sentences:  Held in October, the Grand Prix was won by 1998 world champion John Higgins who defeated his rival Ronnie O'Sullivan nine frames to two (9–2) in the final.The defending UK Champion was Stephen Maguire, who beat David Gray 10–1 in the previous year's final.Sponsored by builders' merchant and home improvement retailer Travis Perkins, it had a prize fund was £495,875, and the broadcasters were the BBC and Eurosport.