GLOBAL SNOOKER NEWS

Ian McCulloch gave the Preston fans plenty to cheer about at the Guild Hall today with a thrilling 5-4 win over the usual crowd favourite Jimmy White, clinching the deciding frame with a nerveless 73 break.

McCulloch took the opener with a run of 55 and snatched the second with a clearance of 77 to the pink, after White had led the frame 62-0. White still appeared hampered by his injured back, which may have explained why, uncharacteristically, he missed a number of shots with the rest.

The Whirlwind bounced back with a run of 69 to win frame three and he edged the next to level the match. On the resumption White punched in a break of 62 to lead for the first time. But he couldn't shake of McCulloch, who won the fifth and regained  the lead with a run of 55.

White comfortably won the eighth to send the match into the decider, but he broke down early in the frame and McCulloch dished up, to book a third round match up against Stephen Hendry.

The Scot beat Robert Milkins 5-3 but despite breaks of 101, his 640th career century, and 89, Hendry was not at his vintage best. But he produced an excellent pink and a superb black to clinch the match.

Peter Ebdon was far from at his best, but after a match that stretched into the early hours, he eventually overcame a resolute performance by Joe Jogia, to scrape through 5-4. Jogia has a good chance in the decider, but he blasted at a red and attempted to split the pack, but he missed the red and scattered the pack all over the table. Ebdon also spurned his first chance, but eventually did enough to mop up the bits and pieces.

Mark Selby provides the next opposition for Ebdon. The Leicester man wrapped up a convincing 5-2 win over Leo Fernandez, smacking in breaks of 70, 60 and 76 along the way. Fernandez contributed breaks of 75 and 55 to a high scoring match.

Nigel Bond booked his third round place but not before he was taken right to the wire by Alan McManus. Bond opened a 3-0 lead before McManus produced a brilliant 132 break to get his name on the board. Frame five went to bond and put him on the brink of victory, but that was a long time coming as McManus snatched the next on the colours, added the seventh and ran in a break of 70 to force the decider. But Bond held his nerve to dominate the final frame.

Marco Fu was also forced to a final frame by Londoner Barry Hawkins. Fu opened a 4-2 lead but Hawkins responded with breaks of 85 and 58, but couldn't sustain that form in the final frame.

Michael Judge and Marcus Campbell exchanged frames with Campbell compiling breaks of 81, 55 and 58 to lead 4-3. Judge dug deep to keep in the match, with a frame-winning 76 and then clinched the decider with 52.

RESOURCES

2004 GRAND PRIX

INFORMATION

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TOTESPORT

RESULTS - LAST 32

Frame Scores:

Mark Selby 5-2 Leo Fernandez

72(70)-38, 4-81(75), 69-48, 1-73(550, 61(50)-9, 80(76)-0, 74-1

Nigel Bond 5-4 Alan McManus

65-21, 65-15, 75-4, 10-132(132), 68-27, 57-67, 27-73(70), 12-80(56), 59-13

Ian McCulloch 5-4 Jimmy White

68(55)-43, 77(77)-62, 48-88(69), 43-59, 8-82(62), 68-17, 82(55)-17, 28-80, 78(73)-46

Stephen Hendry 5-3 Robert Milkins

63-56, 21-78, 99-28, 101(101)-24, 36-70, 89(89)-19, 0-90(86), 60-54(54)

Marco Fu 5-4 Barry Hawkins

15-69(59), 89(49)-0, 74(74)-43, 17-65, 85-14, 109(103)-6, 0-85(85), 0-73(58), 66-9

Stephen Maguire 5-3 Ricky Walden

27-72, 102(102)-32, 62-0, 70(61)-35, 108(70)-21, 1-111(75), 25-75, 64-13

Michael Judge 5-4 Marcus Campbell

36-81(81), 63-48, 48-73(55), 70-51, 22-61(58), 83(76)-0, 67(52)-8

Peter Ebdon 5-4 Joe Jogia

59-19, 95-23, 2-81, 96(81)-24, 38-78, 1-68, 72(64)-1, 20-59, 60-34