Higgins won the title for the second time last year beating Mark Selby

 

Champion Higgins to face Stevens

 

Defending champion John Higgins faces a tough first round match in the World Championship at The Crucible after being drawn against Matthew Stevens.

The Scot beat Mark Selby last year to lift the title but will need to be at his best against the two-time losing finalist from Wales.

 

Ronnie O'Sullivan plays 17-year-old qualifier Liu Chuang from China.

 

Stephen Hendry faces Mark Allen while Steve Davis meets Stuart Bingham in the Championship which starts on 19 April.

 

"There are no easy draws but Matthew is one of the toughest I could have got," said two-time champion Higgins.

 

"We've had some cracking matches over the years. I beat him 17-15 in the semi-finals in 2001, then the next year he thrashed me 13-7 in the quarters. I've got five or six weeks of solid practice now to get myself ready."

 

Liu shocked Dominic Dale 10-9 in the final qualifying round on Monday to become only the fourth 17-year-old to reach The Crucible.

 

"I'm very excited because Ronnie was my idol when I first started playing snooker at the age of 10," said Liu, who lost 5-1 to O'Sullivan at last season's China Open.

 

"I like the way he plays but I will be nervous when I go into the arena with him."

 

Liu's compatriot Ding Junhui also received a tough draw as he will face Hong Kong's Marco Fu.

 

The third player from mainland China in the draw, Liang Wenbo, is up against former champion Ken Doherty.

 

The in-form Selby also faces a tricky opener as he meets fellow Englishman Mark King, who ended Jimmy White's hopes of making the tournament with a 10-3 victory on Monday.

 

Two-time champion Mark Williams tackles Mark Davis and 2002 winner Peter Ebdon meets Jamie Cope.

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The first-round draw in full:

 

Ken Doherty Ire v Liang Wenbo Chn

John Higgins Sco v Matthew Stevens Wal

Ali Carter Eng v Barry Hawkins Eng

Ding Junhui Chn v Marco Fu HK

Mark Selby Eng v Mark King Eng

Peter Ebdon Eng v Jamie Cope Eng

Neil Robertson Aus v Nigel Bond Eng

Steve Davis Eng v Stuart Bingham Eng

Ryan Day Wal v Michael Judge Eng

Ronnie O'Sullivan Eng v Liu Chuang Chn

Mark Williams Wal v Mark Davis Eng

Graeme Dott Sco v Joe Perry Eng

Shaun Murphy Eng v Dave Harold Eng

Stephen Lee Eng v Joe Swail NI

Stephen Hendry Sco v Mark Allen NI

Stephen Maguire Sco v Anthony Hamilton Eng

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7289547.stm

When does that start then?

John is playing crap all the season,so he wont defeat the title,but hopefully Ronnie can finally win it again...

Final should be at least as good as last years one,I was awake until 3 am just to watch it till the end,it was something insane when Mark started the evening part of the match...I still dont get how could he lose the match after that comeback

If I could bet,Id say Ronnie or Mark

 

When does that start then?

 

21.4 starts the first round

Selby for the title I think. What an amazing year he is having.

Definitely,but Ronnie can always surprise

Dott could miss out on Crucible

 

Dott has struggled for form over the last few months

 

Graeme Dott has revealed he may not take part in this year's World Championship, which starts in Sheffield next Saturday, due to personal reasons.

 

The 2006 World Champion, 30, has failed to win his last 15 matches, the worst run of his professional career.

 

He has also had to deal with the death of his father-in-law, who was also his manager, and a cancer scare for his wife, who later got the all-clear.

 

"I will only go to Sheffield if I feel I can do myself justice," he said.

 

"I desperately want to play but I've not been in the right frame of mind for some time as you can see from my results.

 

Dott is due to face Joe Perry in his opening match at the Crucible on Tuesday 22 April.

 

His manager Pat Mooney told the Scottish Sun: "Graeme has been diagnosed as suffering from depression and is now taking steps to getting back to full health.

 

"All that matters at this time is Graeme's health and the well-being of his family."

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7344420.stm

Crucible ready for season finale

 

 

888.com WORLD SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP

Dates: Sat 19 April to Mon 5 May Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

Coverage: Watch live on BBC One, BBC Two, BBCi and the BBC Sport website; listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

 

The World Snooker Championship begins on Saturday with last year's winner John Higgins faced with a tough opening round match against Matthew Stevens.

 

Higgins, who beat Mark Selby to win his second title, believes the Welsh two-time finalist will provide a stiff examination for him.

