The tournament's reigning champion Matthew Stevens led the 2001 Welsh Open runner-up Paul Hunter 2–0 and then 5–4 before a break of 74 from Hunter forced a final frame decider. Hunter secured the 42-minute final frame for a 6–5 victory to end a match that lasted almost three hours and earn his first win at the arena. World number 13 Dave Harold overturned a 2–1 deficit to world number one John Higgins with breaks of 86.
The champion Matthew Stevens led the runner-up Paul Hunter 2–0 and then 5–4 before a prolonged break from Hunter triggered a final frame showdown. Hunter secured the 42-minute final frame for a 6–5 victory, ending an almost three-hour match and securing his first win at the arena. World number 13 Dave Harold reversed a 2–1 deficit against world number one John Higgins with breaks of 86.