Ali Carter today cruised into the second round of the Welsh Open with a 5-1 victory over Jimmy White today.

Ireland's Ken Doherty is through to round two of the China Open after beating England's Mike Dunn 5-2 in his opening game this morning.

Graeme Dott’s miserable season continued as the defending champion crashed out of the Honghe Industrial China Open at the first hurdle.

IF A week is a long time in politics, a year in snooker can be an eternity and that is how it feels for Ken Doherty.

If a week is a long time in politics, a year in snooker can be an eternity - and that is how it feels for Ken Doherty.

Struggling fellow countrymen Matthew Stevens and Mark Williams go into this week’s Welsh Open at the Newport Centre increasingly desperate to re-discover winning ways.

If Barry Pinches shocks Stephen Hendry in the last 16 of the Malta Cup tonight, expect thanks to be extended to Norwich bank manager Stephen Feeney.

World number 18 Barry Pinches was in danger of a shock first-round exit as the Travis Perkins UK Championship got under way in York today.

Defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan is safely through to the semi-finals of this year’s Grand Prix in Preston after a trouble-free victory over Norwich potter Barry Pinches.

World number one Ronnie O’Sullivan is halfway there to making a successful defence of his Grand Prix title in Preston.

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

Ken Doherty has overcome a two-frame deficit to progress in the Embassy World Championships tonight.

Ken Doherty is facing a tough job to stay in the World Snooker Championship tonight as he trails England's Barry Pinches.

Ken Doherty is facing an uphill struggle to reach the second round of the World Snooker Championship against Barry Pinches today.

Ken Doherty has had a glimpse into snooker’s future – and the Dubliner has been left awe-struck by the generation of Chinese players who threaten to dominate the game for the next 20 years.

In sport there are few characters more bashful than Dubliner Ken Doherty. When the 35-year-old explains, then, how he feels two days of his snooker career changed the face of the sport, your ears prick up.

KEN DOHERTY defeated Australian Quinten Hann 5-2 at the China Open in Beijing.

Mark Williams taught home hope Liang Wen Bo a snooker lesson by racing to victory at the China Open in Beijing.

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

Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn from the China Open citing medical reasons.

HOME favourite Ken Doherty warmed up for the Fáilte Ireland Irish Masters tournament at Dublin’s Citywest Hotel yesterday with a visit to hospital - but still reached the second round with a 5-3 defeat of Norwich professional Barry Pinches.

Paul Hunter played through the pain barrier to finally record his first victory of 2005 at the Fáilte Ireland Irish Masters today.

Ken Doherty has learnt that he will take on Barry Pinches in the opening round of the Irish masters following today’s draw.

Matthew Stevens finally won his first match of the season after suffering four successive opening round defeats to reach the last 16 of the Malta Cup at the Hilton Conference Centre, Portomaso today.

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.

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

Stephen Hendry is relishing the prospect of going head to head with Ronnie O’Sullivan for a place in the Embassy World Championship final.

Stephen Hendry, the youngest-ever world champion, again showed that time has not caught up with him at his favourite venue.

All eyes will again be on Ronnie O’Sullivan when the quarter-finals of the Embassy World Championship get underway at the Crucible Theatre today.

STEPHEN HENDRY described his epic 13-12 victory over Barry Pinches as “one of my hardest ever Crucible battles” after reaching the Embassy World Championship quarter-finals in Sheffield last night.

Stephen Hendry described his epic 13-12 victory over Barry Pinches as “one of my hardest ever Crucible battles” after reaching the Embassy World Championship quarter-finals in Sheffield tonight.

John Higgins will have his work cut out at Sheffield tomorrow if he is to salvage a disappointing season by reaching the last eight of the Embassy World Championship.

John Higgins will have his work cut out at Sheffield tomorrow if he is to salvage a disappointing season by reaching the last eight of 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 remains unapologetic after being captured on camera making a rude gesture during his opening victory at the Embassy World Championship.

JIMMY WHITE is no nearer to realising his dream of becoming world champion even after his best season in a decade.

Jimmy White’s world title dream turned into a familiar nightmare at Sheffield tonight.

Ronnie O’Sullivan put the bite on Stephen Maguire and did a favour for Jimmy White at the Embassy World Championship tonight.

Jimmy White faces an anxious wait before trying to salvage his Embassy World Championship campaign.

Jimmy White may be enjoying his best season for more than a decade but so too is the Whirlwind’s opening opponent at the Embassy World Championship in Sheffield today.

Barry Pinches, one of the most improved players of the season, produced another top drawer performance to reach the second round of the Daily Record Players Championship at the SECC in Glasgow today.