 

"He's a UK Championship and Masters winner - it's one of the hardest draws I could have got," he told BBC Sport.

 

"It's a draw I'm pleased with because I'm fully prepared for a tough match."

 

Stevens has endured two patchy seasons that has seen him consequently drop out of the top 16 this campaign, having been an ever-present over the last decade.

 

Higgins reckons events in the 30-year-old's personal life have affected his performances.

 

"His dad and then his best mate Paul Hunter died and maybe Matthew didn't concentrate on practising," added Higgins.

 

"But I think the boys have been saying he's been practising harder during the last year - when he's at his best Matthew's a top, top player."

 

The Higgins v Stevens contest kicks off 17 days of action at the Crucible Theatre which hosts its 32nd World Snooker Championship.

 

For the first time, there will be four Chinese players competing during the televised stages.

 

Hong Kong's Marco Fu, who beat Alan McManus to qualify for the final stages, faces 21-year-old and provisional world number eight Ding Junhui.

 

Ding, the 2005 UK champion and touted by many as a future Crucible winner, will be hoping to produce a better performance than that on his Sheffield debut last year when he succumbed 10-2 to Ronnie O'Sullivan in the first round.

 

The other two Chinese qualifiers are provisional world 53 Liang Wenbo, who faces 1997 winner Ken Doherty, and 17-year-old Liu Chuang, world 91, who beat Dominic Dale to set up a David v Goliath tie against O'Sullivan.

 

"It feels so good, it's every snooker player's dream to play at the Crucible," said Liu, who is based at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield with Ding and Liang.

 

Elsewhere, current world number one Shaun Murphy is up against veteran Dave Harold and seven-times world champion Stephen Hendry faces a tricky hurdle in the guise of provisional world number 16 Mark Allen of Northern Ireland, who beat Doherty last year.

 

Meanwhile, Welshman Ryan Day, who has leapt from 16th to seventh in rankings, faces Irishman Michael Judge.

 

Day, a 40-1 outsider with some bookmakers, reckons he can win the £250,000 first prize this year.

 

"I feel that I have a more rounded game than ever before, and that will stand me in good stead for the 17 days at Sheffield, if I'm there that long," said the 28-year-old who has reached two ranking finals in the last 14 months as well as the semi-finals of the recent China Open.

 

"Getting into the top eight of the official rankings was one of my goals for the season. But my main goal now is to become world champion.

 

"I've been to the Crucible three times now and never got past the last 16. But this time I'm going there as one of the most consistent players this season, and that gives me some confidence."

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7347385.stm

snooker has started :dance:

Higgins eases into second round

 

Higgins ended the match with two excellent century breaks

 

Defending world champion John Higgins responded well to a mini-crisis in his first-round match against Matthew Stevens to win 10-5 at the Crucible.

 

Higgins took a dominant 7-2 lead in the morning despite a break of 112 from Williams in the third frame.

 

Stevens dragged himself back in the evening, winning three straight frames.

 

The Scot responded with a break of 75 to take the 13th frame before the interval, and fine century breaks in the final two frames took him through.

 

Higgins was always expecting a tough opening clash with Stevens, twice a runner-up in Sheffield, and trailed 2-1 early on as the Welshman came close to a 147 maximum break.

 

He potted 14 reds and 14 blacks in the third frame before missing a pot down the rail.

 

But Higgins hit back to win six frames in a row to lead 7-2 - and that proved to be the crucial passage of play in the match.

 

"I'm delighted to be through," said Higgins of his victory over a player never beaten in the first round at Sheffield in 10 appearances.

 

"From 2-1 down this morning I managed to nick a frame to get to 2-2 and after that I scored very heavily.

 

"Tonight I realised Matthew is one of those players that can reel off three or four frames in a row but he missed a pot with the rest and then I didn't really miss a shot in the last three frames."

 

Higgins will not be in action again until Thursday but is staying in Sheffield even though his wife Denise is heavily pregnant with their third child.

 

Stevens has endured a poor season in tournament snooker

 

"She told me to stay down so she wouldn't be bossing me about," he joked.

 

"If I get to the final she would definitely come down here. She's not due until 26 May but that might bring her on a bit!"

 

A disappointed Stevens, forced to qualify this year after a poor season, said: "Tonight I came out firing and got it back to 7-5 but missed a few shots.

 

"I felt comfortable out there today but John just played better than me. Being 7-2 down against anyone is tough but John especially. I have given it my all and that's all I can do."

 

Four other first-round matches were started on Saturday.

