Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn from next week’s Shanghai Masters, the first ranking tournament of the new season.

World champion John Higgins will face Thailand’s James Wattana for the €37,000 first prize in the Euro-Asia Challenge in Hong Kong.

The Euro-Asia Challenge began with mixed fortunes for John Higgins as the world champion led Europe to victory over Asia just hours after losing his passport.

Ronnie O’Sullivan cruised into the last 32 of the China Open today with a routine first round win.

Marco Fu held his nerve to send world number one Stephen Hendry crashing out in the first round of the China Open today.

Judd Trump is one win away from becoming the youngest person to play at the Crucible in 14 years after beating Jamie Cope 10-7 to reach the final qualifying round of the 888.com World Championship at Prestatyn today.

Joe Perry negotiated his first hurdle at the Welsh Open by beating former world champion John Parrott 5-2 in the first round in Newport tonight.

Title-holder Ding Junhui came through a tense battle with Ryan Day to reach the last 16 of the Maplin UK Championship in York today.

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

CHINESE prodigy Ding Junhui knocked out last Irish hope Ken Doherty at the Northern Ireland Trophy last night.

Former title holder Peter Ebdon and underdog Marco Fu shared the opening four frames of their 888.com World Snooker Championship semi-final clash at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.

MARCO Fu last night became only the second Asian player to reach the semi-finals of the 888.com World Championship by recording a shock 13-10 victory over Ireland’s Ken Doherty.

Ronnie O’Sullivan resisted a doughty challenge from Mark Williams to edge through 13-11 in their 888.com World Championship quarter-final at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre tonight.

Marco Fu tonight became only the second Asian player to reach the semi-finals of the 888.com World Championship by recording a shock 13-10 victory over Ken Doherty.

Rising Australian star Neil Robertson showed he is a real contender for the 888.com World Championship with an impressive 13-9 second-round win over Stephen Lee in Sheffield tonight.

Not even a fire scare could stop red-hot title-holder Shaun Murphy from rampaging towards the 888.com World Championship quarter-finals in Sheffield today.

Crucible champion Shaun Murphy wants to establish himself at the top of the world rankings after modifying his all-round game in the past 12 months.

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.

Shaun Murphy stuttered towards a 6-3 lead against James Wattana in the first session of his Crucible title defence on the opening day of the 888.com World Championship.

Ronnie O’Sullivan is out of form.

Dry hands and a former world champion could not block the path of John Higgins into the quarter-finals of the Star Group China Open in Beijing.

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN’S dismal season suffered another setback when he was whitewashed 5-0 by Thailand’s James Wattana in the first round of the Star Group China Open in Beijing yesterday.

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s dismal season suffered another setback when he was whitewashed 5-0 by Thailand’s James Wattana in the first round of the Star Group China Open in Beijing today.

Ronnie O’Sullivan is ready to play villain of the piece at the China Open in Beijing this week.

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.

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

John Higgins joined the growing list of high-profile casualties at the Welsh Open when he suffered a shock 5-4 defeat to Thailand’s James Wattana at Newport tonight.

Revitalised veteran Ken Doherty was more than halfway towards his first world ranking title in five years after taking charging of the Malta Cup final today.

Defending champion Stephen Maguire made an impressive start to the defence of his Travis Perkins UK Championship in York.

SHAUN MURPHY today embarks on his first major challenge to prove his stunning World Championship success was not a flash in the pan.

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.

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.

James Wattana, twice a semi-finalist in the Embassy World Championship, suffered an astonishing 10-0 defeat to Ali Carter in Prestatyn tonight to be denied a return to the Crucible.

PETER EBDON lost his grip on the Irish Masters title in Dublin last night. The 2002 world champion lost 5-4 in a gruelling match against Dave Harold after being 4-1 up.

Ronnie O’Sullivan will be reported for failing to attend his after match press conference at the Irish Masters tonight.

Peter Ebdon lost his grip on the Irish Masters title in Dublin tonight but will be kicking himself all the way back to his Wellingborough home.

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.

Paul Hunter brushed aside veteran Steve Davis to reach the Totesport Grand Prix quarter-finals and then offered a cheeky word of advice to his vanquished opponent.

Matthew Stevens hopes a return to one of his favourite venues can kick start a season that promised so much last November.

Ronnie O’Sullivan has been handed a tough opening assignment in the first round at next month’s Embassy World Championship.

Barry Pinches, the surprise package of the circuit this season, pulled off a last gasp victory over Maltese number one Tony Drago to reach the second round of the Welsh Open at Cardiff today.

Matthew Stevens’ hopes of a first ranking title are still alive after an incredible opening session to his Travis Perkins UK Championship final with Stephen Hendry in York.

It’s 11 years since Jimmy White captured a world ranking tournament – in which time Ronnie O’Sullivan has won almost everything there is to win in snooker.