CWY Snooker House

Detail Reports

FOURTH ROUNDS

Quinten Hann (Aus) 2-5 Macro Fu (HK)

Marco Fu went on to set up a Shanghai shoot out against world champion, Stephen Hendry after a 5-2 fourth round victory over Quinten Hann.
Provisionally ranked at No.17, he rattled Hann so much that the Aussie attempted the odd pool shot in vain attempts to get out of trouble.
Fu was given a succession of easy chances as Hann clearly became frustrated with the match.
At one point Hann conceded a frame, when only 4 points down, with several reds left. As the match progressed he attempt a series of bizarre doubles and finally smashed the pack as if playing 9-ball pool.
In the last frame he even tried length of the table doubles which left Fu with simple chances to pot the pink and later the black.
"I certainly wouldn't have played them unless I was having a knock around at my local club," said the Stirling based Fu who was beaten 5-2 by Hendry in the last 64 of the British Open two weeks ago.
He added "Playing Stephen will always be a very special occasion for me but the fact the match is in China makes it even more special," said the 21 year old.

Quinten Hann (Aus)	2-5	Macro Fu (HK)
Marco Fu went on to set up a Shanghai shoot out against world champion, Stephen Hendry after a 5-2 fourth round victory over Quinten Hann. Provisionally ranked at No.17, he rattled Hann so much that the Aussie attempted the odd pool shot in vain attempts to get out of trouble. Fu was given a succession of easy chances as Hann clearly became frustrated with the match. At one point Hann conceded a frame, when only 4 points down, with several reds left. As the match progressed he attempt a series of bizarre doubles and finally smashed the pack as if playing 9-ball pool. In the last frame he even tried length of the table doubles which left Fu with simple chances to pot the pink and later the black. "I certainly wouldn't have played them unless I was having a knock around at my local club," said the Stirling based Fu who was beaten 5-2 by Hendry in the last 64 of the British Open two weeks ago. He added "Playing Stephen will always be a very special occasion for me but the fact the match is in China makes it even more special," said the 21 year old.

WILDCARD ROUNDS

Marco Fu (HK) 5-3 Da Hailin (Chn)

Hong Kong's favourite set up the dream match against Stephen Hendry, but not without being given a fright by local Chinese Amateur Da Hai Lin, 25 year old from Lanzhou.
Fu sprinted to a 2-0 lead with breaks of 124 and 61, but was pegged back to 2-2 and 3-3 before eventually clinching a 5-3 victory after three and a half hours hard battle.
It is Fu's 10th century of the season, and his 39th since he turned professional two years ago.
Fu wasn't at all surprised by the talent of his opponent. He said, "I've played Da a couple of times before so I knew he was a very capable player."
"Not only that, but he's obviously improved a lot since the last time I saw him."
Fu will now face Hendry in front of a sell out crowd at The JC Mandarin Hotel on Monday, and encounter that the Scot is relishing.
"I am really looking forward to the China Open as the Far East is now a hotbed of snooker", said Hendry, adding "The people over here love their sport and there will be some big crowds watching us".

Marco Fu (HK)	5-3	Da Hailin (Chn)
Hong Kong's favourite set up the dream match against Stephen Hendry, but not without being given a fright by local Chinese Amateur Da Hai Lin, 25 year old from Lanzhou. Fu sprinted to a 2-0 lead with breaks of 124 and 61, but was pegged back to 2-2 and 3-3 before eventually clinching a 5-3 victory after three and a half hours hard battle. It is Fu's 10th century of the season, and his 39th since he turned professional two years ago. Fu wasn't at all surprised by the talent of his opponent. He said, "I've played Da a couple of times before so I knew he was a very capable player." "Not only that, but he's obviously improved a lot since the last time I saw him." Fu will now face Hendry in front of a sell out crowd at The JC Mandarin Hotel on Monday, and encounter that the Scot is relishing. "I am really looking forward to the China Open as the Far East is now a hotbed of snooker", said Hendry, adding "The people over here love their sport and there will be some big crowds watching us".

FIFTH ROUNDS

Alan McManus (Sco) 0-5 Joe Perry (Eng)

World No.8 Alan McManus, suffered a crushing defeat when beaten 5-0 by Joe Perry, the third time this year he has suffered a whitewash.
Perry, top breaks of 88 and 65, mustered 429 points in the five frames with McManus scoring only 25 as the Wisbech professional raced home in only 69 minutes.
"He was brilliant, it didn't look as if would miss anything and in this form Joe can only do well. He got away at the start and I couldn't put him under any pressure at all," said McManus.
Perry, ranked 34, admitted that but for another player, he would not have even turned up.
"I thought I was playing in the evening and it wasn't until Stuart Bingham called me on the mobile that I found out my match was at mid-day. There were only 20 minutes to go but I was staying close to the venue so that was no problem."
"Perhaps that was a good thing as I didn't have time to think about the match and was very relaxed," added Perry who beat Steve Davis on the final black in the first round of last season's world championship.

