Snooker: O'Brien through to third round
Monday, 16 October 2000 18:39Ireland's Fergal O'Brien is through to the third round of the Grand Prix at Telford. The Irishman, whose wife gave birth to a baby daughter just six weeks ago, beat Bradley Jones 5-4 and will take on either fellow Irishman Ken Doherty or Patrick Wallace in the next round. Meanwhile, in the day's other second round tie, Peter Ebdon beat Joe Perry 5-3. Ebdon won the British Open in Plymouth, his first title win, only last week and is now hoping for back-to-back victories in world ranking events. However, he will have to overcome either Stephen Hendry or Brian Morgan in the third round first. Also victorious today was Jimmy White Hong Kong's Marco Fu 5-3 to set up a last 16 meeting with either Alan McManus or Drew Henry.
However, John Higgins, who enjoyed a comprehensive 5-0 second round win over Paul Sweeny, will be pulling out of the event after his third round tie against Terry Murphy on Thursday - win or lose! The Scot wants to attend the wedding of his brother and had informed the game's governing body, the WPBSA, of his intentions several months ago. However, the official who assured him that it wouldn't pose a problem has since left his job and now the WPBSA have told him nothing can be done to reschedule the quarter-final tie should he reach that stage. But Higgins plans on doing his best against Murphy as this tournament is a ranking event and he wants to collect as many ranking points as possible.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