 

Australian Neil Robertson earned a 7-2 lead over veteran Nigel Bond.

 

The left-hander managed two breaks of 70 and one of 80 to lead 5-1 before Bond, finalist here back in 1995, reduced the gap in style with a 125 total clearance.

 

However, Robertson then took the last two frames of the session.

 

Former champion Peter Ebdon battled back from 5-2 down to trail debutant Jamie Cope 5-4 after their first session.

 

The 2002 winner showing typical grit to take the final two frames with breaks of 87 and 103.

 

Barry Hawkins took the opening two frames against Ali Carter without conceding a point and snatched the third 65-64.

 

But Carter recovered to take six frames on the bounce in a dour battle of wills to earn a 6-3 lead going into Sunday's play.

 

Northern Ireland's Joe Swail took five frames in a row to lead Stephen Lee 7-2.

 

Lee looked set to go 3-2 ahead when he conceded three fouls to gift Swail the frame.

 

Swail, twice a semi-finalist, took full advantage and Lee had it all to do to avoid a second successive first-round Crucible exit.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7347385.stm

Hell, that's nothing. Last red & full colour clearance in the last match of the season this week to clinch 2nd place in the local snooker league.

 

Get in there! Another tacky trophy to come!!

 

S :):stunned:

flukey barsteward!

no flukes invloved. Just pretended I was a spotty faced chinaman and the balls flew in!!

 

:P

that wenbo looks scary! :stunned:

FIRST ROUND (best of 19 frames)

 

John Higgins (Sco) 10-5 Matthew Stevens (Wal)

 

Ryan Day (Wal) 10-6 Michael Judge (Ire)

 

Ding Junhui (Chn) 10-9 Marco Fu (HK)

 

Stephen Hendry (Sco) 10-9 Mark Allen (NI)

 

Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) v Liu Chuang (Chn)

 

Mark Williams (Wal) 10-3 Mark Davis (Eng)

 

Stephen Lee (Eng) 4-10 Joe Swail (NI)

 

Ken Doherty (Ire) v Liang Wenbo (Chn)

 

Shaun Murphy (Eng) 10-3 Dave Harold (Eng)

 

Ali Carter (Eng) 10-9 Barry Hawkins (Eng)

 

Mark Selby (Eng) 8-10 Mark King (Eng)

 

Peter Ebdon (Eng) 10-9 Jamie Cope (Eng)

 

Neil Robertson (Aus) 10-4 Nigel Bond (Eng)

 

Stephen Maguire (Sco) v Anthony Hamilton (Eng)

 

Steve Davis (Eng) 8-10 Stuart Bingham (Eng)

 

Graeme Dott (Sco) 7-10 Joe Perry (Eng)

Liang sends Doherty crashing out

 

Liang had a nervy end to the match on his Crucible debut

 

Ken Doherty became the third former Crucible winner to exit the World Championship at the first hurdle after losing 10-5 to China's Liang Wenbo.

 

The damage was mainly done in the first session when Liang, 21, knocked in six half centuries to take a 7-2 lead.

 

Doherty lost the first frame of the evening session, but took the next two of the next three to keep his faint hopes alive at 9-4 behind.

 

A nervy final frame saw both players miss chances before Liang sealed it.

 

Doherty follows world champions Steve Davis and Graeme Dott by losing in the opening round in Sheffield.

 

The 38-year-old will now drop out of the top 16 in the world rankings for the first time in 15 years.

 

"It's hard to describe, it's very disappointing," said Doherty.

 

"I didn't play like I can and to drop out of the top 16 is the icing on the cake.

 

"I'm not afraid to go back to the qualifiers but it will be a lot tougher.

 

"There are players who have gone there and come back and my results will show I probably deserve to go out of the top 16.

 

"It would be quite scary if this was my last Crucible but I've got my hands on the trophy once. Who knows whether I will be back or not?

 

"Liang played a lot like Mark Allen (who beat Doherty in the first round in 2007) against me last year. He did not look like he had any nerves and had been here more times than I had."

 

Ranked just 53rd in the provisional world rankings, Liang said his victory was the highlight of his life in snooker.

 

"It's the best win of my career," he said.

 

"I was not thinking about winning or losing, just trying my best, and beating Ken is a great boost to my confidence because this is the biggest event in snooker.

 

"I was very nervous and I have not thought about how far I can go. I just want to give my best."

 

Stephen Maguire sent out a warning to his title rivals as he took an emphatic 8-1 lead over Anthony Hamilton in their opening round.