John Higgins (Sco) 1-5 Peter Lines (Eng)

Scores: 105-7 (54), 35-67, 16-62, 28-58, 53-65, 56-67
Holder John Higgins was dumped out of the tournament following what he admitted was the worst performance of his professional career. Even his opponent, Yorkshire's Peter Lines, the world No.42, queried whether he had played an imposter.
Lines, 30 the previous day, beat Higgins 5-1 to reach the last 16 of a ranking event for the first time since he turned professional eight years ago.
"I can't believe how poorly John played, surely it wasn't the world No.1 who I was out there playing me. He could hardly pot a ball after winning the first frame."
"In the end John's problems got to me as much as they must have affected him. It was a struggle to get over the winning line and the pressure increased the longer the game went on."
"I'm delighted to have beaten John but his performance has taken a lot of the gloss off my own victory."
Higgins who kicked off with breaks of 54 and 39 to win the opening frame, never passed the 30 mark afterwards.
"This was rock bottom as far as my performance was concerned. I can't remember playing as bad as this since I turned professional in 1992."
"I started off well and won the first frame but mistakes soon crept in and I couldn't get any rhythm going at all."
"It really was pathetic. I'm disgusted but I only got what I deserved as my preparations and everything else about coming here were all wrong."
"At the moment I don't even feel like playing the game, which is a stupid thing to say." Higgins added.
Only nine months ago, Higgins won the China Open when he defeated Billy Snaddon 9-3 in the final at the same venue.
But that was a one-off as far as the Scot's form overseas is concerned. He has in recent seasons suffered some surprising setbacks against the lower ranked player losing 5-0 to Karl Burrows in the 1996 Asian Classic, 5-3 to Quinten Hann in the 1997 Thailand Open and 5-3 to Alex Borg in the 1998 Rothmans Malta Grand Prix.
He was also beaten 3-2 by Pang Weiguo, a Chinese amateur, in the 1998 Red Bull Challenge in Beijing.
His loss in China makes him the outsider of the big three fighting for the number one ranking slot of this season. Welshman Mark Williams holds the whip hand at the moment, with Stephen Hendry mounting a strong challenge.

Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) 5-2 Anthony Davies (Wal)

Scores: 62-17, 0-113 (55, 58), 69-1 (68), 99-7 (99), 4-98 (60), 69-36 (56), 70-23 (62)
In a totally contrasting match lasting just 78 minutes, Ronnie O'Sullivan defeated Welshman Anthony Davies 5-2.
Davies contributed breaks of 55, 58 and 60 in an entertaining high scoring match which saw a break over 50 in every frame. O'Sullivan rattled in runs of 68, 99, 56 and 62 to take him through to face Lancashire based Pakistan star Shokat Ali.

Mark J Williams (Wal) 5-4 Dave Harold (Eng)

Scores: 0-86 (86), 0-140 (140), 18-76, 66-57, 105-1, 81-39 (53), 32-72, 79-17, 75-28
UK champion Mark Williams overcame a stormy passage in the China Open in Shanghai today, but only by the skin of his teeth.
At 3-0 down Mark Williams was starting defeat in the face. He had already sat out breaks of 86 and a 140 total clearance from Harold, but he responded to win the next three.
Harold lead again at 4-3, but Williams dug deep to take the two required frames for a cliff hanger victory.
A relieved UK Champion said, "I stuck at it when things weren't going well, a few times I feared the worst."
"I've got a great chance of finishing the season at the head of the rankings and that's a big enough incentive to fight for everything," said Williams.
Harold, was less than happy, "I keep throwing away matches and to lose this one was criminal. I played Mark off the table and all that I get is a ticket home on the next flight."
"I just cannot get over the winning line and the more matches I lose like this, the worse it gets," added Harold who this season has already lost three times in the deciding frame.

Stephen Hendry (Sco) 5-1 Macro Fu (HK)

Scores: 85-24 (59), 8-59 (57), 71-38 (62), 82-41, 98-5 (98), 72-7 (64)
World champion Stephen Hendry eased his way into the last 16 but admitted, "I won two scrappy frames, the third and fourth, and that probably decided the outcome."
The 30 year old Scot who has now won all three matches he has played against Fu, continued, "Marco will soon become a top eight player and to engage him at this stage of a tournament was a tough challenge."
"He is getting more and more experience all the time and will keep on improving."
"But I knew beforehand what I had to do and I was ready for it."
Hendry, in second place on the provisional rankings, added, "The fact John Higgins lost last night hasn't affected me all that much as Mark Williams is the player who needs catching."
"He leads the rankings, is still very much involved here and is getting the sort of results I achieved in the early 1990's. Quite rightly, he is taking advantage of his good form."
Fu whose high break of 57 enabled him to win the second frame, said, "I missed too many balls. It showed up the difference between Stephen's game and my own. Right now that is quite a lot."
"My concentration was the biggest problem and I thought I would play better than I did. I'm good enough to hold a top eight ranking but there is still a lot of work to do if I'm to beat the very best players in the world."

Alan McManus (Sco)	0-5	Joe Perry (Eng)
World No.8 Alan McManus, suffered a crushing defeat when beaten 5-0 by Joe Perry, the third time this year he has suffered a whitewash. Perry, top breaks of 88 and 65, mustered 429 points in the five frames with McManus scoring only 25 as the Wisbech professional raced home in only 69 minutes. "He was brilliant, it didn't look as if would miss anything and in this form Joe can only do well. He got away at the start and I couldn't put him under any pressure at all," said McManus. Perry, ranked 34, admitted that but for another player, he would not have even turned up. "I thought I was playing in the evening and it wasn't until Stuart Bingham called me on the mobile that I found out my match was at mid-day. There were only 20 minutes to go but I was staying close to the venue so that was no problem." "Perhaps that was a good thing as I didn't have time to think about the match and was very relaxed," added Perry who beat Steve Davis on the final black in the first round of last season's world championship.

