Detail Reports

First Rounds
Stephen Hendry (Sco)4-2Mark J Williams (Wal)
Scores: 27-95 (73), 98-31 (90), 0-74, 114-0 (114), 62-35, 70-33 (62)
The Welshman took the first frame but Hendry hit back and said: "Apart from a couple of twitches at the end I'm very pleased with the way I played."
"With a round-robin format you need to win your first match to get yourself in a positive frame of mind."
"You can't afford too many mistakes in a best-of-seven match."
John Higgins (Sco)4-3Fergal O'Brien (Ire)
Scores: 33-72, 84-24 (84), 73-26, 71-21 (52), 17-91 (61), 62-65, 79-24 (78)
Higgins lost to O'Brien in last year's British Open semi-finals and opened up a 3-1 lead before the Irishman rallied.
He took Higgins to a final frame which the world number one clinched thanks to a solid break of 78.
"At 3-1 up I was feeling quite relaxed but I let my mind wander a bit," he said. "Fergal is one of the toughest players so I am pleased to win it."
Stephen Lee (Eng)3-4Steve Davis (Eng)
Scores: 0-80, 22-71 (65), 79-28 (55), 61-46, 35-74 (52), 122-0 (68, 54), 8-94
Davis, starting his 22nd season as a professional, led 2-0 and 3-2 but was pegged back each time before winning the deciding frame.
"With only 10 men in the Champions Cup, me and Jimmy White are the outsiders but I have been longer odds than this."
"Not everybody can be 10-1 and I would imagine that my price will now be reduced," he said.
Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)4-2Jimmy White (Eng)
Scores: 37-71, 66-15, 68-42 (68), 66-58 (66, 58), 1-64 (64), 71-21
O'Sullivan opened up a 2-1 lead before clearing to the pink with a 66 break from 58-0 down to extend his advantage.
White rallied with a 64 in frame five but O'Sullivan edged a scrappy sixth frame to clinch victory.
"I was happy with my performance although I had to rely on Jimmy to make a few mistakes," he said. "I'd rather win without unforced errors."
Stephen Hendry (Sco)2-4Ken Doherty (Ire)
Scores: 0-91, 95-4 (95), 7-78, 69-9 (69), 0-100 (81), 26-65 (56)
Doherty, who defeated Hendry for the world title two years ago, was in super form and his victory means that Hendry is struggling to qualify from group B.
After Hendry twice levelled the scores to make it 2-2, world number seven Doherty responded with a quick break of 81 in the fifth frame to take the lead.
The Dubliner eventually sealed victory with a sound break of 51 to finish.
John Parrott (Eng)1-4Fergal O'Brien (Ire)
Scores: 57-65, 79-0 (79), 30-66, 39-70, 30-60 (50)
The British Open champion had lost his opening match to John Higgins but put in a determined display that saw him win the last three frames for victory.
"It's great to be involved in this event but not so great if you lose all four matches," said O'Brien.
Parrott said: "With more time on the match table I think I will get used to the conditions."
Mark J Williams (Wal)2-4Steve Davis (Eng)
Scores: 44-67, 104-0 (60), 27-87 (63), 73-49, 44-84 (68), 15-80 (51)
Davis, currently embroiled in a power struggle with the sport's authorities, defeated the world number three 4-2 to shoot to the top of group B.
"It's an absolute joy to be involved in what snooker's really about," he said.
Williams agreed the better man won on the day: "I need to improve a great deal and Steve outplayed me in every part of the game."
Stephen Lee (Eng)4-1Ken Doherty (Ire)
Scores: 86-16 (75), 35-77, 77-60 (60 Doherty), 71-59 (55 Lee, 59 Doherty), 68-43
The result means that Davis has two wins to his credit with Lee, Doherty and Stephen Hendry all having won one.
Lee, who won the Millennium Classic in Hong Kong last month, knocked in breaks of 75, 41 and 55 to keep hopes of an early season double alive.
"This game is 99% to do with what's going on in your head," said Lee.
John Higgins (Sco)4-3John Parrott (Eng)
Scores: 1-73 (57), 78-30 (73), 37-56, 108-4 (69), 28-74 (62), 109-17 (109), 68-26
Parrott led 2-1 amd 3-2 but Higgins hit back each time before Parrott missed a red when 50-26 down in the decider and the Scot cleared up.
"I felt pleased with my form although I missed a couple of stupid balls," said the world number one.
Parrott is now struggling to qualify for the last four of the tournament.
Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)4-1Fergal O'Brien (Ire)
Scores: 91-29 (69), 54-76 (71), 80-0 (67), 103-0 (60), 72-1 (54)
"My heart wasn't in it last year and I considered pulling out of the whole season but I thought that would be a bit too drastic," said Ronnie.
"This year I want to play, I feel I've got a reason to play and I'm making proper use of my practise time."
"This season I want to play mentally strong and be professional like all top sportsmen."
John Parrott (Eng)0-4Jimmy White (Eng)
Scores: 22-60, 54-56 (50 Parrott), 35-91 (86), 0-88 (88)
White lost 4-2 to Ronnie O'Sullivan in his opening match but found top gear straight away against the Liverpuslian, wrapping up victory in just 57 minutes.
Breaks of 86 and 88 sealed it and he said, "I've got a new cue and I'm really enjoyed playing with it."
"I knocked in a couple of good long balls and will put some more work in."
Mark J Williams (Wal)4-0Stephen Lee (Eng)
Scores: 70-14, 124-5 (106), 71-5, 68-6
Williams secured the win with breaks of 106 and 53 while Lee totalled just 30 points in the 56-minute match.
"I need to win my last match and hope the other results go my way. If not I will be out of here as quickly as I can," said Williams.
"I felt I played OK against Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis but I just twitched on crucial shots."
John Higgins (Sco)0-4Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)
Scores: 6-81 (79), 26-94 (87), 8-123 (119), 0-78 (78)
The "Rocket" suck the world number one 4-0 in just 39 minutes to leave the Scot's own hopes of gaining a last four spot in doubt.
O'Sullivan set the tone with a break of 79 in the first frame before following up with runs of 87, 119 and 87. Higgins managed just 40 points reply.
Fergal O'Brien (Ire)4-3Jimmy White (Eng)
Scores: 62-74 (62 O'Brien), 74-8, 64-63 (64), 111-10 (103), 21-66, 53-63, 59-11
Ireland's Fergal O'Brien is out of the tournament despite a 4-3 victtory over Jimmy White.
"I'm very match shy at the moment and I'm having trouble with certain shots because of my new cue," White said. "Hopefully I can get through."
Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)1-4John Parrott (Eng)
Scores: 0-78, 27-80, 79-28, 51-66, 9-77
Although the match does not matter the semi-finals placement, Parrott still managed for his first and only win of the tournamnet.
John Higgins (Sco)4-2Jimmy White (Eng)
Scores: 107-13 (107), 64-71, 64-30 (64), 74-0 (74), 12-74, 67-66 (59, 52)
World number one John Higgins put his 4-0 whitewash at the hands of Ronnie O'Sullivan behind him to clinch a spot in the semi-finals.
He had to defeat Jimmy White to reach the last four and he came through the test 4-2.
The Scot now meets compatriot Stephen Hendry in Saturday's showdown.
Higgins began the match with a 107 break and finished with a superb 59 clearance to win frame six on the back by a point.

