Steve Davis has hailed Stephen Hendry as "the best winning machine we ever had" after snooker's most successful player took his final bow at the Crucible.

Neil Robertson avoided a sticky end to his Betfred.com World Championship campaign but admitted knocking out Fergal O'Brien was as tough as extracting chewing gum from a carpet.

NEIL ROBERTSON avoided a sticky end to his Betfred.com World Championship campaign but admitted knocking out Ireland’s Fergal O’Brien was as tough as extracting chewing gum from a carpet.

Stephen Hendry became the oldest player to make a 147 break at a ranking tournament as he landed a £157,000 (€174,000) bonus at the Betfred.com World Championship.

Stephen Hendry rolled back the years with a magical maximum to underline his return to form at the Betfred.com World Championship.

Ronnie O’Sullivan overwhelmed seven-time champion Stephen Hendry 17-6 to reach his third 888.com World Championship final with a session to spare.

Ronnie O’Sullivan moved to within three frames of his third 888.com World Championship final after opening up a 14-6 lead against Stephen Hendry at the Crucible Theatre.

Ali Carter emulated Ronnie O’Sullivan by completing a pre-interval whitewash to move ahead of Joe Perry in their 888.com World Championship semi-final at the Crucible Theatre.

Stephen Hendry suffered his first ever session whitewash at the 888.com World Championships as Ronnie O’Sullivan won all eight frames to open up a 12-4 lead in their semi-final clash at the Crucible Theatre.

New Saga Insurance Masters champion Mark Selby believes winning his first major title will earn him deserved respect from his rivals.

Mark Selby re-wrote the record books when he became the first debutant for 19 years to win the SAGA Insurance Masters.

John Higgins held off a remarkable fightback by Mark Selby to win his second World Championship crown in the early hours of this morning in Sheffield.

John Higgins moved into top gear to take a strong grip on his 888.com World Championship final with qualifier Mark Selby in Sheffield.

New world number one John Higgins put an uncertain start behind him to open up a 5-3 lead in the first session of the 888.com World Championship final against qualifier Mark Selby in Sheffield.

Qualifier Mark Selby has admitted it is “a dream to come true” to reach his first 888.com World Championship final after staging a memorable comeback against Shaun Murphy to triumph 17-16.

John Higgins shattered fellow Scot Stephen Maguire’s hopes of a first 888.com World Championship final appearance as he produced a stunning comeback to triumph 17-15 in Sheffield.

Qualifier Mark Selby remains firmly in contention for for a place in the 888.com World Championship final despite a typical comeback from 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy.

Mark Selby is on course to become only the third qualifier to reach the 888.com World Championship final after opening up an 11-9 lead against Shaun Murphy.

Stephen Maguire produced superb snooker against fellow Scot John Higgins to take a significant step towards reaching his first 888.com World Championship final.

Stephen Hendry has revealed he is treading a lonely road in the bid to maintain his position at the top of the sport.

Drinkers at a village pub had a surprise when an Oscar-winning Hollywood actress popped in for a Guinness and a roll-up cigarette.

Marco Fu will have to call upon all his powers of concentration and resilience if he is to become the first Asian to reach the first 888.com World Championship final at the expense of Peter Ebdon.

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN put a lack of self-belief behind him to take command of his 888.com World Championship semi-final with Graeme Dott at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield last night.

Ronnie O’Sullivan put a lack of self-belief behind him to take command of his 888.com World Championship semi-final with Graeme Dott at the Crucible Theatre.

Ronnie O’Sullivan put his lack of self belief to one side in sharing the opening four frames of his 888.com World Championship semi-final with Graeme Dott at the Crucible Theatre.

Outsider Marco Fu is becoming snooker’s marathon man after an attritional opening session of his 888.com World Championship semi-final with Peter Ebdon at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.

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.

When the 888.com World Championship began 12 days ago, the bookmakers rated an Asian winner of the title about as likely as South Korea winning this summer’s World Cup.

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.

Shaun Murphy admits he has been “living every 23-year-old’s dream” since his stunning World Championship success last year.

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

Shaun Murphy tomorrow embarks on his first major challenge to prove his stunning World Championship success this year was not a flash in the pan.

Shaun Murphy’s first test as world champion comes next month in the newly-created Northern Ireland Trophy.

Outsider Shaun Murphy looked back to his best as he won three of the opening four frames against Matthews Stevens when the Embassy World Championship Final resumed in Sheffield.

Shaun Murphy has become the first qualifier to reach the Embassy World Championship final for 26 years after overwhelming Peter Ebdon 17-12 with a near flawless display.

Stephen Hendry began his new snooker campaign with a fortuitous win in Preston tonight.

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

BRIAN MORGAN is in no hurry to get home from the Citywest Irish Masters - unlike some of the game’s leading cuemen.

Brian Morgan is in no hurry to get home from the Citywest Irish Masters - unlike some of the game’s leading cuemen.

Newly-crowned British Open champion Stephen Hendry admitted he was down in the dumps before he arrived in Brighton.

Mark Williams became only the third player to achieve snooker’s triple crown when he finally killed off the challenge of comeback king Ken Doherty to win the Embassy World Championship crown at The Crucible Theatre.

MARK WILLIAMS has €210,000 good reasons to finish as the 29th and final Benson and Hedges Masters champion at Wembley tomorrow night.

Ken Doherty will chill out in York today and leave the Barbican Centre arena for Mark Williams and Peter Ebdon to battle it out to join him in the PowerHouse UK Championship final.