John Higgins (Sco)	1-5	Peter Lines (Eng)
Scores: 105-7 (54), 35-67, 16-62, 28-58, 53-65, 56-67 Holder John Higgins was dumped out of the tournament following what he admitted was the worst performance of his professional career. Even his opponent, Yorkshire's Peter Lines, the world No.42, queried whether he had played an imposter. Lines, 30 the previous day, beat Higgins 5-1 to reach the last 16 of a ranking event for the first time since he turned professional eight years ago. "I can't believe how poorly John played, surely it wasn't the world No.1 who I was out there playing me. He could hardly pot a ball after winning the first frame." "In the end John's problems got to me as much as they must have affected him. It was a struggle to get over the winning line and the pressure increased the longer the game went on." "I'm delighted to have beaten John but his performance has taken a lot of the gloss off my own victory." Higgins who kicked off with breaks of 54 and 39 to win the opening frame, never passed the 30 mark afterwards. "This was rock bottom as far as my performance was concerned. I can't remember playing as bad as this since I turned professional in 1992." "I started off well and won the first frame but mistakes soon crept in and I couldn't get any rhythm going at all." "It really was pathetic. I'm disgusted but I only got what I deserved as my preparations and everything else about coming here were all wrong." "At the moment I don't even feel like playing the game, which is a stupid thing to say." Higgins added. Only nine months ago, Higgins won the China Open when he defeated Billy Snaddon 9-3 in the final at the same venue. But that was a one-off as far as the Scot's form overseas is concerned. He has in recent seasons suffered some surprising setbacks against the lower ranked player losing 5-0 to Karl Burrows in the 1996 Asian Classic, 5-3 to Quinten Hann in the 1997 Thailand Open and 5-3 to Alex Borg in the 1998 Rothmans Malta Grand Prix. He was also beaten 3-2 by Pang Weiguo, a Chinese amateur, in the 1998 Red Bull Challenge in Beijing. His loss in China makes him the outsider of the big three fighting for the number one ranking slot of this season. Welshman Mark Williams holds the whip hand at the moment, with Stephen Hendry mounting a strong challenge.

Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)	5-2	Anthony Davies (Wal)
Scores: 62-17, 0-113 (55, 58), 69-1 (68), 99-7 (99), 4-98 (60), 69-36 (56), 70-23 (62) In a totally contrasting match lasting just 78 minutes, Ronnie O'Sullivan defeated Welshman Anthony Davies 5-2. Davies contributed breaks of 55, 58 and 60 in an entertaining high scoring match which saw a break over 50 in every frame. O'Sullivan rattled in runs of 68, 99, 56 and 62 to take him through to face Lancashire based Pakistan star Shokat Ali.

Mark J Williams (Wal)	5-4	Dave Harold (Eng)
Scores: 0-86 (86), 0-140 (140), 18-76, 66-57, 105-1, 81-39 (53), 32-72, 79-17, 75-28 UK champion Mark Williams overcame a stormy passage in the China Open in Shanghai today, but only by the skin of his teeth. At 3-0 down Mark Williams was starting defeat in the face. He had already sat out breaks of 86 and a 140 total clearance from Harold, but he responded to win the next three. Harold lead again at 4-3, but Williams dug deep to take the two required frames for a cliff hanger victory. A relieved UK Champion said, "I stuck at it when things weren't going well, a few times I feared the worst." "I've got a great chance of finishing the season at the head of the rankings and that's a big enough incentive to fight for everything," said Williams. Harold, was less than happy, "I keep throwing away matches and to lose this one was criminal. I played Mark off the table and all that I get is a ticket home on the next flight." "I just cannot get over the winning line and the more matches I lose like this, the worse it gets," added Harold who this season has already lost three times in the deciding frame.

Stephen Hendry (Sco)	5-1	Macro Fu (HK)
Scores: 85-24 (59), 8-59 (57), 71-38 (62), 82-41, 98-5 (98), 72-7 (64) World champion Stephen Hendry eased his way into the last 16 but admitted, "I won two scrappy frames, the third and fourth, and that probably decided the outcome." The 30 year old Scot who has now won all three matches he has played against Fu, continued, "Marco will soon become a top eight player and to engage him at this stage of a tournament was a tough challenge." "He is getting more and more experience all the time and will keep on improving." "But I knew beforehand what I had to do and I was ready for it." Hendry, in second place on the provisional rankings, added, "The fact John Higgins lost last night hasn't affected me all that much as Mark Williams is the player who needs catching." "He leads the rankings, is still very much involved here and is getting the sort of results I achieved in the early 1990's. Quite rightly, he is taking advantage of his good form." Fu whose high break of 57 enabled him to win the second frame, said, "I missed too many balls. It showed up the difference between Stephen's game and my own. Right now that is quite a lot." "My concentration was the biggest problem and I thought I would play better than I did. I'm good enough to hold a top eight ranking but there is still a lot of work to do if I'm to beat the very best players in the world."

SIXTH ROUNDS

Peter Lines (Eng) 5-4 Peter Ebdon (Eng)

Scores: 60-64 (53 Lines), 67-40, 82-22, 56-62, 80-4 (65), 0-70, 5-81, 61-43 (52), 59-31

Brian Morgan (Eng) 5-2 Stuart Bingham (Eng)

Scores: 75-7 (50), 35-67, 43-63, 74-46, 63-49, 93-0, 75-38
Brian Morgan won a little local Essex dispute thousands of miles from home in Shanghai as he battled past his former pupil Stuart Bingham 5-2.
Morgan, who defeated Steve Davis to book his Chinese trip is something of an overseas specialist. In 1987 he won The World Under 21 in Bangkok and was the finalist in the 1996 Asian Classic, also in Bangkok.
"I always seem to do well in overseas events. It's all psychological but when you've got good memories of travelling it helps," he said.
Bingham, the 1996 World Amateur Champion tool an early 2-1 lead but Morgan grabbed the fourth frame on the blue and earned the fifth after fluking the final black.
"It was quite strange", said Morgan, "I've seen Stuart grow up from a beginner into a top professional player."

