STEPHEN LEE set up one of the most fascinating clashes of the Embassy World Championship second round when he completed a 10-5 victory over Malta’s Tony Drago in Sheffield yesterday.

Stephen Lee set up one of the most fascinating clashes of the Embassy World Championship second round when he completed a 10-5 victory over Malta’s Tony Drago in Sheffield today.

MARK WILLIAMS became the first Welshman to make a maximum 147 break as he booked his place in round two of the Embassy World Championship yesterday.

Former world champion Peter Ebdon safely secured his passage through to the last 16 of the Embassy World Championship in Sheffield tonight with a comprehensive 10-2 victory over Quinten Hann – who was not playing with his own cue.

World number nine Stephen Lee is looking favourite to book his place in the last 16 of the Embassy World Championship having taken a commanding 6-3 lead over Maltese star Tony Drago.

Former World Champion Peter Ebdon has opened up a healthy 8-1 lead after the first session of his best-of-19 first-round clash with controversial Australian Quinten Hann.

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN faces the toughest possible start to his defence of the Embassy world title next month.

Stephen Maguire has passed one of the toughest tests of his career to nail down a place in the Embassy World Championship at the Crucible next month.

Robert Milkins made it third time lucky against Dave Harold tonight to reach the Failte Irish Masters semi-finals at the Citywest Hotel, Dublin.

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.

Paul Hunter played through the pain barrier to finally record his first victory of 2005 at the Fáilte Ireland Irish Masters today.

Ken Doherty has learnt that he will take on Barry Pinches in the opening round of the Irish masters following today’s draw.

Chinese teenager Ding Jun Hui is feeling confident ahead of the biggest match of his fledgling snooker career in Brighton as he faces Jimmy White tonight.

Ronnie O’Sullivan and Graeme Dott will re-run their World Championship final on Thursday night for a place in the Totesport Grand Prix quarter-finals.

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

Jimmy White may be enjoying his best season for more than a decade but so too is the Whirlwind’s opening opponent at the Embassy World Championship in Sheffield today.

Drew Henry was heading home despite reaching the second round of the Daily Record Players Championship in Glasgow tonight.

Quinten Hann bids to end his quarter-final jinx today when he tackles John Higgins at the Citywest Irish Masters in Dublin.

Local hero Ken Doherty takes centre stage in Dublin tonight hoping to shake himself out of the worst slump of his professional career.

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.

Stephen Lee gained revenge for one of the most disappointing results of his career as he reached the second round of the Irish Masters in Dublin today.

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

Jimmy White faces a player who was not even born when the Whirlwind turned professional as the battle for the European Open title reaches a climax in Malta tonight.

Jimmy White roared into his first major final in four years with a thrilling 6-4 victory over local hero Tony Drago at the European Open in Malta tonight.

Stephen Maguire was bewildered and happy, embarrassed and yet delighted after achieving a career breakthrough on the Mediterranean island of Malta today.

Ten years ago, when big-time pro-snooker first arrived on Maltese shores, Tony Drago ended the tournament in a flood of tears.

John Higgins coasted into the second round of the €599,000 European Open at the expense of a below par Barry Pinches at the Hilton Conference Centre, Malta.

SNOOKER legend Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins yesterday backed the smoking ban in pubs, but warned the “fresh air culture” could lead to obesity problems.

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.

GERARD GREENE has double reason to celebrate after causing a huge upset in the British Open at Brighton yesterday.

Jimmy White will not expect to be detained very long when he makes his entrance in the British Open at the Brighton Centre tonight.

A player once described as a certain future world champion by no less a judge than Stephen Hendry takes on Ronnie O’Sullivan at the British Open in Brighton tonight, determined to extend the Rocket’s barren spell.

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

Peter Ebdon needed just 22 minutes this morning to take his place in the Embassy World Championship quarter-finals.

Peter Ebdon can expect a verbal blast from Tony Drago when the duo complete their acrimonious second round match in the Embassy World Championship tomorrow.

Ireland's Joe Swail leads Tony Drago 8-6 at the Crucible tonight.

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

JIMMY WHITE has a mountain to climb today if he is to remain in the Embassy World Championship. The six-times Crucible runner-up faces a 6-3 deficit against Thailand’s James Wattana.

FORMER champion John Higgins recovered from a poor start to clinch a commanding lead over Ian McCulloch at the Crucible.

Rory McLeod set up a dream meeting with his idol by beating Malta’s Tony Drago 5-3 in the first round of the £597,200 (€86,500) Regal Scottish Open in Edinburgh.

World number one Ronnie O’Sullivan was forced to a deciding frame in the Welsh Regal Open for the second match in succession before booking his quarter-final place.

Robert Milkins gave an assured performance on his Crucible debut to forge a 5-4 lead over experienced Irishman Fergal O’Brien today.

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