Hope for McManus

Alan McManus made a determined effort to break his Crucible curse in Sheffield today although his opponent Ian McCulloch remains favourite to reach the Embassy World Championship quarter-finals.

Glaswegian McManus has never been beyond the last 16 since reaching the semi-finals for a second time in 1993.

And a place in the penultimate round looked unlikely when he trailed the 2002 British Open runner-up 7-1 at start of play.

However, McCulloch made a crucial error in the opening frame and then suffered a stroke of misfortune as world number 10 McManus began his comeback.

McCulloch was heading for an 8-1 lead on a break of 61. But he missed the second last red and McManus eventually stole the frame on a fluked, re-spotted black.

He reduced his deficit to 7-3 and then compiled a break of 103 to close to 7-4. McManus led 57-23 in the final frame before the mid-session interval.

However, he allowed his Preston rival a chance to clear up which he did commendably given the increasing pressure.

McManus still requires nine of the remaining 13 frames to break his world championship hoodoo but at least he has ensured McCulloch can’t win with a session to spare.

It was also 8-4 on the adjoining table and that represented a worrying scoreline for world number four John Higgins.

The 1998 world champion has lost just once in nine meetings to fellow Scot Graeme Dott and he’s thrashed Dott twice at the Crucible.

But Rangers fan Dott is well on course to knock Celtic supporter Higgins out of the championship.

Dott led 5-1 during yesterday’s first session but had to be content with a 5-3 overnight lead.

The first two frames of the morning session were shared before the world number 13 made his bid for the quarters.

Higgins, without a ranking title victory since beating Dott in the 2001 British Open, didn’t score a point in frame 11 as his compatriot compiled a decisive run of 72.

Dott’s break of 44 to start the 12th frame proved to be the platform for another success as the winning line came clearer into view for the 26-year-old from Larkhall.

They have four further frames to complete this morning before returning for the conclusion this evening.