Paul Sweeny (Eng) 5-4 Wayne Brown (Eng)

Scores: 65-13, 44-52, 32-82, 67-7 (59), 12-87, 79-34, 81-9, 0-87 (87), 60-53 (on a respotted black)
World No. 110, Paul Sweeny booked a place in his first quarter final with a quite thrilling victory over Wayne Brown. There was never more than a frame between them.
The frame swung to and fro before Brown, trailing 53-40, potted a long pink and the black to tie the scores.
The luck of the toss for the respot was with Sweeny and he invited Brown to play. But Brown's intended safety short fell short of the baulk cushion and Sweeny, despite "shaking like a leaf" punched home the vital black.
It'll took him to a quarter final place with a guaranteed cheque for at least 7,250 pounds, his biggest pay day since turning professional. Plus, He will also pick up a bonus of 1,000 pounds for his high break in the qualifying rounds, a total clearance of 143.
"I was shaking life a leaf and all over the shot," said Kent Law Student Paul Sweeny. "To be involved in a finish like that is unbelievable. I've proved to myself that I can hold myself together under pressure, but it was really nerve wracking."

Shokat Ali (Pak) 2-5 Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)

Scores: 36-73, 55-13, 67-14 (67), 34-62, 39-76, 1-121 (120), 4-90

Mark J Williams (Wal) 5-0 Paul Hunter (Eng)

Scores: 73-9 (73), 65-1, 88-1 (74), 80-5 (53), 68-0
If anyone had any lingering doubts about Mark Williams' qualifications to be sitting at the head of the ranking list, they would have been dispelled today in Shanghai.
Mark J Williams, the winner of seven world ranking event titles, required only 46 mins and 4 secs to reach the quarter-finals.
The Welshman defeated former Regal Welsh Champion Paul Hunter, the world No.12, 5-0 in what was the fastest ever victory during the televised stages of a ranking tournament and the eighth quickest of all time over the best of nine frames distance.
"Paul made a few mistakes and I punished him just about everytime. Generally my form is holding up well," said Williams.
"But you don't win many matches 5-0 at this stage of a ranking event and to beat a quality player like Paul so convincingly, is very pleasing." "Obviously I'm after the No.1 ranking and this is something I will be giving 100 per cent to for the rest of the season though I can't imagine playing well all the time."
The fact Hunter scored only 16 points in the entire match compared to Williams' aggregate total of 374, was the second lowest on television and would have equalled Mark King's 11 at the 1997 Grand Prix, but for the Leeds professional receiving five penalty points in the fourth frame.
But Hunter will take little comfort from the fact that other players have suffered even worse defeats in a best of 9 match.
Besides Mark King's 5-0 defeated with 11 points. In the 1992 Regal Welsh, Graham Bradley managed just 8 points, but the all time record is held by Maureen McCarthy of Belfast who scored just 2 points in a World Championship qualifier against Mike Dunn last year.

Mark King (Eng) 4-5 Stephen Lee (Eng)

Scores: 12-64, 86-0 (65), 77-0 (77), 48-60, 0-96 (96), 8-58, 73-5, 88-0 (58), 17-72
Sleepy Stephen Lee completed a 5-4 victory over Mark King to reach the quarter-finals. Lee who has found the eight hour time difference difficult to cope with since arriving in China on Saturday, had to take a sleeping tablet early yesterday in order to drop off for a few hours.
"I think I slept for three hours but after this result, I might manage to do better next time," he said after his victory.
But the 25 year old world No.6 who is attached to Ian Doyle's Stirling stable, was kicking himself for missing out on a maximum 147, which would have been the first overseas in a ranking event.
Lee's break, in frame five, reached 96 when he missed red No.13 into a middle pocket. "That's probably the best chance I've ever had to make a max in a match. But at least I've got the desired result and that's the important thing", said Lee whose mistake cost him a 10,000 bonus.
"I was thinking about a maximum around the 24 mark which was a bit silly really but having got this far with one, I'm determined to have another go if and when the chance comes," added Lee who has now beaten King three times out of four.
Last year and just after winning the Grand Prix, Lee compiled three successive 147's against his coach, Frank Adamson, during a practice session on his own table at dad Colin's Trowbridge home.

Joe Perry (Eng) 5-3 Graeme Dott (Sco)

Scores: 14-80, 91-12 (83), 11-86 (56), 93-8, 70-0, 35-74 (73), 78-64 (51 Dott), 64-9 (64)
25 year old Englishman Joe Perrry reached the quarter-finals of a world ranking tournament for the first time after beating Graeme Dott 5-3.
World number 34 Perry, who survived four qualifying rounds at Blackpool in September, now faces Matthew Stevens or Stephen Hendry in the last eight.
Wisbech's Perry continued his one man demolition of Scottish hopes. Dott was the third Scot he has beaten so far in the event and now he is hoping that Stephen Hendry beats Matthew Stevens so he can have a crack at the Scottish World Champion.
"I have already beaten three Scots on the trot and I would love Stephen to make it four," admitted Perry.

Matthew Stevens (Wal) 2-5 Stephen Hendry (Sco)

Scores: 63-32, 1-108 (55, 52), 0-135 (135), 85-33 (77), 56-71, 2-63, 53-57
Sleepy Stephen Hendry shrugged off jet-lag to reach the quarter-finals with a 5-2 win over Regal Masters champion Matthew Stevens including a total clearance 135 in frame three.
The Scot, looking just a little bleary eyed, admitted he had been unable to sleep properly since he arrived in Shanghai at the weekend.
He said: "I've played snooker overseas countless times before and I have never had problems nodding off like this."
"I'm so tired I felt really sick all day. I keep waking up at two in the morning and can't get back to sleep."
"I brought two books with me but I've already read them both and now I'm reduced to watching any old film."