 

Maguire made breaks of 118, 83, 82 and 76 as a demoralised Hamilton struggled to find any kind of form.

 

The match looked set to offer Maguire the chance to seal only the second-ever whitewash in Crucible history.

 

But Hamilton avoided that unwanted record as he took the final frame of the session in two visits.

 

Earlier, Shaun Murphy booked a Crucible last-16 tie against Ali Carter following a comfortable 10-3 win over Dave Harold.

The 2005 world champion started the second session with a 7-2 lead but saw that advantage reduced by his 41-year-old opponent in the 10th.

 

But Murphy, the provisional number one, was in no mood to give up any more frames and made it 8-3 with a 102 break before adding a 72 in the next.

 

And in the 13th frame, the 25-year-old made sure of the win with another 50.

 

Qualifier Joe Perry set up a second-round tie against Stuart Bingham with a 10-7 victory over 2006 world champion Graeme Dott.

 

Londoner Perry, who now looks set to return to the top 16 next season, went into the final session with a 5-4 lead, which became 6-4 after a break of 104.

 

But Dott won a close 11th before making 126 in the next to level the match.

 

Perry then reeled off 132, 82 and 88 breaks, and although Dott won the next, he held his nerve in the 17th to seal the win.

 

Scottish player Dott, who suffered his 16th straight defeat, explained that he came close to not competing because of his depression problem.

 

"I had withdrawn from the tournament a few weeks ago," said the 30-year-old.

 

"The press release had been written and I told my manager to release it but he wanted to wait a week.

 

"He then introduced me to psychologist Bob Burns. He said he didn't want me to come and I wasn't in the frame of mind to play until I picked up my cue last week.

 

"I am surprised at how I played, I felt great, really back to normal. Joe just beat me. I thought he played unbelievably well. He made four centuries and could easily have had six."

 

Perry added: "I played really good stuff to get 9-6 ahead but after that the tension was getting bigger and bigger by the minute.

 

"You try to stay positive but it's only human nature to have that little bit of doubt so I'm relieved to get over the line."

Hendry defeats Allen in thriller

 

Hendry's experience proved vital at The Crucible

 

Seven-time champion Stephen Hendry bounced back from a 6-3 deficit to beat qualifier Mark Allen 10-9 in a first-round thriller at The Crucible.

 

Hendry took the first three frames of the final session to level at 6-6 before his 22-year-old opponent took the 13th and 14th, with an 89 break.

 

The 39-year-old veteran made it 8-7 with a 65 before Allen put himself within one frame of victory with a 55.

 

But Hendry took the next two before scoring 72 in the final-frame decider.

 

The Scot, who lost 9-4 to Allen in the UK Championship in December, will play either China's Ding Junhui or Hong Kong's Marco Fu in last 16.

 

Hendry said he was delighted with his performance.

 

"It's probably the greatest first round match I've ever won in all the years I've been coming here," said the Scot, who pumped his fist at the television cameras after the win.

 

"I was up against it the whole time, I felt outplayed a lot of the time and just hung in there basically and refused to go down.

 

"I've got to take confidence from a win like this, to be up against it all the way and come through in the end, and to win the last frame in style in one visit is very pleasing."

 

In contrast, Allen was in tears as he reflected on a wasted opportunity in the 10th frame.

 

"That gave Stephen a lot of a confidence," he said. "If I had gone 7-3 ahead it would have been different and maybe I could have relaxed a little bit.

 

"I thought I played the better snooker but I had my chance in the last frame and didn't take it.

 

"The way Stephen took the last frame shows what he is still capable of and it shows how experience matters at The Crucible.

 

"A lot of players would have crumbled in that last frame but he played a perfect frame."

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7359339.stm

Impressive King holds off Selby

 

King won the first four frames of the morning session

 

Mark King battled into the second round of the World Championship with a 10-8 win over Mark Selby.

 

King trailed 5-4 overnight but rattled the 2007 runner-up by taking the first four frames on Tuesday morning.

 

Selby belatedly rediscovered his potting form to reduce the deficit to 8-7, only to miss an easy black that allowed King to close in on victory.

 

Another tense frame allowed Selby to delay the inevitable before King crossed the line after a break of 71.

 

"It's a little bit disappointing but I don't think over the two days I've really performed," admitted Selby.

 

"Take nothing away from Mark, every time he got a chance he punished me.

 

"Over the two days I think he was the better player and deserved to win.

 

"I've had a great season and won two tournaments so I can't complain but obviously it's a shame not to be able to come back here and do well."

