Ronnie O’Sullivan is out of form.

Dry hands and a former world champion could not block the path of John Higgins into the quarter-finals of the Star Group China Open in Beijing.

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN’S dismal season suffered another setback when he was whitewashed 5-0 by Thailand’s James Wattana in the first round of the Star Group China Open in Beijing yesterday.

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s dismal season suffered another setback when he was whitewashed 5-0 by Thailand’s James Wattana in the first round of the Star Group China Open in Beijing today.

Ronnie O’Sullivan is ready to play villain of the piece at the China Open in Beijing this week.

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.

Defending champion Stephen Maguire made an impressive start to the defence of his Travis Perkins UK Championship in York.

World champion Shaun Murphy is through to the second of the Preston Grand Prix after a convincing 5-2 victory over Leicester’s Mark Selby.

James Wattana, twice a semi-finalist in the Embassy World Championship, suffered an astonishing 10-0 defeat to Ali Carter in Prestatyn tonight to be denied a return to the Crucible.

Matthew Stevens hopes a return to one of his favourite venues can kick start a season that promised so much last November.

World number one Mark Williams was far from impressed with his third round victory over James Wattana at the Guild Hall in Preston today.

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.

Thailand's James Wattana leads Jimmy White (pictured) 6-3 after today's first session at the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England.

James Wattana’s worst nightmare would be to relegate Jimmy White from snooker’s top flight.

Kwan Poomjang produced the first shock of the UK Championship by defeating fellow Thai James Wattana at York’s Barbican Centre tonight.

Scotland’s John Higgins hit three tons last night including a magnificent 136 - to lead 8-1 over James Wattana in the first round of the Embassy World Championship.

Ireland’s Ken Doherty has progressed to the second round of the Regal Welsh Open after beating Thailand’s James Wattana 5-2 in Cardiff this afternoon.

Ireland’s Ken Doherty has progressed to the second round of the Regal Welsh Open after beating Thailand’s James Wattana 5-2 in Cardiff this afternoon.

James Wattana was pleased with his tenacious fightback against Peter Ebdon at The Crucible, even though it did not prove enough to claim victory.

Peter Ebdon withstood a tenacious fightback from James Wattana to reach the second round of the World Championship in Sheffield today.

In-form Peter Ebdon was closing in on a second-round place at the Embassy World Championship in Sheffield today.

James Wattana is considering quitting snooker after his humiliating loss to Mike Dunn in the last qualifying match of the Thailand Masters.

Stephen Hendry pulled off a trademark great escape at the Thailand Masters in Bangkok tonight and then denied 18 months without a world ranking title has become a source of growing pressure