Ken Doherty will play England's Mark Selby in the first round of the Betfred.com World Snooker Championship, it was announced today.

John Higgins will meet Peter Ebdon in the final of the Bank of Beijing China Open after a thrilling 6-4 semi-final victory over Ryan Day.

Peter Ebdon thrashed Stuart Pettman 6-1 to ease into the final of the Bank of Beijing China Open.

John Higgins reached the last four of the Bank of Beijing China Open this afternoon after coming through a scrappy quarter-final encounter with world number one Ronnie O’Sullivan.

Stuart Pettman continued his superb run in the China Open this morning, causing another upset by overcoming Graeme Dott to make his first ranking tournament semi-final.

Former world champion Shaun Murphy lost just one frame as he breezed through to the second round of the Bank of Beijing China Open.

Robert Milkins qualified for today’s first round proper of the China Open, upsetting Joe Swail with a 5-4 victory.

Irish snooker star Ken Doherty has failed to qualify for the China Open after an embarrassing defeat against a rookie opponent today.

Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn from next week’s Shanghai Masters, the first ranking tournament of the new season.

World number 30 Barry Hawkins is relishing the opportunity of another head-to-head with Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Travis Perkins UK Championship in York.

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.

Last year’s runner-up Ian McCulloch was sent crashing out of the Grand Prix in Preston tonight after defeat at the hands of an in-form John Higgins.

World number four Paul Hunter crashed out of the Malta Cup today at the hands of journeyman Stuart Pettman.

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

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

Mark King showed no ill effects after his Dublin heroics as he coasted into the second round of the £597,000 (€909,400) Daily Record Players Championship in Glasgow today, beating Jimmy Michie 5-2.

JOHN HIGGINS was a man in a hurry as he swept into the second round of the Irish Masters in just 53 minutes yesterday.

John Higgins was a man in a hurry as he swept into the second round of the Irish Masters in just 53 minutes today.

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

John Parrott was "exceptionally relieved" after battling through to the Crucible in dramatic fashion at Prestatyn.

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN makes his first appearance in this season’s UK Championship today in York and does not plan to hang around.

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.

Ronnie O’Sullivan, never far away from a headline, enters the LG Cup in Preston tomorrow denying recent reports he has become a Muslim.

WELSH wizard Mark Williams completed the last 16 line-up in the Embassy World Championship last night and set the alarm bells ringing for his title rivals.

Ronnie O’Sullivan had 169,000 reasons to be cheerful in Sheffield last night but the ‘Rocket’ was not exactly over the moon.

Peter Ebdon will open the defence of his Embassy World Championship title at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield next month against a player in the best form of his career.

Ireland’s Fergal O’Brien has booked a place in the last 16 of the Thailand Masters after beating Mark Davis 5-2 in Bangkok today.

Joe Perry was set to return to action in York today still coming to terms with his superb performance at the European Open in Malta.