowles5
England Ronnie O'Sullivan4
Scotland John Higgins6
England John Parrott5
England Mark Rowing3
England John Parrott5
England Dean Reynolds3
Republic of Ireland David McDonnell4
England Dean Reynolds5
England John Parrott5
England Gary Wilkinson2
Wales Mark Bennett5
Malta Tony Drago0
Wales Mark Bennett0
England Gary Wilkinson5
England Stuart Pettman2
England Gary Wilkinson5
England John Parrott3
Scotland John Higgins5
England Jason Ferguson5
Wales Steve Newbury0
England Jason Ferguson4
Scotland John Higgins5
Scotland John Higgins5
Scotland Jamie Burnett1
Scotland John Higgins5
England Stephen Lee3
England Brian Morgan2
England Mike Hallett5
England Mike Hallett3
England Stephen Lee5
England Stephen Lee5
Wales Terry Griffiths2
Scotland John Higgins8
England Nigel Bond9
England Steve Davis2
England Mark Johnston-Allen5
England Mark Johnston-Allen5
England Anthony Hamilton4
England Karl Payne2
England Anthony Hamilton5
England Mark Johnston-Allen2
England Dave Harold5
Wales Anthony Davies2
England Mick Price5
England Mick Price2
England Dave Harold5
England Dave Harold5
England Antony Bolsover2
England Dave Harold5
Wales Darren Morgan1
England Jimmy White5
Wales Matthew Stevens3
England Jimmy White3
Republic of Ireland Fergal O'Brien5
Republic of Ireland Fergal O'Brien5
Canada Alain Robidoux1
Republic of Ireland Fergal O'Brien1
Wales Darren Morgan5
England Martin Clark5
England Joe Johnson4
England Martin Clark4
Wales Darren Morgan5
Netherlands Stefan Mazrocis1
Wales Darren Morgan5
England Dave Harold5
England Nigel Bond6
England Steve James5
England Mark Flowerdew1
England Steve James4
Scotland Alan McManus5
England Steve Meakin3
Scotland Alan McManus5
Scotland Alan McManus1
England Peter Ebdon5
England Rod Lawler0
Northern Ireland Dennis Taylor5
Northern Ireland Dennis Taylor4
England Peter Ebdon5
England Pat Horne3
England Peter Ebdon5
England Peter Ebdon3
England Nigel Bond5
Northern Ireland Terry Murphy1
Scotland Stephen Hendry5
Scotland Stephen Hendry5
Northern Ireland Joe Swail1
Scotland Billy Snaddon2
Northern Ireland Joe Swail5
Scotland Stephen Hendry4
England Nigel Bond5
New Zealand Dene O'Kane5
England Matthew Couch2
New Zealand Dene O'Kane1
England Nigel Bond5
Scotland Paul McPhillips0
England Nigel Bond5

Final

Final: Best of 17 frames. Referee: Len Ganley Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth, England. 8 April 1996.
Nigel Bond England9–8John Higgins Scotland
Afternoon: 71–56, 96–4 (61), 65–64, 53–64 (56), 79–47 (79), 18–72, 17–102 (66), 0–91 (91) Evening: 89–0 (89), 30–60, 99–30 (50), 55–56, 72–0, 0–97 (97), 122–6 (122), 8–128 (75), 71–69
122Highest break97
1Century breaks0
550+ breaks5