The World Open will be held in the Chinese city of Haikou for the next five years, World Snooker has announced.

Mark Williams believes his China Open success makes him a real contender for next month’s 888.com World Championship.

John Higgins and Mark Williams were locked together at 4-4 after the opening session of the Star Group China Open final at the Beijing University Gymnasium today.

Stephen Lee staved off a spirited comeback from Anthony Hamilton and overcame badly timed problems with his cue-tip to remain on course for Welsh Open glory at Newport tonight.

The line-up for the Welsh Open quarter-finals is not so much a who’s who of snooker as a who’s that?

Shaun Murphy gained his first victory in three appearances at the Embassy World Championship by completing a 10-5 first-round win over 12th seed Chris Small today.

Stephen Hendry has lost just two frames en route to the China Open semi-finals but his opponent in the last four is looking forward to playing him.

Stephen Hendry overcame the discomfort of a pulled muscle in his side to continue his progress in the China Open in Beijing this morning.

Early risers Stephen Hendry and Mark Williams booked their places in the quarter-finals of the China Open in Beijing this morning.

Stephen Hendry went close to achieving the second maximum in Masters history during his crushing defeat of Stephen Lee in the second round at Wembley.

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s mood improved with his game as he stormed into the quarter-finals of the British Open in Brighton today.

Aussie bad-boy Quinten Hann swaps his boxing gloves for a snooker cue today as the Totesport Grand Prix enters its third day at Preston’s Guild Hall.

Mark Williams afforded himself a smile after reaching the last eight of the Daily Record Players Championship in Glasgow last night.

World number one Mark Williams recovered from a potential pre-Crucible crisis to reach the last 16 of the Daily Record Players Championship in Glasgow tonight.

Dubliner Ken Doherty’s wait to enter the Citywest Irish Masters was not in vain last night as he brought the first round to a winning close.

Local hero Ken Doherty takes centre stage in Dublin tonight hoping to shake himself out of the worst slump of his professional career.

Paul Hunter admits Mark Williams is his bogey player – but the laid-back Leeds star usually reserves his best form for the world champion at the Masters.

Stephen Lee survived a China crisis at Wembley tonight with a brave comeback victory over wonder boy Ding Junhui to reach the quarter-finals of the £400,000 Masters.

A bitterly disappointed Steve Davis is doing his best to look on the bright side after narrowly failing to land his first ranking title for nine years in Cardiff last night.

Michael Judge is hoping to have the last laugh when he comes face to face with ‘the two Ronnies’ in Cardiff tonight.

Paul Hunter came close to joining the maximum 147 break club on his way to a valuable overnight lead at the £615,000 (€880,000) Travis Perkins UK Championship in York.

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN makes his first appearance in this season’s UK Championship today in York and does not plan to hang around.

Nigel Bond knocked out Ken Doherty, a UK runner-up for the past two seasons, 9-7 at the York Barbican Centre last night.

Newly-crowned British Open champion Stephen Hendry admitted he was down in the dumps before he arrived in Brighton.

MATTHEW STEVENS made it unlucky 13 for his fellow Welshman Mark Williams at the British Open last night.

Matthew Stevens made it unlucky 13 for his fellow Welshman Mark Williams at the British Open tonight.

Stephen Hendry came close to denying maximum man John Higgins the full share of his £25,000 cash bonus during his 5-0 defeat of Joe Perry at the British Open in Brighton tonight.

Ronnie O’Sullivan raced into the British Open quarter-finals with a quickfire victory in Brighton today – and then claimed he felt like an underdog.

Veteran Steve Davis suffered his second successive defeat of the season when he was beaten 5-3 by Joe Swail in the second round of the British Open in Brighton.

GERARD GREENE has double reason to celebrate after causing a huge upset in the British Open at Brighton yesterday.

Jimmy White will not expect to be detained very long when he makes his entrance in the British Open at the Brighton Centre tonight.

A player once described as a certain future world champion by no less a judge than Stephen Hendry takes on Ronnie O’Sullivan at the British Open in Brighton tonight, determined to extend the Rocket’s barren spell.

Sparks will fly at the Brighton Centre when Tony Drago takes on Jimmy White in the second round of the British Open.

Gerard Greene was in overdrive as he brushed past sporting Ali Carter to set up a revenge match against Ken Doherty at the British Open in Brighton today.

The mother of snooker ace Mark King was jailed for life today for murdering her sick cousin.

World number one Mark Williams added another trophy to his collection in Preston on a night of mixed emotions for John Higgins.

John Higgins pocketed a £25,000 bonus in Preston tonight with a magical 147 maximum break in his LG Cup final against world champion and world number one Mark Williams.

John Higgins is relishing the chance to win his first silverware of the season after booking a place in tomorrow’s LG Cup final at the Guild Hall in Preston with an impressive 6-2 victory over John Parrott.

Welsh wizard Matthew Stevens looks back to his best form after a stunning 5-0 whitewash of Ronnie O’Sullivan in the last-16 of the LG Cup at the Guild Hall in Preston.

Ken Doherty is anxious to avoid an early exit from the opening tournament of the new season – and he got past the first hurdle with a fine display in the first round of the LG Cup at Preston today.

Ronnie O’Sullivan, never far away from a headline, enters the LG Cup in Preston tomorrow denying recent reports he has become a Muslim.

Former finalist Matthew Stevens reached the last 16 of the Embassy World Championship in Sheffield this morning and then dashed off to play in a local league match.

Matthew Stevens rekindled his love affair with the Crucible this afternoon but Chris Small looks as though he will soon be divorced from the tournament.

The Crucible Theatre always seems to bring the best out of Welshman Matthew Stevens.

A pumped-up Peter Ebdon started and finished the first session of his Embassy World Championship defence with a century break to take control of his opening game against qualifier Gerard Greene.

STEVE DAVIS has been breaking records throughout a professional career stretching back over a quarter of a century. Davis is the oldest player at this season’s Embassy World Championship, though he still has some way to go to improve on namesake Fred’s record of competing at the Crucible, aged 69.

Michael Holt, fresh from a coaching assignment in the Middle East, beat local favourite Chris Small 5-3 to reach the second round of the Regal Scottish Open in Edinburgh today.

Rory McLeod set up a dream meeting with his idol by beating Malta’s Tony Drago 5-3 in the first round of the £597,200 (€86,500) Regal Scottish Open in Edinburgh.

MARK WILLIAMS turned in one of his poorest performances of the season in Dublin to give Paul Hunter an almost unopposed passage into the semi-finals of the €690,000 Citywest Irish Masters.

Mark Williams turned in one of his poorest performances of the season in Dublin to give Paul Hunter an almost unopposed passage into the semi-finals of the Citywest Irish Masters.