 

King, who beat Jimmy White in the qualifiers on his way to the Crucible, will play Peter Ebdon in the next round.

 

The 34-year-old, who came close to retiring from the sport in 2003, said he was delighted to find his best form on the biggest stage.

 

"The first couple of tournaments I couldn't make 20 but it's all coming together now," said King.

 

"It's pleasing to go out there and play really solid for once. When I got a chance I punished him.

 

"In the final frame my heart was going 700 mph but I told myself if I stayed still on the shot I wouldn't miss anything easy."

 

Mark Williams is also through to the second round after brushing aside Mark Davis 10-3.

 

The Welshman, a winner at the Crucible in 2000 and 2003, had built up a commanding 8-1 overnight lead and moved to the brink to victory when he took the first frame of Tuesday's afternoon session.

 

But mistakes began to creep into his game and Davis took the next two frames to keep his hopes alive.

 

Williams continued to make errors but Davis could not capitalise and Williams closed out his win in the 13th frame.

 

"I struggled this afternoon but all the damage was done on Monday," Williams said. "I probably took my foot off the gas a bit.

 

"I brought some of my practice-table form out yesterday and put him under pressure from the word go.

 

"I made some good breaks and had one or two great chances of a maximum.

 

"I still think I can get back and win tournaments. If I play like I did in the first nine frames I am a danger to anyone."

 

Joe Perry ground out a 5-4 lead over former world champion Graeme Dott after a close-fought opening session of their first-round match.

 

Dott, whose participation in Sheffield had been in doubt for personal reasons, took the opener with a run of 64.

 

Perry edged 2-1 and 3-2 ahead, but a Dott's gritty display ensured the world number 18 never got too far in front.

 

An outrageous fluke helped Dott to level at 4-4, but an 82 in the last gave Perry the overnight advantage.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7360574.stm

Bingham thwarts Davis fightback

 

Bingham had to watch Davis edge his way back into the match

 

Stuart Bingham held his nerve to keep a stirring Steve Davis fightback at bay and seal a 10-8 win in the first round of the World Championship in Sheffield.

 

Davis, a six-time winner, had trailed 8-3 but a remarkable upturn in form saw him recover to level at 8-8.

 

But Bingham halted Davis's momentum, stealing a tense 17th frame on the black after his opponent had left the final ball in the jaws of the pocket.

 

And Bingham made a brave 59 break in the last to clinch the victory.

 

"It's a bit annoying, I felt as if I let it slip," said the 50-year-old Davis.

 

"After getting back into the match and playing decent, it's a bitter pill to then mess up a couple of golden opportunities in the last two frames.

 

"It's very disappointing, even though at one stage I would have settled for showing a bit of pride.

 

"When I couldn't hit the right side of a barn there was a sympathy 'come on' from the crowd, and that stuck in my throat.

 

"From 8-3 down those five frames were the best I've played all season so I can take some solace from that, but not much."

 

Davis has dropped out of the top 16 and will have to qualify for the major tournaments, but he said the challenge would not put him off.

 

"I will look forward to next season as a challenge, a challenge to hold my own," he said.

 

"Dropping out of the top 16 is not unworkable. Nobody expects too much of me but I still like to try."

 

Bingham, who was making his first appearance at The Crucible in five years, admitted the occasion had got to him.

 

"I'm almost speechless. It's a big scalp for me," he said.

"I've beaten Steve before but I was still thinking 'this is to beat Steve Davis at the Crucible'. It was overwhelming and I had to hold back a few tears actually.

 

"It was like my birthday and Christmas all rolled into one."

 

Earlier, Mark Williams virtually booked his place in the next round after storming to a 8-1 lead over Mark Davis.

 

The former champion was far too good for the Sussex qualifier, knocking in breaks of 79, 88, 65 and 62 to storm into an 8-0 lead before Davis saved some face by taking the last frame of the session.

 

Williams had threatened to record only the second ever whitewash at The Crucible, with the only 10-0 scoreline coming back in 1992 when John Parrott thrashed Eddie Charlton.

 

Wales' Ryan Day secured a Crucible last 16 match against John Higgins following his 10-6 win over Michael Judge.

 

Day took a 5-4 lead into the final session before rattling in three half-centuries and a 104 break.

 

Judge fought back winning the next two, including a 104 break of his own in the 14th, but Day won a tense 16th to book a tie against the world champion.

 

Day's win over Judge has left the 28-year-old in confident mood.

 

"If I can find my best form and stay focused when I'm out there then I think I've got the ability," said Day.

