Injury is no laughing matter for Jester

World number one Mark Selby has withdrawn from the China Open with a neck injury, sending Ding Junhui through to the last eight. The 'Jester from Leicester' had been due to play Ding in the last 16 but is returning from Beijing to England for treatment."I struggled through my first-round match and I don't want to do any more damage, especially with the World Championship...

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Allen - No excuses for another early exit

Mark Allen admitted he was well below par as he suffered a shock early exit against Ricky Walden in the first round of the China Open. The Northern Irishman was convincingly beaten 5-2 by English prospect Walden in Beijing and afterwards he admitted his opponent deserved to progress. "That didn't go as planned," Allen said on twitter after going out early in the Far East....

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Selby into last 16 in China

Fairytale run ends in crushing defeat for Hang Last year's beaten finalist Mark Selby eased into the last 16 of the China Open with a 5-0 whitewash of local hopeful Li Hang in Beijing on Tuesday.Li had ousted former world champions Ken Doherty and Graeme Dott in reaching the second round last year but third seed Selby quickly ensured there would be no repeat. The...

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White through in China

Robertson and Hendry taken all the way in openers   Jimmy White beat Omar Alkojah 5-3 in the wildcard round to book a first round date with Judd Trump at the China Open in Beijing.'The Whirlwind' is currently ranked 48th in the world but will rise significantly if he can get past the in-form Bristolian later in the week. Another experienced campaigner, Mark King,...

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White eyes Crucible return

 Former finalist vows he'll be back at World Championship   Jimmy White will embark on what he hopes will be a lengthy run at the China Open this week, vowing to return to the Crucible later in the year. White is famously a six-time beaten World Championship finalist but hasn't managed to qualify for the Crucible stages of the event in the last five years. 'The...

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Trump awaits White

 Mouth-watering clash on the cards in China   Judd Trump and Jimmy White could be set for a first-round meeting at the China Open.Trump will meet White, formerly the people's champion, if the veteran can overcome Omar Alkojah in a qualifier.Ronnie O'Sullivan has been paired with Marcus Campbell, although the three-time world champion's participation could be in...

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Ford leads way

Tom Ford set a blistering pace on the opening day of Championship League Group Seven action, winning his four matches at Crondon Park.   The Leicester cueman - a late replacement for Marco Fu in Essex - saw off the challenges of Ryan Day, Ding Junhui, Marcus Campbell and Dominic Dale to put himself in pole position. Campbell lies in second place after the opening day...

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Lee ends title drought

Australian Robertson loses perfect record in televised finals   Stephen Lee won his first ranking event for six years by beating Neil Robertson 4-0 in the final of the Betfair Players Tour Championship Grand Finals in Galway.The 37-year-old from Trowbridge outplayed Masters champion Robertson at the Bailey Allen Hall to win the trophy and £70,000 top prize - the fifth...

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Robertson secures semi berth

Masters champion will now face Maguire   Neil Robertson progressed serenely to the semi-finals of the Betfair PTC Grand Finals in Galway after securing a 4-1 victory over Joe Perry. Australian Robertson won the Masters two months ago and is closing in on the £70,000 top prize at the Bailey Allen Hall, with Stephen Maguire awaiting him in the last four.A run of 131...

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Higgins humbled in Galway

World No.1 falls at first hurdle to Welshman Jones   Unheralded Jamie Jones claimed the biggest win of his career to eliminate John Higgins from the Betfair PTC Grand Finals.  The 24-year-old Neath potter was 3-1 down to Higgins in Galway but turned the match around to triumph 4-3 and send the reigning world champion home after just one match.Higgins took a tight...

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Davis Cruises Past Ford

Mark Davis insisted that his failure to break into snooker's top 16 has not played on his mind after beating Tom Ford 4-1 at the Betfair Players Tour Championship Grand Finals in Galway.  The Sussex pro set up a last 16 match with Stephen Maguire by firing in breaks of 64, 84, 51 and 72 in a fine performance against Ford.  Davis has been on the fringes of...

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Pressure now off in-form Lee

World Open finalist Stephen Lee has said he is enjoying his snooker now the pressure is off as he prepares for the Players Tour Championship Grand Finals in Galway.   Lee, who has not won a tournament since the Welsh Open in 2006, has made sure of his top-16 place on the tour by reaching the semi-finals of the German Masters, Welsh Open quarter-finals and final on Hainan...

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STEPHEN LEE RELISHING IRISH TRIP

In-form Stephen Lee has described Irish snooker fans as "second to none" as he looked forward to the Players Tour Championship Grand Finals in Galway next week. The last three ranking events have seen Lee playing his best snooker in recent years, having reached the semi-finals of the German Masters, quarter-finals of the Welsh Open and final of last week's Haikou World...

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Lee - Irish Fans Are The Best

In-form Stephen Lee described the Irish snooker fans as "second to none" as he looked forward to the Players Tour Championship Grand Finals.  The last three ranking events have seen Lee playing his best snooker in recent years, having reached the semi-finals of the German Masters, quarter-finals of the Welsh Open and final of last week's Haikou World Open. And now...

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Taylor-Made For PHF Kids

Former World Champion Dennis Taylor thrilled young fans at Paul Hunter Foundation road shows in Preston and Lancaster.  Commissioned as part of Lancashire County Council's Young Peoples Services targeted youth support programme, both events featured an appearance from 1985 Crucible king Taylor, who chatted to budding young players and gave them some tips on the table. There...

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Davis follows Dad Steve

Davis junior gets snooker career under way Steve Davis' son Greg is hoping to follow in his father's footsteps. The 20-year-old is to compete in Q School in Sheffield, just a few miles from the Crucible, where Steve won the World Championship trophy six times during the 1980s. Greg has inherited the snooker gift - his top break in a match is 114 - and now hopes to put...

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Allen makes his Mark in China

First ranking title for easy winner   Mark Allen claimed his first ever ranking title by hammering Stephen Lee 10-1 to claim the Star Xing Pai Haikou World Open.  Runner-up at last year's UK Championship, Allen has finally gone one better and picks up a first prize of £75,000 to boot. The 26 year-old from Antrim carried a huge 8-1 lead into the evening session...

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Allen to meet Lee in final

Selby loses 6-5 to Northern Irishman from 5-2 ahead Mark Allen edged out Mark Selby 6-5 to set up a final showdown with Stephen Lee, a 6-2 winner over Robert Milkins, at the Star Xing Pai Haikou World Open. Northern Ireland's Allen mounted an outstanding comeback to defeat Selby 6-5 and stay on course for the first ranking tournament victory of his career. Trailing...

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Higgins powers to victory

Apologetic Mark Allen gains revenge over Judd Trump John Higgins needed just one hour and 13 minutes to move into the quarter-finals of the Star Xing Pai Haikou World Open as he hammered Stoke's Jamie Cope 5-0. Higgins finished the match off with a break of 133, the third highest of the event so far, and also had runs of 50, 73 and 83 en route to victory. Reigning...

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