White-hot atmosphere expected at Wembley

Ken Doherty is in action today against Ronnie O'Sullivan at the Masters in the Wembley Conference Centre.

Meanwhile, Jimmy White’s fan club may be in the bad books for their behaviour during their idol’s surprise second-round win over six-times champion Stephen Hendry at the Masters on Wednesday - but they intend raising the roof again tonight when the Whirlwind looks to make more capital gains over fellow Londoner Peter Ebdon.

Ronnie 'The Rocket' O'Sullivan is second only to White in the popularity stakes and that should ensure the best crowds of the week for the last two quarter-finals in the £400,000 (€585,000) event.

Indeed, Doherty won’t be lacking in support from his North London-based Irish fan club.

But it is White’s best-of-11 framer against Ebdon that will guarantee a packed Conference Centre; the vast majority hoping to see the Whirlwind progress to the last four on Saturday.

Both White and Hendry complained about the unsportsmanlike behaviour of the crowd after Wednesday’s match.

And security will be tight to ensure there is no repeat of the disturbances, including one miscreant who broke wind early in the match as Hendry prepared to line-up a shot.

White also had a moan about table conditions that didn’t appear to have improved last night as John Higgins defeated Stephen Lee, the world number five, 6-4.

Higgins was scathing in his comments of the playing surface after joining Paul Hunter, Masters champion in 2001 and 2002, in the semi-finals.

The sub-standard nature of the table would explain the distinct lack of high breaks.

After five days Ding Junhui’s effort of 118 against Joe Perry remains in pole position for the high break bonus. Indeed, the 16-year-old Chinese starlet is the only player so far to make two tons in the same game.

It is hard to see that total remaining intact after today’s games, especially if O’Sullivan gets his eye in.

It would certainly be a dream last-four meeting if White and O’Sullivan can come through their respective matches today.

O’Sullivan, not surprisingly, is the favourite of official bookmakers Ladbrokes to win the title.

He played superbly to win the Welsh Open in Cardiff last month and whitewashed Alan McManus 6-0 in his opening game at Wembley.

As a result, the world number three, who hasn’t been beyond the quarter-finals since losing to Steve Davis in the 1997 final, is quoted as 13-8 favourite for the £100,000 (€146,000) first prize.

Hunter, chasing a third Masters crown in four years, is second favourite at 5-2, Doherty is 9-1 and despite his first ever Masters victory over Hendry, White remains the outsider at 14-1.

Hunter defeated defending champion Mark Williams 6-5 yesterday, only his third victory over the Welshman in 13 meetings.

“Every player has their bogeyman and Mark is mine,” said the world number eight from Leeds. “But not today.”

Williams, distracted by a bad bounce off a cushion in the 10th frame that he believed cost him a 6-4 success, added: “Paul will be there or thereabouts if he plays like that.”