Semi-Finals
Mark J Williams (Wal)5-4Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)
Scores: 76-32 (65), 60-31, 49-60, 1-94 (94), 32-99 (75), 73-37 (69), 81-0, 26-66 (51), 68-60 (56)
Mark J Williams eventually beat Ronnie O'Sullivan by only 5-4.
O'Sullivan was poised to take his place in Sunday's best-of-13 frames showdown but from 56-1 down in the decider Welsh left-hander Williams hit back to eventually sneak through 5-4 by potting the last pink and black.
Williams can hardly believe he is still in contention after his first two group games defeat and was bottom of the table without a point to his name. His odds on winning the title had dropped to 20-1.
"A lot of results went my way but I played well in my last two matches," said Williams. "To win those games 4-0 and 4-1 probably got me through. But I seem to keep using this get out of jail card."
"It doesn't matter who I play now," added Williams, who beat Higgins in the world semi-finals last season but then lost to Hendry in the final. "I'm trying to be more consistent with my game and not miss as many easy balls."
"Maybe I wasn't destined to win that match," said O'Sullivan, "twice I played good shots but they ended up working against me. But that's sport. I'll try not to let it get me down and hopefully bounce back in the next tournament."
John Higgins (Sco)2-5Stephen Hendry (Sco)
Scores: 8-129 (129), 73-72 (66 Hendry), 73-48, 0-112 (112), 44-56, 0-86 (86), 0-84 (73)
World Champion Stephen Hendry barely put a foot wrong as he stylishly saw off world number one Higgins to close in on the first prize of £175,000.
Breaks of 129, 112, 86 and 73 were the highlights of an awesome semi-final display that left Hendry feeling delighted. "I said in Sheffield that I didn't want the season to end and I'm very happy to have started the new one the same way," said Hendry. "Winning the world title was a monkey off my back and I now feel completely relaxed."
His long-time coach Frank Callan arrived in Croydon today to observe his star pupil close up.
Hendry said: "Frank and I are still very much involved. He came up to Scotland a month ago and we'll be working together throughout the season."
The turning point of this match came in the fifth frame with the scores locked at 2-2 when Higgins, attempting to obtain position on the black, jawed the pink into a middle pocket and Hendry seized a 3-2 advantage.
Higgins, who did not pot a ball after the miss, said: "The pink was the turning point but I didn't feel as if I was in the match."
"I didn't do anything wrong but Stephen played superbly. It's as well as I've seen him hit the ball."
"With the standard we're playing at now you have to win the frame once you get a chance. Sometimes you don't even have to make a mistake and you'll lose the frame."
Final
Stephen Hendry (Sco)7-5Mark J Williams (Wal)
Scores: 61-39, 72-59, 0-100 (100), 1-71, 82-13, 82-15 (56), 17-86 (79), 0-116 (50, 62), 136-0 (107), 78-0 (63), 10-69, 114-20 (105)
950 crowds turned out to see the 30-year-old Scot capture the first major trophy of snooker's Millennium season.
He beat Mark Williams by 7-5 to become the first winner of the Liverpool Victoria Champions Cup and take the prize of £175,000. It is his 71st major title and leaves him just two behind Steve Davis' all-time record.
But Hendry says: "If I never win another match or another tournament I cannot be disappointed by what I've achieved from snooker."
"My target this season is to get back to number one. But if I don't, it won't be the end of the world."
"Winning this event is a great boost to my confidence at the start of the season though the last thing I want now is to lose my opening match in the British Open in a week or so's time."
Williams who knocked in a break of 100 in frame three, said, "Stephen is the best player I have ever seen and is the No.1 to beat in any tournament."
They both made complain about the condition in the arena.
"It was hot out there, it was like playing in Spain," said Hendry.
And Mark said: "I have never played in such warm conditions before. It was awful in the first four frames. My cue became so sticky I had to use talcum powder to keep it smooth."
Stephen Hendry talking about his cue afterward, "I did have a problem with the tip of the cue but Lawrie Annandale, the assistant tournament director, did some repair work during the interval and that did the trick."

 

 

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