 

"But I can't look too far ahead, I've got to play John next, that's going to be a tough match and I just have to take it one match at a time."

 

Judge said he was disappointed not to have made a maximum 147 break in the 14th frame.

 

"I should have had the max," said the Irishman.

 

"It was on my mind very early and it would have been a nice bonus. I played some good shots but the one I missed I was concentrating on where to leave the white and just pulled it.

 

"I still thought it was going to drop but it was not meant to be."

 

Last year's runner-up Mark Selby ground his way to a 5-4 lead over Mark King at the end of the first session of their match.

 

Selby made a slow start, but stole the first frame on the black with a superb 55 clearance.

 

But the dogged King refused to back down as Selby continued to edge a frame ahead only to be pulled back.

 

King missed the chance of a 147 in the sixth frame, missing a red along the rails on a run of 112, but the match is still in the balance.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7358754.stm

Maguire storms into second round

 

Maguire looked to be in fine form

 

Stephen Maguire went close to a 147 break on his way to wrapping up victory over Anthony Hamilton at The Crucible.

 

The Scot resumed 8-1 up after a superb first session on Wednesday, but Hamilton was in no mood to buckle as a 102 break helped him back to 8-3.

 

However, Maguire hit back with a break of 112 - missing a tough 15th red - and then sealed the match aided by a 63.

 

Meanwhile, defending champion John Higgins secured a 5-3 lead over Ryan Day in the final match of the day.

 

The Scot had threatened to race away with the second-round clash when he found his rhythm early on to take the first four frames with breaks of 96, 53, 84 and 79.

 

However, Welshman Day then won three of the next four to trail by just two going into Friday's second session in the best-of-25 match.

 

Elsewhere, Peter Ebdon edged to a 5-3 lead over Mark King in a typically tight, drawn out contest.

 

King got things going in impressive fashion with an 81 break in the opener, but it was not a sign of things to come as the match degenerated into a hard-fought affair.

 

A 59 break helped Ebdon level but despite four huge slices of luck, the former Crucible champion found himself behind again at 2-1 when King cleared with a 25 in impressive fashion.

 

The breaks were coming but often at a snail's pace, and a run of 51 saw King lead for the third time with the match at 3-2 - only for Ebdon to reply again with a patient 79.

 

Ebdon led for the first time in the match when he took a long, scrappy seventh frame 68-36, and the former champion made it 5-3 with a break of 84 in the next.

Maguire was furious with himself after missing out on a maximum break, when he left himself too tough a 15th red to the baulk corner pocket.

 

"I was just gutted with myself that I never went full out for position on the last red," he said. "I was scared if I got into the white too much I don't even get a shot at the red because it only went in the green pocket.

 

"I just got none of the white and left myself a red I would have potted if it wasn't for a maximum, but I just twitched.

 

"I think I broke a tile in the toilet (in the dressing room following the miss). My hand just 'slipped' and I heard a crack and didn't look back."

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7365991.stm

O'Sullivan eases to Crucible win

 

 

Ronnie O'Sullivan showed glimpses of his better form as he wrapped up a 10-5 win over Liu Chuang at The Crucible.

 

Having struggled to a 5-4 lead on Wednesday, O'Sullivan appeared to be in a similar vein in a scrappy opening.

 

But fluent breaks of 61 and 65, either side of a pugnacious 53 from Liu, helped him open an 8-5 lead.

 

O'Sullivan twice fell well short of audacious 147 breaks but still sealed an ultimately comfortable win to set up a second-round tie with Mark Williams.

It was a more relaxed O'Sullivan that emerged to a decent Crucible crowd than had been on show on Wednesday, when uncharacteristic errors had allowed Liu to remain in touch.

 

Even so, the world number five looked out of sorts in frame 10 as he and Liu missed simple pots, until a run of 61 helped him secure a two-frame lead.

 

In a bid to settle any nerves and relax his cueing action, O'Sullivan played a number of shots left-handed - and then deliberately fouled on the last red with the 11th frame already secure by sprawling across the table with both feet off the floor.

 

Liu, 17, was first among the balls in the next frame and a run of 53 ultimately proved enough to take it after O'Sullivan missed the brown when attempting to clear up.

 

However, O'Sullivan continued to go for his shots and after a break of 65 put him 8-5 up, he targeted 147 breaks in frames 16 and 17 - first missing the eighth red and then suffering a kick having potted five reds and blacks.

 

Liu failed to take advantage, though his 43 break in the 16th frame was his highest of the session, and O'Sullivan emerged from a lengthy safety exchange to seal the final frame on the black.

