Lee cues up for quarter-finals

Stephen Lee gave England a rare sporting victory over Australia at Wembley last night to reach the quarter-finals of the Benson and Hedges Masters.

The reigning Scottish Open champion defeated Masters newcomer Quinten Hann - the first Aussie to play at the Conference Centre venue since Eddie Charlton in 1986.

But Lee had to work hard for his 6-4 win against a player not always renowned for his willingness to tough it out.

"Quinten had his sensible head on him tonight and played some good safety," explained the Trowbridge professional, who plays defending champion Paul Hunter or Alan McManus.

Hann, without a win in five events this season, also made the highest breaks including a 122 in frame four. He might have stretched it to 135 but missed the pink.

He added 93 to lead 4-3 and had half chances to stretch his advantage to 5-3.

Instead, Lee came back to the table to regain parity. "I made a good 60 break to level at 4-4 and it was important to stop him going two frames in front.

"I had another 80 for 5-4 and it would have been nice to have finished off with another good break."

In the end Hann was the author of his own misfortune, conceding a four-point penalty and leaving a free ball when carelessly knocking in the yellow.

Lee’s final effort of 32 was sufficient to take the 28-year-old world number seven into the last eight for the first time since 2000.

"I’m hitting the ball well in practice but I keep going in and out of focus. I need to get my head right and then I should do okay."

Even if he does not win the title on Sunday, Lee will not leave Wembley empty handed.

After the match he was presented with his award for being voted last season’s Player of the Year by the Snooker Writers’ Association.

Earlier Ronnie O’Sullivan came within eight shots of compiling only the second maximum break in the 29-year history of Benson & Hedges Masters.

The 'Rocket' travelled by train and tube to play his first match of the 2003 event but would have been driving home in an £80,000 Honda sports car had he emulated the achievement of Canadian Kirk Stevens in 1984.

He still cued his way superbly to 112 in the second frame of his second-round 6-1 victory over Joe Perry before missing the last red into the green pocket.

His failure to sink the red also cost him a chance of the £22,000 high break prize and denied 6ft 10in coach and mentor Derek Hill an ideal 50th birthday present.

"I think Del would probably only have got one foot in the car anyway," quipped the former world champion.