Peter Lines (Eng)	5-4	Peter Ebdon (Eng)
Scores: 60-64 (53 Lines), 67-40, 82-22, 56-62, 80-4 (65), 0-70, 5-81, 61-43 (52), 59-31

Brian Morgan (Eng)	5-2	Stuart Bingham (Eng)
Scores: 75-7 (50), 35-67, 43-63, 74-46, 63-49, 93-0, 75-38 Brian Morgan won a little local Essex dispute thousands of miles from home in Shanghai as he battled past his former pupil Stuart Bingham 5-2. Morgan, who defeated Steve Davis to book his Chinese trip is something of an overseas specialist. In 1987 he won The World Under 21 in Bangkok and was the finalist in the 1996 Asian Classic, also in Bangkok. "I always seem to do well in overseas events. It's all psychological but when you've got good memories of travelling it helps," he said. Bingham, the 1996 World Amateur Champion tool an early 2-1 lead but Morgan grabbed the fourth frame on the blue and earned the fifth after fluking the final black. "It was quite strange", said Morgan, "I've seen Stuart grow up from a beginner into a top professional player."

Paul Sweeny (Eng)	5-4	Wayne Brown (Eng)
Scores: 65-13, 44-52, 32-82, 67-7 (59), 12-87, 79-34, 81-9, 0-87 (87), 60-53 (on a respotted black) World No. 110, Paul Sweeny booked a place in his first quarter final with a quite thrilling victory over Wayne Brown. There was never more than a frame between them. The frame swung to and fro before Brown, trailing 53-40, potted a long pink and the black to tie the scores. The luck of the toss for the respot was with Sweeny and he invited Brown to play. But Brown's intended safety short fell short of the baulk cushion and Sweeny, despite "shaking like a leaf" punched home the vital black. It'll took him to a quarter final place with a guaranteed cheque for at least 7,250 pounds, his biggest pay day since turning professional. Plus, He will also pick up a bonus of 1,000 pounds for his high break in the qualifying rounds, a total clearance of 143. "I was shaking life a leaf and all over the shot," said Kent Law Student Paul Sweeny. "To be involved in a finish like that is unbelievable. I've proved to myself that I can hold myself together under pressure, but it was really nerve wracking."

Shokat Ali (Pak)	2-5	Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)
Scores: 36-73, 55-13, 67-14 (67), 34-62, 39-76, 1-121 (120), 4-90

Mark J Williams (Wal)	5-0	Paul Hunter (Eng)
Scores: 73-9 (73), 65-1, 88-1 (74), 80-5 (53), 68-0 If anyone had any lingering doubts about Mark Williams' qualifications to be sitting at the head of the ranking list, they would have been dispelled today in Shanghai. Mark J Williams, the winner of seven world ranking event titles, required only 46 mins and 4 secs to reach the quarter-finals. The Welshman defeated former Regal Welsh Champion Paul Hunter, the world No.12, 5-0 in what was the fastest ever victory during the televised stages of a ranking tournament and the eighth quickest of all time over the best of nine frames distance. "Paul made a few mistakes and I punished him just about everytime. Generally my form is holding up well," said Williams. "But you don't win many matches 5-0 at this stage of a ranking event and to beat a quality player like Paul so convincingly, is very pleasing." "Obviously I'm after the No.1 ranking and this is something I will be giving 100 per cent to for the rest of the season though I can't imagine playing well all the time." The fact Hunter scored only 16 points in the entire match compared to Williams' aggregate total of 374, was the second lowest on television and would have equalled Mark King's 11 at the 1997 Grand Prix, but for the Leeds professional receiving five penalty points in the fourth frame. But Hunter will take little comfort from the fact that other players have suffered even worse defeats in a best of 9 match. Besides Mark King's 5-0 defeated with 11 points. In the 1992 Regal Welsh, Graham Bradley managed just 8 points, but the all time record is held by Maureen McCarthy of Belfast who scored just 2 points in a World Championship qualifier against Mike Dunn last year.

Mark King (Eng)	4-5	Stephen Lee (Eng)
Scores: 12-64, 86-0 (65), 77-0 (77), 48-60, 0-96 (96), 8-58, 73-5, 88-0 (58), 17-72 Sleepy Stephen Lee completed a 5-4 victory over Mark King to reach the quarter-finals. Lee who has found the eight hour time difference difficult to cope with since arriving in China on Saturday, had to take a sleeping tablet early yesterday in order to drop off for a few hours. "I think I slept for three hours but after this result, I might manage to do better next time," he said after his victory. But the 25 year old world No.6 who is attached to Ian Doyle's Stirling stable, was kicking himself for missing out on a maximum 147, which would have been the first overseas in a ranking event. Lee's break, in frame five, reached 96 when he missed red No.13 into a middle pocket. "That's probably the best chance I've ever had to make a max in a match. But at least I've got the desired result and that's the important thing", said Lee whose mistake cost him a 10,000 bonus. "I was thinking about a maximum around the 24 mark which was a bit silly really but having got this far with one, I'm determined to have another go if and when the chance comes," added Lee who has now beaten King three times out of four. Last year and just after winning the Grand Prix, Lee compiled three successive 147's against his coach, Frank Adamson, during a practice session on his own table at dad Colin's Trowbridge home.

Joe Perry (Eng)	5-3	Graeme Dott (Sco)
Scores: 14-80, 91-12 (83), 11-86 (56), 93-8, 70-0, 35-74 (73), 78-64 (51 Dott), 64-9 (64) 25 year old Englishman Joe Perrry reached the quarter-finals of a world ranking tournament for the first time after beating Graeme Dott 5-3. World number 34 Perry, who survived four qualifying rounds at Blackpool in September, now faces Matthew Stevens or Stephen Hendry in the last eight. Wisbech's Perry continued his one man demolition of Scottish hopes. Dott was the third Scot he has beaten so far in the event and now he is hoping that Stephen Hendry beats Matthew Stevens so he can have a crack at the Scottish World Champion. "I have already beaten three Scots on the trot and I would love Stephen to make it four," admitted Perry.