 

Following his victory, though, O'Sullivan admitted he has struggled to cope with the furore surrounding the lewd comments and sexual innuendos he made during a recent news conference in China.

 

And the 32-year-old has volunteered to withdraw from tournaments if anyone has been offended by his antics following his loss to Marco Fu in the China Open in Beijing last month, when he also brandished a hand-held microphone suggestively.

 

"I regret that it happened and it's been a great embarrassment to me personally," he said.

 

"It's been really hard the last three weeks to concentrate on my game and it still is, because I feel that certain things which have been said are just not true.

 

"If anyone has a problem then I will quite happily take my punishment and walk away. I'll voluntarily pull out of tournaments if that's what it takes because I don't want to bring this game down. I love snooker.

 

"I'd be quite happy to walk away and find something else to do. I wouldn't want to be somewhere where I thought I was causing trouble. If I'm that much of a problem, that bad an advert for the game and I'm that awful, then okay, but I don't really see it like that."

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7363708.stm

Vintage Hendry reaches last eight

 

Hendry faces Ryan Day in the quarter-finals

 

Stephen Hendry rolled back the years with a dominant 13-7 win over Ding Junhui in the second round of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.

 

Hendry began the final session 11-5 ahead and was set for a 146 break in the opener before breaking down on 112.

 

China's Ding, 21, did not settle down in the match until late on Friday when he knocked in three 90-plus breaks.

 

He then won the 18th and 19th with two more half-tons before the seven-time champion secured his win with a 70.

 

Hendry, 39, who has made the Crucible quarter-finals for the first time in three years, now faces Welshman Ryan Day.

 

Prior to the tournament, the Scot was rated as a 33-1 chance for the title - odds that have tumbled following his win over Ding.

 

"The bookmakers go on form and the last two or three years they have got it pretty much right," said Hendry.

 

"But I know what I've done in the past and I know what I'm capable of. It's like my living room, I put my pipe and slippers on and get my feet under the table.

 

"I played probably tighter than I ever have but when you're up against players like Ding you have to keep the game tight. One of my biggest faults the last few years has been trying to push the boat out and poor shot selection."

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7367153.stm

Champion Higgins stunned by Day

 

Day reached the last eight at The Crucible for the first time

 

Wales' Ryan Day ended John Higgins's reign as world champion as he held his nerve to secure a 13-9 win in their second-round clash at the Crucible.

 

The players resumed at 8-8 and Day hit the ground running as he took the first three frames of the session in quick succession to surge into an 11-8 lead.

 

Higgins, who criticised organisers for the condition of the tables, kept his hopes alive with an 83 break.

 

But Day sealed the biggest win of his career with a nerveless display.

 

Higgins, who beat Mark Selby in last year's final to win his second world title, enjoyed leads of 4-0 and 6-3 earlier in the match.

 

The Scot was hoping to become only the third player to successfully defend the title, but he looked looked short of his best form for large parts of the match.

 

His frustration with the unpredictable bounce off the cushion was clear in the second session when he punched the table and was booed by some sections of the crowd.

 

Speaking after the match, Higgins did not mince his words when asked about the condition of the tables.

 

"I spoke to the tournament director (Mike Ganley) about it. We are playing on the same cloth for eight days and they are going to re-cover them on Saturday night I think," he said.

 

"They should be re-covered before the second round. We've always had these problems.

 

"We are talking about the biggest tournament in our lives and the answer I get back is that they haven't got the manpower to re-cover the tables before the second round.

 

"It's flabbergasting and I let it get to me and it's a lesson I have to learn.

 

"The cushions are totally unplayable.

 

"Let me stress, Ryan totally deserved to win and the conditions are for both players but it was a lottery whenever you were playing off any cushions.

 

"It's really pretty pathetic that they are undermanned and can't re-cover them until Saturday night but that is too late for the likes of myself.

 

"I don't think the tournament director is doing his job correctly. We are not asking a lot, it should be easily fixed."

 

World Snooker responded in a statement: "Along with our partners, we are determined to ensure that we provide the best possible playing conditions at the 888.com World Snooker Championship.

 

"This is the longest tournament that we run. Two years ago we decided to bring in an extra re-cover of the tables after the second Saturday of the event. Previously the tables were not re-covered until the semi-final stage."

 

Day, in contrast, kept his composure and looked sharp when in amongst the balls.

 

The world number 16 even had the luxury of trying to play for a maximum 147 break in the final frame, only to see a difficult red rattle in the jaws of the pocket.

