Election results released yesterday gave an edge to the pro-China faction in Hong Kong’s government, where power is split between those aligned with Beijing and those who favour further democratic reforms.

Alain de Royer-Dupre is confident Melbourne Cup hero Americain can give him a second successive victory in the Hong Kong Vase on Sunday week.

World number one Ronnie O’Sullivan will kick off his bid for a fourth World Snooker Championship crown with a first-round tie against Stuart Bingham.

John Higgins’ winning streak came to an end at the hands of Stephen Lee in the quarter-finals of the £597,200 LG Cup at Preston Guild Hall today.

Today’s order of play in the Embassy World Championship at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield (prefix denotes seeding).