Matthew Stevens (Wal)	2-5	Stephen Hendry (Sco)
Scores: 63-32, 1-108 (55, 52), 0-135 (135), 85-33 (77), 56-71, 2-63, 53-57 Sleepy Stephen Hendry shrugged off jet-lag to reach the quarter-finals with a 5-2 win over Regal Masters champion Matthew Stevens including a total clearance 135 in frame three. The Scot, looking just a little bleary eyed, admitted he had been unable to sleep properly since he arrived in Shanghai at the weekend. He said: "I've played snooker overseas countless times before and I have never had problems nodding off like this." "I'm so tired I felt really sick all day. I keep waking up at two in the morning and can't get back to sleep." "I brought two books with me but I've already read them both and now I'm reduced to watching any old film."

QUARTER FINALS

Peter Lines (Eng) 4-5 Brian Morgan (Eng)

Scores: 41-62, 63-42, 51-64, 82-46 (55), 69-43, 61-45, 13-70 (62), 48-61, 36-73
The Yorkshireman, Peter Lines had never been in the quarter-finals before, had his chance of glory in the eighth frame but clearing up, missed the final pink for a 5-3 victory leaving Morgan to win the frame on the black.
Brian Morgan reached only the second ranking event semi-final of his 11-year professional career after this victory and said: "It's good fortune on my part that I'm still here but when Peter lined up for the pink, I still had hope as the table was playing quite tight along the cushions."
"But I felt terrible from start to finish and every shot seemed like a pint of blood. Perhaps it's all due to a lack of sleep. Obviously I'm thrilled to bits to be still be involved though it wasn't exactly a vintage performance by any stretch of the imagination."

Paul Sweeny (Eng) 1-5 Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)

Scores: 0-117 (81), 8-70 (50), 21-114 (50), 57-18, 13-69 (52), 46-81 (81)
Ronnie O'Sullivan, bidding to bring the curtain down on 14 frustrating months without a title, breezed into the semi-finals.
The "Rocket" turned Paul Sweeny's debut in the last eight of a ranking tournament into a baptism of fire, cruising to a 5-1 victory in 84 minutes.
He produced a string of breaks as he again played left and right-handed on his way to victory.
"I feel as if I'm really struggling with my game and swapping over seems to get me out of trouble," said Ronnie.
"Not only that, but playing some shots left-handed helps me concentrate."
Despite the result, as many top players these days always don't satisfy with their performance, he added, "There's no way I'm playing well enough to win a tournament."

Mark J Williams (Wal) 4-5 Stephen Lee (Eng)

Scores: 70-5 (70), 69-40, 15-67, 0-90 (90), 62-69, 67-51, 33-62, 106-0 (106), 0-68
Stephen Lee prised open the provisional rankings following this victory over leader Mark Williams. It'll now leave the way open for Hendry to reclaim top spot in the last event of the millennium.
"Mark is the target and now I've got the chance to overtake him. But I still have to win three more matches so I'm not taking anything for granted," said Hendry.
Williams said: "I'm not playing well and haven't done in any tournament this season, despite winning one and finishing runner-up in two more."
"Personally it doesn't matter what happened here because if I don't play any better, I will not be at No.1 on the ranking at the end of the season, not in a million years."
The 1998 Grand Prix champion, Lee gained his first victory of the season over Williams at the third attempt and now go through to his first semi-final of the season.
"The longer the match went on, the stronger I got and I didn't play so many of the stupid shots which have cost me dearly in other matches this season," said Lee.

Joe Perry (Eng) 4-5 Stephen Hendry (Sco)

Scores: 67-26, 1-72, 5-71 (66), 94-8 (52), 24-62, 61-23 (59), 90-0 (90), 58-75, 0-103 (103)
Stephen Hendry produced one of his trademark comebacks to edge out Joe Perry 5-4 and set up a semi-final clash with Stephen Lee.
Hendry, 4-3 down and all but out in frame eight with Perry 50-0 and 58-24 in front, produced a death or glory clearance of 47 to force the decider on the pink.
Then when it mattered most, the world champion produced his very best as a break of 103, his second century of the week, carried him through.
Perry must have thought he had done enough to win having recorded some good breaks in the earlier frames before Hendry's reply.
"I should have won and had chances to do so. I was in a good position to go through to the semi-finals but I didn't take my chances in the eighth frame and Stephen then showed why he has won so many titles over the years," said Small.
"I'm not that disappointed because to lose to him isn't the end of the world. But I will be disappointed at the end of the season if this defeat has cost me a top 32 ranking in the millennium."
Hendry beaming the broadest of smiles, said, "Yes I should have lost. I was ready to catch the next flight home."
The 30 year old Scot added; "It's the same old story and with no disrespect to Joe, this is another case of not concentrating properly when I'm playing someone who I don't really know.
"I was never as focussed as I should have been until the last frame and a half. I had to concentrate then but when you have done it before, it gives you all the confidence in the world to know you can do it again.
"Joe had great chances to win 5-3 so in that respect I was a bit lucky but once he let me in, I knew I wasn't going to miss.
"It really is worth a lot to be a top player in these circumstances. We know what it's all about and while the aura had slipped a bit during the past two years, I have started to notice that players are getting more edgy against me when the winning line looms up."