 

It left with Higgins with the simplest of chances to try to resurrect his challenge, but the world number one somehow missed from point-blank range.

 

Day gratefully accepted his unexpected second chance and made a 69 to seal the biggest win of his career.

 

The 28-year-old said he could sympathise - up to a point - with Higgins's annoyance at the state of the tables.

 

"I understand what John was saying but I just tried to get on with it," he said.

 

"There's not a lot you can do about it, we have all played on the same table. I think I dealt with it best.

 

"I don't think it was all that bad and even a brand new cloth has bad bounces."

 

It is the first time Day has reached the quarter-finals, where he will meet either Stephen Hendry or Ding Junhui, at The Crucible.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7368712.stm

Super Carter breezes past Murphy

 

Murphy was second best in all aspects of the game

 

Ali Carter booked a quarter-final tie against Peter Ebdon following a surprise 13-4 win over 2005 champion Shaun Murphy at The Crucible.

 

The Essex player, 28, held a 12-4 lead going into the final session and took less than 30 minutes to win the 17th frame and secure victory.

 

In Saturday's early session, Carter won the first two frames to make it 8-2 before Murphy made 60 to win the 11th.

 

Three 50-plus breaks helped Carter to 12-3, while Murphy clinched the 16th.

 

Murphy, who was one of the favourites for this year's title, has reached the semi-finals or better in six of his last seven events, but that consistency was nowhere to be seen in a dismal display.

 

However, the champion of two years ago joined John Higgins in criticising the state of the snooker tables.

 

"We have a gambling sponsor, why don't we take the championship to a casino and have a real game of chance?" said Murphy.

 

"This is the world championship, the gala event we all look forward to. Yes, I'll hold my hands up, I missed some shots I shouldn't have but there were a lot of problems out there that cost me the match.

 

"It's not just me and John Higgins having a problem with it and it's not just because we lost. It will look like sour grapes but it's not and it will cost other players.

 

"The comments have been made backstage for days. The cloth is so thin and light it's only good for three days' play.

 

"After three days you get bad bounces and balls going where they shouldn't be and it makes a mockery of the biggest tournament we've got.

 

"I filled a complaint form out immediately after my first round match. The cloth is made very well but it needs to be changed after every round."

 

Meanwhile, victor Carter said he was content with the condtions.

 

"I thought the table was playing OK," said the 28-year-old.

 

"I got a few bounces but I am playing on the same table as Shaun. It can cost you if you get a ping off the cushion but it's the same for both of us.

 

"It's not the best conditions there has ever been but it's not the worst."

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7368836.stm

FIRST ROUND (best of 19 frames)

 

John Higgins (Sco) 10-5 Matthew Stevens (Wal)

 

Ryan Day (Wal) 10-6 Michael Judge (Ire)

 

Ding Junhui (Chn) 10-9 Marco Fu (HK)

 

Stephen Hendry (Sco) 10-9 Mark Allen (NI)

 

Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) 10-5 Liu Chuang (Chn)

 

Mark Williams (Wal) 10-3 Mark Davis (Eng)

 

Stephen Lee (Eng) 4-10 Joe Swail (NI)

 

Ken Doherty (Ire) 5-10 Liang Wenbo (Chn)

 

Shaun Murphy (Eng) 10-3 Dave Harold (Eng)

 

Ali Carter (Eng) 10-9 Barry Hawkins (Eng)

 

Mark Selby (Eng) 8-10 Mark King (Eng)

 

Peter Ebdon (Eng) 10-9 Jamie Cope (Eng)

 

Neil Robertson (Aus) 10-4 Nigel Bond (Eng)

 

Stephen Maguire (Sco) 10-3 Anthony Hamilton (Eng)

 

Steve Davis (Eng) 8-10 Stuart Bingham (Eng)

 

Graeme Dott (Sco) 7-10 Joe Perry (Eng)

SECOND ROUND (best of 25 frames)

 

John Higgins (Sco) 9-13 Ryan Day (Wal)

 

Ding Junhui (Chn) 7-13 Stephen Hendry (Sco)

 

Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) v Mark Williams (Wal)

 

Joe Swail (NI) v Liang Wenbo (Chn)

 

Shaun Murphy (Eng) 4-13 Ali Carter (Eng)

 

Mark King (Eng) 9-13 Peter Ebdon (Eng)

 

Neil Robertson (Aus) v Stephen Maguire (Sco)

 

Stuart Bingham (Eng) v Joe Perry (Eng)