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.

Ronnie O’Sullivan turned on the style to pocket a magnificent maximum 147 break at the Kilkenny Irish Masters.

JOHN HIGGINS dug deep to book his place in the Kilkenny Irish Masters quarter-finals at the Ormonde Hotel last night.

Quinten Hann will tomorrow become the first Australian for 14 years to contest a ranking tournament semi-final when he meets Peter Ebdon in the Citywest Irish Masters.

The row over the Irish Prime Minister's cancelled visit to Scotland has intensified as the Labour MP at the centre of the controversy suggested Dublin leaked damaging information to the press.