Peter Lines (Eng)	4-5	Brian Morgan (Eng)
Scores: 41-62, 63-42, 51-64, 82-46 (55), 69-43, 61-45, 13-70 (62), 48-61, 36-73 The Yorkshireman, Peter Lines had never been in the quarter-finals before, had his chance of glory in the eighth frame but clearing up, missed the final pink for a 5-3 victory leaving Morgan to win the frame on the black. Brian Morgan reached only the second ranking event semi-final of his 11-year professional career after this victory and said: "It's good fortune on my part that I'm still here but when Peter lined up for the pink, I still had hope as the table was playing quite tight along the cushions." "But I felt terrible from start to finish and every shot seemed like a pint of blood. Perhaps it's all due to a lack of sleep. Obviously I'm thrilled to bits to be still be involved though it wasn't exactly a vintage performance by any stretch of the imagination."

Paul Sweeny (Eng)	1-5	Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)
Scores: 0-117 (81), 8-70 (50), 21-114 (50), 57-18, 13-69 (52), 46-81 (81) Ronnie O'Sullivan, bidding to bring the curtain down on 14 frustrating months without a title, breezed into the semi-finals. The "Rocket" turned Paul Sweeny's debut in the last eight of a ranking tournament into a baptism of fire, cruising to a 5-1 victory in 84 minutes. He produced a string of breaks as he again played left and right-handed on his way to victory. "I feel as if I'm really struggling with my game and swapping over seems to get me out of trouble," said Ronnie. "Not only that, but playing some shots left-handed helps me concentrate." Despite the result, as many top players these days always don't satisfy with their performance, he added, "There's no way I'm playing well enough to win a tournament."

Mark J Williams (Wal)	4-5	Stephen Lee (Eng)
Scores: 70-5 (70), 69-40, 15-67, 0-90 (90), 62-69, 67-51, 33-62, 106-0 (106), 0-68 Stephen Lee prised open the provisional rankings following this victory over leader Mark Williams. It'll now leave the way open for Hendry to reclaim top spot in the last event of the millennium. "Mark is the target and now I've got the chance to overtake him. But I still have to win three more matches so I'm not taking anything for granted," said Hendry. Williams said: "I'm not playing well and haven't done in any tournament this season, despite winning one and finishing runner-up in two more." "Personally it doesn't matter what happened here because if I don't play any better, I will not be at No.1 on the ranking at the end of the season, not in a million years." The 1998 Grand Prix champion, Lee gained his first victory of the season over Williams at the third attempt and now go through to his first semi-final of the season. "The longer the match went on, the stronger I got and I didn't play so many of the stupid shots which have cost me dearly in other matches this season," said Lee.

Joe Perry (Eng)	4-5	Stephen Hendry (Sco)
Scores: 67-26, 1-72, 5-71 (66), 94-8 (52), 24-62, 61-23 (59), 90-0 (90), 58-75, 0-103 (103) Stephen Hendry produced one of his trademark comebacks to edge out Joe Perry 5-4 and set up a semi-final clash with Stephen Lee. Hendry, 4-3 down and all but out in frame eight with Perry 50-0 and 58-24 in front, produced a death or glory clearance of 47 to force the decider on the pink. Then when it mattered most, the world champion produced his very best as a break of 103, his second century of the week, carried him through. Perry must have thought he had done enough to win having recorded some good breaks in the earlier frames before Hendry's reply. "I should have won and had chances to do so. I was in a good position to go through to the semi-finals but I didn't take my chances in the eighth frame and Stephen then showed why he has won so many titles over the years," said Small. "I'm not that disappointed because to lose to him isn't the end of the world. But I will be disappointed at the end of the season if this defeat has cost me a top 32 ranking in the millennium." Hendry beaming the broadest of smiles, said, "Yes I should have lost. I was ready to catch the next flight home." The 30 year old Scot added; "It's the same old story and with no disrespect to Joe, this is another case of not concentrating properly when I'm playing someone who I don't really know. "I was never as focussed as I should have been until the last frame and a half. I had to concentrate then but when you have done it before, it gives you all the confidence in the world to know you can do it again. "Joe had great chances to win 5-3 so in that respect I was a bit lucky but once he let me in, I knew I wasn't going to miss. "It really is worth a lot to be a top player in these circumstances. We know what it's all about and while the aura had slipped a bit during the past two years, I have started to notice that players are getting more edgy against me when the winning line looms up."

SEMI FINALS

Brian Morgan (Eng) 5-6 Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)

Scores: 50-61, 35-3, 89-23, 11-88 (80), 18-53, 42-26, 30-112 (112), 0-67 (61), 66-0 (54), 60-0 (60), 22-77
O'Sullivan faced Morgan for the fourth time in the semi-final stage and made it four wins out of four - all in the deciding frame.
The world No.4 reached his first ranking event final since the 1998 Regal Scottish Open.
The Rocket lost the second frame when he committed three consecitive foul shots trying to roll into the pack of reds. He also threw in the towel with reds available in two others.
"I didn't enjoy the match one bit. It was a poor performance, neither of us played very well. It really is frustrating how inconsistent I'm playing," said O'Sullivan.

Stephen Lee (Eng) 6-4 Stephen Hendry (Sco)

Scores: 46-70, 74-17, 87-0 (71), 48-40, 72-0 (60), 89-34 (70), 42-69, 45-84 (54), 8-65, 78-4 (78)
Stephen Hendry's hopes of taking over pole position on the provisional rankings at the start of the new millennium, ended by Stephen Lee.
The seven-times world champion, who needed to capture the title to replace Welshman Mark Williams in top spot, was surprising beaten 6-4 by Lee.
He said, "I didn't perform at all, it would have been an injustice if I had somehow managed to pinch this one. In the end I ran out of steam.
"It was a fantastic break of 78 from Stephen in the last frame, He was under a lot of pressure and it proved he has the bottle to do anything."
Lee, who lost 9-8 to Hendry after leading 5-0 and 8-4 in last season's Irish Masters final said, "It looked like Ireland all over again when he closed up to 5-4 from 5-1. But I held on and it was important to try and achieve something before Xmas.
"I feel good and I'm playing well but what has been disappointing is that I haven't been able to put the frighteners on other players since I won the 1998 Grand Prix."
Stphen Lee will now face Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final. The last meeting between the pair was in the Hong Kong's Cable TV Millennium Cup final five months ago, where Lee thrashing O'Sullivan by 7-2.

