THE E coli bacteria responsible for a mysterious outbreak that has left 18 people dead and sickened hundreds is a new strain that has never been seen before, the World Health Organisation said yesterday.

THE number of people hit by a massive European outbreak of food borne bacterial infections is a third bigger than previously known and a stunningly high number of patients suffer from a potentially deadly complication than can shut down their kidneys, officials said yesterday.

REPUBLIC of Ireland midfielder Martin Rowlands has been ruled out for the rest of the season after scans confirmed he has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Scotland’s John Higgins survived a major Crucible scare to reach the Betfred.com World Championship final and end Mark Allen’s magnificent run.

Mark Selby, on a high after becoming a world ranking event winner for the first time, is convinced he has what it takes to capture the game’s premier title.

Trainee pilot Ali Carter hopes to continue flying high when he contests the quarter-finals of the 888.com World Championship at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre today.

Ronnie O'Sullivan has won the Kilkenny Irish Masters with a comfortable 9-1 victory over Barry Hawkins.

Ronnie O’Sullivan cruised to a 9-1 win over Barry Hawkins in the Kilkenny Irish Masters final to claim the Paul Hunter Trophy.

Snooker's greatest names will be playing for a trophy named after the late Paul Hunter next month.

New Saga Insurance Masters champion Ronnie O’Sullivan paid tribute to his opponent Ding Junhui last night, after crushing him 10-3 before a raucous crowd at the Wembley Arena.

A new charity to introduce disabled and underprivileged children to snooker has been established by Lindsey Hunter, the wife of Paul Hunter who lost his battle with cancer last month.

Defending champion John Higgins called on all of his battling qualities to book his place in the quarter-finals of the Royal London Watches Grand Prix.

The snooker world paid its final tributes to Paul Hunter today, 10 days after the 27-year-old Yorkshireman died from cancer.

Hundreds of mourners assembled in Leeds Parish Church and hundreds more gathered outside for the funeral this afternoon of snooker professional Paul Hunter.

The widow and baby daughter of snooker star Paul Hunter led mourners today as his coffin was brought to rest in a church before his funeral later this week.

The Snooker Writers’ Association have paid tribute to Paul Hunter by re-naming its Newcomer of the Year award in his honour.

Home favourite Ken Doherty booked his place in the final of the vcpoker.ie Irish Professional Snooker Championship with a 6-2 victory over Mark Allen last night.

IN A snooker world in which most of the characters have retired to the commentary booth, Paul Hunter stood out like the pink in a rack full of reds.

Jimmy White today revealed he was playing for Paul Hunter’s cancer charity when he learned of the three-time Masters champion’s death.

Tributes have been paid to 27-year-old snooker star Paul Hunter, who has died after losing his battle with cancer.

The snooker professional Paul Hunter has died of cancer. He was 27.

A HUGE search was underway in the North last night for an on-the-run paedophile who police have described as a “serious threat” to children.

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.

KEN DOHERTY inflicted a Crucible debut nightmare on rising star Barry Hawkins when he cruised into the second round of the 888.com World Championship in Sheffield yesterday.

Paul Hunter showed again tonight that his fighting qualities are not limited to his ongoing battle against cancer despite a first-round defeat at the 888.com World Championship in Sheffield.

Stephen Maguire made it third time lucky at the Crucible Theatre today as he reached the second round of the 888.com World Championship with a 10-6 victory over Mark King.

Ken Doherty inflicted a Crucible debut nightmare on rising star Barry Hawkins when he cruised into the second round of the 888.com World Championship in Sheffield today.

Jimmy White will head to Sheffield next month needing to win at least one match in the 88.com World Championship to keep his place in the world’s top 32 after suffering a 5-3 defeat to Joe Swail in the China Open.

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.

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.

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.

Stephen Maguire is hoping Portomaso’s luxurious Hilton hotel and conference centre triggers some happy memories as he struggles to regain the form which won him the Malta Cup two years ago.

Chinese teenager Ding Jun Hui has suffered a shock defeat in Prestatyn, denying the youngster a place in the final stages of the Welsh Open.

Ronnie O’Sullivan will not be throwing in the towel when he begins the defence of his Masters title next week.

Kate Moss unveils a clean-cut image in one of the supermodel’s first major assignments since her career was threatened by allegations of cocaine use.

John Higgins, installed as favourite for the Travis Perkins UK Championship after Ronnie O’Sullivan’s exit, was knocked out by a rejuvenated Ken Doherty in York.

Paul Hunter’s dream of success in the Travis Perkins UK Championship was quickly ended today but the 27-year-old, who is battling against cancer, insisted he had plenty to look forward to.

Stephen Maguire admits that the flurry of seeds to have already fallen out of this year’s Travis Perkins UK Championship in York has given him an extra belief that he can retain his title.

World number four Matthew Stevens became the highest-ranked casualty of the Travis Perkins UK Championship so far when trounced 9-3 by Stuart Bingham in York today.

There were contrasting fortunes for two of snooker’s elder statesmen today, as Jimmy White and Steve Davis both kicked off their Travis Perkins UK Championship campaigns in York.

Paul Hunter, who has been battling against cancer, returned to action at the Travis Perkins UK Championship in York today as the big names entered the fray.

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