A quarter-final line-up of the highest calibre looks in store at the Maplin UK Championship after the big guns staked their claims for the title in York today.

Ken Doherty does not want his career to end with him being labelled a one-hit wonder in snooker’s top three events.

Stephen Maguire will be hoping history repeats itself when he meets Ronnie O’Sullivan in the third round of the Maplin UK Championship in York tomorrow.

SHAUN MURPHY and Neil Robertson, two of snooker’s hottest young properties, crashed out at the opening hurdle of the Maplin UK Championship in York last night.

Former world champion Shaun Murphy faces an uphill task to avoid an early exit from the Maplin UK Championship in York.

Ireland's Joe Swail has made it through to the next round of the UK Championship after beating Joe Delaney in his opening tie last night.

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.

Ken Doherty admitted he had been in a battle after moving a step closer to ending a five-year barren period by beating Graeme Dott 6-3 to reach the Malta Cup final at the Portomaso Hilton today.

Ken Doherty clinched another hard-fought victory to continue his precarious journey towards the Malta Cup title in Portomaso.

Mark Williams, intent on reversing an alarming slide down snooker’s pecking order, today reached his first world ranking event quarter-final for 11 months.

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.

Shaun Murphy won the battle of the world champions to clinch his place in the second round of the Malta Cup in Portomaso.

Rising star Mark Allen set up a mouth-watering clash with world champion Shaun Murphy by beating Joe Grech 5-1 in the Malta Cup at the Portomaso Hilton today.

Chinese teenager Ding Junhui fired in three centuries to storm into the final qualifying round of the Welsh Open at Prestatyn.

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.

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.

Stuart Bingham bounced back from the disappointment of failing to qualify for the Crucible to reach the second round of the Daily Record Players Championship in Glasgow today.

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.

John Parrott battled for nearly six hours to earn the dubious privilege of a Travis Perkins UK Championship head-to-head with new British Open champion Stephen Hendry.

NORTHERN IRELAND’S Gerard Greene continued his impressive form to race into a healthy 6-2 lead over countryman Joe Swail in the opening round of the Travis Perkins UK Championship in York yesterday.

Northern Ireland’s Gerard Greene continued his impressive form to race into a healthy 6-2 lead over countryman Joe Swail in the opening round of the Travis Perkins UK Championship in York today.

Sparks will fly at the Brighton Centre when Tony Drago takes on Jimmy White in the second round of the British Open.

Stephen Hendry slipped into overdrive this afternoon as a hat-trick of century breaks saw him more than halfway towards his third Regal Welsh Open title.

Ken Doherty is out of the Regal Welsh Open in Cardiff.

Stephen Hendry booked his quarter-final place at the Embassy World Championship in Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre, and said: ‘‘This is where the tough stuff really starts.’’

Stephen Hendry cruised into the quarter-finals of the Embassy World Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield tonight.

Ireland's Ken Doherty trails Stuart Bingham by five frames to four in the first round of the Embassy World Championships at the Crucible.

Graeme Dott reached the last 16 for the first time in four visits to The Crucible with what he revealed had been an emotional 10-6 victory over Robin Hull.

Ronnie O’Sullivan and Matthew Stevens, two of the leading contenders for the Embassy World Championship, put themselves on course to reach the second round when the tournament began in Sheffield today.

It is hard to determine whether Crucible Theatre rookie Shaun Murphy possesses more talent than confidence.

Teenager Shaun Murphy will face a Crucible legend in the first round of the Embassy World Championship next month.

Steve Davis clung onto Robin Hull’s coat-tails at Newport today but the six-times world champion remains in real danger of missing out on a Crucible appearance for only the second time in 24 years.

Ken Doherty could emerge as a force in the final week of the UK Championship in York.

Northern Ireland’s Joe Swail is out of the UK Championship in Britain after losing 9-5 to Mark Davis last night.

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.