Brian Morgan (Eng)	5-6	Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)
Scores: 50-61, 35-3, 89-23, 11-88 (80), 18-53, 42-26, 30-112 (112), 0-67 (61), 66-0 (54), 60-0 (60), 22-77 O'Sullivan faced Morgan for the fourth time in the semi-final stage and made it four wins out of four - all in the deciding frame. The world No.4 reached his first ranking event final since the 1998 Regal Scottish Open. The Rocket lost the second frame when he committed three consecitive foul shots trying to roll into the pack of reds. He also threw in the towel with reds available in two others. "I didn't enjoy the match one bit. It was a poor performance, neither of us played very well. It really is frustrating how inconsistent I'm playing," said O'Sullivan.

Stephen Lee (Eng)	6-4	Stephen Hendry (Sco)
Scores: 46-70, 74-17, 87-0 (71), 48-40, 72-0 (60), 89-34 (70), 42-69, 45-84 (54), 8-65, 78-4 (78) Stephen Hendry's hopes of taking over pole position on the provisional rankings at the start of the new millennium, ended by Stephen Lee. The seven-times world champion, who needed to capture the title to replace Welshman Mark Williams in top spot, was surprising beaten 6-4 by Lee. He said, "I didn't perform at all, it would have been an injustice if I had somehow managed to pinch this one. In the end I ran out of steam. "It was a fantastic break of 78 from Stephen in the last frame, He was under a lot of pressure and it proved he has the bottle to do anything." Lee, who lost 9-8 to Hendry after leading 5-0 and 8-4 in last season's Irish Masters final said, "It looked like Ireland all over again when he closed up to 5-4 from 5-1. But I held on and it was important to try and achieve something before Xmas. "I feel good and I'm playing well but what has been disappointing is that I haven't been able to put the frighteners on other players since I won the 1998 Grand Prix." Stphen Lee will now face Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final. The last meeting between the pair was in the Hong Kong's Cable TV Millennium Cup final five months ago, where Lee thrashing O'Sullivan by 7-2.

FINAL

Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) 9-2 Stephen Lee (Eng)

Scores: 61-23, 36-91, 115-17 (115), 94-8 (87), 124-8 (124), 93-16, 109-1, 75-43 (75), 20-85 (69), 75-1, 76-33 (56)
660 audiences watched Rocket Ronnie O'Sullivan won his 15th major title at the JC Mandarin Hotel, Shanghai.
O'Sullivan, defeated Trowbridge professional Stephen Lee 9-2, to pick up the 50,000 pounds first prize. It was his seventh ranking event title but only the second in the past three years.
The 24 year old from Chigwell whose seasonal earnings have now reached six figures, led 7-1 at the interval and needed only half an hour to seal a victory.
"It was important to get another tournament under my belt considering I hadn't won one for 14 months. But I still cannot find the consistency I had at the Blackpool qualifying school seven years ago.
"In those days I was like a machine and if I could have kept that sort of form going, I would have won a couple of world championships by now. These days I never know how well I'm going to play from one match to another.
"It's only in the past two or three weeks that I've been playing half decent. I've really been struggling.
"Now I can chill out over Christmas and go into the New Year with a tournament under my belt. It's something for me to build on."
O'Sullivan who moves into fourth place on the provisional rankings added, "the top three might have pulled away but I will be after them next year, there is no doubt about that. This win will do my confidence the world of good."
Lee who had beaten world champion Stephen Hendry and UK champion, Mark Williams, in the two previous rounds, said, "I was disappointed to play as poorly as I did considering who I had taken out of the tournament.
"The majority of the crowd seemed to be on my side but I didn't give them much to shout about. Ronnie though played very well, particularly during the early frames."

Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)	9-2	Stephen Lee (Eng)
Scores: 61-23, 36-91, 115-17 (115), 94-8 (87), 124-8 (124), 93-16, 109-1, 75-43 (75), 20-85 (69), 75-1, 76-33 (56) 660 audiences watched Rocket Ronnie O'Sullivan won his 15th major title at the JC Mandarin Hotel, Shanghai. O'Sullivan, defeated Trowbridge professional Stephen Lee 9-2, to pick up the 50,000 pounds first prize. It was his seventh ranking event title but only the second in the past three years. The 24 year old from Chigwell whose seasonal earnings have now reached six figures, led 7-1 at the interval and needed only half an hour to seal a victory. "It was important to get another tournament under my belt considering I hadn't won one for 14 months. But I still cannot find the consistency I had at the Blackpool qualifying school seven years ago. "In those days I was like a machine and if I could have kept that sort of form going, I would have won a couple of world championships by now. These days I never know how well I'm going to play from one match to another. "It's only in the past two or three weeks that I've been playing half decent. I've really been struggling. "Now I can chill out over Christmas and go into the New Year with a tournament under my belt. It's something for me to build on." O'Sullivan who moves into fourth place on the provisional rankings added, "the top three might have pulled away but I will be after them next year, there is no doubt about that. This win will do my confidence the world of good." Lee who had beaten world champion Stephen Hendry and UK champion, Mark Williams, in the two previous rounds, said, "I was disappointed to play as poorly as I did considering who I had taken out of the tournament. "The majority of the crowd seemed to be on my side but I didn't give them much to shout about. Ronnie though played very well, particularly during the early frames."

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