Stephen Hendry averted a second consecutive first-round exit from the 888.com World Championship in Sheffield as he fought back for a 10-7 victory against little-known David Gilbert.

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN will meet Chinese teenager Ding Junhui in the first round of this year’s World Championship.

Ronnie O’Sullivan will meet Chinese teenager Ding Junhui in the first round of this year’s World Championship.

Dave Harold expects nothing less than a “battle” with UK champion Peter Ebdon at the Welsh Open today.

Alan McManus maintained his encouraging start to the season when he began his Maplin UK Championship campaign in York today.

Stephen Hendry has crashed out of the Royal London Watches Grand Prix in Aberdeen after his third successive defeat.

Steve Davis set up an appetising second-round encounter with title-holder Shaun Murphy by completing a 10-4 win against Andy Hicks tonight.

John Higgins was left facing an uphill battle to remain alive in this year’s 888.com World Championship after he slipped 6-3 behind to the unfancied Mark Selby at the end of their first session at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.

No wonder Steve Davis is laughing.

World number one Ronnie O’Sullivan will be looking to better last year’s quarter-final exit by opening up with a 888.com World Championship victory against Stoke’s Dave Harold, his opponent still going strong at a sprightly 40 years of age.

Defending champion Shaun Murphy will begin the defence of his 888.com World Championship title against Thailand’s James Wattana when this year’s prestigious tournament gets underway on April 15.

Ryan Day is hoping to make it a black night for Jimmy White when they clash in the Welsh Open at Newport.

Quinten Hann’s career was effectively ended today when the controversial Australian resigned his membership of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association with immediate effect.

World amateur champion Mark Allen took another step towards securing a place in the final stages of the game’s top professional event by recording a 10-3 victory over Justin Astley in Prestatyn.

Chinese rising star Ding Junhui showed he is ready to become a major contender for snooker’s top prizes by cruising into the second round of the Travis Perkins UK Championship in York.

Despite being on top of the snooker world, Shaun Murphy will have to make way for some of the sport’s elder statesmen tonight.

World number one Ronnie O’Sullivan and world champion Shaun Murphy both battled back from behind to secure their places in the last 16 of the Grand Prix in Preston.

World champion Shaun Murphy is through to the second of the Preston Grand Prix after a convincing 5-2 victory over Leicester’s Mark Selby.

Steve Davis produced a vital finish to the opening session of his 25th appearance at the Crucible to revive his chances of staying among the game’s elite for next season.

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN faces the toughest possible start to his defence of the Embassy world title next month.

Adopted Yorkshireman Shaun Murphy is hoping ‘home’ advantage will help him break his duck at the Embassy World Championship next month.

A broken finger has forced troubled Australian snooker star Quinten Hann out of the Malta Cup.

Stephen Lee ensured that none of the top eight seeds will reach the quarter-finals of an extraordinary Travis Perkins UK Championship in York.

Ronnie O’Sullivan enters the fray when the televised stages of the Travis Perkins UK Championship begin in York tomorrow – against the player he claims is currently the world’s best.

Ricky Walden has another big name in his sights after dumping out John Higgins for the second time in three tournaments at the Travis Perkins UK Championship in York.

Ken Doherty’s shock defeat to Andy Hicks rounded off a dramatic day at the Travis Perkins UK Championship in York capped by a maximum 147 break from David Gray.

David Gray recorded the 50th competitive maximum 147 break in his second-round match against Mark Selby at the Travis Perkins UK Championship in York today.

Illness has forced Jimmy White to retire from his second-round match at the Travis Perkins UK Championship in York today when trailing 7-0 to Ali Carter.

Illness forced Jimmy White to retire from his second-round match at the Travis Perkins UK Championship in York today when trailing 7-0 to Ali Carter.

Hard-working Ronnie O’Sullivan took another step towards winning a third successive ranking title by blasting into the semi-finals of the British Open in Brighton today.

KEN DOHERTY became the fifth member of the game’s top eight to bow out of the British Open when he was beaten 5-4 by Devonian left-hander Andy Hicks in Brighton yesterday.

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

Ken Doherty will face Andy Hicks in the third round of the British Open after his 5-1 victory over Quinten Hann last night.

Ronnie O’Sullivan and Graeme Dott will re-run their World Championship final on Thursday night for a place in the Totesport Grand Prix quarter-finals.

Quinten Hann took a points decision over bitter rival Mark King in snooker’s brawl at York Hall, Bethnal Green, tonight.

Two snooker stars will enter the ring tonight for what is being billed as the sport’s first boxing grudge match.

Quinten Hann aims to take his revenge on fellow snooker professional Mark King when the pair clash in the boxing ring at York Hall, Bethnal Green, on June 11.

Graeme Dott’s heroic performance in reaching the final of the Embassy World Championship final – with a cue which cost him nothing – has enabled him to cling onto his place in the top 16 for the 2004-2005 campaign.

An emotional Ronnie O’Sullivan dedicated his second Embassy world snooker title to his jailed father Ronnie senior after demolishing Graeme Dott 18-8 in a one-sided final at The Crucible.

Ronnie O’Sullivan was on his best behaviour in Sheffield today and let his snooker do the talking at the Embassy World Championship.

Paul Hunter put a brave face on his latest Crucible collapse as Matthew Stevens progressed to the last eight of the Embassy World Championship in Sheffield tonight.

It’s difficult to imagine Ray Reardon making the sort of obscene hand gesture that marred Ronnie O’Sullivan’s latest success at the Embassy World Championship.

Ronnie O'Sullivan has booked his place in the quarterfinals of the World Championships at the Crucible.